The unique 1954 Bristol 450 Le Mans Two-seat Sports Car World Championship Racing Aerodyne Recreation Coupé that featured in Octane 217 will be one of the star lots at Bonhams’ sale at the 81st Goodwood Members’ Meeting on 14 April. With an estimate of £140,000-240,000, the car’s painstaking two year build totalled close to £275,000 so the new owner will be getting a bargain.
Other lots to catch Octane’s eye included a 1936 Lagonda LG45 Rapide Tourer (£450,000-600,000), the most undervalued of the pre-war ‘supercars’ and one that will comfortably stretch its legs to 100mph. This car, one of 24 survivors from only 25 built, has been in one family since 1958 and was restored in the early 1990s by marque specialist Cedar Classics.
Rarer still is a one of ten Crown Edition 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Coupé (£200,000-300,000 though offered without reserve), picked from the production line and upgraded with 722-spec parts, including modified engine, carbonfibre aero, stiffer dampers, and 19-inch lightweight alloy wheels.
It doesn’t seem long ago that the marvellous master of stately but rapid progress, the Bentley R-Type Continental commanded around, or even over, £1million so man maths makes the £450,000-550,000 estimate on this 1954 example, which was mechanical refurbished in 2014, look a bargain.
Post-sale update.
Click here for the full sale results, but the cars highlighted above that sold made:
1954 Bristol 450 Le Mans recreation: £172,500
2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Coupé Crown Edition: £425,500
