Top 25 lots at Goodwood’s Festival of Speed sale

Hammer time

This year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed on 23-26 June 2022 is going to be quite exceptional, with stunning machinery from every era of racing. And the attendant Bonhams auction promises to provide stunning machinery from almost every era of motoring.

There’s a huge variety of cars going under the hammer, from well used pre-war vehicles to later cars that have been held in storage for just this moment as people enjoy a return to normality.

Here, we’ve listed the top 25 lots by price, working up to the most expensive, so, if you have a few hundred thousand pounds (and often a bit more) under the sofa cushions, then there could well be something that’s worth investing it in.

Read on and see what gets your credit card twitching.

25. 1967 Aston Martin DB6 (est: £110-140,000)

The DB6 was the culmination of a long line of DB sports saloons, and as such is highly sought after.

It was designed to offer all the style and panache of the James Bond-era DB5 but with the extra space to make it practical for the majority of people who weren’t international spies.

This example has the desirable five-speed manual gearbox fitted and it is painted, appropriately, in Goodwood Green.

1967 Aston Martin DB6 (cont.)

It has had a few UK owners, one of whom did only 20,000 miles in the 31 years between 1980 and 2011.

Work carried out on the car in that time included replacement of the chassis outriggers, new wheels, a full engine rebuild and a new stainless-steel exhaust system.

It was exported and stored abroad after the current owner bought it in 2011, and so will require recommissioning before it can be used on the road.

24. 1956 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupé (est: £110-130,000)

The XK140 was launched in 1954 and was quite similar to the preceding XK120, but with the engine sited further forward, and rack-and-pinion steering. It was said to offer all of the fun of the XK120 but with greater refinement.

It was sold as a two-seat roadster, and 2+2 coupé and drophead coupé.

Up front, it had Jaguar’s ubiquitous 3.4-litre straight-six engine, which generated a useful 190bhp, although Special Equipment models produced 210bhp.

1956 Jaguar XK140 Drophead Coupé (cont.)

This is one of 479 drophead coupés produced, and comes complete with the optional overdrive transmission.

However, Bonhams says the cylinder head is the only non-matching component.

It was bought by the current owner in 1996 and treated to a full restoration, which was finished in 1998.

It has won numerous awards since, and has recently been given a makeover including four new tyres.

23. 1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkII (est: £120-150,000)

There must have been money in music back in the day, because the first owner of this car is believed to be bandleader and broadcaster Billy Cotton.

Aside from that, its early history is scarce, until it was bought by the previous owner’s wife in 1993, at which point Classic Coachbuilders of Sittngbourne, Kent, was employed to return the car to fine fettle using as many original parts as possible.

1956 Aston Martin DB2/4 MkII (cont.)

The car was then repainted at the turn of the century. The chrome still looks good, and everything is in working order.

Come 2020, it was felt that more fettling was required, so the car went to Prestige Restorations of Chertsey, Surrey, where it was given a partial interior retrim, new carpets, a new wiring loom and the instruments were recalibrated.

The paperwork that accompanies the car goes back to 1984, and includes a folder of restoration receipts.

22. 1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 (est: £120-150,000)

For the DB6, Aston Martin took the DB5 and added four inches to its wheelbase in a bid to offer more space for rear-seat occupants – in effect, turning it into more of a family car.

A mere 245 examples of the DB6 Mk2 were completed.

Still, it was a family car with fire, because in standard form its engine developed 282bhp, and in Vantage specification it produced 325bhp.

An automatic transmission was also offered, and this example has it fitted.

1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 (cont.)

This car was delivered to its first owner in aquamarine blue with black trim, which are the colours it wears today.

It has had numerous UK owners, then was purchased by the current owner and exported, where it has been on static display.

Therefore, it will need to be recommissioned before it can be driven on the road.

