Emil Frey Classic Auctions – Online Autumn Sale Closes 3 October
31 cars, estimates from CHF 4,000 to CHF 340,000 and a range from a post-war prototype to modern classics: the Emil Frey Classic Auctions online autumn sale closes on 3 October 2026 from 2 pm.
Two days earlier, the auction house is holding a preview event at the Classic Center Schweiz in Safenwil.
The autumn sale at a glance
Unlike the April 2025 sale, which was held in person at the Classic Center, the 2026 autumn sale is run entirely online. Registered bidders have been able to bid since 8 September, and the sale closes on 3 October from 2 pm.
To bid, you need to register in the Emil Frey Classics online shop.
Anyone who wants to see the cars in person before bidding can do so in Safenwil. According to the auction house, the lots are on display at the Classic Center for two weeks before the sale closes. On Thursday, 1 October 2026, there is a preview event with talks on classic cars, market developments and preserving value. Places are limited and available by prior registration only.
For those unable to attend in person, the auction team will provide a vehicle check by its specialists for the lot in question on request.
31 cars between CHF 4,000 and CHF 340,000
The most valuable lot is a 1971 Mercedes-Benz 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet with an estimate of CHF 290,000 to 340,000. It is followed by the 1946 Lea-Francis 14 HP Sports Cowell Special at CHF 155,000 to 185,000 and a 1967 Porsche 911 2.0 Targa Softwindow at CHF 85,000 to 115,000.
British cars form a clear focus. Jaguar alone accounts for seven lots, from a 1948 Mark IV 2½ Litre Saloon via a 1957 XK150 Fixed Head Coupé, a 1963 MK II 3.4 Litre and a 1973 E-Type Series III V12 Roadster to a 1985 XJ-S 5.3 V12 HE. They are joined by two Austin-Healey 3000s – a 1962 BN7 and a 1966 BJ8 Convertible – a 1976 Rolls-Royce Corniche Convertible, a 1982 Aston Martin Lagonda and a 1957 Morris Minor 1000.
From Germany, besides the 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet, there are a 1971 Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL V8, a 1986 560 SL, a 1980 Golf GTI and a 2001 Audi RS4 Avant, among others. American classics are represented by a 1959 Chevrolet Corvette, a 1965 Ford Mustang 289 V8 Coupé and a 1971 Dodge Dart.
At the lower end of the catalogue is a 1990 Jaguar XJ6 Sovereign 4.0 with an estimate of CHF 4,000 to 6,000. It is the only car offered without reserve.
Four auction cars in detail
We have covered four of the cars in the sale in depth:
The 1946 Lea-Francis 14 HP Sports Cowell Special was built as the prototype for a small series that never went into production. According to the car’s documentation, the body is attributed to Denis Jenkinson.
The 1982 Aston Martin Lagonda dates from the early phase of William Towns’s design and was restored in England. The estimate is CHF 90,000 to 110,000.
For the GTI’s 50th birthday, a 1980 Golf GTI 1.6, first delivered in Switzerland and with an indicated 62,000 km, goes under the hammer.
The 2006 Bentley Continental GTC comes from the first production year of the open-top Continental.
Emil Frey Classics in Safenwil
The Emil Frey Group traces its origins to a workshop founded in Zurich in 1924 by the trained mechanic Emil Frey. Today the company imports brands including Citroën, DS Automobiles, Jaguar, Kawasaki, Land Rover, Lexus and Mitsubishi.
Classic cars form a separate division. In 2015, the Classic Center Schweiz opened in a former textile factory in Safenwil, with a specialist workshop, parts supply, classic car sales and a museum covering 1,500 m² over three floors. The in-house collection focuses on British and Japanese classics from the post-war period to the 1980s.
Since 2025, the auction business has also been part of the Classic Center. It was set up by Claudia Stiller, who runs the auctions. Emil Frey Classic Auctions holds two sales a year, either in person or online depending on the date.
Auction information
| Sale | Online autumn sale 2026 |
| Organiser | Emil Frey Classic Auctions |
| Bidding | open since 8 September 2026, registration required |
| Closing | 3 October 2026 from 2 pm |
| Preview event | 1 October 2026, by registration only |
| Viewing location | Classic Center Schweiz, Bahnhofplatz 2, 5745 Safenwil AG, Switzerland |
| Number of lots | 31 |
| Estimates | CHF 4,000 to CHF 340,000 |
Photos: Emil Frey Classic Auctions
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