Words: Nathan Chadwick | Photos: Alan Kenny/Iconic Auctioneers
Silverstone Auctions is changing its name after 12 years in business, and will become Iconic Auctioneers. Set up by former racing driver and dealership owner Nick Whale, Silverstone Auctions has come to international attention with eye-opening sales such as the 1985 Ford Escort RS Turbo S1 that belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales, which sold for £722,500, and the 1987 Ford Sierra RS500 that sold for £590,500 earlier this year and is pictured below.
“As strong as a name such as Silverstone Auctions is, we feel we have grown to a position where we need a name that is truly ours,” explains Nick Whale. “This exciting change to Iconic Auctioneers better reflects all we have achieved, and the unique and diverse range of our auctions today.”
As part of the changes, Nick Whale will become chairman while Rob Hubbard will move from sales director to managing director. ““We needed a name that retained our level of credibility, but also encompassed all the things that we do, a name to allow us to be an auction house that can appear at any venue, in any country, anywhere in the world – and sell anything we want to,” says Hubbard. “It’s then we realised – we began at an iconic location, and have grown into an iconic brand, so the name Iconic Auctioneers just felt like a perfect fit.”
The company has also announced that it has changed its business model, so that there will now be no seller’s commission charged on cars and motorcycles offered at no reserve. Iconic Auctioneers will also be introducing private sales to its offering. The first sale under the guise of Iconic Auctioneers will take place on August 25-26, 2023 – The Classic Sale at Silverstone Festival. More than 150 road cars and 50 competition machines will be up for grabs during the two-day sale, including a trio of former Colin McRae steeds and Andy Rouse’s ‘lost’ Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth touring car, as well as Colin McRae’s personal Subaru 22B (pictured above). More details are available here.
