Best of British
Race Retro is a massive celebration of the UK’s historic motorsport scene. The three-day event returns to Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry in Warwickshire, from 20-22 February 2026.
More than 120 classic rally cars will compete in timed runs on Saturday and Sunday, while motorsport heroes will answer visitors’ questions on the interview stage across the weekend.
Plus, there will be an autojumble, club stands and hundreds of cars, from Formula One single-seaters to Group B stars.
On top of that, automobilia, classic cars and ’bikes will go under the hammer in four separate Iconic Auctioneers sales.
Here, presented in chronological order, we’re focusing on some of the British road, rally and racing cars for sale on 21 February.
Prices are given GBP£, US$ and EUR€; all conversions were correct at the time of writing
1. 1933 Riley 14/6 Alpine Tourer (est: £18-24,000/$24-33,000/€21-28,000)
In 1926, Riley introduced a revolutionary four-cylinder engine, with twin camshafts and hemispherical combustion chambers.
Two years later, it added two cylinders to create the 1633cc ‘six’ that powers this Riley 14/6.
The rare Alpine Tourer has a chassis that is similar to the Riley Nine’s, with channel-section side members and a 10ft/3m-long wheelbase.
It has a ‘silent third’ four-speed gearbox and a single SU carburettor. Accompanying this classic car in the sale is a big history file that stretches right back to the 1930s.
Its current owner, former Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenter Richard Hammond, bought the Riley in 2019.
2. 1954 Bristol 401 (est: £20-25,000/$27-34,000/€23-29,000)
The Bristol Aeroplane Company Car Division partnered with Milanese coachbuilder Touring to create the 401’s lightweight body.
The shape was refined in Bristol’s wind tunnel, so the all-aluminium Superleggera coachwork was super slippery, too.
The 401’s familiar kidney grille is a clue to what lies beneath. After WW2, Bristol acquired the design for BMW’s straight-six motor, so the British marque developed the engine for its own models.
The Bristol 401 was eye-wateringly expensive when it was new, with a price-tag that put it in the same league as Aston Martin’s DB2.
Apparently, just 611 found homes between 1948 and ’53. This one has been part of the seller’s family since the late 1980s.
3. 1954 Connaught Type B (est: £300-350,000/$406-473,000/€344-402,000)
Underneath this Connaught’s round bodywork lies a double-overhead-camshaft ‘four’ developed by Alta.
Chassis B4 was campaigned by the Rob Walker Racing Team between 1955 and 1957 – and it’s still finished in the squad’s famous, blue-and-white livery.
Tony Rolt shared this car with Peter Walker for the 1955 British Grand Prix at Aintree, but B4 retired with a mechanical problem.
It was later driven by Jack Fairman and Reg Parnell, before it returned to Aintree in 1958, with Verdun Edwards behind the wheel.
The Connaught was acquired by its current custodian in 2010. It’s since appeared at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique and other motorsport meetings.
4. 1955 Lotus Six (est: £50-60,000/$68-81,000/€57-69,000)
Colin Chapman constructed a handful of trials cars in the early 1950s, but the Six was the first commercially successful Lotus – although it was still built in very limited numbers. In total, around 100 were sold, mostly in kit form.
This car is chassis number 74. It made its competition debut at Goodwood in 1955.
Since then, it’s been owned by a string of enthusiasts including Chris Rea – and the late singer-songwriter brought PTX 999 back to Goodwood during his ownership.
This Lotus Six is currently powered by a 1098cc Coventry-Climax motor that makes around 92bhp – which sounds like plenty for a sub-500kg (c1102lb) racer.
5. 1957 Bentley S1 (est: £35-40,000/$47-54,000/€40-46,000)
Most Bentley S1s were delivered with Standard Steel bodies, but a few owners sent cars to their preferred coachbuilders for more bespoke bodywork.
According to Iconic Auctioneers, this is one of just three James Young two-door coupés.
