25 head-turners in the Goodwood Revival 2024 auction

Off-track competition

Aside from the on-track action at Goodwood Revival, the annual auction is one of the event’s highlights.

This year, on 7 September, the Bonhams sale will see nearly 200 lots go under the hammer, including some rare and exceptional classic cars.

Choosing just 25 lots has forced us to leave out many stunners, so be prepared to lose an hour or two if you browse the online catalogue.

In age order, here’s our pick of the sale.

1. 1927 Bentley 4½ Litre Vanden Plas Tourer (est: £300-400,000)

Enjoyed by the vendor for 30 years, this handsome Bentley is offered with an extensive history file.

YU 6281 has led an active life, campaigned in historic rallies all over the UK and Europe.

Affectionately known as Bertie, the car was once described by motoring journalist, Andrew Frankel, as the best-handling vintage Bentley he had driven.

2. 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C 2300 Corto Spider Recreation (est: £475-650,000)

It would take a true expert to tell that this Alfa Romeo 8C is a recreation.

Bonhams describes it as ‘one of the finest available on the market’.

Built over more than a decade with an open-ended budget, the fastidious attention to detail is reflected in the estimate.

3. 1934 MG NE Magnette (est: £225-275,000)

The NE Magnette was MG’s response to a change in regulations for the prestigious Ulster Tourist Trophy.

Narrower bodywork than the N-type model allowed the NE to meet the new requirements, and this car was one of six to enter the 1934 race, campaigned by Captain George Eyston’s team.

JB 4748 has since spent more than 80 years in Australia.

4. 1935 Aston Martin Ulster (est: £500-700,000)

Just 31 examples of the Aston Martin Ulster were built. Remarkably, 28 are known to survive.

This car was the original works demonstrator, and the subject of a rave review in The Light Car Magazine: ‘Built for a specialised job, the Ulster Aston Martin does that job, we repeat, as it should be done’.

5. 1950 Bristol 402 Drophead Coupé (est: £100-150,000)

The earliest soft-top Bristol, the first two 402 Drophead Coupés were delivered to Hollywood stars Stewart Granger and Jean Simmons.

This 402 had been off the road for 46 years before a painstaking eight-year restoration.

And we’re glad someone invested the time and effort in it, because it is a rare survivor, reckoned to be one of 12 examples of the 402 Drophead Coupé remaining – making this a special opportunity for bidders at the Goodwood Revival sale on 7 September 2024.

6. 1951 Mercedes-Benz 220 Coupé Prototype (est: £150-200,000)

It’s not easy to appear both regal and sleek, a trick this Mercedes-Benz 220 Coupé pulls off handsomely.

A prototype for the 220 Coupés that would be produced years later, this car is unique.

The brightwork has been replated and the paint refinished to a standard that would surely have impressed the original owner, one-time Daimler-Benz AG CEO, Dr Wilhelm Haspel.

7. 1953 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Series III Competition Coupé (est: £80-120,000)

This Lancia will be familiar to Goodwood regulars, because it has competed three times at the Revival.

Restored in the 1990s with a view to being raced, this Aurelia features an uprated engine, transaxle, suspension and brakes.

Eligible for the Mille Miglia and Le Mans Classic, this classic car is equally at home on track or the road.

8. 1954 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible with Hardtop (est: £45-55,000)

Almost dainty compared with many American sports cars, this early Chevrolet Corvette dates from 1954 – the first full year of production.

Imported to the UK in 1989, this Corvette appeared in Classic & Sports Car in 1992.

It is said to be highly original and has recently been recommissioned after 20 years in dry storage.

9. 1955 Porsche 356 Pre-A Coupé (est: £130-160,000)

Delivered new to the US, this 356 Coupé was imported to the UK prior to the vendor purchasing the car in 2015 to add to their Porsche collection.

Lack of use is cited as the reason for the sale – and surely this classic car deserves to be driven.

It comes with a stack of bills, DVLA paperwork and a 1954 brochure.

10. 1957 AC Ace Roadster (est: £200-250,000)

Some enthusiasts enjoy the process of restoring a classic car, others prefer to benefit from another’s hard work.

Any AC enthusiast who falls into the latter camp could be tempted by this 1957 AC Ace.

An eight-year restoration has just been completed, so this beautiful car is ready to delight its next owner when it goes under the hammer on 7 September with Bonhams at the Goodwood Revival.

11. 1961 Jaguar E-type Series 1 3.8-Litre ‘Flat Floor’ Roadster (est: £180-250,000)

Although later cars are more accommodating, many consider the early ‘flat floor’ Jaguar E-types to be the most desirable.

This is one such car, reckoned to be the 49th right-hand-drive Roadster to emerge from Browns Lane.

It was exported to Australia in 2004 and comes to auction presented in restored condition.

12. 1963 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud III Drophead Coupé (est: £90-140,000)

Originally a four-door saloon, this Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud was converted to a drophead by Pilkington in the 1980s in the style of an HJ Mulliner original.

Restored by Chelsea Workshops in 2004, 815 NOJ has covered a scant 8400 miles since losing its roof.

The car is offered for sale by a Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club member who has had the car serviced annually and stored in a heated garage.

