Gallery: 20 cars for £20k at the Bonhams MPH auction

Estimate: £18,000 - £22,000

Later this month, Bonhams will be hosting its MPH sale at Bicester Heritage. Now, we often flick through auction lot lists and end up bringing you news of the world’s rarest and most expensive metal that’s up for sale – but this time is different.

That’s because the MPH auction features a whole heap of modern classics and random projects, mostly at reasonably affordable prices. So, here begins a list of the 20 most interesting cars that could potentially sell for around £20,000. 

We kick things off with a fantastic BMW Z3M Coupe from 1999. This one has done over 166,000 miles but has recently had £4,000 spent by its current owner.

Estimate: £12,000 - £16,000

The Thema 8.32, complete with its sleeper looks and 2.9-litre 212bhp Ferrari V8, was perhaps the most outrageous of all the late 1980s super saloons. This one looks remarkably free of rust too… 

Estimate: £14,000 - £18,000

Or instead of the Lancia, perhaps you’d like a different V8-engined saloon with the potential for rather expensive repair bills. Still, this Arnage Red Label is a huge amount of car for the money. That famous 6.75-litre engine has covered just 50,000 miles too.

Estimate: £10,000 - £15,000

At the other end of the luxury scale is this impossibly cool short wheelbase G-Wagen. This one’s a 2.8-litre petrol with auto ‘box and has done 150,000 miles. Barely broken in then.

Estimate: £10,000 - £16,000

This S800 may have limited history to go with it, but these coupe versions of the high-revving Sixties sports car often sell for double that estimate.

Estimate: £3,000 - £5,000

This XK8 might be a little shabby – the seller has given it a condition score of 60 out of 100 – but three thousand pounds. Goodness gracious. 

Estimate: £15,000 - £20,000

Coming up next on ‘things we didn’t expect to see today’ is this 1968 230 Fintail that has been fully decked out for long-distance classic rallies. Additions include a roll cage, long-range fuel tank, aluminium sump guard and the seats from a Range Rover. Crikey. 

Estimate: £20,000 - £30,000

This’ll split opinion. It’s a (very bright) 1972 2002 Saloon which has been fitted with the M44 engine from a 318is, a five-speed gearbox, stainless steel exhaust, power steering, a revised differential and a bespoke interior. What do you reckon, Internet?

Estimate: £5,000 - £10,000

The Green Goddess is somewhat of an icon in British culture. Used originally by the Auxiliary Fire Service until 1968, the Bedford RLs were then operated by the Army during the fire fighters’ strikes of 1977 and 2002. This one has had a steadier pace of life in the last few years though, having been put to use watering plants on the Cornbury Park estate.

Estimate: £4,000 - £6,000

This is a highly-specced S8 with almost 200,000 miles on the clock. Pretty standard, although this one was formerly owned by Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant.

Estimate: £10,000 - £20,000

Fancy an E-Type for new Ford Fiesta money? Okay, it might not be quite as sensible a purchase, but if you’re looking for a life-long project car – this could be it.

Estimate: £15,000 - £20,000

… or perhaps this could be – another Series 1, although this time a family-friendly 2+2 in what looks like slightly better condition. It’s been with the current owner since 1982.

Estimate: £15,000 - £20,000

Like the Merc 230 before, this little 1959 Sunbeam Rapier has also been prepared for classic rallying. It was fully restored last year and actually looks a bit of a bargain at that estimate.

Estimate: £22,000 - £28,000

Okay, we’re breaking our own budget a little here, but how could we not include this 911. This is a 1976 example with 166,000 miles on the clock, although its engine was rebuilt at 100,000 miles. 

Estimate: £20,000 - £30,000

Again, if hands get twitchy at the auction this could go a fair way over our £20,000 limit, but surely even the top estimate on this Quattro would represent a decent investment. Not that we’d advocate buying it as an investment of course – drive your cars people. 

Estimate: £15,000 - £20,000

And whilst we’re on a roll of modern-classic German coupe’s there’s this – the BMW 635CSi. It might not be the M Sport variant, but it’s still rather lovely isn’t it?

Estimate: £12,000 - £16,000

Anyone else think the old SL has aged brilliantly? The SL55, with its 5.4-litre supercharged V8, would have cost around £90,000 when new, but after just 47,000 miles you could pick this one up for £12,000. 

Estimate: £1,000 - £2,000

Although if we’re talking bargains, this left-hand drive LS400 has to be in the conversation. It’s all running and will be sold without reserve, with the bottom end estimate at just £1,000. 

Estimate: £15,000 - £20,000

Prices of original Continental GTs continue to fall, and this is a lovely example with just 71,000 miles on the clock. Although to avoid sounding like salespeople, we must also point out that this is a 15-year old luxury coupe – repair bills will not be cheap. 

Estimate: £4,000 - £6,000

Fancy a cost-effective way of getting into a JDM-only coupe here in the UK? The mad, butterfly-doored 2+2 Toyota Sera pictured here could be your answer. What a thing…

Come on then Internet, given the choice, which would you be taking home from the auction house?