Its first keeper, Percy C Henderson, originally ordered a four-door from dealer Jack Barclay, but changed his mind when he saw one of the sleek coupés.
The Glasso Green car was fitted with a sliding sunroof, power-assisted steering and an ash tray intended for use with tobacco pipes.
The car spent some time Stateside, but returned to the UK in 1989.
The same person has owned it since 2014. In the last 12 years, they’ve spent almost £50,000 on this rare Bentley.
6. 1960 Jaguar XK150 SE 3.8 (est: £42-50,000/$57-68,000/€48-58,000)
To combat declining Jaguar XK150 sales – partly due to the imminent arrival of the E-type – Browns Lane created the generously equipped SE 3.8.
This example, consigned to the Race Retro 2026 auction, was completed in March 1960 and shipped to Jaguar’s Nigerian importer in Lagos.
Finished in white with a red interior, the engine’s compression ratio was reduced to 7:1 to cater for the region’s fuel.
This Jaguar later returned to the UK and travelled to Kent and Somerset in England, as well as Angus in Scotland with various owners.
In 2010, the car was extensively restored and sympathetically modified, gaining power steering, XJ-S seats and an electric cooling fan.
7. 1960 TVR Grantura (est: £50-60,000/$68-82,000/€58-69,000)
In the late 1950s, TVR almost went to Le Mans – until it saw its bank balance and decided an expensive attempt at the 24-hour race would not be sensible.
By that point, the Blackpool-based marque had already built four competition-ready Granturas. This was the first one.
It has thinner-gauge glassfibre bodywork, lightweight wheels and a close-ratio gearbox.
Although this TVR never raced on the Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans, it did make an impact in British club-level events, competing at Snetterton, Brands Hatch and elsewhere.
It was laid up from 1971 to 1996, when it joined a private collection.
This Grantura was restored in the 2010s. Since then, it’s appeared at Goodwood Members’ Meeting.
And, if you’re a regular Classic & Sports Car reader, you might recognise it from our May 2025 issue.
8. 1963 Morris Mini (est: £5-8000/$7-11,000/€6-9000)
How sweet-looking is this? What’s more, it is being offered without reserve at the Race Retro 2026 sale.
This Mk1 Morris Mini was registered in September 1963. Iconic Auctioneers believes it was restored in the 1990s, this work completed in time for it to participate in a 40th-anniversary event for the model in 1999.
The car failed an MoT test in 2017 and it’s been in storage ever since.
The current owner of this sub-60,000-mile Mini became its fifth keeper in 2024. They planned to restore it, but circumstances have changed.
Instead, they’re selling it for a good cause: all of the proceeds from this lot will go to Acorns Children’s Hospice.
9. 1963 Vauxhall VX 4/90 (est: £35-40,000/$48-54,000/€40-46,000)
Vauxhall’s sporty 1960s saloon was a rival for the Lotus Cortina – and it went rallying to prove its mettle.
A modified version of the Victor FB, the VX 4/90 was powered by a 1595cc engine fed by twin Zenith carburettors.
This example is one of three works cars prepared for international rallies.
It competed in the 1963 and 1964 editions of Rallye Monte-Carlo, plus the Tulip Rally, the Welsh Rally, the Rally of the Midnight Sun and the demanding Spa-Sofia-Liège endurance event.
When this VX 4/90’s competition career ended, Vauxhall sold it to an employee and former apprentice of the works team. In 1991, engine tuner Bill Blydenstein refreshed the motor.
It’s since been campaigned in historic events, including the Classic Marathon.
10. 1967 Austin-Healey 3000 (est: £30-35,000/$41-48,000/€35-40,000)
Now this is quite a find…
This Austin-Healey 3000 has had just one owner since it was new, who paid around £1250 for the brand-new car early in 1967. The original order letter is in the history file included in this sale.
After collecting the car from BMC’s distribution centre, it was used as a daily driver for a while before everyday duties were taken over by a company car, after which the Austin-Healey was stored in a purpose-built garage.
