Barons has some cracking cars entered in its Yuletide Sale at Sandown Park on December 9th. If a loved one has been dropping hints about wanting a very special four-wheeled Christmas gift, where better place to find that perfect present?

From sprightly starter-classics to exotic performance cars, and from barn finds to concours-standard beauties, there should be something to suit every taste and fit most garages (if not under most Christmas trees).

There’s even the ultimate present for a sporting wife - a 1962 Jaguar E-Type SI 3.8 FHC, chassis no. 232, which is being offered complete with the unforgettable registration number WAG 7. This glamorous machine has been stored since 1981. Now fully re-commissioned and MoT'd, it is a completely unrestored, original example. Estimate: £25,000-30,000.

Entries include a number of restoration projects, ideal for those looking for something to work on in 2009, including a ‘barn find’ 1979 Morgan 4+4 Sports (£8,500-10,000) and a 1956 Bentley S1 Standard Steel Saloon (£6,000-9,000).

The stately 1950 Daimler DB18 DHC (£14,000-16,000) should turn some heads, and there’s a whole bunch of stylish sporting and performance machines. These include a brace of Aston Martins - a 2002 DB7 Vantage Volante V12 estimated at £28,000-32,000 and a 1973 DBS V8i (estimate £25,000- 35,000). The latter has covered just 27,000 miles from new, and has a fascinating history. It was once owned by a gentleman who kept it under a dustsheet in his billiard room, and was subsequently owned by a Red Arrows pilot.

Motorsports fans - or Austin Healey collectors/specialists - could well find themselves charmed by the 1960 Austin Healey Sprite Pickup belonging to Austin Healey works driver Clive Baker, which was built by world-renowned marque specialist Brian Wheeler as a parts carrier (£4,000-6,000). And those looking to move into classic saloon car racing may be tempted by the 1972 Ford Escort Mexico, which has been the subject of a major restoration and conversion to FIA race car specification (£8,000-10,000).

The sale is being held in the 25,000sq ft Surrey Hall at Sandown Park.  The 'big brother' of Barons’ usual venue, the Esher Hall, the Surrey Hall can comfortably accommodate 100 cars under cover.

For further information, please call 08454 30 60 60, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.barons-auctions.com.

Market thoughts...
Looking back on 2008, Barons’ MD, Laurence Sayers-Gillan, commented, “Few could have predicted at the start of 2008 that the headlines would now be dominated by such dramatic global economic issues. Inevitably, classic and collectors' car enthusiasts will speculate on how this will affect the value of their vehicles - and it's not all bad news.

“2008 has been less buoyant than previous years, but well presented, good quality cars are still achieving good or record prices, as demonstrated by the 1956 Daimler Century Roadster which we sold for a world record £22,000 in the summer. There are some signs that people are moving money out of intangible assets and into classic cars. They can see, feel, hear and use a classic car, it will not be traded down by a dealer and will lose nothing or very little in the long term.”

December 9, Sandown Park - entries to date

Alfa Romeo: 1970 Junior Zagato 1300, £7000-9000
Aston Martin: 1973 DBSV8i, £25000-35000
Aston Martin: 2002 DB7 Vantage Volante, V12 £28000-32000
Austin Healey: 1960 Frog Eye Sprite, £6500-8500
Austin Healey: 1960 Sprite Pickup, £4000-6000
Bentley: 1956 S1 Standard Steel Saloon, £6000-9000
BMW: 1970 1800 Saloon, £3000-4000
BMW: 1973 3.0 CSL, Munich Legends history, £8000-10000
Daimler: 1950 DB18 DHC by Barker, £14000-16000
Ferrari: 1996 355 GTS Targa, £TBA
Ferrari: 1990 Testarossa, £28000-32000
Ford (UK):1972 Escort Mexico, restored to FIA spec race car, £8000-10000
Jaguar: 1974 E-Type S3 V12 DHC,£28000-31000
Jaguar: 1962 E-Type SI 3.8 FHC, ‘WAG 7’, £25000-30000
Jaguar: 1961 MKII 3.4 Sports Saloon,  £7000-10000
Jaguar: 1986 XJS V12HE Coupe, £TBA
Lotus: 1990 Elan SE Turbo,£TBA
Lotus: 1992 Elan SE Turbo, £TBA
Mercedes-Benz: 1968 280SE Saloon, £4000-5000
Mercedes-Benz: 1995 E320 Sportline Cabriolet, £9000-11000
Mercedes-Benz: 1998 SL320, facelift, £6500-7500
Mercedes-Benz: 2000 SL320 V6, £9000-10000
Mercedes-Benz: 1994 E320 Sports Saloon,  £TBA
Mercedes-Benz: 1983 280SL, both tops, £4750-5750
Mercedes-Benz: 1992 300CE Coupe, £TBA
MG: 1979 Midget 1500, £TBA
MG: 1972 MGB Roadster, £8000-10000
Morgan: 1979 4+4 Sports ‘barn find’, £8500-10000
Panther: 1977 Lima 2.3 Roadster, £TBA
Porsche: 1998 911 Carrera 2, £13500-14500

Viewing is on Monday December 8th from 3pm to 7.30pm and on Tuesday December 9th from 9am. The sale begins at 1.30pm.