21. 1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre All-Weather Sports Tourer (est: £120-140,000)

This car was part of the Peter Blond Collection, having been acquired by him in the late 1950s. Blond was a well-known gentleman racer who passed away last year and several of his cars are being sold in Goodwood’s Festival of Speed sale.

When new, it was originally described as having ‘Separate adjustable bucket front seats, folding centre armrest to rear seat squab, front screen to open, sun visors, hunts direction indicators, dual windscreen wipers with remote motor, cubby hole in dash with door, ash trays, rear boot with lid folding to form additional platform’.

This car was the 1936 Olympia Vanden Plas stand show car and it is being sold with no reserve.

1936 Bentley 4¼-Litre All-Weather Sports Tourer (cont.)

Peter Blond restored the car and held on to it for 62 years, latterly at his home in France.

The restoration happened a significant period of time ago, so the car has acquired a patina of age and use, and Bonhams says it has always been maintained in preparation for regular use.

To that end, it has a fresh MoT certificate and is ready to drive away.

20. 1995 Ruf BTR2 Convertible (est: £140-170,000)

German tuning house Ruf was already famous for its bright yellow 911-based CTR, star of promotional video Faszination on Nürburgring.

Then in 1993, the Ruf factory was ahead of even Porsche, because it developed this turbocharged BTR2 based on the then-new 993 version of the Porsche 911, preceding the company's own 993 turbo by two years.

The 3.6-litre turbocharged flat-six provided 414bhp and hustled the car from 0-62mph in just 3.7 secs.

1995 Ruf BTR2 Convertible (cont.)

This convertible version was delivered new to Singapore in 1995 to a client who had bought it and a coupé version at the same time.

At the turn of the millennium, the car went to New Zealand, where it was owned by one man who kept extensive records.

Then a group of friends in Britain bought the car and registered it in the UK in 2016. Paperwork includes the original Porsche guarantee and an MoT certificate until 31 October 2022.

19. 1969 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 (est: £150-200,000)

The Aston Martin DB6 was launched in 1965, with a longer wheelbase and the same 282bhp engine as was in the DB5.

Then in 1969 the Mk2 came along with power steering as standard, and the option of fuel injection.

Originally, this example was purple with black interior trim, but records indicate that it was repainted in its current shade in 1975.

1969 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 (cont.)

The engine was also rebuilt in or around 1981, although a precise date is not given.

The current owner purchased the car in 2009 and exported it from the UK, and it has been on static display since.

This means it will require recommissioning and will be subject to import VAT, plus a NOVA certificate.

18. 1975 BMW 3.0 CSI electric coupé (est: £175-200,000)

Talk about back to the future.

This is one of the most iconic BMW models of all, but the straight-six engine is no more. Instead, this example has been converted by renowned specialists Electric Classic Cars of Newtown, Powys, Wales, to run a full Tesla electric powertrain.

The work has also included the fitment of numerous 3.0 CSL items, such as an original leather Petri steering wheel and Scheel seats.

However, the lot also contains the original engine, should the next owner wish to reverse this work.

1975 BMW 3.0 CSI electric coupé (cont.)

The running gear comprises a Tesla Model S P85 battery that sits where the engine used to be, plus another battery and the electric motor towards the rear.

It develops 450bhp and 346lb ft of torque, so it’s fair to say that performance is likely to be somewhat in excess of what the original car could do. Indeed, the quoted 0-60mph time is less than 4 secs.

The car also has a fully charged range of 200 miles.

17. 1967 Lamborghini 400GT 2+2 (est: £180-230,000)

The Lamborghini brand was only three years old when it came up with the 400GT in 1966, and this 1967 example being offered in Goodwood’s Festival of Speed 2022 sale, is one of only 247 constructed.

It was imported into the UK in 1991 by a company called Badsaddles Stables Ltd, which had restored its engine the year before, at the same time as Lorenzini Autosports of Manchester restored the carburettors and distributors.

