20 brilliant Brits at Bonhams’ SpeedWeek sale

Flying the flag

With Goodwood SpeedWeek almost upon us, it’s time to delve into the lots of Bonhams’ big sale at the circuit taking place on 17 October, which comprises a handful of amazing collections and more.

And it being one of the company's biggest British sales of this disrupted year, it seems only right to select the best of British from a catalogue that also includes John Surtees’ lovely BMW 503, as well as a smattering of Prancing Horses. 

1. 1938 Lagonda V12 ‘Le Mans’-style Sports Tourer (est: £190-240,000)

It’s changed a bit since it left the factory in 1938 as a saloon on a medium chassis, but this Le Mans-style V12 has lost none of its glory: just a few years ago it scooped a couple of class wins in the Lagonda Concours.

It has had a two-seater body since 1994, having had its saloon shell swapped for a four-seater well before along with a replacement engine.

That was also rebuilt in 2005, and the car has had little running since returning to the road in 2012. 
 

2. 1953 Bentley R-type Continental Sports Saloon (est: £800,000-1m)

One of the headline lots of the auction and of the Alps to Goodwood collection is this R-type. Remarkably, it’s prepped for rallying…

With serious collectors it’s completed the Liège-Rome Rally four times, plus the Rallye des Alpes, Eifel Classic, Gaisberg and Vosges Classic, with uprated dampers, bigger anti-roll bars, Dunlop racing wheels (that, oddly, don’t look out of place) and Alfin ventilated brakes.

All manner of enhancements have been made within that long nose, too, based on some of the work undertaken by Bentley’s Hythe Road Service Department and Experimental Department. Output is now 226bhp, while inside is air-conditioning and electric power steering.

One downside is you’re looking at needing around £1million to make it yours…
 

3. 1926 Bentley 6½/8-Litre ‘Le Mans’ Tourer (est: £600-800,000)

From the same collection is this epic British Racing Green Bentley. Similarly it’s no stranger to the road-rally scene, winning medals on the Peking to Paris Rally in 2007, and entering the Rotary Rally last year plus the Carrera Sudamericana, New Zealand Vintage Tour, Liège-Rome, Grand Prix de Tunis, Gran Premio Nuvolari, Rallye des Alpes, Ennstal Classic, Copperstate 1000, the California Mille and the Vintage Bentley Tour of South Africa twice. Quite the campaigner.

Its original engine was enlarged to an 8-litre during a 1988 restoration, while in the 1970s a Vanden Plas-style ‘Le Mans’ tourer body was fitted in place of its Surbiton body.

A fascinating car, and Prince Charles even drove it at Brands Hatch – there are photos to prove it.
 

4. 1952 Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica MkII Sports (est: £300-400,000)

If you’re challenged to name three British ’50s racers, chances are Stirling Moss, Tony Brooks and Roy Salvadori will be near your list. And each piloted this Frazer Nash in period, along with popular sometime Grand Prix driver Ken Wharton. Moss even put the car on pole around Monaco in 1952 in a Grand Prix support race.

Remarkably it was reunited with its original body in the 2000s, having been given a glassfibre shell at one point in the mid-’50s, and is as Brooks drove it to various podiums in 1954.

Despite the storied history, it’s not averse to competition today. 

5. 1924 Vauxhall 30/98 OE-type Velox Tourer (est: £200-250,000)

Pre-war Vauxhalls have had a bit of a boost this year following the record-setting 30/98 OE-Type Wensum that sold for more than double the then-record to £1,247,000. This fine example of one of the early sports cars could set you back a mere £200-250,000, which if it hits the upper end will still be threatening the top five Vauxhalls ever.

Delivered new to Australia and entered into many trials and speed events, after 50 years it was finally restored to its former glory and moved to Germany (hence the plates). 

Well used in recent years on road rallies, it’s a handsome pre-war machine out of the norm.

6. 1956 Bentley S1 Continental Coupé (est: £195-295,000)

Earls Court and cover star, this Bentley S1 offers a lot. Bodied by Park Ward, and recently refinished in Steel Blue, it has a fine pinstripe along its side that adds an extra layer of class. 

A flurry of owners in its early life after starring at the motor show led it to a longtime home, staying in the same hands for decades with a near-perfect run of maintenance records.

