The ultimate boy’s toy has been consigned to auction and it could get you on the slippery slope to a bidding battle.
A 53-year-old Arova-Porsche 212 skibob will go under the hammer in Hansons’ October Toy Auction and it epitomises what makes auctions so special. After all, where else could you find one let alone buy one? It’s essentially a bike with skis instead of wheels that you can use as an alternative to skiing or snowboarding. Only 200 were produced and of those just 50 were in orange/red.
The Arova-Porsche 212 Skibob was a collaboration between Arova, an established skibob maker, and car manufacturer Porsche. Made in 1970, it was designed to handily fit in the trunk of your stylish Porsche 911. Again thanks to Porsche’s involvement, the skibob has front and rear shock strut suspension and seating for two adults.
A few examples of this type been sold at auction as well as privately but Arova-Porsche 212 Skibobs rarely come to market, hence the guide price of £4,000-£6,000.
Skibobs – a contraction of ‘ski’ and ‘bobsled’ – were developed in the late 1960s as a new method of skiing. They were designed to help people with disabilities or those lacking leg or knee strength to enjoy the slopes. Early versions had front and rear skis called ‘feet’, and the front foot is steerable via the handlebars.
Skibobbing quickly caught on and remains popular. There are annual championships and modern skibobs have become remarkably advanced. They can reach speeds of more than 120mph in skilled hands.
The Arova-Porsche 212 Skibobs were originally sold in Germany and produced in two colours – blue and orange/red. According to information from German’s Porsche Museum, it’s estimated only 50 orange/red versions were ever made. That means the example set for auction is particularly desirable. It was used for a short period after purchase and kept in its original grey vinyl case and liner.
We expect it do well but it’s far from the only exciting boy’s toy in the October sale. Leap forward a couple of decades to the 1990s and an item made for the gaming generation is set to make waves.
Rarity and collectability are the ultimate combination in the the video games market and bidders have the chance to get their hands on something which ticks both boxes – a rare Nintendo 64 Foxdata Silver Leopard customised wired controller.
It’s thought only 200 controllers like it exist. Thanks to a booming retro video game market it could achieve £1,000 under the hammer at our Derbyshire saleroom.
Released in the late 1990s by Foxdata as part of a range of four different designs including Desert Storm, Chrome Leopard, Red Rain, and Purple Forest, this controller has become increasingly sought-after.
Information is limited but it’s believed Foxdata produced around 800 of these customised controllers across the four designs. That’s why we believe there could be less than 200 examples of this controller in the world.
It was purchased as a present for the vendor when first released. He recalls taking it to his friend’s house to play on the Nintendo 64. For its age and use, it’s in a generally good condition, though it would benefit from a clean.
It’s an exciting find according to David Wilson-Turner, head of Hansons’ Toy and Video Game sales. The Nintendo video game franchise grows ever stronger with each console released on to the market. Though the current trend is for the Nintendo Switch, anything Nintendo, whether modern or retro, is gaining traction among collectors.
David is predicting strong competition from Nintendo fans because this find offers them an opportunity to obtain a hard-to-source item. The guide price has been set at £700-£1,000 but, thanks to the surging gaming market, we wouldn’t be surprised to see it surpass that.
Though not a boy’s toy another item in the October sale demonstrates the sheer diversity and quirkiness of auction finds. You can bid on an original John Bennett face cast from Tom Baker Dr Who story The Talons of Weng-Chiang, estimate £100-£200. British actor Bennett played lead villain Li H’sen Chang in the 1977 Dr Who TV show, considered one of the best of Baker’s era.
The cast came from prosthetic creator Christopher Tucker’s private collection which went to auction after his death. Tucker (1941-2022) was a British make-up artist for theatre and film. He specialised in the creation of prosthetic make-up for horror films. Among his notable works were the make-up effects for The Elephant Man, The Company of Wolves and stage musical The Phantom of the Opera.
All items will be offered in Hansons’ October 17 Specialist Toys and Video Games Auction.
Entries are invited for these popular specialist sales. To arrange a free valuation, or to discuss a potential consignment, please email: [email protected]
