Join Sam Grange Bailey (The Old Car Lady) for a special auction episode recorded on Friday 13th February 2026, predicting results for Manor Park Classics' sale the following day. 

Sam goes through her shortlist from a dealer's perspective, estimating hammer prices, then reveals actual results with insights from Jim Gregory (Sales Director at Manor Park Classics) and Richy Barnett (Markets Editor for Classic Car Weekly).

This episode explores where the classic car market is heading in 2026. From a £5,750 Rover P6 V8 to a £10,350 Jaguar XJS that smashed estimates, Sam analyses what sold, what didn't, and why. We discuss the death of E-Type values, the rise of modern classics (1980s-2000s), and whether XK8s will leapfrog XJS as the affordable Jaguar.

Featured Cars & Results

• Rover P6 3500 V8 (1972) - Mexico brown, single family ownership, sold £5,750
• Triumph TR7 Drophead (1981) - 30k miles, hammered £6,400
• TVR S2 (1989) - British Racing Green, sold £6,900
• Bentley Arnage Red Label (2000) - 146k miles, £31k service history, bargain at £8,280
• Jaguar XJS 4.0 (1995) - Guided £5.5-6.5k, smashed estimate at £10,350
• Mercedes 560 SEC (1989) - Sold £20,460
• BMW 328i Sport (1998) - Sold £7,590
• Alfa Romeo 156 - Sold £8,500, having a moment

What You'll Learn

• Why service history matters with higher mileage cars and why high mileage cars can be a better bet than low mileage.
• How to spot auction bargains (Bentley Arnage at £8,280)
• Why E-Types have fallen and won't bounce back
• The sweet spot: £7-25k for monthly sales, £50-100k struggling
• Why 1980s-2000s modern classics are the hot decade
• How finance deals put exotic cars everywhere
• Why leggy but maintained cars beat garage queens
• The importance of MOTs even on exempt cars

Key Questions

What's hot and what's not in 2026?

Hot: Modern classics (1980s-2000s BMWs, Japanese cars), Porsche Boxsters/Caymans, XJS straight-sixes, TR7s, Alfa 156s. Not: Pre-war to 1950s British cars, E-Types fallen and won't recover, £50-100k cars struggling. The market shifted from cash buyers to finance deals making exotics accessible to everyone.

Are XJS values finally rising?

Yes! The £10,350 XJS (guided £5.5-6.5k) proves the market is waking up. Jim Gregory and Richie Barnett agree they're having a moment. Question: will XK8s leapfrog them as the affordable Jaguar, or will XJS become the E-Type successor?

What makes a good auction buy?

Single-family ownership, full service history, current MOT (even if exempt), regular use, original spec, right colors. Avoid: cars needing recommissioning, anecdotal mileage, wrong colors (beige Mercedes 190E didn't sell despite being perfect), high estimates leaving no trade margin.

A Nod to

Manor Park Classics Runcorn Cheshire 

Jim Gregory and Richy Barnett.

Get in Touch

📧 [email protected]

💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554

📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady

🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

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Produced By Worth A Listen Productions