Ten years ago the graceful Continental was restored inside and out, underpinning its asking price.
 

7. 1961 Emeryson 1.5-Litre Formula 1 single-seater (est: £150-200,000)

It is but a footnote in Formula One history, but that is more than most. Paul Emery built single-seaters mainly in the junior formulae but graduated to F1 when the rules were opportune, and even made it into privateer hands during the 1.5-litre years. Not exactly with distinction, despite not running nobodies. 

Regardless, this Emeryson did achieve some success, because Mike Spence pedalled the car to the podium at Brands Hatch in the non-championship Lewis-Evans Trophy, having failed to finish his debut at the Solitude Grand Prix. Experienced campaigner Jack Fairman drove it at the Gold Cup, too. 

Chassis 1004 is the only F1 Emeryson left, which makes its £150-200,000 seem almost reasonable.
 

8. 1955 Jaguar XK140 SE Coupé (est: £80-100,000)

Having had just one owner since 1961 and twice restored, that Bonhams describes this XK140 as ‘mint’ is no surprise. Not least because it was delivered new in 1955 to the Fox family of Glaciers fame…

Shoehorned puns aside, it’s well specced with wires and a vibrant red interior, and the all-important matching numbers. 

A lovely example of a great Jaguar, by all accounts, that sounds good value for its £80-100,000 expectations.
 

9. 1933 Riley 9hp ‘Brooklands Special’ (est: £45-55,000)

Ready to be used and enjoyed, according to Bonhams, the seller of this Riley has seemingly done exactly that in recent years. Fresh from restoration six years ago, it soon ran in the Brooklands Double Twelve and headed to France for the concours at the Circuit des Remparts in Angoulême.

It has all the little details you could want for a real little head-turner: attractive blue paint with bright roundels, fishtail exhaust, machine-turned dash, nicely worn seats, the lot.

Just an all-round nice package, it seems, and they don’t come up too often.
 

10. 1939 MG VA Drophead Coupé (est: £50-60,000)

Another classic from long-term ownership in the big SpeedWeek sale at Goodwood is this pre-war MG. It’s very original, too, having only had the shocks uprated or modified since it left the factory, and seemingly mainly having been fettled in its 80-year life. 

Powered by a 1.5-litre with twin SUs and bodied by Tickford, it looks an appealing prospect for those lazy Sunday drives – with the roof down whenever possible. 

11. 1983 Ford Fiesta 1300 Group 1 Saloon (est: £35-45,000)

Chances are, if you like motorsport you’ll find yourself scrolling back up to this Fiesta when looking through the lots.

Yes, it’s a replica, but to such a standard that Alan Curnow and Richard Longman gave it the nod of approval at Goodwood when it appeared in 2017 and signed the interior. 

It is a recreation of Curnow’s Class A-winning car from the 1980 British Saloon Car Championship, with Mountune 1300 cross-flow engine with Weber 45DCOE carburettors and an original-pattern exhaust.

It’s a ticket on to the grid of some of the UK’s best historic events, all for a not-unreasonable outlay.
 

12. 1957 Austin-Healey 100/6 (est: £30-40,000)

Picture a Big Healey and it’s either blue over white or, as here, red over white, isn’t it? And this looks good value at £30-40,000, bang on the going rate.

There might be a little work required on the hardtop, according to the seller, but some (me included) might want to keep that little bit of wear. 

With spare wheel, toolkit and manual it’s otherwise lovely. Pity the weather’s turned…

13. 1984 Jaguar XJ13 recreation (est: £300-400,000)

TWR Replicas specialises in Jaguar recreations, with no shortcuts, it seems. Production of this XJ13 was started in 2012, and last year reached its end. All aluminium, the body was built by fabled firm Shapecraft of Elan fame, with an XJ-S beneath.

It’s powered by a 6-litre V12, unlike the 5-litre original, with an Audi RS4 clutch, a six-speed ’box and a Quaife limited-slip diff.

A special build that apparently is as good as new – as you’d expect for a 2019 build. Chances are you’ll be one of a kind wherever you go.
 

