Brightwells Classic Cars and Modern Classics
United Kingdom • 13th May 2026
Upcoming Auction Preview & Market Outlook
Image Source: Brightwells
£1,597,250
TOTAL AVG OF ESTIMATES
157
TOTAL LOTS
AVG EST PER CAR
£11,170
TOP ESTIMATE
£100,000
AVG YEAR
1976
What to expect from the Brightwells Classic Cars and Modern Classics auction?
Brightwells is preparing for its Classic Cars and Modern Classics auction on 13th May 2026.
With 157 lots currently consigned, the auction carries a combined mid estimate of £1,597,250. The catalogue offers cars to suit all price points and will be a good indicator of the health of the market in the United Kingdom.
Which car is the headlining the auction?
Topping the bill pre-sale is the 1956 Lotus Eleven Le Mans. Carrying an estimate of £90,000 - £100,000, it represents the highest-valued lot in the current catalogue.
This lot makes up 5.9% of the total value of the Brightwells catalogue.
Any potential bargains?
We've compared the estimate of every car in this auction against the recent prices we've seen for the respective model. The top 3 cars that appear most reasonably estimated vs their market history are:
• 1955 Jaguar XK140 FHC - Est. £30,000 - £35,000
• 2014 Audi R8 Quattro V8 S-Tronic - Est. £29,000 - £31,000
• 1985 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera Cabriolet - Est. £27,000 - £30,000
Now, we haven't inspected these cars in person so make sure you go check them out and understand what you're buying and the extent of work needed.
The most affordable entry in the whole Classic Cars and Modern Classics auction is the 2011 Renault Twingo Gordini, with an estimate of £1,500 - £2,500.
Any strong estimates?
Again, we've compared the estimate of every car to recent prices for said model. The 3 cars below all have the strongest estimate vs usual prices for that model:
• 2012 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392 - Est: £32,000 - £34,000
• 1958 Triumph TR3A (Overdrive) - Est: £27,000 - £30,000
• 1987 Opel Manta GT/E Exclusive - Est: £22,000 - £23,000
This is not to say these cars are overpriced, but rather vs prior sales for the model they're above what we typically see.
Check out the full catalogue below.
Well bought? Lots that sold under their estimates by the largest percentage
Not every superstar found a new home. The highest-valued car that failed to meet its reserve was the [UnsoldYearMakeModel], which reached a high bid of [TopUnsoldHighBid] against an estimate of [UnsoldEstimateRange].
Since the bid reached [XX%] of the low estimate, it indicates a gap between [Sellers/Consignors] expectations and the current bidder reality. This lot is now a prime candidate for a post-auction "Off-Market" deal.
Estimates vs Model Averages
See how auction estimates compared to historic prices.
The Top 10
See the top 10 most expensive cars for sale in the auction
Why this article was created
At The Classic Valuer, we maintain one of the world’s largest independent databases of collector car transactions, tracking over $20bn in sales across 40+ global houses.
This summary provides an immediate analysis of 157 listings, comparing auction estimates against our own independent valuation models.
Looking for deeper model-specific insights? If you are researching a specific car from this event, such as a Lotus, click below to access our full Model Price Guides. There, you can analyse decade-long price trends, see every historical sale, and use our valuation tools to calculate the true market value of your next acquisition.
How this article was created
This article was created by looking back analysing the catalogue of the Brightwells Classic Cars and Modern Classics against our historical database dating back to 1985. We've scanned over 40 auction houses and results from over £20 billion of sold cars around the world to provide context for this Classic Cars and Modern Classics preview.
The Classic Valuer uses proprietary data and analytics to generate these insights at scale. For further information regarding specific lots like the 1956 Lotus Eleven Le Mans, please visit the price guides linked below.
About The Author
Giles Gunning
Giles is CEO of The Classic Valuer - one of the world's largest databases of sold collector cars in the world going back over 30 years covering over 13,000 models. Giles and The Classic Valuer are regularly referenced in key motor publications including Classic & Sports Car.
Giles grew up around the iconic historic motorsport venue at Goodwood and enjoys his 1972 Alfa Romeo 1600 GT Junior or 1960 MG A Roadster around the Sussex roads. His primary car goal is to purchase back a selection of his grandfather's car's including his 1931 Riley Brooklands.