1967 Lamborghini 400GT 2+2 (cont.)

This exact car was also the subject of an extensive feature in the July 1996 issue of Classic & Sports Car.

The current owner bought the car in 2010, at a Bonhams sale in which it was described as having been driven 12,000km in the past 20 years, while the 3.9-litre V12 engine was described as being smoke-free and keeping regular oil pressure.

The car has been stored since and is not UK registered. It will require recommissioning.

16. 1934 Lagonda M45 Rapide T9 Tourer (est: £180-240,000)

Lagonda only ever made 53 examples of the M45 Rapide, so it is extremely sought after.

Indeed, high-profile owners included Sir Malcolm Campbell, so it must have been pretty brisk and good fun.

At the time Autocar reported: “A short run left a vivid impression of a big-engined machine working well inside its limits.”

The car here was purchased from the previous owner by the vendor’s late father in 1959.

1934 Lagonda M45 Rapide T9 Tourer (cont.)

The car was in a derelict state at that point, so he stripped it right down to the last nut and bolt. And this was the state it remained in until 1986, when a restoration began using numerous specialists. The car was roadworthy by 2000.

Since then, the car has been maintained by Macdonald Racing Ltd.

The paperwork accompanying the car includes an original instruction book, the Autocar road test, and all receipts since 1959.

15. 1934 Bentley 3½-litre Open Tourer Coachwork by Vanden Plas (est: £190-250,000)

When a luminary such as Sir Malcolm Campbell describes your car as “an absolute thoroughbred”, and carries on “the impression was intensified” when he drove it, you know you’re on to a good thing.

This car was released after Bentley had been taken over by Rolls-Royce in 1931, and reports of the time indicated that it had all the speed and handling of Bentleys of old(er), but with added refinement.

1934 Bentley 3½-litre Open Tourer Coachwork by Vanden Plas (cont.)

Indeed, it was dubbed ‘The Silent Sports Car’. The open-tourer bodywork was built by coachbuilder Vanden Plas.

Following a period in which the car was used as a ‘summer car’ by the wife of owner Parker Snyder of Ohio, the car was placed in his private collection between 1960 and 2019.

After that, the current owner bought it and put it through a two-year restoration, for which extensive paperwork is present.

14. 1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25hp Foursome Sedanca Coupé (est: £180-280,000)

This is, believe it or not, a development of the ‘baby’ Rolls-Royce, the 20hp, which was aimed at those who wanted gorgeous luxury but who didn’t need a car as large as a Phantom.

This Sedanca coupé has bodywork by Barker & Co of London, which was regarded as one of the very best coachbuilders.

Its first owner was Marquis de Santo Domingo of Madrid.

1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25hp Foursome Sedanca Coupé (cont.)

The car went through a few owners in Spain until Rolls-Royce authority John Fasal brought it back to the UK in 1973 to have the chassis and coachwork restored.

The previous owner kept the car in until his death in 2015, after which the current vendor bought it before carrying out light restoration work, including a respray.

13. 1957 Aston Martin DB MkIII Drophead Coupé conversion (est: £200-300,000)

The Aston Martin DB2 was a success, and in 1955 the company released the DB MkIII with a restyled nose and a new dashboard featuring instruments directly ahead of the driver. The 3.0-litre straight-six engine produced 162bhp in models with a single exhaust pipe, and 178bhp in the twin-pipe model.

This example is one of 85 drophead coupés and was originally finished in grey with a red leather interior. It is a matching-numbers car that was first owned by a New York native, and it was originally a saloon.

When it was bought and shipped to the UK in 1988 it was the subject of an extensive restoration, between 1989 and 1996.

1957 Aston Martin DB MkIII Drophead Coupé conversion (cont.)

As part of this the car received a new body courtesy of Aston Service Dorset because the old one was beyond repair. This is when it was transformed to Drophead Coupé spec.

It was also converted to right-hand drive and repainted in the current dark blue with grey interior.

