Chris Evans fails to sell most expensive classic cars
New Top Gear presenter Chris Evans raised more than $3million auctioning classic cars at the Goodwood Revival over the weekend - but failed to sell half of his collection.
The British radio DJ and car collector entered 12 desirable models into the Goodwood auction and was expecting the fleet to fetch almost $20million.
But there were no takers for the most expensive models - a Ferrari 275 GTB/C valued at $6.3 million and a $5.6 million Ferrari 365 Daytona Spyder.
Sold: At the bottom end of the price scale, a diminutive Fiat 126 city car dating back to 1983, which Evans bought impulsively just months ago, sold for around $30,500.
He also failed to sell his famous Chitty Chitty Bang Bang replica, which had an estimate of $610,000.
A Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, valued at almost $3million, also went unsold.
The TV and radio star was selling the cars - owned by his company Zimple - at Bonhams’ annual Goodwood Revival sale.
There were plenty of potential buyers bidding on the cars, but offers weren’t quite hitting the reserve price and six of the 12 lots remained unsold.
Sold: The Top Gear host's Daimler SP250 roadster had been expected to sell for $150,00 to $160,000 - but was the subject of a competitive bidding war which pushed the price up to $176,000.
His Ferrari 250 SWB Recreation the most expensive model to find a new home, selling for almost $1.5m.
Sold: His Ferrari 250 SWB Recreation the most expensive model to find a new home, selling for almost $1.5m.
The total money from the sales, which includes the buyer’s premium that goes to Bonhams and VAT that goes to the taxman, was $3.2million.
This is well short of the $19million minimum that was expected if all of the cars sold for their lower estimates.
However, Evans managed to raise around $122,000 for Children In Need by selling dozens of items of cherished automobilia.
-Daily Mail