Delahaye leads Bonhams’ Beaulieu sale

Under the hammer

Classic car enthusiasts will know Beaulieu for its fantastic National Motor Museum, but very soon the Hampshire site will host a Bonhams auction.

The Beaulieu Sale of classic cars and automobilia will be held on 4-5 September 2021 and features an eclectic range of lots, from a Jaguar XK120 SE Roadster expected to sell for £85-105,000 to a Reliant Kitten estate in need of some serious TLC, that’s being sold with no reserve but has a £1000-1500 guide price.

Here we’re focusing on the upper echelons and the 10 classic cars with the highest pre-sale estimates. Well, there’s no harm in dreaming! Which would you bid on?

10. 1935 Lagonda 4½-Litre M45 Pillarless Sports Saloon (est: £90-120,000)

One of the fastest British sporting cars of its era gets us under way – and it is said to still run and drive beautifully.

Indeed, this particular car comes from 1935, the year in which Lagonda won for the first and only time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, denying Alfa Romeo which had been unbeaten at La Sarthe since 1931.

1935 Lagonda 4½-Litre M45 Pillarless Sports Saloon (cont.)

This car’s quite sudden interior appears to be in decent condition and is a pleasing colour match to the exterior.

It’s been with its current owner since March 2018, and in that time it’s been serviced and recommissioned. Bonhams’ ‘vendor score’ gives it 60 out of 100, so while it is good to know it goes well, there’s the potential for a winning bidder to improve it.

9. 1955 Jaguar XK140 Roadster (est: £120-150,000)

This sleek XK140 will be a much more familiar shape to many, and we’re big fans of this example’s understated hue.

When new in January 1955, finished in Battleship Grey with red interior trim and Gunmetal soft-top, it was shipped to New York for a life in the USA.

1955 Jaguar XK140 Roadster (cont.)

At some point this Jaguar returned to the UK and more recently, between 2018 and 2021, to be precise, it has been the subject of a £175,000 restoration, a photographic record of which will be sold with the car, during which it was converted from left- to right-hand drive.

So fine was this restoration that Bonhams has scored it 98 out of 100 – this 41,880-mile classic Jaguar will cross the block on Sunday 5 September.

8. 1966 Aston Martin DB6 (est: £120-160,000)

Also being sold on day two of Bonhams’ Beaulieu Sale is this DB6 that’s being offered with no reserve.

It was ordered by Aston Martin’s American arm and delivered on 16 June 1966, but came back to the UK just over a year later in August ’67, before being sold on 2 January 1968.

Fitted with an automatic gearbox, it was well specced, with features including air-con, a limited-slip differential, a heated rear screen, safety belts, and a Bosch Köln radio with a power-operated aerial.

1966 Aston Martin DB6 (cont.)

However, when new it was painted Pale Primrose and its interior was trimmed in red, and it was left-hand drive, so a lot has changed in its 55 years and 82,767 miles.

The vendor says it runs and drives, but will require recommissioning and registering prior to being enjoyed.

7. 1967 Mercedes-Benz 300SE Cabriolet (est: £150-180,000)

Four can travel in effortless, wind-in-your-hair classic style in this W112 cabriolet that has a mere 6821 miles on its odometer.

With smooth, straight-six power, air-con, electric windows and a radio, it was well appointed, too, when it left the factory 54 years ago.

1967 Mercedes-Benz 300SE Cabriolet (cont.)

While Bonhams gives this Mercedes a promising 81 out of 100 rating, it concedes that there is little history with it.

What is known is that it is a US-spec example now registered in the UK, and that it appears to run and drive just as it should. And it goes without saying that it’s super elegant, too.

=4. Meteor 27-litre V12 Special (est: £150-200,000)

If you’re wondering what in the world this is, you’re not alone. That is because this was made by the vendor, so it’s a one-off. But just because there’s no big manufacturer attached to it doesn’t mean it’s not interesting.

Inspired by the unique Handlye Special, work started on this car in 2001 in Cape Town, South Africa, after its creator found an unsupercharged Rolls-Royce Meteor engine – and, yes, you read it right, it is a 27-litre V12.