It has been owned by a number of people since, and the current custodian keeps the car in Europe.

It comes complete with a form guaranteeing the chassis and engine numbers, numerous receipts for work, old MoT certificates and invoices for the restoration.

12. 1938 SS 100 Jaguar 2½-litre Roadster (est: £200-300,000)

Where Jaguar is concerned, this is where it all began. The SS100 was launched in 1936 by SS Cars, and marked the first use of the name ‘Jaguar’, which would eventually become the name of the entire company.

Under the bonnet lay a 2.6-litre engine that generated 104bhp.

This example, consigned to Bonhams’ Goodwood Festival of Speed sale, was bought by the Simms family in 1938, and was purchased by the current vendor’s late husband in 2002.

1938 SS 100 Jaguar 2½-litre Roadster (cont.)

Prior to that it had lain in a state of disrepair for a number of years, following a partially completed restoration attempt in the late 1980s (according to Bonhams, it wasn’t finished because the owner fell out with the person carrying out the work).

At this point the car was comprehensively restored, a process recorded in numerous photographs. The car heads to auction with its original instruction book, old registration documents and numerous bits of paperwork and correspondence.

11. 1965 Lola T70 MK1 Spyder (est: £250-350,000)

This chassis is the first Lola T70 ever completed, and absolutely stopped the show at the 1965 BRSCC Racing Car Show at Olympia in London.

After that, it was sold to Texan oilman John Mecom, which saw it shipped to the United States then promptly entered into the Sebring 12 Hours. This made it the first T70 to enter a World Sports car Championship event.

The car hadn’t yet turned a wheel in anger, so was very much an unknown quantity, but nevertheless driver John Cannon managed to qualify sixth.

1965 Lola T70 MK1 Spyder (cont.)

Better was to occur in the race, because Cannon started well and was leading by the end of the first lap. Unfortunately, co-driver Jack Saunders crashed and damaged an oil cooler, prompting the car’s retirement. Nevertheless, a marker had been laid down.

This car has an extensive history, that includes bills of sale, press cuttings, photographs and historical information. The car is also registered with Lola Heritage.

It is campaigned to this day, and finished 10th in the Surtees Trophy at this year’s Goodwood Members’ Meeting.

10. 1931 Aston Martin 1½-litre Le Mans ‘Team Car’ 2/4-Seater Sports Tourer (est: £300-400,000)

After numerous owners and an extensive history in competition, this Aston Martin was bought by the current vendor’s father in 1955.

It was sold after a few years, but clearly the family’s affection for the vehicles remained, and it was bought once more by the same family in 1969, to be given to the current vendor as a 19th birthday gift. What a present!

1931 Aston Martin 1½-litre Le Mans ‘Team Car’ 2/4-Seater Sports Tourer (cont.)

Since then, it has been meticulously maintained but not restored, so has plenty of patina.

That patina was earned in races such as the Inter-Varsity Speed Trial and the LCC Relay Race at Brooklands, both in 1933.

This car is one of only four models built in 1931 as Team Car Replicas, and original owner George Hartwell demanded that it be changed to accommodate four people.

9. 1973 Ferrari Dino 246GTS (est: £300-400,000)

The 246GT originally appeared in 1967 as the 206GT with a 2.0-litre engine, and was named the Dino after Ferrari’s late son Alfredino.

It’s fair to say it’s a bit of a looker, and the lightweight sports car was a match for anything along a twisty road.

This example is one of only 246 right-hand-drive cars produced, and is offered with the Ferrari Classiche Certificate and Red Book, which confirm its originality and authenticity.

1973 Ferrari Dino 246GTS (cont.)

It is certainly well travelled, having been originally registered in Surrey in the UK, before ending up in a private collection in Japan from 1990 to 2008, after which it was moved to Australia.

It was bought by its current British owner eight years ago, and shipped back to the UK.

It has covered 57,300 miles, and had an extensive gearbox rebuild in 2014 at the hands of specialists Italia Autosport. It even still has its original toolkit.

