JAGUARS, Mercedes and Porsches got car enthusiasts so revved up they splurged £3.4m in one day at a massive auction at Blenheim Palace.

Hundreds of classic car lovers drove to the Salon Privé Sale on Saturday in the stunning Woodstock palace grounds.

Organisers from Silverstone Auctions said they offered one of their highest-ever-quality catalogues and yesterday proudly announced total sales of £3.4m.

A spokesman for the firm said: "Jaguars and Mercedes proved particularly popular on sale day but the stars were no doubt the Porsches, with several highly desirable examples selling for strong prices."

A 1988 Porsche 911 (930) Turbo, described as "one of the finest Silverstone Auctions had ever seen" sold for £171,000 – £60,000 over its estimate.

A 1963 Porsche 356B TG Super 90, the only right-hand drive Super 90 Coupé on the market in the UK at the time of consignment, fetched £146,250.

And a 1971 Porsche 911T caused a stir in the auction room leading to an extended bidding war ending in a £69,750 sale.

The Porsche splurge climaxed with a final £208,125 sale price on a 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0, a limited edition with its own serial number.

In other brands, a 1973 Jaguar E-Type Series III Roadster, star of the legendary BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, sold for £115,875 – more than £40,000 over its estimate.

A very rare 1995 Mercedes-Benz SL60 AMG, one of just 49 right-hand drive cars produced, sold with a mileage of just 13,500 for a bargain £56,250.

There were also some slightly more affordable vehicles on offer at the weekend.

A 1943 Willys Jeep described as "perfect for Goodwood" fetched £24,190.

Visitors who did not come prepared to part with tens of thousands of pounds got a chance to admire more than 80 beautiful machines on display at Blenheim's Great Court.

Among the line-up of display cars were highlights from 30 years of the Pirelli Prestige and Performance competition as well as a tribute to the Lamborghini Diablo.