You might notice that today its odometer reads 3785 miles, but its total mileage is actually 103,785.
Fancy becoming just this car’s second owner? It will cross the block in the Iconic Auctioneers sale at Race Retro on 21 February.
11. 1969 Jensen FF (est: £30-35,000/$41-48,000/€35-40,000)
You wait ages for a rare, one-owner, 1960s classic car, then two come along at once!
Okay, this one isn’t quite a one-owner car (it was inherited by the first keeper’s daughter), but it’s been part of the same family for 57 years – and this unrestored Jensen has been kept in an outbuilding for nearly three decades.
Beneath the dust and debris is a Mist Grey FF that was ordered via West Central Garage Ltd of Wolverhampton in January 1969.
The first owner, Mr S T Pickard Esq, part-exchanged his 1962 Mercedes-Benz 220SE and paid £5600 for the Chrysler V8-engined Jensen. Pickard enjoyed the car for around 60,000 miles.
It was registered in the Isle of Man in 1973, but returned to the mainland after Pickard died in 1997, at which point it was wheeled into the garage where it’s been stored until now.
12. 1972 Range Rover (est: £35-40,000/$48-54,000/€40-46,000)
The Range Rover blurred the line between utilitarian mud-plugger and desirable luxury car – and kick-started a genre that is still immensely popular to this day.
This is a Suffix-A, one of the earliest production Range Rovers. They were built between 1970 and 1972, and they’re among the most desirable classic versions today.
This example was built in 1972 but wasn’t registered until January the following year, and it is coming to auction from 24 years of private ownership.
Its bright, Tuscan Blue paintwork and Palomino Tan cabin look pristine. Which is no surprise, really, because this 68,794-mile three-door was restored five years ago. Now it’s ready for its next adventure.
13. 1973 Jaguar E-type (est: £35-40,000/$48-54,000/€40-46,000)
Finished in Old English White and with a red-leather interior, this V12-powered Series 3 Jaguar E-type has been subtly modified to make it more usable, with electronic ignition and power steering.
It also has an automatic transmission and has been professionally converted from left- to right-hand drive.
Around five years ago, the bodywork was resprayed and the interior was retrimmed. The latter cost £8250 and was done by specialist Cliff Griffiths – and today it looks to be in very fine order.
Iconic Auctioneers estimates that this Jaguar E-type is expected to sell for around the same price as the Range Rover on the previous slide. Which of these two classic cars would you choose?
14. 1975 Vauxhall HP Firenza Droopsnoot (est: £30-35,000/$41-48,000/€35-40,000)
Vauxhall introduced its Ford Capri rival, the Viva-based Firenza, in 1971. In ’73, it went a step further with the HP (High Performance) variant, known as the ‘Droopsnoot’ thanks to designer Wayne Cherry’s striking, glassfibre-reinforced plastic nosecone.
Under the bonnet, the 2.3-litre engine was upgraded with twin Stromberg carburettors. Other modifications included firmer springs and bigger brakes.
In total, 235 Vauxhall HP Firenzas were built and there are between 50 and 60 survivors.
This one has been owned by the same person since 1986 and it has covered 72,150 miles – of which just 12,000 have been added in the last four decades.
15. 1977 Chevron B40 (est: £40-50,000/$54-68,000/€46-58,000)
Fancy going racing this year? This Formula Two car is apparently ready to compete. It will be offered without reserve in the Iconic Auctioneers sale at Race Retro 2026.
Chevrons were popular single-seaters for budding Formula One drivers. In the 1970s, the British constructor made cars for F2, F3 and Formula Atlantic.
The B40 F2 car was based on the outgoing B34 and B35 models, but featured a redesigned nose, a Perspex windscreen and a revised air intake.
This example was campaigned by Fred Opert Racing. Iconic Auctioneers believes the car competed in 11 F2 races in period, with the first of these being at Silverstone on 6 March 1977.
Recently, the car’s Hart 420 four-cylinder engine has been rebuilt.
