Once again, Bonhams is using the proximity of the London-Brighton Veteran Car Run to offer interesting classics from the early days of motoring. The auction will be held on November 4, 2022 in the auction room of the auction house in New Bond Street. In addition to the 21 four- and three-wheelers, over 100 automobiles will also go under the hammer.
The average age of the vehicles is almost 118 years! Apart from Ford (3x), no brand appears more than once. Not all cars are eligible to take part in the London-Brighton Veteran Car Run, but some are. You can usually tell immediately from the estimated values. On average, the veterans are expected to cost GBP 105,929.
Oldest roadworthy Daimler
The Daimler Twin-Cylinder 4HP Tonneau from 1897 was the second car to be produced at Daimler's factory in Coventry. Although it was presented to the then Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII, the Daimler's first owner was Colonel Arthur Mulliner of the coachbuilding family of the same name. His cousin Henry (H.J.) was, of course, famous for making bespoke coachwork for Rolls-Royce and Bentley. Together they took part in the inaugural drive of the Automobile Club of Great Britain in London's Pall Mall.
Unsurprisingly, this Daimler is fitted with a bespoke Mulliner tonneau body, most likely added after the car was returned to the factory for reworking around 1900, including tiller steering and front suspension.
This Daimler is itself a veteran of more than 50 London to Brighton Veteran Car Runs, the longest running motoring event in the world. It made its debut at the Commemoration Run of 1897, a year after the Emancipation Run, which celebrated the raising of the speed limit from 4 mph to an impressive 14 mph.
The Daimler now on offer was owned by a single family for 72 years and was purchased in 1952 by the seller's father, who had the car fully restoredbefore driving it on the drive to Brighton that same year and two decades later leading the 'Drive Into Europe' rally to Brussels to celebrate the UK's entry into the Common Market. The estimated value for this car is between GBP 225,000 and 275,000.
Very early Peugeot
The 1898 Peugeot Type 15 8HP Twin-Cylinder Double Phaeton was an advanced car in its day, offering a 4-speed gearbox with reverse and an early form of cruise control. This car was fully restored in the 1990s by specialists Smallbone and Sons and, once completed, took part in the 100th anniversary of the Veteran Car Run. Since then, it has completed the route from London to Brighton several times.
Now it is to find a new owner for GBP 275,000 to 325,000, making it one of the two most expensive cars at the auction.
An almost youthful Lancia
The 1917 Lancia Theta Sports Tourer, the youngest car on offer, is one of probably only 19 surviving examples of this model. The car was originally imported as a rolling chassis by the British War Office, which used many such vehicles to mount anti-aircraft guns or mobile searchlights. The Theta is now being offered from the almost 50-year ownership of a Lancia connoisseur who restored it to factory specifications in the 1990s.
Estimated at GBP 120,000 to 160,000.
Alternative drives 115 years ago
The Stanley EX steam engine car from 1907 was considered the best steam car you could buy in the early days of motoring. Stanley vehicles were renowned for their performance, high-tech design and technical refinements. The example on offer was in the family for 87 years, passed through three generations and underwent a comprehensive restoration in the 1990s. Now GBP 85,000 to 100,000 is expected to change hands in exchange for the vehicle.
There will certainly be no shortage of rarities at the Bonhams auction on November 4, 2022. For fans of the pioneering years of the automobile, the catalog is definitely worth a look.
Offered Vehicles
The following table lists all offered vehicles with estimated prices. The price conversion was made at the exchange rate valid at the time of publication. All information is provided without guarantee.
| Lot | Car | Year | NoR | £ Est from | £ Est to | CHF Est from | CHF Est to | EUR Est from | EUR Est to |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 201 | Swift 7hp Two-Seater | 1904 | 40'000 | 60'000 | 45'199 | 67'800 | 46'000 | 69'000 | |
| 202 | Ford Model S Two-Seat Roadster | 1908 | 12'000 | 16'000 | 13'559 | 18'080 | 13'799 | 18'400 | |
| 203 | Stanley Model CX 6½hp Steam Runabout (Jg. Ca.) | 1903 | 37'000 | 42'000 | 41'809 | 47'459 | 42'550 | 48'299 | |
| 204 | Cottereau et Cie 7hp Project (Jg. Ca.) | 1901 | 10'000 | 12'000 | 11'299 | 13'559 | 11'500 | 13'799 | |
| 205 | Oldsmobile 7hp 'Curved Dash' Runabout | 1904 | 40'000 | 45'000 | 45'199 | 50'849 | 46'000 | 51'749 | |
| 206 | Ford Model C 10hp Twin-Cylinder Two-Seat Runabout | 1904 | 60'000 | 80'000 | 67'800 | 90'399 | 69'000 | 92'000 | |
| 207 | Daimler 4hp Twin-Cylinder Tonneau | 1897 | 225'000 | 275'000 | 254'249 | 310'749 | 258'749 | 316'250 | |
| 208 | Cadillac Two-seater Runabout | 1903 | 50'000 | 70'000 | 56'499 | 79'099 | 57'499 | 80'500 | |
| 209 | Lancia Theta 35hp Tourer | 1917 | 120'000 | 160'000 | 135'600 | 180'799 | 138'000 | 184'000 | |
| 210 | Cadillac Model A Runabout | 1904 | 50'000 | 70'000 | 56'499 | 79'099 | 57'499 | 80'500 | |
| 211 | Siddeley 12hp Twin-Cylinder Rear-Entrance Tonneau | 1904 | 110'000 | 140'000 | 124'299 | 158'199 | 126'499 | 161'000 | |
| 212 | Lanchester Sporting Forty Torpedo Tourer | 1915 | 180'000 | 220'000 | 203'399 | 248'599 | 206'999 | 252'999 | |
| 214 | Humber Olympia Tandem Forecar | 1903 | 30'000 | 35'000 | 33'900 | 39'549 | 34'500 | 40'250 | |
| 215 | Peugeot Type 15 8hp Twin-Cylinder Double-Phaeton | 1898 | 275'000 | 325'000 | 310'749 | 367'249 | 316'250 | 373'750 | |
| 216 | Lagonda 10hp Tricar | 1904 | 75'000 | 80'000 | 84'749 | 90'399 | 86'250 | 92'000 | |
| 217 | Napier 15hp Four-Cylinder Rear-Entrance Tonneau | 1904 | 275'000 | 350'000 | 310'749 | 395'499 | 316'250 | 402'499 | |
| 218 | Stanley Model EX Steam Runabout | 1907 | 85'000 | 100'000 | 96'049 | 112'999 | 97'749 | 114'999 | |
| 219 | MMC 10hp Twin-Cylinder Rear-Entrance Tonneau | 1902 | 175'000 | 225'000 | 197'749 | 254'249 | 201'249 | 258'749 | |
| 220 | De Dion Bouton 1 3/4 hp Tricycle | 1898 | 60'000 | 85'000 | 67'800 | 96'049 | 69'000 | 97'749 | |
| 221 | Ford Model C 10hp Twin-Cylinder Side-Entrance Tonneau (Jg. 1904/1905) | 1904 | 50'000 | 60'000 | 56'499 | 67'800 | 57'499 | 69'000 | |
| 222 | Northern Four-Seat Side-Entrance Tonneau | 1907 | 18'000 | 22'000 | 20'339 | 24'859 | 20'700 | 25'299 |
All information is provided without guarantee.
Legend: Column NoR = No Reserve (no minimum price), Column S = Status (V = Sold, N = Not sold, Z = Withdrawn, U = Under reserve)
Est = Estimate, HP = Hammer Price, SP = Sale Price
