.AUCTION BY BONHAMS HAILS OFFICIAL START TO THREE-DAY LONDON TO BRIGHTON VETERAN CAR RUN

The eighth annual Veteran Car Run Auction of period related motor cars and automobilia, presented by Bonhams, to be held at their prestigious 101 New Bond Street London sale-rooms on Friday 4 November will mark the official start to the three-day motoring spectacle surrounding the Royal Automobile Club’s 2011 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run jointly title sponsored by Tindle Newspapers and Bonhams.

A regular and popular feature of the world’s longest running and greatest motoring event, the auction has consistently achieved outstanding results throughout its history with up to 100% sale rates. More than 10 Veteran cars and over 100 period related memorabilia lots have made up the £1million plus auctions each year since they started in 2004 as part of the new-look annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run weekend.

Taking place at 2pm, this year’s auction promises to present another mouth-watering collection of Veteran vehicles spanning the dawn of motoring innovation. Top lots will include around eight eligible vehicles for the Veteran Car Run, enabling aspiring participants to potentially buy on Friday and participate in the 115th anniversary event on Sunday 6 November.

A 1904 Talbot Type CT2K 9/11hp twin-cylinder rear entrance tonneau restored in the workshops at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, which boasts a long family ownership, is expected to reach the highest sale price with a guide of between £180,000 and £220,000.

The oldest vehicle on sale will be a Panhard-Levassor Type M2F 6hp Wagonette dating back to 1899, which carries the guide price of between £130,000 and £150,000. The sale catalogue will also feature a 1902 8hp Deckert two-seater and a highly original and unrestored 1904 Pop-Tribune two-seater Runabout.

Preceding the sale of pre-1905 motor cars will be the auction of unique motoring memorabilia. An array of extremely rare and unusual artefacts will include two Windovers, coachbuilders to His Majesty King Edward VII, photograph albums dating back to the pre-Great War period, a 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup Race scrapbook and a beautiful Steinhart & Co. early enamelled cigarette case.

Entry to the auction is by catalogue only. For Run participants a copy of the catalogue will be provided on presentation of a participants pass. For full auction listings visit bonhams.com

Following the eighth annual auction Bonhams will also host the traditional evening reception for all international participants ahead of the 75th anniversary start of the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run from Hyde Park on Sunday.