A low milage on a classic car usually generates an increased interest, the low driving distance fascinates and stimulates the fantasy. Now Bilweb Auctions can offer two exciting classics with around 20 000 kilometers on the clock: a 1992 Toyota Previa and a 1988 Daimler Sovereign.
”Low milage” is a pretty inexact term, it can mean under 10 000 km for someone, while a car with ten times that figure is a low milage for somebody else. And it obviously depends on what kind of car you are talking about: a Countach with 100 000 km might not be considered low milage, but a Volvo 145 estate definitely will.
A 1992 Toyota Previa, driven only for 20 000 km, is probably considered a somewhat unexpected classic. Maybe there is a limited number of classic car enthusiasts dreaming about a minivan from the early 1990s, but nevertheless the Previa is a rare survivor from an era when the ”people mover” was a big seller, especially in the US.
The Previa was designed in California, aiming mainly to compete with the Chrysler minivans that was very successful at the time. It was the exciting design that made a businessman in south of Sweden order this Previa, picking it up at the dealership just before Christmas in 1991. It was, however driven very sparingly, ten years later the odometer showed just 15 000 kilometers - and since then only 5000 kilometers has been added.
The very low milage means that the car is very close to the condition it had back in ’91 when it was delivered, making it an exceptional time piece. The value has been estimated at between 100 000 and 150 000 SEK
A 1988 Daimler Sovereign has very little in common with a Toyota Previa. Here we are talking about English posh luxury in contrast to Japanese family car - but the two auction car has the low milage in common.
The Daimler in Bordeaux red metallic was bought new by an Englishman working in the oil business in Oman - hence the LHD and the km/h speedometer. When he returned home to England, he brought the car with him, but drove it very little. Perhaps because the steering wheel was now on the wrong side?
In 2015, with 22 000 km on the clock, it was sold to a Swede and since then only 3000 km has been driven. These figures are clearly reflected in the superb condition, both exterior and interior.
A Daimler Sovereign is a prestige version of the Jaguar XJ40, with more exclusive leather and wood panels, darker rear lights and - of course - the characteristic fluted Daimler grille. This beautiful example of a classic Jaguar - sorry, Daimler - is valued to approximately 160 000 SEK. In the same auction, closing on 21 March, there are a few other cars that deserves the epithet ”low milage car”:
- a 1971 Volvo 144, 99 000 km. Unrestored car in a wonderful original condition
- A 1962 Volvo Amazon, 90 000 km. Carefully restored by two experts on classic Volvos
- 1971 Volkswagen 1300, 62 000 km. A beautiful Beetle in an untouched condition
