What a refreshing change of pace the Bond Street Sale 2024 – from Bonhams – turned out to be.
After an intense week of travel, hectic car shows and quick photo shoots, I felt a little burnt out when I returned to London from Germany. I didn’t need a break from car culture, but I certainly did need a break from the chaos that often surrounds it.
I also needed a break from highway seat time, having recently driven over 900 miles on the highway in a Ford Puma rental car. So when the opportunity arose to attend a preview of The Bond Street Sale, it felt like the perfect antidote.
I had never been to a car auction and I was curious. So why not start at the top of the auction ladder?
I take out one of the oldest clichés in the book: the silence was deafening. Bonhams’ motor vehicle auctions attract a much more exclusive clientele than the average CoPart or aftermarket auction house, and as expected the atmosphere was distinctly different.
During my visit, there were very few people checking out the cars in person – a welcome change of pace from what I had experienced a few weeks earlier.
After all, not everyone has a cool two million dollars burning a hole in their pocket for a stunning Koenigsegg CCXR. For those on a more modest budget, a Bugatti Type 35A was available for just under half Koenigsegg’s estimate.
The upstairs hall was filled with iconic classics from Aston Martin, Jaguar, Lamborghini, Porsche – and a truly spectacular 1910 Mercedes-Benz sedan.
The details of the Mercedes were exquisite and the layout was surprisingly familiar, almost identical to that of a modern manual car.
Below were the more ‘affordable’ cars, although that is a relative term. Modern classics were everywhere, including three of my favorite continent-crushing GT cars: a Bentley Brooklands, an Aston Martin DBS and an Alpina B6 Cabriolet.
While an auction preview may not seem remarkable at first glance, what struck me most was how these automotive treasures were hidden within London’s bustling Mayfair cityscape…
…and I really mean that Darling. After the final hammer blow, the Bugatti Type 35A took the crown as the most expensive sale of the day at $700,000, followed by a McLaren 720 GT3X at $510,000.
It’s a shame I left my checkbook at home, otherwise I would have driven away in the car Miami Vice-spec Lamborghini Countach that sold for $496,000. Small change…
Bonhams is a powerhouse in understated British elegance, and it’s easy to see how it has earned its global reputation for excellence.
The best part? I was home just 50 minutes after taking my last photo that morning. What a perfect, convenient dose of car culture.
Mario Christou
Instagram: mcwpn, mariochristou.world
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