Jeremy Clarkson's amphibious utility terrain vehicle sold for more than twice its guide price at a recent vintage machinery sale.
The 2005 Argo Avenger 8x8 UTV, which was bought new by journalist and star of Top Gear and Clarkson's Farm TV series, was sold at the Cheffins’ Cambridge Vintage Sale near Ely last week.
It far exceeded its presale estimate of £2,000 and sold for £5,500.
The sale saw a number of the world’s most unusual classic and vintage tractors, alongside vintage motorbikes, classic commercial vehicles, petroliana and collector’s items go under the hammer, grossing over £2 million in total.
Of the over 300 vintage and classic tractors offered, the headline lot of the day was a 2001 John Deere 7810 which sold for £45,500, to a collector in the UK.
This was followed by a 1980s Ford 7810 ‘Silver Jubilee’ which achieved £32,500.
Among the earlier tractors, a 1964 Roadless Ploughmaster 6/4 fetched £31,000, while a 1918 Avery 8-16 made £29,000.
Tractors from the 1970s were also in high demand, with a 1975 Ford 7000 achieving £29,500 and a 1971 John Deere 3120 made £16,000.
Oliver Godfrey, head of the machinery division, Cheffins, says: “Over 75 per cent of the classic and vintage tractors offered sold on the day all for premium prices, illustrating the health and continued enthusiasm for this niche collecting market.
"With examples dating from the pre-1920s right through to the early 2000s and those which had been beautifully restored or those left to mature naturally, there was plenty of choice for both our regular buyers and a number of the new faces we welcomed to the sale ground.”
Among the vehicles, a 1963 Thames Trader and Scammell trailer achieved £24,000 and one of the most sought after lots at the sale was a fully restored Brayshaw living wagon, which sold for £17,500.
Of the almost 70 motorcycles on offer, a 1977 1000cc Harley Davidson XLCR achieved £11,070 and a 1951 499cc Norton 500T Trials motorbike made £10,422.
Another highlight from the sale was an 8 ft long 1/6 scale Scammell Pioneer tank transporter and Armotek Sherman Firefly tank model. The remote-control model was created over a 10-year period and achieved £20,000.
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