[ CHASING CARS ] Nigel Boothman’s Market news
Stolze Classic Cars set to close, with liquidation of 240 cars
End of an era, as Stolze halts sales of classics after nearly 50 years
Joop Stolze, founder of Dutch dealership Stolze Classic Cars is selling off his remaining stock in an online auction due to go live from 24 April. He has already trimmed the number of cars he offers by half, to follow a ‘new hobby’ – building affordable retirement apartments where senior citizens can live socially.
‘I’m nearly 80,’ he told us, ‘and I’m still very happy to be working from 7am to 10pm every day, but lots of older people are stuck on their own, sitting in a chair all day. I want to use the land our buildings are on to create something better.’
Since he got permission for the plan late last year, the wheels have been set in motion to dispose of the vast range of classic cars, motorbikes and mopeds stored in De Lier, near The Hague. The final phase will be a series of timed online auctions by the Dutch firm Classic Car Auctions, with the lots available for viewing online from late March. From 24-29 April, 40 cars will go live every day – sales run up to deadlines starting 12 May.
Stolze has sold around 17,000 cars since he imported his first TR3 from the UK in 1976, with much of his stock coming from the US. ‘I still have that TR3,’ he says. ‘I’ve been rallying for 47 years and as a dealer, I’ve had too many cars to think of all the ones I like, but I still love my Cisitalia, a Boano-bodied Fiat and Maseratis, which I prefer to Ferraris. I love Alfa Romeos too, especially Zagato bodied ones. I will miss it.’
Visit classiccar-auctions.com to find all 240 lots, available in Dutch, English, German and French.
IN THE TRADE
JD IN ADMINISTRATION
The restoration specialist and historic car dealership JD Classics has once again entered administration, weeks after announcing a move back to its old site in Maldon, Essex. The entire contents of the business will be sold off in an online auction as we go to press, ending on 3 April. This represented 839 lots, from garage equipment to vintage enamel signs, car parts and body panels. The company survived a winding up petition last summer but appointed administrators on 27 January.
ECCLESTONE CARS SELL
All 69 cars in Bernie Ecclestone’s extraordinary collection of historic racing cars have sold to a single buyer – Mark Mateschitz, son of the late Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz. The sale was brokered by Tom Hartley Jnr, who described it as the largest single transaction in the history of the collector car market. The figure is likely to have been in the region of the £500m suggested as a value for the whole collection. Mateschitz aims to keep the collection together, and make it available for public viewing.
JOCHEN RINDT’S 911S
RM Sotheby’s Private Sales (rmsothebys.com) must find a new home for the 1967 Porsche 911S delivered new to 1970 Formula One World Champion Jochen Rindt who owned the car for a couple of years before it was converted to rally specification by Porsche Salzburg and used in competition. More recently, it has consumed €200k (£168k) in restoration costs. This may indicate a lack of original components, but the present condition and provenance are good compensation.
UPCOMING SALES
APRIL
Wed-Mon 23-28, Shift Online – Europe and Middle East Online Sale. rmsothebys.com
Sat 26, Cambridgeshire. Cheffins Vintage Sale, Machinery Saleground, CB6 2QT. cheffins.co.uk
MAY
Sat 3, Hampshire. Historics, Farnborough International Exhibition Centre. historics.co.uk
Sat 3, Bonhams Miami Auction, Miami International Autodrome, Florida. bonhamscars.com
Sun 4, Cheshire. May 2025 Classic, Performance & Supercar Auction, Hampson Auctions, Bolesworth Castle, Tattenhall, Chester. hampsonauctions.com
Fri-Sat 9-17, Mecum Indianapolis 2025, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis. mecum.com
Sat 10, May Classic 2025, Barons Manor Park Auctions, Unit 6, Harbour Close, Cracknore Industrial Park, Southampton. barons-auctions.com
Sat-Wed 10-14, Brightwells’ Classic Cars Online, Easters Court, Leominster. brightwells.com
Sat 17, Iconic Auctioneers’ Supercar Fest Sale, Sywell Aerodrome. iconicauctioneers.com
Sat 17, Perth. Morris Leslie May Classic Vehicle Auction, Errol Airfield, Errol, Scotland. morrisleslie.com
Wed 21, Derbyshire. H&H Classic Motor Cars, Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, Derbyshire. handh.co.uk
Wed-Fri 21-23, North Yorkshire. Mathewsons Online, Thornton-Le-Dale. mathewsons.co.uk
Thu 22, RM Sotheby’s, Fonderia Macchi Carlo, Via Enrico Cosenz, Milan. rmsothebys.com
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