8. 1993 Jaguar XJ220 (est: £375-425,000)

When Jaguar revealed the XJ220 in 1991, it was one of those moments when the motoring world stopped and just said: “Whoah!”

It was a staggeringly beautiful machine with seemingly limitless potential. And with a projected top speed of 220mph, it was nailed on to become the world’s fastest sports car.

Unfortunately, sales didn’t quite meet expectations, so production ended after 270 cars had been completed, of which 69 were right-hand-drive examples.

1993 Jaguar XJ220 (cont.)

This car has been here in the UK since construction in 1993, and has been fettled by renowned specialists Don Law Racing since it had its first service there in 1995.

Indeed, it visited Don Law earlier this year for a full service and fuel-tank inspection.

During that visit, a report was compiled stating that the engine’s bores remain unmarked.

The car has also had an all-important brake upgrade, and comes complete with a Jaguar Heritage Trust certificate.

7. 1938 SS 100 Jaguar 3½-litre Roadster (est: £400-600,000)

This model is, in effect, genesis for the Jaguar brand.

It was launched in 1936 by SS Cars, and then-boss Williams Lyons chose to rename it Jaguar because it sounded exciting. The name would go on to become the name of the entire marque in 1943.

It was initially available as a 2½-litre car, then later as a 3½. Only 112 3½-litre cars were ever made, because of the start of the Second World War.

1938 SS 100 Jaguar 3½-litre Roadster (cont.)

Nevertheless, it was reckoned to be one of the fastest and best-handling sports cars of its era.

This car was originally painted in gunmetal grey with a grey interior, and the accompanying file has images of it taking part in the 1938 RAC Rally.

According to Bonhams, the car has been owned by the vendor’s family since 1980, and was repainted and retrimmed in the current red hue in 1990.

6. Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 S Roadster (est: £550-750,000)

This car is number one of 150 produced to celebrate the famous 1955 Mille Miglia victory by Stirling Moss and Denis Jenkinson.

The SLR McLaren was designed to demonstrate the partnership between Mercedes and Formula One team McLaren, and has staggering performance: it can cover the 0-62mph dash in just 3.7 secs and can hit 207mph. That supercharged 5.5-litre V8 certainly packs a punch, generating 617bhp.

And, of course, the doors are cool.

Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 722 S Roadster (cont.)

However, the automatic gearbox made the car much more of a grand tourer than an out-and-out sports car, unlike its rivals of the time the Ferrari Enzo and Porsche Carrera GT.

This example was originally registered in Oregon in the United States, then was acquired by the current owner in 2016. She had the car converted to European specification, and it has recently had a service that included new fuel pumps.

It has covered a total of 10,200 miles, and has done fewer than 160 miles since 2016.

5. 1937 Frazer Nash-BMW 328 Roadster (est: £650-750,000)

The BMW 328 had long been established as a high-tech and highly capable racing machine, featuring a lightweight and strong chassis that allowed the softer suspension that made it a truly modern sporting machine.

Not only was it a superb long-distance sports tourer but it also excelled on track, winning its class in the Mille Miglia, the Le Mans 24 Hours, the Spa 24 Hours and the British Tourist Trophy.

Frazer-Nash saw the car’s appeal, and made a deal with BMW to import the car, although only 48 were ever imported.

1937 Frazer Nash-BMW 328 Roadster (cont.)

This car was first owned by gentleman racer Denis Flather, who raced it extensively. He sold it in 1949 – it came into the possession of the current owner in 1950.

It has been used for foreign tours, hillclimbs and classic reliability trials numerous times.

In 2017, specialists Thornley Kelham of South Cerney, Gloucestershire, completed a two-year restoration of the car, which is fully documented.

4. 1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV Convertible (est: £650-800,000)

The words ‘simple’ and ‘elegant’ immediately spring to mind when looking at the DB4 Convertible, which is the rarest DB4 of all, apart from the Zagato.

