Welcome to the debut of 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.‍

2000 Lotus Elise S1

Of its modern-era cars, the Lotus Elise best fulfils Colin Chapman’s ‘simplify, then add lightness’ mantra. This 2000 model is a standard 1.8-litre model, the purest of the breed. Critics often call the S1 one of the best-handling cars ever made, ushering in a new era of sports cars with its simple yet clever, bonded and extruded aluminium chassis.

I well remember my first time driving an Elise, when I collected an early press car from the Pot Ash Lane factory in Norfolk and took it back to London; that first cross-country drive left me spellbound. It’s one of those landmark models that every car enthusiast should experience in their lifetime. Perhaps this is your chance…?

This red example with contrasting gold wheels features the original naturally-aspirated 1.8-litre Rover K-Series engine producing 118bhp. While that might sound modest, in a car weighing just 725kg, it is enough to hit 0-60 in 5.8 seconds. It has reportedly been meticulously maintained, with a service history file showing inspections at regular intervals and a very recent service in February 2026 including a cam belt change and water pump. Tasteful upgrades like Series 2 Bilstein suspension, a Magnex stainless exhaust, and a Hurricane air filter enhance the experience without ruining the purity. With less than 39,000 miles, it reportedly drives well. The interior was refreshed in 2010 with red and black leather, and it even comes with both factory hard and soft tops.

If you’ve ever wondered what all of the fuss is all about, now’s your chance to find out.

Click here to view the Elise auction listing at PistonHeads.com

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2018 Porsche 911 (991.2) Carrera 4 GTS

If you’re looking for the definitive "do-it-all" 911, the 991.2 Carrera 4 GTS is right up there. While purists often argue over rear-drive versus all-wheel drive, the "4" in this case turns the 911 into a genuine year-round, all-weathers machine, providing a safety net of traction and stability that makes it a car you can count on – even on Britain's greasy, unpredictable B-roads.

As a GTS, it sits in the sweet spot of the range, offering more muscle than a Carrera S but more everyday civility than the track-focused GT3. Under the engine cover, the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged flat-six has been massaged with the Carrera Power Kit, bumping output to a stout 444bhp and 406Ibft of torque. Paired with the lightning-fast 7-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, it will catapult you from 0-60 mph in a spritely 3.4 seconds, eventually topping out at 191 mph. Critics have lauded this generation for its "startling immediacy" in corners, aided here by standard Porsche Active SuspensionManagement (PASM) and wide rear track.

This 2018 model stands out in its Crayon paint – a sophisticated hue that has become the modern equivalent of Guards Red for the GTS. Inside, you’re cocooned in a mix of black leather and Alcantara with contrasting stitching. With centre-lock wheels borrowed from the Turbo S and a standard sports exhaust that adds a raspier note, it provides all the theatre of a GT car with the comfort of a luxury tourer, making it an everyday hero.

Click here to view the 911 C4 GTS Collecting Cars listing

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1994 BMW M5 (E34)

If there’s one thing car enthusiasts will argue over until they’re blue in the face and foaming at the kidney grilles, it’s which is the best generation BMW M5. Anoraks often claim the E34 was the last real M5 because it was the last to be hand-assembled at BMW's Garching facility. Having been in the fortunate position of driving every generation of M5 on the same day, and on the same stretch of Welsh mountainside road, I can say with confidence the E34 is right up there.

This 1994 example is the one to have, featuring the final evolution 3.8-litre straight-six producing 340bhp and paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. It’s a special engine that you’ll never tire of extending to the top of the rev range, while the feelsome steering and balanced, talkative chassis will come as something of a revelation to anyone who has only driven modern performance cars.

Finished in the iconic Avus Blue Metallic with a Light Silver grey leather interior, it embodies the iron fist in a velvet glove philosophy that defined M Division's golden era. This particular M5 has been in the same ownership since 2001 and remains a usable, honest example of the breed. While the 150,000 miles and some visible rust around the headlight surrounds and sills suggest it hasn't been a pampered garage queen, it has received significant mechanical attention, including nearly £4000 spent on front suspension reconditioning, last year. The interior presents well after a leather restoration in 2021, and the EDC damper control is reportedly fully functional. It even retains its private 'M5' registration plate.

For the buyer looking to enjoy and improve a characterful legend over time, this sleeper saloon is a compelling opportunity to own a significant piece of BMW history.

Click here to view the BMW M5 E34 listing on Car & Classic

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1994 Porsche 968 Club Sport

The 968 Club Sport is the one the purists crave. It was famously voted as Car of the Year by Performance Car magazine, thanks to its near-perfect 50/50 weight distribution and reputation as the best-handling car of its generation. Stripped of dead weight like air-conditioning and electric windows, the CS is a track-focused variant that comes alive and gets better and better the harder you work it.

This example, finished in black with vibrant decals, is said to be an honest but (very…) battle-scarred CS. That might just be perfect for someone who isn’t fussed about originality or concours presentation and would prefer to keep adding to the 80,000 mile total – with some motorsport events along the way.

Under the bonnet sits a short-stroke 3.0-litre four-cylinder engine that needs working hard to release all of its 237bhp, but the real magic is in the M030 Sport Chassis option and M220 limited-slip differential. This car has been further enhanced with a Heigoroll cage and Luke harnesses, making it well suited to hillclimbs or track days. Interestingly, it is claimed to have a celebrity backstory: it was reportedly owned by Fred "the Shred" Goodwin, the former RBS boss and well-known car enthusiast. While it shows its age with patina – including a few scrapes and a cracked rear window – it is said to be mechanically sound with a well-documented service history.

As values for mint examples soar past £40,000, this usable, modified model represents a tempting entry point into the legendary world of transaxle Porsche dynamics. It’s a car that rewards the brave and the skilled in a way that few modern sports cars can replicate.

Click here to view the Porsche 968 CS listing on The Market

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1986 Lotus 98T – Raced by Ayrton Senna

This isn't just a car; it’s a holy relic. Chassis 98T-3 was piloted exclusively by Ayrton Senna during the first half of the 1986 season, scoring two victories, five pole positions, and three podiums. It represents F1’s wildest era, where the Renault V6 could produce more than 1000 horsepower in qualifying trim. It is also the final Lotus to wear the legendary black-and-gold John Player Special livery.

Driving this car must have been an assault on the senses. In qualifying, mechanics wore asbestos gloves to handle turbochargers that glowed white-hot from the heat. Senna famously used this chassis to pip Nigel Mansell by 0.014 seconds at Jerez – the third closest finish in F1 history – and romped to victory in Detroit after an incredible charge through the field.

Designed by Gérard Ducarouge, the 98T featured a one-piece carbon fibre and aluminium chassis and a pioneering pneumatic valvetrain that allowed it to rev to a dizzying 12,500rpm. This chassis has impeccable provenance, sold directly by Lotus in 1988 and later subject to a superlative restoration by Paul Lanzante Ltd. It is an undisputed icon of a power without limit period when Grand Prix racing pushed the boundaries of both man and machine. Associates and rivals alike remember the 98T as one of the most devastatingly powerful cars ever built. If you have a Senna-sized hole in your collection, and the financial means to realise a dream, (it is estimated to achieve between $9m and $12m) this immaculate masterpiece is primed and ready for its return to the track.

Click here to view the Lotus 98T listing with RM Sothebys

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