The sale of the late Prince Philip’s custom-made Land Rover helped spark a record-breaking boom in auctions of celebrity motors this year.
Millions of pounds have been made so far in 2023 on the back of the sales, which have included hammers going down on cars featured in the ‘The Professionals’ and ‘The Avengers’.
Rob Hubbard, managing director of Iconic Auctioneers, said the firm had hoped for “some magic” from its recent series of sales of high-profile vehicles, but said they had been left “deeply” pleased with the resulting profits pulled in at various auctions this year.
In February, a Land Rover Defender built to an exacting specification requested by The Duke of Edinburgh – who died aged 99 in 2021, sold at auction for a world record figure of £123,750.
Bidding easily eclipsed the £50,000 to £70,000 guide price for the 2010 4X4 model first owned by Prince Philip and the sale of the Keswick Green Defender was likely a huge shock to the previous keeper who sold the car to the vendor in 2022 for £44,000.
It means the seller has almost doubled their money, pocketing £79,750 profit in less than a year.
Other car auction highlights from this year spotlighted by Iconic Auctioneers included the business’ sale of a pair of classic Ford Capri made famous in an iconic 1970’s TV show have sold for over £160,000 at auction.
The two models are the actual cars that featured in the British crime series ‘The Professionals’ between 1977 and 1981.
They were driven by the characters Ray Doyle and William Bodie, played by Martin Shaw and Lewis Collins.
The 1955 Lotus Elan S3 Drophead Coupé driven by Diana Rigg’s Emma Peel character in ‘The Avengers’ also sold this year, for £164,250.
It had been gifted to Diana, who died aged 82 in 2020, was given the car after she finished starring in 51 episodes of the 1960s spy show.
