Welcome to Hammer Time!, our new regular blog series where we scour the UK (and occasionally global) auction blocks to find the machines that make car enthusiasts go weak at the knees and get into a bidding war. We'll spotlight five interesting cars going under the hammer in the next week. Whether it’s a blue-chip investment that’s a heap more interesting than an asset manager’s portfolio performance review, an "I deserve it" weekend toy, or a project car that will require no small helping of blood, sweat and tears to bring it up to scratch, we’ll be your eyes and ears in the salerooms, separating the wheat from the chaff and the garage queens from the track-day titans. Buckle up and bid with your eyes wide open; the hammer is about to drop

2007 Toyota Century

You are looking at automotive royalty. The Toyota Crown is not only the car maker’s long-standing V12 flagship, it is a favourite of Japan’s Imperial Household, with a Royal variant used by the Emperor of Japan to pop out and pick up some sushi rice and bottle of Nihonshu. Maybe.

This example is a 2007 Century, the second-generation (G50) full-size luxury saloon, and packs a 5.0-litre 1GZ-FE V12 engine – the only V12 ever produced by a Japanese manufacturer for a production.

Its conservative exterior styling remains largely consistent with its 1967 predecessor, featuring electromagnetic soft-close doors and a sophisticated air suspension system for a ride that rivals the world’s finest limos. Embodying a philosophy of "persistent work" rather than outward displays of excess, the Century prioritises passenger comfort with the use of wool interior trim, reclining rear seats with massage functions, and a unique Hō'ō (phoenix) logo representing the Imperial House.

If you were considering buying an aged Bentley, Rolls or Benz, don’t; buy this Century and marvel at how other cars keep their distance and traffic wardens daren’t approach, for fear of getting on the wrong side of the Yakuza.

Click here to view the Toyota Century listing at Collecting Cars

1990 Singer DLS Turbo

If you want to run with the big dogs, a DLS Turbo is as good a place as any to start. Crafted by the wizards at Singer (which was started by a bloke in a jolly good indie band called Catherine Wheel, who our own James Mills stage-dived to once upon a time) this is one of 99 DLS Turbos which began life as a 964-generation 911 and was reimagined as a modern-day version of the Porsche 934/5 racing cars that pounded the world’s circuits in the 1970s, winning six of eight Group 4 races in 1977.

DLS stands for Dynamics and Lightweighting Study. The first thing you’ll notice and quite possibly the last thing you’ll ever see of the DLS Turbo is that vast rear wing. (Take note! In some countries it’s illegal as it protrudes beyond the back bumper.) At least if there’s rain at a track day you’ll be able to shelter beneath it. It is suspended over a heavily evolved 3.8-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six engine capable of revving to 9000 rpm and producing a not insignificant 710bhp, and the gearing takes it to 218mph, not that Singer has bothered to put that to the test as it’s all about the drive, not the numbers.

A standout feature of this commission is its versatility, as it is offered with both track- and road-focused configurations that the owner can interchange. Like the colour? It’s Wolf Blue, and it has been applied to carbon-fibre bodywork and is offset by champagne-hue anodised magnesium wheels. Presented fresh from restoration only just run-in, this vehicle represents a rare opportunity to acquire Singer's most ballsy reimagining of a Porsche to date.

Click here to view the Singer DLS Turbo listing at RM Sotheby's

1975 Triumph TR6

The Triumph TR6 is the quintessential hairy-chested British sports car, famously dubbed by James May as the "most blokey car" ever made. The appealing thing about this one is that it has just been restored – not by a hungover bloke in a shed, but a marque specialist for the not inconsiderable sum of £50,000.

Finished in British Racing Green with a tan leather interior, this 1975 example is so freshly restored you can almost smell the leather trim and fuel from the exhausts just from ogling the photos.  

