The Bugatti described as ‘the most beautiful racing car of all time’ will feature in Bonhams’ annual collectors’ sale of automobilia during the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Friday (July 1). The 1925 Bugatti Type 35B Grand Prix two-seater belonged to Jack Perkins, director of the Bugatti Owners’ Club, who bought it for a mere £60, having discovered it being driven for fun by the ground staff at a Nottinghamshire aerodrome.
He determined to build the fastest possible Type 35B, featuring a methanol-burning engine and a streamlined single-seater body; on its debut, in 1954, it set a best time of 52.15 seconds. Mr Perkins, who died in 1992, raced the car until 1988, after which it was returned to its two-seater specification and exhibited at Haynes Motor Museum. It has a pre-sale estimate of £400,000-£500,000.
The sale includes a rare 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Cabriolet once owned by racing driver Innes Ireland (£500,000-£700,000) and a 1967 Lamborghini 400GT 2+2 formerly owned by Sir Paul McCartney (£100,000-£120,000), plus Triumph Motor-cycles’ 500,000th production bike since 1990, which has just returned from a round-Britain tour with its owner, the comedian Ross Noble; it will be sold for charity (£5,000-£7,000).
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