The collection of ‘Gentleman Jack’ Sears was a highlight of the sale, with the 1963 Ford Galaxie 500 selling for a record price of £471,900 (including premium), well ahead of its estimate of £180,000-220,000.
Sears, a winner of the inaugural British Touring Car Championship in 1958 and again in 1963, died last year aged 86.
Bonhams recorded a premium-inclusive auction total of £10.73m and 81% of lots sold.
Also among the lots were personal items from the collection of rally driver and car designer Donald M Healey and his son Geoffrey.
A watercolour and gouache by Roy Nockolds, depicting Healey in one of his own Austin Healey models, called Austin Healey NOJ 391 at Bonneville, sold for a premium-inclusive £6192, against a £1500-2000 estimate.
This watercolour and gouache by Roy Nockolds, 'Austin Healey NOJ 391 at Bonneville', sold for a premium-inclusive £6192, against a £1500-2000 estimate at Bonhams.
James Knight, Bonhams global motoring chairman and the auctioneer for the sale, said: “Our long-standing association with the motoring fraternity enabled us to offer historically important collections and we were honoured to represent the Sears and Healey families. Both collections enjoyed competitive global bidding and sold spectacularly well, thus proving the continued power of provenance in the motoring market.”
An investment index report from private bank Coutts, called Objects of Desire, found the value of classic cars fell by 10.4% last year. However over 12 years the index reveals classic cars remain the top-performing asset, up over 330%.
RM Sotheby’s September 6 sale in London reported that just 55% of the 71 lots sold for a premium inclusive total of £7.06m.
RM Sotheby’s September 6 sale in London of 71 lots including this 2004 Ferrari Enzo which sold for a premium-inclusive £1.8m.
Highlights of the sale in Battersea were a 2004 Ferrari Enzo which sold for a premium-inclusive £1.8m and a 1955 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback Sports Saloon which sold for a premium-inclusive £826,250.
