12 of the best classics for sale at Bonhams’ Revival auction

Pick up a true racing legend at Goodwood this weekend

A Bonhams auction is just as much a part of the Goodwood Revival furniture as engine oil and period dress, and this year is no different.

On Saturday (14 September), more than 100 classics will go under the hammer – and in keeping with the location, many of them have a racing history.

From rally cars that have been flung around East Africa to Jags that graced the UK’s finest circuits in the ’50s, there’s a wonderful variety of vehicles on offer.

Fancy a browse? We’ve picked out a dozen of our favourites (including one or two road cars that we particularly liked).

1990 Spice SE90C

Estimate: £200-260,000

The pre-Girl Power 1990s were clearly a different time when it came to gender stereotypes, and for proof of that look no further than this bright pink Group C Sports Prototype.

Built by Gordon Spice and Ray Bellm’s massively successful Spice Engineering team, it was entered into the 1991 Le Mans 24 Hours by the Japanese Euro Racing outfit and featured an all-women line-up of Lyn St James, Cathy Muller and former F1 driver Desiré Wilson.

Sadly, it only completed 47 laps before being forced to retire, but it’s fared far better in historic racing, with multiple wins across Europe.

1957 Rochdale GT Coupé

Estimate: £30-40,000

Only around 80 or so of these diminutive and elegant British sports cars still exist, from around 1350 originally made, and this one’s probably one of the best you’ll see.

Fully restored earlier this century, it’s eligible for historic racing at Goodwood and elsewhere – and indeed, competed in the Fordwater Trophy at the 2013 Revival. Fancy giving it a go? It looks a steal at £30-40k.

1961 Jaguar E-type Semi-Lightweight

Estimate: £600-750,000

You’re probably thinking that £600,000 (or more) sounds like a lot for an E-type, but this is one of only seven semi-lightweight models built specifically to go racing.

Known by its registration ‘9 VPD’, it was supplied new to track ace John Coombs, together with its more famous sister car ‘4 WPD’.

It didn’t enjoy the success that ‘4 WPD’ did in period, but it’s since been raced at the Silverstone Classic, Le Mans Classic and Goodwood Revival, with the likes of Emanuele Pirro, Marc Gené, and Tony Jardine all having driven it.

1935 Bugatti Type 57 Atalante Faux Cabriolet

Estimate: £1-1.5m

The ultra-rare Bugatti is one of only a handful of surviving ‘Atalante’ fixed-head coupés and is one of six cars offered for sale from the collection of the late Barry Burnett

It’ll go to auction resplendent in striking black and cream coachwork – and, as you might expect for such an exclusive machine, with a suitably eye-watering estimate of £1-1.5m. 

1976 Porsche 911 Carrera

Estimate: £400-500,000

This one’s a genuine record-breaker: it’s clocked up more competitive miles than any other Porsche.

Built for the 1977 London-Sydney marathon, it has since competed in numerous other long-distance rallies in Australia, Africa and Europe – in the process racking up so many miles that it could have circumnavigated the globe three times!

1961 Cooper Climax T55

Estimate: £100-150,000

There are plenty of reasons why you’d want to bid for this historically significant single-seater, but the fact that proceeds from the sale will go to Jackie Stewart’s Race Against Dementia charity will surely convince any wavering buyers.

One of only two T55s built, it was raced in period by none other than Jack Brabham for the Cooper team, finishing fourth at the 1961 British Grand Prix and sixth in The Netherlands and tasting victory at the non-Championship Aintree 200.

Since its retirement in the late ’60s it has resided in several collections, including at one stage that of Hollywood movie director David Cronenberg, who raced it successfully in various historic events.

1995 Range Rover CSK

Estimate: £60-80,000

No, you’re not seeing things: this Range Rover really does have only two doors.

Produced to celebrate the model’s 20th birthday, the ‘CSK’ was added in honour of the concept’s originator, Charles Spencer King.

Just 200 were produced, all finished in black, and they’re highly sought after today. This example’s said to be in generally excellent condition, having been extensively restored in recent years.

1923 Aston-Martin 1½ Litre

Estimate: £100-140,000

One of the oldest surviving production ‘Astons-Martins’ – the hyphen is how the marque listed itself at the time – chassis 1932 was originally fitted with a two-seater body by W W Hall of Redditch in 1924 and has a rich history including appearances in The Motor and The Autocar in the ’30s and ’40s.

Rebodied and restored several times, it goes to auction following a full engine rebuild in 2015 and is said to now drive very well. Not bad for a 96-year-old.

1976 Ford Escort RS2000 Mk2

Estimate: £68-75,000

Another former rally star, this RS2000 spent most of its competitive life in Finland.

Driven in period by notable stars including Timo Mäkinen and Kyösti Hämäläinen, it was completely rebuilt in 2010 in accordance with the Group 1 regulations and duly won the Finnish Historic Rally Championship in both 2011 and 2012.

1965 Wolverine LD65 Chevrolet

Estimate: £80-90,000

A true one-off, the Wolverine LD65 was built in 1965 for the fledgling CanAm series and took part in the competition’s very first race at the St Jovite circuit at Mont Tremblant, Canada in 1966.

Sadly, a 20th place finish wasn’t enough to convince its owner that it had race-winning potential, and he instead acquired a McLaren for the following season. Though the Wolverine did compete a few times in subsequent years, it’s enjoyed more success as a historic racer, including two appearances at the Goodwood Revival.

1954 Jaguar XK120

Estimate: £150-200,000

Any XK120 is notable – it was the fastest thing on four wheels when it arrived in 1948 and duly sparked Jaguar’s interest in motorsport – but this example is particularly interesting.  

Why? Well it was owned and raced by ‘Gentleman’ Jack Sears throughout the 1954 season. Sears was a motorsport legend who twice won the British Saloon Car Championship and finished fifth at the 1963 Le Mans 24 Hours, and he raced this very car at the ’54 RAC Rally and at Goodwood, Snetterton, and various hill climb venues.

Still pretty nippy today, it competed in the Fordwater Trophy at last year’s Revival and is surely a good bet for a repeat visit with its new owner.

1965 BMW 1800 TI/SA

Estimate: £30-40,000

A relative bargain at just £30k – about the price of a new Ford Focus RS – this BMW has enjoyed huge track success as a historic racer.

Having started life as a standard 1800 TI it was upgraded to TI/SA touring-car spec and has been entered in FIA events since the 1990s; indeed, it won the European Championship in 1992 and finished 5th overall in 2003. 

Appearances at the Goodwood Revival and Silverstone Classic have followed in recent years, and with its engine having been rebuilt last year, it’s surely primed for further success with its new owner.

Bonhams’ Goodwood Revivial sale takes place on 14 September. View the full lot list here.