London to Brighton Run Sale to Feature 12 Veteran Cars

Now entering its 12th year, the auction offers an impressive selection of veteran motor cars, this year starring the 1903 Clement Model AC4R Four-Cylinder Rear-Entrance Tonneau, estimated at £400,000-500,000.

One of the most advanced cars of its day, the Clement has a long British history, and has now returned to the UK from American ownership. It’s very earliest days were recorded in the programme for the London to Brighton Run in 1934.

Tim Schofield, Bonhams UK Head of Motor Cars, said: “We’ve got a wonderful selection of exciting veteran cars at this year’s auction, including two vehicles – an 1899 Panhard-Levassor Type M2E 4hp Two-Seater, estimated at £300,000-350,000, and an 1899 Star Benz 3½hp Vis-à-Vis, estimated at £60,000-70,000 - that are over 115-years old. It’s an incredible and unusual sale, transporting visitors back to the golden age of motoring.”

Also going under the hammer will be a 1904 Napier Model D45 12HP Side-Entrance Four-Cylinder Tourer – one of the few Napier models that were assembled in period in America. It has been part of three major international car collections, has four cylinders, a four speed gearbox and carries five passengers. It will be offered at an estimate of £350,000-400,000.

Further automotive masterpieces from across the century and beyond include a 1904 Columbia Mark XLIII Two-Cylinder Rear-entrance Tonneau, estimated at £90,000-110,000, and what was commonly regarded as America’s premier make of petrol motor car, a 1904 Winton 4¼-Litre 20hp Two-Cylinder Detachable Rear-Entrance Tonneau, estimated at £130,000-160,000.

Held at Bonhams’ flagship showroom at 101 New Bond Street, the annual London to Brighton Run Sale will offer over 100 lots of both veteran motor cars and automobilia, exclusively featuring pre-1905 cars, each eligible for the Run.

The auction celebrates what is claimed to be the longest-running motoring event in the world: the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.