The year is slowly drawing to a close. A good time to look at the two upcoming Bonhams auctions in London. On 5 November, The Golden Age of Motoring Sale ‘1886-1939’ will take place. On 4 December, The Bond Street Sale.
Bonhams: The Golden Age of Motoring Sale ‘1886-1939’
Veteran, Vintage and Post-Vintage Motor Cars & Automobilia
1904 PEUGEOT TYPE 67A 10/12HP TWIN-CYLINDER SWING-SEAT TONNEAU
The Peugeot is the French car that still maintains its excellence and is the only firm of long-standing repute still manufacturing two-cylinder engined cars and with a range of models from 8 hp to 50 hp … it is made apparent that the Peugeot cars are fully worthy of the high place they have taken in the motor world.” – Max Pemberton. The Amateur Motorist, 1907. Find out more
1908 RAINIER MODEL D 40/50HP SEVEN-PASSENGER TOURING CAR
The Rainier Car Company was founded by its namesake, John T Rainier, and began producing cars in Flushing, New York in 1905. One of many pioneering motor manufacturers of the day, Rainier preferred to focus on quality over quantity with an eye on performance. Indeed, the first 22/28hp model would prove to be an excellent all-round competition car. Find out more
1928 BENTLEY 3 LITRE BLUE LABEL TOURER
From the humblest of beginnings, in a mews garage off Baker Street, London W1, the Bentley marque rapidly achieved global fame, as an exciting and fast touring car, more than able to compete with the best of European and American sports cars, especially in the tough world of 1920s motor sport. Their outright wins at Le Mans in 1924, 1927, 1928, 1929 and 1930 are legendary, and one can only admire the Herculean efforts of such giants as Woolf Barnato, Jack Dunfee, Sir ‘Tim’ Birkin, and Dr Dudley Benjafield – some of the original ‘Bentley Boys’. Find our more
1938 BENTLEY 4¼-LITRE SEDANCA COUPÉ
Although Rolls-Royce’s acquisition of Bentley Motors in 1931 had robbed the latter of its independence, it did at least ensure the survival of the Bentley name. Launched in 1933, the first of what would become known as the ‘Derby’ Bentleys continued the marque’s sporting associations, but in a manner even more refined than before. Even W O Bentley himself acknowledged that the 3½-Litre model was the finest ever to bear his name. Find out more
Bonhams: The Bond Street Sale
Important Collectors’ Motor Cars