The attention of vintage and classic car enthusiasts across the world was focused on an estate just outside of Cape Town in South Africa this weekend where more than 100 000 items of automobilia history spanning six decades went under the hammer.

In excess of 30 online bidders from six countries including the UK, Germany, Switzerland and New Zealand as well as online buyers from around the country joined approximately 450 of South African car aficionados who gathered in a purpose built auction arena on Nassau Farm to vie for approximately 70 barn finds, vintage and classic cars, the oldest of which was a 1928 Buick.

Among the notable sales on at the auction were:

• R370 000 hammer fall for the 1928 Buick Convertible;
• R335 000 for a 1964 Chevrolet Impala Convertible;
• R330 000 for a 1971 Ford Mustang;
• R320 000 for a 1936 Ford Roadster;
• R320 000 for a 1948 Chevrolet Fleetmaster Convertible;
• R157 500 for a 1934 Ford V8 Pick Up featured in the movie Long Walk to Freedom;
• R90 000 for a 1957 Austin Metropolitan; and
• R105 000 for a 1954 Mercedes Benz Ponton 180.

According to Joff van Reenen, Lead Auctioneer and Director of High Street Auctions, the gargantuan automobilia sale was the result of thousands of man hours over six months of sorting and cataloguing more than 100 000 individual items of spares and parts, but the global response was worth every minute.

“We were expecting a substantial turnout this weekend, but the number of bidders who registered for the sale, the attendance at the auction and the 1 000-plus viewers who watched the auction online was way beyond our predictions.”

Stef Olivier, South Africa’s 2018 Champion Auctioneer and MD of Bidway Auction House, says: “The auction took more than six hours to complete, with the highlight of the day the massive interest and hugely competitive bidding for the restored runners on the block from Lot 350 onwards.

“Most vehicles were eventually sold to South Africans, who were bidding fiercely against international buyers to keep the cars in this country. Classic Motor Clubs joined in the numbers to attend as well, and co-ordinate to protect South Africa’s automotive heritage.”

This deceased estate sale is understood to be the country’s largest ever auction showcase of automobiles, spares and automobilia, and was held as a joint venture between High Street Auctions and Bidway Auction House. While all barn finds and spares were sold without reserve, the auctioneers were instructed to sell all drivable vehicles to the highest bidders with confirmation of those sales subject to the ratification of the estate executor and Master of the High Court. 

The hitherto private collection sold at Nassau Farm in Stellenbosch was never before shown in public in its entirety prior to this weekend. It comprised some 70 vehicles and spares from entire vintage engine blocks to chrome grills, and original dashboard gauges to headlight bulbs more than 50 years old and still in original packaging. 

While hundreds of bidders registered to buy the road-ready designer autos, others were looking for a labour of love among the spares and barn finds, for which bidding was also fierce.

Spares and cars will be shipped across South Africa and the world this week after the sale, the first of what is destined to become an annual event on the South African automania calendar.