A 1903 Darracq 24hp Model JJ Rear-Entrance Tonneau sold for $780,000 as the top result in the annual Bonhams London to Brighton Run car auction.
Bonhams sold 12 of 13 cars on offer at the London to Brighton Run classic car auction in London on 2 November 2018. The top result was a strong £600,000 ($780,000) for an imposing 1903 Darracq 24hp Model JJ Rear-Entrance Tonneau that raced in the legendary Paris- Madrid Tour. The oldest car in this year’s sale was an 1894-5 Peugeot 2½hp Twin-Cylinder Two-Seater that sold for £356,500 ($463,202). Only cars that qualify for the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run – i.e. automobiles produced before 1905 – are offered in this sale.
Bonhams London to Brighton Run Sale 2018
Bonhams annual London to Brighton Run Sale was held on 2 November two days before the ever-popular veteran car rally. In addition to the usual array of automobilia, an impressive 94% of lots sold (12 out of 13 motor cars) to achieve a grand total of £1,750,778.
Results for Cars at the Bonhams London to Brighton Run Sale
The top results for cars sold at the Bonhams London to Brighton Run classic car auction were as follows:
- £ 599,640 / US$ 779,115 – 1903 DARRACQ 24HP MODEL JJ REAR-ENTRANCE TONNEAU
- £ 356,500 / US$ 463,202 – 1894-5 PEUGEOT TYPE 5 2½HP TWIN-CYLINDER TWO-SEATER
- £ 120,750 / US$ 156,891 – 1901 SCHAUDEL 10HP FOUR-SEAT REAR-ENTRANCE TONNEAU
- £ 115,000 / US$ 149,420 – C.1902 LIBERIA-DUPONT 12HP TWIN CYLINDER TWO/FOUR SEATER DETACHABLE TONNEAU
- £ 87,400 / US$ 113,559 – 1904 STAR 7HP TWIN-CYLINDER TWO-SEATER
- £ 75,900 / US$ 98,617 – 1904 RENAULT 9HP TYPE T REAR-ENTRANCE TONNEAU
- £ 69,000 / US$ 89,652 – 1904 CADILLAC MODEL A 6½HP REAR-ENTRANCE TONNEAU
- £ 69,000 / US$ 89,652 – 1904 WOLSELEY 6HP TWO-SEATER VOITURETTE
- £ 54,625 / US$ 70,974 – C.1903 DE DION-BOUTON 8HP TWO-SEATER
- £ 48,300 / US$ 62,756 – 1903 RAMBLER MODEL E 6.5HP RUNABOUT
Note: Include auction premium. Sale in British pound.
Top Car Results at the Bonhams London to Brighton Sale 2018
The top lot of the 2018 Bonhams London to Brighton Run auction was the imposing 1903 Darracq 24hp Model JJ Rear-Entrance Tonneau that participated in the legendary Paris-Madrid Tour. It sold for £599,640, against a pre-sale estimate of £550,000-650,000.
The oldest car of the sale was the elegant 1894-5 Peugeot 2½hp Twin-Cylinder Two-Seater, which is believed to have taken part in the Paris-Rouen Race. It achieved £356,500, and its new owner is considering flying in to London to drive his new motor car to Brighton for the first time.
The 1901 Schaudel 10hp Four-Seater Rear-Entrance Tonneau was offered with entry in to the Run on Sunday and sold for £120,750. It will be driven to Brighton by its new owners.
One of only two thought to exist, the c.1902 Liberia-Dupont 12hp Twin-Cylinder Two/Four-Seater Detachable Tonneau performed well, selling for £115,000 while the 1904 Star 7hp Twin-Cylinder Two-Seater realised £87,400.
Tim Schofield, Head of Bonhams UK Motoring Department, commented: ‘Today’s results show that the appetite for the earliest motor cars remains as strong as ever. Our specialist team is nearly all owners and drivers of veteran machines, and we enjoy sharing this particular interest with likeminded bidders from across the world. We are delighted with today’s sale, and look forward to seeing some of the cars making their way to Madeira Drive on Sunday.’
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run usually take place on the first Sunday in November with the first cars leaving Hyde Park at 7 am.
