A 1949 Aston Martin DB team car which was stolen from a back garden and recovered 14 years later has become the top seller at Bonhams’ Festival of Speed auction. It fetched £679,100.
The ex-Le Mans 24 Hour and Spa 24 Hour racer was offered for sale by the owner’s family, who were reunited with the car after new intelligence led to its discovery in Eindhoven. It’s long-term owner Christopher Angell passed away a year after the Aston was taken.
“This ex-works Le Mans Aston Martin is the ultimate ‘barn find’,” said Bonhams’ James Knight. Despite its neglected condition, connoisseurs of racing cars regard it as a truly historic machine. Its wonderfully original patina, reminiscent of the days when it raced at both Le Mans and Spa, explain this special appeal. We are delighted that after such a troubled past, the car has achieved such a wonderful price for the family.”
A striking Bentley Continental followed the Aston to sell for £250,000, the proceeds of which will benefit the Care2Save Charitable Trust, which provides palliative and hospice car around the world.
The car had been painted by pop art legend Sir Peter Blake and featured a bold colour palette, which included a giant red heart on the bonnet and pink grille surround.
A 1981 BMW M1 sold to a bidder in the room for £303,900, while a 1972 Ferrari 246GT made £281,500.
Modern classics also performed well, with one of the star younger lots a Porsche 993 RS Clubsport, which also got away for £281,500.