A mere 70 examples were built of a car that had all the panache of the closed-top DB4, but with vastly more headroom (at least when the roof is down).

This example is a matching-numbers machine, which makes it one of the most desirable examples out there.

1962 Aston Martin DB4 Series IV Convertible (cont.)

The auction lot also includes a factory hardtop, spare windscreen, a workshop manual and a spare set of wire wheels.

This car was first owned by the late English film, opera and theatre director Sir Peter Hall and was originally dark blue. Indeed, there are pictures of the car with Sir Peter and his Oscar-nominated actress first wife Leslie Caron.

This DB4 was restored in the late 1970s, while the engine was rebuilt in the 1990s. The car has been used only occasionally since.

3. 1931 Invicta 4½-litre S-Type ‘Low Chassis’ Sports ‘Seagull’ (est: £700-800,000)

This car was originally owned by Baron von Treeck, who spent his time between Mayfair and Luckington Manor in Wiltshire, and who was later found to be a German spy.

However, at the outbreak of the Second World War, he fled to Germany.

The car was bought by eccentric collector Jack Wilson of Caterham, Surrey, in 1952. It’s fair to say the car was well used, because it covered more than 100,000 miles after being loaned to one of Wilson’s friends, a GP who used it for his daily rounds.

1931 Invicta 4½-Litre S-Type ‘Low Chassis’ Sports ‘Seagull’ (cont.)

It had suffered some wounds during its service as a GP’s wheels, so was given a complete body-off restoration in the 1980s.

At this point the original engine was replaced with a Lagonda Sanction III engine, although the original motor also comes with the car.

The paperwork for the car is extensive, and contains receipts right up to the present day.

It also won the ‘Ultimate Rakish Sports Car 1929-1940’ class at the Cartier concours d’elegance at the 2004 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

2. 1993 Benetton-Ford B193B (est: £1.1-1.6m)

Well, how about owning your very own Formula One car? And one with competition history at that.

This was the very first car manufactured in the Benetton team’s new factory at Enstone in Oxfordshire (later to house Renault, and now Alpine), was driven by both young upstart Michael Schumacher and veteran Riccardo Patrese during the 1993 season.

Indeed, Schumacher drove this very car to third on the grid in the 1993 British Grand Prix.

1993 Benetton-Ford B193B (cont.)

Schumacher then opted to take a sister B193 for the race, and promptly finished second in it, but Patrese raced this car that day, finishing in third place.

The B193 is very much alive and kicking, and is powered by a Cosworth Ford HB V8 engine that has been detuned for the sake of reliability.

Indeed, it has been used for numerous F1 demonstration runs, and was one of the stars of this year’s Goodwood Members’ Meeting track parades.

1. 2015 McLaren P1 GTR by Lanzante (est: £1.8-2.2m)

Back in 2013, McLaren was entering the world of the hypercar with its P1, a high-tech monster that combined all of the knowledge gained in motor racing throughout the past few decades, with the very latest cutting-edge hybrid technology.

So, the car featured not only plug-in-hybrid power but also a drag-reduction system and kinetic energy recovery system.

Then in 2015 the track-only P1 GTR appeared, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the McLaren F1’s victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

2015 McLaren P1 GTR by Lanzante (cont.)

This version was lighter by 50kg and more powerful at 986bhp, and was available only to existing P1 buyers.

It wasn’t too long before McLaren specialist Lanzante began to convert P1 GTRs for road use, and this example is number 25 of what is believed to be 27 completed.

The conversion is ‘meticulously developed’ and includes a rise in ride height, catalytic converters for the exhausts, plus a handbrake and road-legal wheels and tyres.

The car has covered a grand total of 161km from new.

This and all the other cars previewed here will go under the hammer with Bonhams at its Goodwood Festival of Speed sale on 24 June 2022 – find out more here.