14. 1953 Aston Martin DB2/4 (est: £180-220,000)

The DB2/4 is a bit of an overlooked Aston in many ways. It doesn’t have the benefit of Bond, like the DB5, though ironically was a favourite of Ian Fleming, and as such is a relative bargain. One sold online with Bonhams earlier this year for £90,000.

But this has covered 36,000 miles since its restoration back to original spec in 2002. Many awards have followed, and modern additions have subtly made it a very usable machine, according to the seller.

That use hasn’t shown, looking still perfect, and the colour is eye-catching.

15. 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Volante (est: £550-650,000)

And talking of Astons in eye-catching colours… This DB6 Volante was delivered new to French Connection founder Steve Marks and is thought to be the only one in Amethyst, and was the sixth from last in the run. He kept the car for more than 40 years, and in 2018 it was given a body-off restoration.

Such an original matching-numbers car, and so fresh from a rebuild, would surely come at a premium. Yet its £550-650,000 pre-sale estimate looks about right at a time when many Astons have struggled.

Few are quite like this one, though – or perhaps none.

16. 1962 Lotus Elite Coupé (est: £70-80,000)

If this 1962 Elite Coupé hits its £70-80,000 mark then you’re looking at one of the most valuable Lotus road cars at auction in recent years. 

And for good reason, because it rolled out of restoration just 1000 miles ago. A long list of parts was replaced, and it has been in storage ever since, but not neglected – the owner’s mechanic would regularly go to check the car over.

Pleasingly, for sports fans, the first owner was a county cricketer, and a later owner went racing with some national success before the engine was rebuilt and interior reupholstered. 
 

17. 1959 Jaguar XK150 3.4-Litre Roadster (est: £80-100,000)

Another Jag, yes, and another from the excellently used Alps to Goodwood set. A US car, like so many, it crossed the Atlantic and beyond in the late 1980s to Switzerland, before being sent to XK Engineering for a restoration in 1989. 

In 2006 it was prepared for rallying by its then-new owner and a decade later was refined once again. The attention was on the gearbox, and the Jag gained a very useful overdrive. 

It isn’t a 120, but the 150 arguably offers more of a bargain. And this looks spotless, down to the carpet – and the 3.4’s asking price seems on the money.

18. 1936 Bentley 4¼-litre Sports Tourer By Vanden Plas (est: £320-350,000)

This, reckons Bonhams, is ‘arguably the most original of the survivors’ of the Vanden Plas-bodied 4¼-litre Sports Tourers. And having passed down through the same family for the past 70 years or so, you can see their point. It’s another that’s been used well in its time, traversing the lovely Scottish roads regularly. 

Initially silver it was changed to a light shade of green in the 1950s with matching wires – a colour befitting all pre-war Bentleys – and it was restored in 2011.

19. 1963 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8-litre Coupé (est: £120-160,000)

No ‘Brilliant Brits’ list would be complete without a Jaguar E-type. Bonhams’ SpeedWeek catalogue has two, a Series 3 and this lovely matching-numbers Silver Blue S1.

Restored last in 1993, but only 8500 miles ago, the E-type should surpass £100,000 – with its upper guide price £160,000. If it beats that, it would put this 3.8 into the top three E-types sold this year at auction in the UK. 

The light-blue leather interior is thought to be original and there is plenty of paperwork with the car, including a Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust Certificate.

20. 1931 Invicta 4½-Litre S-Type Low Chassis Sports ‘Simplon’ (est: £1-1.2m)

Perhaps the pick of the lot, not just of the Brits or the Alps to Goodwood collection but of the whole sale, is this Invicta.

Yes there’s a Ferrari 330GTS that could sell for more than the Invicta’s £1-1.2m, but this Low Chassis S-type can trace its full history to 1931. Possibly built from the remains of a car crashed by Le Mans winner and writer Sammy Davis, it was a works car that Tommy Wisdom took to class honours at the Ards TT in 1931. ‘Bill’ Wisdom also raced it, Kay Petre, too.

Simplon, as chassis S90 was known, lists Hollywood actor Tyrone Power among its many owners and the current custodian has taken it all over the world. Three Mille Miglias, numerous Ralllye des Alpes and Rallye Sanremos are just the tip of the iceberg. 

Quite the machine. 

Check out this and the rest of the catalogue here.