The auction room is where many classic car sales take place and there are few better places to see heritage vehicles changing hands and find some genuinely interesting vehicles.

Today’s H&H auction at Duxford Aerodrome provided automotive aficionados with just that. The auction started at 13:30 for the cars and featured some age old classics and modern classics with close bidding. The main attraction of the auction was the Barn Find Jaguar E-Type as well as a private collection of Aston Martins. As always the auction thew forth some surprises, we have the biggest and best from the Duxford sale below!

In an auction that featured seven E-Type Jaguars, six of which were in near mint condition, who would have picked that the unwashed fellow in the front would have doubled their estimate. Granted, barn finds are the latest classic car trend. With their rugged charm and air of intrigue surrounding them it seems a mucky car rolled out of a shed can do little wrong in the auction house.

The barn find E-Type above sold for £70,000 when the hammer dropped early in proceedings and was the sale most were waiting for. Once the dust had settled (pun intended), however, was when some of the surprises came out of the woodwork.

Many consider the classic Aston Martin market to be one of the safest and most lucrative, however if anything remains clear from today’s auction is that the numbers may not have been as headline grabbing as one might have hoped.

Bidding on the ‘California Sage’ DB 2/4 started slowly at £130,000 and continued to be pulled up as arduously as it had begun. After some slow persuasion and light jostling between phone and auction room bidding the hammer dropped £8,000 shy of its lowest £180,000 estimate.

Similarly cold was bidding on the icy Tourmaline Blue Aston Martin V8 Volante. A prized and sought after car with a soundtrack so formidable that can only be matched by Thor throwing a tantrum in an orchestra pit. The V8 Volante was estimated to sell for between £160,000 – £180,000. It sold for £140,000 – £20,000 less than its lowest estimate.

If it sounds like we are down on the Astons, in reality we are far from it. Look at the graph above and you can that today’s price for the V8 sits well above the average for the model and shows the market for the V8 in a very positive light. From the underwhelming auction results you could be forgiven for thinking the Aston market is in a sorry state, however when viewing the current results it looks likely that there is just enough time to reasonably buy into the classic Aston Martin line-up before things skyrocket a-la Ferrari.

The V8 sold with H&H was a restored and enhanced model, highly unique and rare when compared to other models. Aston Martin V8 values are on the rise and this sale goes one further to the rising price of this classic. Although shy of its estimate this is one of the strongest indicators of the improving UK classic car market.

A Sub £40k Aston? What’s the catch?

Nothing. Just an example of being in the market at the right time to buy. It is no secret that DB9 prices are taking a hit as the new DB11 rolls out to customers, and just goes to show how much car you can get for the money if you’re in the right place at the right time.

A 2007 DB9 Volante for £39,000 is the stuff of dreams, yet this 2007 model sold quickly with minimal fuss. The auctioneer remarking how much car you get for the money and only 44,000 miles. Despite the renowned gearbox issues for this era of Aston, a convertible V12 for not far off a well specced Golf R is pretty remarkable and perfect for cruising on a budget. Similarly ludicrous was the sale of a DB7 GTA, a car selling in the classifieds for £80,000 – £90,000.

H&H’s Chiltern Green GTA sold for £46,000, £4,000 under estimate making it the bargain of the century for a car that is almost certainly going to appreciate in value.

Enthusiasm was limited in the auction house for the late Astons however today marks a staggering declaration of what bargains are now attainable if you look in the right places. We will have more on the DB7 and where it sits in the market soon, but if you’re in the market for an Aston then now could present a very promising point to enter into the brand.

Considering where the next big hitters in the auction room will come from? Check out classiccarauctionresults.co.uk for all of the past auction results for your desired model and one of the clearest representations on what the classic market is currently doing!

To take a look at the past auction results for your favourite classic click HERE.

And to see the full line up from H&H’s auction click HERE.