A 1934 Aston Martin MkII has sold as top lot in Bonhams' Preserving the Automobile auction, a sale held at the Simeone Foundation in Philadelphia.
 The Aston Martin has been in the collection of Bill Cosby since the 1960s |
The auction showcases cars in largely original, unrestored condition, yet the Aston Martin has been treated to a sympathetic restoration at some point in its history. Formerly owned by comedian and car enthusiast Bill Cosby, the MkII sold for $234,0000.
The car is a matching numbers example, and retains most of the period details that give it its superb character. It boasts a 73 bhp 4-cylinder engine with twin SU carburettors, and 4-speed manual transmission.
 The car, a superb example, is fitting of its previous owner, tobacco heir and socialite Doris Duke |
Also selling well was a spectacular 1910 Peerless Model 29 Park Phaeton/Victoria with coachwork by Brewster & Co.
Described as "one of the most elegant, refined and attractive formal automobiles of the first decade of the century", the car was once owned by tobacco heir and socialite Doris Duke, warranting its $231,000 sale price.
The auction offered mainly pre-war models, though a 1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage Saloon appeared in the top sales at $198,000. Having had just three owners from new, the car has driven only 200 miles in the last 27 years and is a matching numbers example.
Unrestored classic cars are extremely popular on the present market, with a Triumph Herald that had just 20 miles on the clock selling for $22,000 at auction in September. This was followed by an extraordinary sale in Nebraska, which saw a Chevrolet dealership sell off its unused vintage models.
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