Celebrity-owned classic cars up for auction TODAY

Star-studded specials and more heading to auction

This week sees a host of celebrity-owned cars going up for auction, as part of the H&H Classics Imperial War Museum sale.

The event will take place at the Imperial War Museum in Duxford on Wednesday 9 April 2025. Bids can be made online for those unable to attend in person.

Ahead of the auction, let’s take a look at some of the most intriguing cars set to cross the block.

1971 Cadillac Fleetwood Series 75

For our opening gambit, here is a gigantic Cadillac limousine originally owned by the late John Entwistle, bass player for The Who.

Imported by Entwistle (who could not drive), the Cadillac was used to transport his entourage during the 1970s. Such was Entwistle’s affection for the car, it inspired the song ‘Big Black Cadillac’ on his 1973 solo album Rigor Mortis Sets In.

Sold by Entwistle in 1978, the Cadillac is in need of mild recommissioning, although its huge 7.7-litre V8 engine has recently received attention.

A pre-auction estimate of between £15,000 and £25,000 has been given for the massive Caddy.

1971 Jaguar XJ6 4.2 Series I

Nancy Sinatra famously sang ‘These Boots Are Made For Walkin’’, but when it came to travelling longer distances, this Jaguar XJ6 was her preferred choice.

Purchased new by Sinatra, the Jaguar remained in her possession until 1975. It then passed into the hands of legendary car customiser George Barris, who painted it light green and fitted Series 2 wheels. The car’s next owner kept it for 42 years, until it was imported to the UK in 2018.

Now resprayed in its original colour, recent work has included replacement door cards and the addition of a retro-look Bluetooth radio.

With an estimate of £10,000 to £12,000, this retro Jag could be a relatively affordable alternative to walkin’.

1924 Rolls-Royce Springfield Silver Ghost

One of the most expensive lots listed in the H&H Classics auction is this pre-war Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, first owned by the late Phil Hill. The first American racing driver to win the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship, he remains an icon of the sport.

Hill purchased the car in 1967 and owned it until 1985, when he reportedly sold it for just $1 to its next owner. It was subsequently imported to the UK in 2003, and retains its original chassis, engine, gearbox and rear axle.

As one of the 1,701 examples of the Silver Ghost produced by the Springfield factory in Massachusetts, USA, this is already a rare car. Having a motorsport legend among its former owners cements a pre-auction estimate of £200,000 to £250,000.

1995 Aston Martin DB7

Sir Elton John CBE is well known for his car collection, and this Aston Martin DB7 was previously owned by the Rocket Man himself. Indeed, it was tailored to his exact specification.

Sir Elton chose a custom paint colour of Rolls-Royce Brewster Green, with an interior finished in bespoke Light Tan leather. A high-end Alpine stereo was matched with a powerful amplifier mounted in the boot. A Motorola car phone was installed beneath the centre arm rest, too.

Aston Martin Stage 1 stainless steel exhausts allow the supercharged 3.2-litre straight-six to exhale more freely. Adding to the DB7’s driver appeal is Sir Elton’s choice of a five-speed manual gearbox.

Having covered just 14,800 miles from now, and with a celebrity backstory, the DB7 has a guide price of £23,000 to £27,000.

1986 Aston Martin V8 Volante

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Aston Martin ‘Volante’ badge, which has just featured on an open version of the Vanquish super-GT. However, for an alternative take on an Aston Martin convertible, how about this classic V8 Volante?

First delivered to an American owner, this is one of the final Volantes to use Weber carburettors to feed its 5.3-litre V8 engine. It’s also equipped with a rare ZF five-speed manual gearbox.

Returned to the UK in 2017, the Volante has been thoroughly restored. It comes finished in Winchester Blue with Dark Blue Connolly hide upholstery. It could achieve between £110,000 and £130,000 on the auction block.

1971 Aston Martin DBS V8

Aston Martin first launched the DBS in 1967, intended as a replacement for the aging DB6. However, it took until 1969 for the DBS to receive the 5.3-litre V8 engine it was originally due.

With more than 300hp, the DBS V8 became the world’s fastest four-seat car, capable of reaching more than 145mph. However, even with such power and performance, only 405 examples were produced.

Painted in Signal Red with cream leather upholstery and a bespoke walnut dashboard, this DBS V8 underwent a comprehensive restoration in 2001. Since then, the car has covered just 5,000 miles, which helps towards a guide price of £85,000 to £95,000.