13. 1965 Ford Mustang 4.7-Litre FIA Competition Coupé (est: £45-55,000)

Restored between 2020 and 2021 with a view to being competitive in historic racing, this 1965 Ford Mustang competed at this year’s Goodwood Members’ Meeting.

It’s certainly not short of power, with a Steve Warrior 4.7-litre V8 developing 436bhp, according to a recent dyno test.

This FIA-registered car promises to be quick in the right hands, whether travelling forwards or sideways…

14. 1967 Triumph TR5 Roadster Prototype (est: £45-55,000)

The appeal of this Triumph TR5 goes beyond the obvious.

This example is believed to be the only pre-production model still in existence and featured at the TR5’s motor show launch.

The winning bidder at Bonhams’ Goodwood Revival sale will be taking home a unique part of the Triumph marque’s history.

15. 1968-’69 Ford Escort 1.6 FVA Group 5 Racing Saloon (est: £180-250,000)

More than a cut above most fast Fords, this Escort was campaigned in anger by Graham Hill, Jackie Oliver and Peter Arundell for Alan Mann Racing.

Sympathetically restored but still featuring the original bodyshell, XOO 346F puts out around 210bhp at the rear wheels.

One interesting feature is a switch to disconnect the brake lights to confuse rivals.

16. 1970 Aston Martin DBS V8 (est: £90-120,000)

If you can’t help hearing John Barry’s theme music for British ’70s TV show The Persuaders! when you look at this car, you’re not alone.

You don’t have to be a fan of wide lapels and turtlenecks to appreciate the Aston Martin’s V8, which set the DBS apart from the straight-six engines of the marque’s earlier offerings.

This example has been extensively restored and has covered just 46,000 miles.

17. 1971 Mercedes-Benz 600 (est: £75-100,000)

Today as in the 1970s, the Mercedes-Benz 600 will appeal to those who believe that bigger is better.

With air suspension, a four-speed automatic gearbox, separate air conditioning for the front and rear cabins, plus a 6.3-litre V8 engine, the 600 ‘Grosser’ was both technologically advanced and luxurious.

You could relax in the back, but why let the chauffeur have all the fun?

18. 1972 Fiat 500 Jolly (est: £40-50,000)

Is there another Fiat 500 Jolly beach car that’s right-hand drive? The auctioneers think not.

With its striped roof and wicker seats, the little classic Fiat will turn heads from West Wittering to Portofino.

19. 1979 Ferrari 308GTB (est: £80-120,000)

This Ferrari has been owned and appreciated by the same enthusiast since 1988.

It has been consigned to the Goodwood Revival auction following restoration last year at a cost of £120,000, with only very light use since completion.

The 308 comes with an extensive history file documenting the owner’s decades of care and attention.

20. 1979 Mercedes-Benz 450SLC 5.0 ‘Rallyewagen’ Coupé (est: £200-300,000)

One of just seven works 450SLC rally cars, this example was driven to second place in the 1980 Rally Codasur in Argentina by Hannu Mikkola, alongside co-driver Arne Hertz.

The vendor believes the car was dismantled after its motorsport career, before being rebuilt over 2007 and 2008 by the Slovakian company, SLCRacing.

This historic car is offered from a private collection in Germany.

21. 1980 Ford Capri 3-Litre Competition Saloon (est: £80-120,000)

Built from a rust-free Italian chassis in 2020, this Ford Capri is presented in the livery of Klaus Ludwig’s Spa 24-hour-winning car.

Built to FIA regulations with extensive modern safety equipment, both the Ric Wood engine and the period-correct, straight-cut gearbox have had about four hours of use.

This is about as close as you can get to a new racing Ford Capri.

22. 1985 Audi Sport quattro (est: £495-595,000)

The Audi quattro is a landmark road and rally car, and the Sport quattro marks its competitive evolution.

A more specialist, rally-oriented machine with greater power and a shorter wheelbase, it was produced in low numbers.

With just two UK owners, a full service history and a recent cambelt change, this example has one of the highest pre-sale estimate of any classic car in this sale.

23. 1987 Ford Sierra RS 500 Cosworth (est: £100-150,000)

Opportunities to buy such a low-mileage and original RS 500 are few and far between.

This example has been owned by the vendor or the vendor’s company since 1987, and the only notable changes from the standard spec are the red ‘go-faster’ stripes that could easily be removed by the new keeper.

Having covered just over 17,000 miles, this Sierra Cosworth is expected to make a six-figure sum at Bonhams’ Goodwood Revival sale.

24. 1998 Porsche 911 (993) turbo (est: £700-800,000)

This 993 turbo is the very last air-cooled Porsche 911 to leave the factory – not the last to be built, but the last to pass out of the doors after being personalised by the Sonderwunsch (special wishes) department.

The modifications were completed on the same day as Ferry Porsche’s death.

No wonder the auction estimate is so high for this special car.

25. 2002 Aston Martin Vanquish 2+2 Coupé (est: £55-65,000)

There are more valuable Aston Martins in the sale, including the 2021 Speedster with the highest estimate of any lots.

But this comparatively humble Vanquish is likely to be used rather than locked away in a climate-controlled storage unit, which we are fans of.

First owned by the actor Hugh Grant, this Vanquish was said to have been recommended to him by one of his co-stars, Nicholas Hoult.

To see the full catalogue for Bonhams’ Goodwood Revival sale on 7 September 2024, please click here.