Meteor 27-litre V12 Special (cont.)

And, again, your eyes don’t deceive you, that is a three-seat layout. The vendor built his own cross-braced, double-ladder chassis, and acquired Jaguar XJ12 running gear, including an automatic gearbox, as well as powered and ventilated disc brakes and power steering – handy when the car weighs around 2200kg.

Apparently, you can expect 631bhp, 1449lb ft of torque and 5-10mpg, and it will be sold with a number of parts including a full-size spare wheel, a tonneau cover, a trailer with a manual winch and two spare water pumps.

=4. 1959 Bristol 402 Drophead Coupé (est: £150-200,000)

This dashing and super-exclusive drop-top Bristol was formerly owned by British actress and singer Jean Simmons.

How exclusive? Well, just 24 were built and this is one of only 12 thought to survive. Plus, later in its life, Bristol’s Tony Crook installed a more-powerful-than-standard Frazer Nash-BMW engine, which still powers it today.

1959 Bristol 402 Drophead Coupé (cont.)

This car was professionally restored in 2001 at a cost of more than £75,000, of which the engine and gearbox swallowed £22,700.

Bonhams gives this 32,313-mile Bristol an 85 out of 100 rating – and it will definitely turn heads wherever its winning bidder takes it.

=4. 1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 (est: £150-200,000)

Our second Aston Martin DB6 is also being offered without reserve – and it is the third car in a row with the same pre-sale estimate of £150-200,000.

Showing just 13,087 miles on its Smiths odometer, this car was first registered on 24 June 1970, at which point it was Bahama Yellow with a black interior.

1970 Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 (cont.)

It is unclear when the Aston gained the deep red paint it wears today, although it was definitely prior to March 2008, when its current custodian bought it.

This is another car that will require work before use on the road.

3. 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Tourer (est: £180-240,000)

There is no mistaking this for anything other than a Bentley, although this example is, to put it one way, a bit of an awfully charming ‘bitsa’.

It came to be in the 1990s using a ‘4½’ chassis, and an engine, steering box, front axle, B-type gearbox with close-ratio C-type gears and rear axle from various other Bentley chassis.

1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Tourer (cont.)

It was last used regularly in 2015, so will require some attention before returning to the road – you’ll note the red leather seats are functional if patinated, and there’s no carpet.

But given some TLC, this could be an astonishing companion on long-distance classic car rallies.

2. 1927 Vauxhall 30-98 OE-type Velox Tourer (est: £200-250,000)

At number two is this smart-looking, 94-year-old Vauxhall that is a matching-numbers example wearing its original factory-built Velox tourer coachwork.

From new it was equipped with hydraulic brakes and it uses a traditional transmission brake.

Its current keeper took ownership in 1993 and soon had it restored, before then enjoying it, including on Vintage Sports-Car Club events.

1927 Vauxhall 30-98 OE-type Velox Tourer (cont.)

It still seems to present in good condition, and it benefited from work including a rewiring in 2014.

Bonhams has scored it 77 out of 100, including an impressive 20 out of 25 for its bodywork. Let’s hope its next owner is able to get out and enjoy it.

1. 1948 Delahaye Type 135M Three-Position Drophead Coupé (est: £250-300,000)

We finish where we started with this very elegant Delahaye, which wears a rare style of coachwork by the concours-winning company Pennock.

This right-hand-drive, matching-numbers car had a comprehensive, nut-and-bolt restoration around 15 years ago, which at the time cost £200,000, and it is believed to have had just three owners in its 73 years.

1948 Delahaye Type 135M Three-Position Drophead Coupé (cont.)

It has been in England with its current keeper since 2017 and used occasionally, but Bonhams says it is in ‘immaculate condition’ and drives beautifully.

In 2020 the Delahaye was serviced and gained a fresh set of tyres, then in April 2021 it was serviced and passed its MoT.

This two-tone red/plum classic with a beige-leather interior and a lined hood trimmed in beige West of England cloth is expected to be the top lot at Bonhams’ Beaulieu Sale on 4-5 September 2021. Check out the full lot list here.