A breathtaking setting. A curated collection of classic, collector and performance motorcars. And one very special Ferrari that stopped the room.
When the Setting Matches the Cars
There are auction venues, and then there is Kelham Hall.
Set in the heart of Newark, Nottinghamshire, this magnificent Grade I listed Victorian Gothic mansion provides a backdrop so dramatic, so perfectly suited to the theatre of live auction, that even seasoned bidders pause to take it in. With its sweeping grounds, soaring architecture, and sense of occasion baked into every stone, Kelham Hall doesn’t just host great auctions, it elevates them.
Auctioneer 4 Hire was delighted to bring the gavel to the latest H&H Classics live auction of classic, collector and performance motorcars, one of the most respected sales in the UK classic car calendar. What followed was a day of exceptional results, fierce bidding, and automotive history changing hands in the most spectacular of surroundings.
Their Kelham Hall sales are consistently among the most anticipated events on the classic car calendar, attracting serious buyers, knowledgeable bidders, and consignors who understand the importance of provenance, presentation, and the right room.
On this occasion, the room more than delivered.
The Star of the Show: 1983 Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole. Sold for £92,250
Every great auction has a headline lot. A car that draws the crowd, commands the room, and reminds everyone present why they love this world.
At Kelham Hall, that car was a simply exceptional 1983 Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole and it sold for a well-deserved £92,250.
The Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole: An Icon Explained
The Ferrari 308 series needs no introduction to any serious petrolhead, but the Quattrovalvole, meaning “four valves”, represented a significant and exciting evolution of the model. Introduced in 1982, the QV’s four-valve-per-cylinder engine breathed new life into the 308, delivering sharper throttle response and a more characterful driving experience that delighted drivers and cemented the car’s iconic status.
Add the open-top GTS Targa body made globally famous by a certain TV detective and you have one of the most evocative, desirable, and unmistakable Ferraris of the entire 1980s.
Why This Example Was So Special
This wasn’t just any 308 GTS QV. This was an example of rare quality, impeccable provenance, and remarkable originality the kind of car that comes to market once in a generation and rewards the buyer who recognises it.
Originally supplied new to D. Goodman Esq by Lancaster Ferrari of Colchester, this Ferrari carries with it the kind of documented, single-owner early history that collectors dream of. It is:
- 1 of only 233 UK-supplied, right-hand-drive examples placing it firmly among the rarest of all 308 GTS QVs on British soil
- Just 20,000 miles from new an astonishing figure for a car of this age and pedigree, reflecting a life of careful ownership and treasured use
- Freshly serviced by marque specialists treated to a cambelt change and new clutch by renowned Ferrari specialist Shiltech just last year, ensuring the lucky new owner can enjoy it with complete confidence
- Retaining its original ‘165 TR 390’ alloy wheels wearing period Michelin TRX tyres a detail that speaks volumes about the care taken to preserve this car in its as-delivered specification
- Complete with its original book pack and jack roll the full complement of original documentation and tools that transforms a desirable classic into a truly collectable investment
The combination of ultra-low mileage, first-owner delivery history, specialist servicing, and original specification details made this Ferrari a genuinely outstanding example and the bidding reflected precisely that.
The Bidding: A Room That Understood What It Was Looking At
From the moment this lot was introduced, it was clear the room understood the opportunity in front of them. Paddles rose with purpose. The price climbed steadily, confidently, and with the kind of momentum that tells an auctioneer everything they need to know about a car’s true desirability.
When the hammer fell at £92,250, there was a palpable sense that justice had been done both to the car itself and to the consignor who had entrusted it to the sale.
The Magic of a Live Classic Car Auction
There is something irreplaceable about the live auction experience, something that no online platform, no sealed bid process, and no private treaty sale can fully replicate.
It is the moment the auctioneer opens the bidding and the room comes alive. It is the electric pause when two determined bidders lock horns and neither is willing to yield. It is the hammer fall… that single, decisive moment when ownership transfers and a chapter of automotive history begins anew.
At Kelham Hall, surrounded by the grandeur of one of Nottinghamshire’s most magnificent buildings, that experience is amplified to something genuinely extraordinary.
Auctioneer 4 Hire is proud to bring his expertise, energy, and professionalism to events like this, ensuring every lot gets the presentation it deserves, every bidder feels engaged, and every result reflects the true passion of the room.