A 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300SL with ‘Gullwing’ Coupé bodywork in aluminium, one of only 29 such alloy-bodied versions of the fixed head model and so extremely rare, flew to a $4,620,000 (£2,688,000) result when crossing the Gooding auction block in Scottsdale, Arizona.

This represents a new world record price paid both for a 300SL and for an alloy Gullwing and made the Mercedes the most valuable collector vehicle to change hands during 2012 Arizona Auction Week when a record six auctions were held.

ACA’s season-opener in King’s Lynn comprised 101 vehicles; a slightly smaller entry than the previous two sales so that all the cars on offer could be viewed undercover.

Highlights included a ‘stunning’ 1968 Mercedes Benz 280SL Pagoda that made £28,875, and two very fine-looking red Ford Thunderbirds. The first a ’56, made £18,900 all in, while its slightly younger sister (a ’61) made £14,175.  TR-Series Triumphs continue to do well here, with £14,490 including premium being paid for a 1956 TR2 that had recently been removed from a barn in Sussex, but far tidier than that description might imply. The car came fully recommissioned and with a fresh test, ready to show and use and was estimated at £10,750-£13,000. On a similar Triumph theme, a 1949 2000 Roadster that was renovated in 1973, has covered just 4000 miles since 1980 and made £14,280.

The best seller on a Tuesday afternoon in Surrey, selling for a relatively modest £27,500 including premium, was a 1969 Pagoda-top 280SL Merc, one of only 34 of the 75 cars on offer to change hands.

Very much cheaper at £25,300 in the Surrey sale than the Henri Chapron crafted ‘Décapotable’ versions of the Citroën DS, cosmetically poor examples of which have been making at least double this and sometimes very much more, was a former 1973 D Spécial saloon that had been in receipt of a what appeared to have been a well executed transformation to convertible by Dee-Ess Conversions of Malvern.

Exported to the US in 1956 and still left-hand drive, a Jaguar XK140 roadster with only fair paintwork following restoration in the past realised a just over forecast £56,100 including premium, and a 5000 miles since restoration and still very sharp 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190SL roadster on Weber carbs with hardtop made £55,000, £15,000 above the guide price. Also making the DVCA podium at the West Country firm’s end of 2011 season sale was a mostly good 1964 Bentley S3 sold for £23,650.

Considerable pre-sale interest had been generated by a 1954 Elva MkI B that had come to market here after 28 years ownership by one family. With a twin Weber Ford overhead-valve 1300 replacing the original side-valve 1172, the brakes upgraded to discs and the wings widened to cover more modern tread widths, this early example of the Sussex-manufactured sportscar from Frank Nicholls’ rival marque to Lotus cost a new owner £13,475.