1960 Bentley S2 Saloon

A successor to the Bentley S1, the S2 was sold between 1959 and 1962. It marked the debut of the famed Rolls-Royce and Bentley L-Series V8 engine, variations of which were used all the way up until 2020.

Supplied new to a prosperous textile merchant, this S2 came with special features such as a steering wheel-mounted headlamp dipping switch, B-post marker lights and electric windows.

Cared for throughout its life, recent maintenance includes having the original tan leather upholstery and Wilton carpets deep cleaned, and a new set of Avon tyres fitted. It could sell for between £50,000 and £60,000 at auction.

2006 Bentley Arnage R

The previous Bentley S2 and this later Arnage R may be separated by more than four decades, but the L-Series V8 engine is common to both. By the time it was fitted here, Bentley was under Volkswagen ownership and the V8 had grown to displace 6.75 litres.

Adding a pair of turbochargers took the engine to 405hp, combined with a thumping 616lb ft of torque. Even with a four-speed automatic transmission, the luxurious Arnage R could accelerate from 0-60mph in 6.0 seconds, and reach a top speed of 155mph.

Finished in Silver Storm metallic with Cotswold leather upholstery, this is one of 373 examples made in right-hand drive. Originally delivered to Singapore, it came back to the UK in 2016 through the Jack Barclay dealership.

With a comprehensive main dealer history, the Bentley could sell for between £26,000 and £30,000.

1993 Jaguar XJ13 recreation by Proteus

The one-off Jaguar XJ13 was designed to compete at Le Mans, but never made it due to its lengthy development time. However, reaching a top speed of more than 161mph captured the imagination of enthusiasts, then a massive crash in testing in 1971 cemented it into legend.

Numerous replicas have been made since, including this 1993 example powered by a 6.3-litre Jaguar V12 engine that produces 350hp. A lightweight chassis, fitted with aluminium and glassfibre bodywork, kept kerb weight to just 1,120kg.

Owned by its vendor since 1997, the XJ13 replica has been driven around the Goodwood circuit, and used on various tours of France. Its desirability is reflected in a guide price of between £140,000 and £160,000.

1953 Jaguar XK120 Drophead Coupe

The Jaguar XK120 has become one of the marque’s most collectible cars, with more than 12,000 examples produced between 1948 and 1954.

Showcasing Jaguar’s then-new 3.4-litre straight-six engine, the Drophead Coupe was the final version of the three body styles produced. This particular car was first delivered to New York City, then later moved to Ohio. A British enthusiast brought it back to the UK in 1998.

Repainted in Cream with an interior retrimmed in red leather, the Jaguar has also had its wood veneers refinished. The original engine has been overhauled, as has the four-speed manual gearbox.

A pre-auction estimate of £45,000 to £55,000 reflects the car’s collectability.

1973 Lamborghini Espada S3

One of the earliest Lamborghini models, the Espada was a four-seat supercar launched at the 1968 Geneva Motor Show. Powered by a 3.9-litre V12 engine, and with styling by Marcello Gandini, the Espada continued to be refined by Lamborghini for 10 years.

The Series 3 version was revealed in 1972, with features such as power steering and air conditioning now standard. The V12 engine came with 355hp, plus its brakes and suspension also enhanced.

Lamborghini made around 130 examples of the Espada S3 in right-hand drive, making this a rare car. Found in a garage in 2022, more than £10,000 has been spent on recent maintenance and recommissioning.

Such rarity and desirability results in a £70,000 to £90,000 guide price.

1977 Ferrari 512 BB Wide Body

Even rarer than the Lamborghini Espada, this is believed to be one of 101 examples of the Ferrari 512 Berlinetta Boxer made in right-hand drive. Making it even more special are the bespoke modifications made by the supplying dealer, Maranello Concessionaires.

Finished in Rosso Chiaro with Nero leather upholstery, this 512 BB had its front and rear aluminium bodywork widened, with deeper NACA ducts added ahead of the rear wheels. A sports exhaust was fitted for the flat-12 engine, along with wider alloy wheels.

With just 6,000 miles from new, this collectable Ferrari has a pre-auction estimate of £150,000 to £170,000.

1967 Costin-Nathan GT

British engineer Frank Costin was responsible for helping some of the UK’s most successful motorsport teams, working with both Vanwall and Lotus.

In partnership with Robert Nathan, the Costin-Nathan prototype made its public debut at the Dorchester Hotel on London’s Park Lane in early January 1966. A year later, the first Costin-Nathan GT production car was shown at the Olympia International Racing Car Show. It featured fibreglass bodywork over a wooden monocoque, and tipped the scales at just 400kg.