It is powered by a 2.5-litre straight-six engine – sourced from a 1977 Triumph 2500S – that has been rebuilt with a 150 camshaft, a lightened flywheel, and a stainless-steel manifold and exhaust system, said to result in a smooth idle and a raucous induction rasp. Modern reliability is bolstered by electronic ignition, a High Velocity starter motor, and an electric cooling fan. With its ladder chassis, four-speed manual gearbox with overdrive, and easy-to-read handling, this TR6 offers the visceral driving experience of a raucous 120mph classic convertible while remaining remarkably straightforward to maintain.

And given the small fortune spent on its restoration, there’s the potential to snap up a bargain if not too many people are in the room…

Click here to see the Triumph TR6 listing at The Market

2005 Porsche 911 GT3

There’s a lot of chat at cars n' coffee meets and in the corners of t’internet about the first generation 911 GT3. Collectors tend to be attracted to where a story began or ended, and this is kind of where the GT3’s story started.

We say kind of, because this 2005 model is a 996.2, which mean it’s the facelifted version, but that’s a good thing because some appreciable improvements were made by Porsche. This one-owner example has a mere 3339 indicated miles on the clock, which has got us looking for lost tenners down the back of the sofa. At its heart lies the legendary, bullet-proof (well, according to the hyperbole of Porsche fans) 3.6-litre 'Mezger' flat-six engine, closely related to the powerplants of the Porsche 962 and 911 GT1, producing 355bhp delivered via a strengthened manual gearbox with short ratios.

Finished in Arctic Silver, it sports a half roll-cage and leather-clad bucket seats, likely specced from the 'Clubsport' package, and reportedly remains in showroom condition despite a Cat D status from minor cosmetic damage in 2005. Slower than subsequent models but appealing for the way it draws the driver deep into the raw and visceral driving experience, it appears to be a great opportunity to bag a low-mileage 996.2 GT3. But promise us you’ll get out there and rack up more miles if you put in the winning bid.

Click here to view the Porsche 911 GT3 listing on The Market

1972 Peugeot 304 Cabriolet

We feel chilled out just by looking at this Peugeot 304 Cabriolet. It’s the sort of indulgence that would make the ultimate coastal holiday-home car, designed to bring out the sunshine and smiles in equal measure  every time it leaves the garage.

With its clean, elegant lines penned by Pininfarina, this rare right-hand drive example – affectionately known as 'Rhubarb' – is believed to be one of only 26 currently registered for the road in the UK. While its bright yellow paintwork and period-correct Jaeger Binacle instruments are certain to turn heads at any seaside promenade, please note that this charming cruiser has only two seats, meaning no one else can join when you potter off to your favourite beachside eatery. Not that that’s a bad thing, right?

Restored prior to its current ownership and a winner of multiple car show awards (even if it looks like it would benefit from a thorough valet)  'Rhubarb' has been meticulously maintained with more than £2000 spent on recent services and a new radiator installed to ensure it remains one of the finest surviving examples of this increasingly scarce French classic.

Click here to viewthe Peugoet 304 Cabriolet listing on Car & Classic

1994 Land Rover Range Rover Vogue SE

These things are at once both classy and classless. You could be the landed gentry driving a Range Rover Classic, touring your country estate as the sun rises over your green and pleasant land, or a hard-nosed villain touring your city estate as the sun sets and you collect earnings from dealers on every street corner.

Sorry. Getting carried away. Back to business: this "Soft Dash" Classic – one of the final iterations of the original Range Rover silhouette – presents a rare opportunity to own an almost completely original example with only two owners from new.

Finished in refined Avalon Blue, this Vogue SE combines the rugged capability of a 300 TDi diesel engine with sophisticated comforts like air conditioning, an electric sunroof, and heated seats. However, it’s not clear what the condition is like below the surface, so tread with caution and ask all the right questions before submitting that bid. Recently treated to over £3,000 in mechanical recommissioning, including a new exhaust and brake overhaul, it is primed to transport its next owner from the city to the countryside with effortless style and "old-school" prestige.

Click here to view the Range Rover Vogue SE listing on Car & Classic

If you would like to know more about Racing Green’s services, or arrange for your car to be placed in our care, please speak with a member of the team, on 03330 909722, or email us at enquiries@racinggreencarstorage.co.uk