A 1960 Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite is set to be one of the star performers at H&H Auctions' upcoming Duxford sale, which will take place on 15 April. The former Pat Moss and Ann Wisdom racer was a works entrant on the 1960 Tour de Corse, and was later rebodied in aluminium by Williams & Pritchard for the late Ian Walker. It is estimate to fetch £80-100,000.
"Late in 1960, with the approval of John Thornley, I purchased 'WJB 707' on the understanding that it was to be converted to a Sebring Sprite and would be driven by myself, in a team of three organised by John Sprinzel, during the 1961 season," said Walker. "Each of the others was responsible for his own conversion, the common denominator being Williams & Pritchard."
The car was treated to a Don Moore engine with a Harry Weslake gas-flowed cylinder head, which made it almost unstoppable in the '61 season, bringing Walker 15 wins.
The Sprite is joined by a number of other interesting classics in the Brit-dominated sale, including a 1976 Rolls-Royce Corniche, which is estimated at £25-30,000. The Marlborough Brown saloon has covered 93,000 miles from new, and is one of the last models to sport chrome bumpers.
Much earlier – but just as stately – is a 1929 Lagonda 2 Litre bodied by Weymann. It is one of just two examples thought to survive and has travelled as far afield as the Orkneys and Shetland Islands, as well as being a former concours winner. It is likely to cost its new owner between £60-70,000.
Almost as rare is a MG 14/40 MkIV Tourer from the same year – just 10 other examples are known to remain. The matching-numbers silver and red example has featured in two books: Early MG by P Jennings and From Oxford to Abingdon by R Barraclough, who himself owned the car. It is expected to sell for £40-50,000.
A 1999 Aston Martin DB7 Vantage Volante is one of the youngest cars in the sale, and also offers the best bang for buck. The car cost £109,336 when it was first bought new from Stratstone of Mayfair, but could now be yours for £26-30,000.
A detailed service record with 17 main dealer stamps is encouraging, as is the low mileage – just 27,163 is showing on the clock.