Comprehensively restored, and powered by a 110hp Hillman Imp engine, the Costin-Nathan GT is said to be capable of 167mph. Complete with FIA historic racing papers, it could sell for between £190,000 and £210,000.

1966 TVR Griffith 200-400

With the reborn TVR Griffith seemingly another example of automotive ‘vapourware’, how about a classic example instead? This is one of 52 UK-supplied Griffith 200 models, powered by a 289 cubic inch Ford V8.

The property of its current owner since 1971, the car was comprehensively overhauled using the last Griffith long-wheelbase ‘MAL’ (Martin Lilley) chassis. Upgrades were added to the Ford V8, while a removable sunroof panel was also installed.

With its history file dating back more than 50 years, such provenance assists with a guide price of between £90,000 and £110,000.

1999 Lotus Elise 111S

The original Lotus Elise helped secure the British marque’s future in the 1990. The 111S seen here was one of the most desirable versions.

A tuned 143hp 1.8-litre K-Series engine, combined with a close-ratio gearbox and cross-drilled brakes, made the Elise an even more focussed sports car.

Recommissioned after a lengthy period in storage, this Lotus Racing Green example comes with a substantial history file, and even its original CD-Rom workshop manual. Get ready for summer fun with an estimate of £15,000 to £18,000.

1989 Ford Sierra Sapphire RS Cosworth

No classic car auction would be complete without a Ford Sierra RS Cosworth, but this four-door Sapphire is different to most that cross the auction block.

Bought in tired condition by the vendor in 1999, it was treated to a full Max Power-style makeover. This included a respray in Mint Green, along with colour-matched Revolution alloy wheels, debadging and a drainpipe-sized exhaust.

After the work was completed, the car was placed in storage for 25 years. It is now ready to hit the show circuit. Relive the 1990s for between £22,000 to £25,000.

2010 Ford Focus RS

For a more modern take on fast Ford history, the H&H Classics auction includes this second-generation Focus RS. Developed after Ford claimed the 2007 World Rally Championship Constructors’ title, the Focus RS boasted competition car looks and big power.

A turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine offered 301hp and 325lb ft of torque, all channeled to the front wheels via a Quaife limited-slip differential. A top speed of 163mph made for a seriously hot hatchback.

One of the 4,000 examples sold in the UK, this Performance Blue car came equipped with the ‘Luxury Pack 2’, which added a reversing camera and satellite navigation. It could sell for between £18,000 and £22,000.

2000 Subaru Impreza P1

The Subaru Impreza P1 was highlighted by insurance specialists Hagerty as one of the cars predicted to make major gains in value during 2025. A pre-auction estimate of £65,000 to £75,000 reflects this rising interest.

Launched in 2000, the Impreza P1 was limited to 1,000 units, all painted in Sonic Blue. Using the two-door body, Peter Stevens designed a bespoke bodykit for the P1, which also gained titanium-coloured alloy wheels.

Preserved in a climate-controlled garage, and with only around 24,000 miles covered, this car and its 276hp 2.0-litre turbocharged engine have hardly been used.

2002 Porsche 911 Turbo

Representing the switch from air to water cooling, the 996-generation Porsche 911 played an important part in the history of Stuttgart’s  famous sports car.

Revealed in late 1999, the 996 Turbo offered 420hp and 415lb ft of torque, combined with an all-wheel-drive system. This particular car crossing the block comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, in place of the slower five-speed Tiptronic transmission.

Painted in Midnight Blue Metallic, with Graphite Grey leather upholstery, it boasts the ‘Turbo Twist’ alloy wheels and desirable Aero Kit. All of this adds up to the pre-auction estimate of £40,000 to £45,000.

2003 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG

Mercedes-Benz caused a stir when it launched the SL55 AMG in 2002, hinting that it would be capable of more than 200mph if left unrestricted.

The 493hp 5.5-litre supercharged V8 engine brought hot rod performance, but the rest of the car delivers the same luxurious experience as any SL. Subtle changes to the exterior, including quad exhaust tailpipes, hinted at the speed on offer.

This particular car has just one owner from new, with 36,000 miles recorded on its odometer. Painted in metallic black with a black leather interior, the folding hard-top roof features a panoramic glass panel.

A guide price of £15,000 to £25,000 makes for a true performance bargain.