This year's London to Brighton Veteran Car Run will take place on Sunday, November 2, 2025. As every year, Bonhams will be auctioning off automobilia and vehicles from the early days of the automobile on the Friday before. Although Bonhams lost its status as the official auction house for the event to RM Sotheby's a few years ago, the auction of early automobiles and tricycles in the run-up to the Veteran Car Run has been retained.
On October 31, 2025, 19 vehicles worth £ 1.62 million will go under the hammer alongside over 140 automobiles. 12 of these cars, including a three-wheeler, date from before 1905 and are therefore in principle eligible for the Veteran Run. The rest of the cars were built between 1905 and 1915, so it is no wonder that the average age is over 120 years.
Panhard and Mercedes as the most expensive cars
The two most expensive vehicles, a Panhard & Levassor 7hp Twin-cylinder Rear-entrance Tonneau from 1902 and a Mercedes 22/50 HP Open Tourer from 1915, could hardly be more different.
13 years separate the two vehicles. Under the hood of the Mercedes is a 5.7-liter four-cylinder engine, and the car already offers a great deal of comfort.
The Panhard & Levassor, on the other hand, has to make do with a two-cylinder engine and the crew is much more exposed to the weather. On the other hand, it buys you an entry ticket to the prestigious London to Brighton Veteran Run.
Both were valued at £ 250,000 to £ 300,000.
Entry with steam
At £28,000 to £32,000, the cheapest car is a Locomobile 5 ½hp Type 2 Spindle Seat Runabout from 1900.
This is an early steam mobile. This simple vehicle has already taken part in the London-to-Brighton Veteran Car Run several times, but it is unclear whether it will make it to the finish line. At the very least, however, it is an inexpensive way to get started.
However, a Grégoire 8/10hp Twin-Cylinder Project from 1905, a Rover 6hp Model R Two-Seater Tourer from 1906, a Star 16hp Two-seater Sports Race-about from 1907 or an Enfield 10 HP Tourer from 1915 would be even cheaper, but these are all too young to take part in the Veteran Run.
In terms of value, the other vehicles lie between Panhard/Mercedes and the post-1904 entry-level vehicles, but are therefore no less interesting. It's worth taking a look at the catalog.
Further information and many pictures can be found on the auction house's website.
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 | Humber 4½hp Olympia Tandem Forecar | 1904 | 28'000 | 35'000 | 29'680 | 37'100 | 32'199 | 40'250 | |
| 202 | Enfield 10hp Tourer | 1915 | 15'000 | 20'000 | 15'900 | 21'200 | 17'250 | 23'000 | |
| 203 | Renault 7hp Type T Rear-entrance Tonneau | 1904 | 75'000 | 100'000 | 79'500 | 106'000 | 86'250 | 114'999 | |
| 204 | Mobile 6hp Two-seater | 1904 | 35'000 | 45'000 | 37'100 | 47'700 | 40'250 | 51'749 | |
| 205 | Grégoire 8/10hp Twin-Cylinder Project | 1905 | 4000 | 7000 | 4240 | 7420 | 4600 | 8049 | |
| 206 | Georges Richard Type H 10hp Twin-cylinder Two-seater Brougham | 1903 | 100'000 | 120'000 | 106'000 | 127'200 | 114'999 | 138'000 | |
| 207 | Rover 6hp Model R Two-Seater Tourer | 1906 | 18'000 | 23'000 | 19'080 | 24'380 | 20'700 | 26'449 | |
| 208 | Humberette 6½hp 'Royal Beeston' Two-seater | 1904 | 35'000 | 45'000 | 37'100 | 47'700 | 40'250 | 51'749 | |
| 209 | Brown Brothers 18/20hp Four-cylinder Side-entrance Tonneau | 1906 | 35'000 | 40'000 | 37'100 | 42'400 | 40'250 | 46'000 | |
| 210 | Panhard et Levassor 7hp Twin-cylinder Rear-entrance Tonneau | 1902 | 250'000 | 300'000 | 265'000 | 318'000 | 287'500 | 345'000 | |
| 211 | Star 16hp Two-seater Sports Race-about | 1907 | 25'000 | 35'000 | 26'500 | 37'100 | 28'749 | 40'250 | |
| 212 | Locomobile 5 ½hp Type 2 Spindle Seat Runabout | 1900 | 28'000 | 32'000 | 29'680 | 33'920 | 32'199 | 36'800 | |
| 214 | Pope Tribune 6hp Two-Seater | 1904 | 40'000 | 50'000 | 42'400 | 53'000 | 46'000 | 57'499 | |
| 215 | Darracq 12hp Twin-cylinder Swing-seat Tonneaum (Bj ca.) | 1903 | 80'000 | 100'000 | 84'800 | 106'000 | 92'000 | 114'999 | |
| 216 | Cadillac Model A Rear Entrance Tonneau | 1903 | 60'000 | 70'000 | 63'600 | 74'200 | 69'000 | 80'500 | |
| 217 | Albion Model A1 8hp Twin-Cylinder Dog Cart | 1901 | 150'000 | 170'000 | 159'000 | 180'200 | 172'500 | 195'499 | |
| 218 | Mercedes 22/50hp Open Tourer | 1915 | 250'000 | 300'000 | 265'000 | 318'000 | 287'500 | 345'000 | |
| 219 | Albion 16hp A3 Detachable-top Limousine | 1905 | 60'000 | 80'000 | 63'600 | 84'800 | 69'000 | 92'000 | |
| 220 | Benz Velo | 1899 | 160'000 | 220'000 | 169'600 | 233'200 | 184'000 | 252'999 |
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
