London, England – Anthony Hamilton, father of seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton, decided to part with some of the most valuable and exclusive cars in his private collection. He managed to raise more than £2.9 million (approximately €3.3 million) in just a few hours after the auction began.
Global auction and widespread international interest
The auction attracted tremendous interest from car collectors and bidders from around the world. The collection featured primarily authentic British models of significant historical and artistic value. Most of these models had a unique history. Furthermore, they were faithful and meticulously engineered reconstructions of legendary models from the rich history of motor racing.
The Jaguar XJ220 tops the list of the most expensive cars
The iconic Jaguar XJ220 topped the auction list as the most expensive car ever sold, fetching a record £506,250 (approximately €591,148). This exceptionally well-preserved masterpiece has covered less than 5,000 kilometers in its history and is finished in the distinctive Silverstone Green Metallic paint. It also boasts a luxurious interior upholstered in genuine brown leather. The car’s market value was further enhanced by a complete and documented service history, including meticulous work performed by Jaguar Classic. This particular car attracted fierce international competition from numerous online and in-person bidders. However, a prominent collector attended the auction in person and ultimately won the bid.
Rare classic models steal the show at the auction
The massive sales weren’t limited to the XJ220; the auction also saw the sale of other unique pieces and collections that broke remarkable records, most notably:
Jaguar XKSS: Previously acquired by Anthony Hamilton for around £400,000. This particular version was built in 2007 as a completely handcrafted replica of the extremely rare 1957 XKSS. It was originally based on the legendary Jaguar D-Type racing car.
David Brown Speedback GT: This car ranked third in sales. It is an extremely limited production model belonging to an exclusive series of only 100 units worldwide. It sold for £202,500 (approximately €236,456).
A 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190SL: sold by Anthony Hamilton for over £100,000 (€116,767). This further underscores the immense investment value that cars from this era hold for collectors.
Two Jaguar C-Types (2016 model): These two cars received special and exceptional attention. They were designed as exact replicas of the 1951 C-Type racing cars, a period considered one of the most important in Jaguar’s long history of motorsport. The first car sold for £192,000 (€224,193), while the second sold for £190,000 (€221,858).