16. 1977 Triumph TR7 V8 (est: £15-20,000/$20-27,000/€17-23,000)
If circuit driving isn’t your thing, you could take to the stages with this rally-ready Triumph TR7 V8.
It’s based on a genuine, ex-works bodyshell and powered by an eight-cylinder engine prepared by specialist John Eales.
The Triumph was built from mostly new components in 2015, however the bodyshell was an original spare for Triumph driver Charles Golding’s rally car.
It’s been built with Group 4-specification brakes and suspension, plus a modern wiring loom for better reliability.
Inside, the stripped-out cabin has bucket seats and a three-spoke steering wheel. Please note: the harnesses and fire extinguishers will need to be replaced before it’s ready to compete again.
17. 1987 DAM 4100 (est: £100-120,000/$136-163,000/€115-138,000)
If you’re an aspiring rally driver on a bigger budget, then how about this DAM 4100?
Recognise the hatchback shape? The DAM 4100 is an MG Metro 6R4 Clubman redesigned by rally legends Tony Pond and David Appleby.
Following careers with the works team, the pair went into business together to service and maintain the Metro 6R4s competing in club-level motorsport.
Tony Pond and David Appleby also bought 10 MG Metro 6R4s from Austin Rover and turned them into DAM 4100s. They focused on improving the aerodynamics.
The car consigned to Iconic Auctioneers’ sale was the first prototype, originally owned by David Appleby.
It retired from its first two rallies, but won on its third attempt, at the 1995 Solent Stages. Plus, the car returned to David Appleby’s workshop to be restored in 2015.
18. 2000 Rover Mini Cooper Sport (est: £30-40,000/$41-54,000/€35-46,000)
One of the last of the original Minis, built just before BMW’s MINI arrived in 2001, this Cooper Sport has flared wheelarches, 13in sports wheels, bonnet stripes and four spotlamps – and it’s done just 60 miles since it was new.
This British Racing Green example was registered on 18 October 2000 – after the final, pre-BMW Mini had left the Longbridge production line.
And, according to Iconic Auctioneers, it’s one of 267 finished in this colour.
Almost as soon as it was delivered, this Mini was rolled into its owner’s double garage and stored in a way that kept it factory fresh: it was even placed on axle stands so the tyres wouldn’t get flat spots. The engine was recommissioned in January 2026.
Almost everything on this car is original, including the factory stickers on its wheels.
19. 2001 TVR Griffith 500 SE (est: £35-45,000/$48-61,000/€40-52,000)
The TVR Griffith 500 SE was the run-out edition of the Rover V8-powered sports car. It’s one of the Blackpool maker’s ultimate models.
Here we have a 15,200-mile example, which is number six of just 100 500 SE models built between 2000 and 2002.
This Rolex Blue car currently sits on a set of BBS-style rims, but the original 16in wheels will be sold with the car.
It is also accompanied by a substantial history file, however the eye-catching numberplate it is wearing in this photograph is not included – Iconic Auctioneers states it ‘does not form part of the sale but is available by separate negotiation’.
20. 2006 Bentley Arnage R (est: £35-40,000/$48-54,000/€40-46,000)
To mark six decades of production at Crewe, Bentley built 60 Arnage Diamond Series cars. This is one of just 19 right-hand-drive examples.
You can tell it’s a special-edition Diamond Series model because of the stainless steel on top of the front bumper, the 19in wheels and the Union Jack badges on the wings. This model also reintroduced the ‘Flying B’ to a Bentley for the first time since the 1970s.
Based on the Arnage R, this one-owner example has covered fewer than 40,000 miles and it’s got a full service history. It was displayed at Concours of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace in 2021.
If you’re interested in this swish Bentley, or any of the other British classic cars showcased in this slideshow, click here to view the Collectors’ Cars catalogue, or here to find out more about the lots in the Competition Cars auction.
Both Iconic Auctioneers sales will take place at Race Retro, near Coventry, in the UK, on 21 February 2026.