Fancy owning one of the earliest vehicles on the road and racing it down to Brighton? Now’s your chance as more than 20 vintage cars, many restored and fit to compete in the 120-year old veteran run, are to be sold in early November.
A collection of cars dating from the late 19th-early 20th centuries will be offered by Bonhams in its London to Brighton Run, Veteran Motor Cars and Related Automobilia sale at Bond Street on November 3.
Among the top-estimated lots is a 1903 Panhard et Levassor Model B 10hp Tonneau, an early car from one of France’s premier makers. Restored in the 1950s, it is offered with certificates and registration documents with an estimate of £350,000-400,000.
Having been rallied extensively and winner of several trophies, a 1902 Westfield Model G 13hp Tonneau, a rare American survivor that was restored in the 1990s, carries a £200,000-250,000 estimate, while a 1901 Hurtu Type H 4½hp Tonneau drives in with an estimate of £65,000-80,000.
London to Brighton race-fit
Having participated in every London to Brighton vintage car rally, this 1896 Salvesen Steam Cart, ex-George Milligen Collection that was first auctioned by Bonhams in 2004, is offered at £150,000-200,000. The Salvesen family came to Scotland from Norway in the mid-19th century, when Christian Salvesen founded the shipping and trading company on the River Forth near Edinburgh.
An early French example seen in previous years on the veteran run is from Ader, a company founded by Clément Ader, who first produced Paris’ phone system in 1880. The V-Twin Four-Seater dating to c.1902 was a classic barn-find in the early 1960s and now, fully restored, is once again race-ready (estimate £85,000-100,000).
A rare 1898 German 6hp Open Drive Limousine is estimated at £150,000-220,000 and a 1903 Oldsmobile 4½hp Model R ‘Curved Dash’ Runabout, ex-Pierce A Miller Carriage Collection, which completed the rally in 2015, comes with a £35,000-45,000 estimate.
A rare and “in astonishingly good condition” c.1903 Stevens-Duryea Model L Runabout carries a £55,000-65,000 estimate and a c.1900 De Dion Bouton Quadricycle hopes to fetch £30,000-35,000 despite being in unrestored condition.
Among many automobilia lots is this French ‘Griffon Cycles’ colour litho poster showing the finishing line of a race. Measuring 3ft 3in x 2ft 5in (1m x 75cm), the poster is by Ellesume of Paris and is estimated at £800-1000.
A flower vase, 10in (24.5cm) high and a spittoon, 7in (18cm) high, both rare Royal Doulton Motoring Series Ware pieces, together are estimated at £1200-1600.
Clothing, petrol cans, speedometers, plate lamps, horns and all kinds of automotive literature and ephemera complete the sale, which starts at 3pm on November 3.
