The coolest cars of the Bonhams Goodwood Members' Meeting auction

Bonhams is hosting a pilot auction on 21 March at the annual Members’ Meeting, with a wide variety of exceptional cars looking for new owners – including a whole range of exciting Feltham-era Aston Martin ‘projects’.

Other cars of interest include the ex-Kitty Maurice Frazer Nash Le Mans Coupé from 1955 (estimate: £600,000 to £700,000), which has appeared at many Revival meetings. The car was raced at the 1959 Le Mans 24 Hours, entered by John Dashwood and Bill Wilks, but was stranded after three hours at the tight Arnage corner on a sand bank. Another racing car is also decorated with the name of the long distance classic, this Lotus Eleven Series 2 Le Mans sports racer from 1958, estimated at £90,000 to £110,000 – and even better, the car is fully road legal. The history of the associated chassis is somewhat complicated, but documented carefully in the auction catalogue.

Although some Abarths from the Maranello Rosso Collection were sold last year, there are more still available: a red 1970 Abarth 1000 SE-018 'Cuneo (meaning ‘wedge’) Biposto Corsa' sports-racing prototype (£90,000 to £120,000) is set to cross the block at Goodwood. Nicknamed ‘Millino’, a similar Abarth model campaigned by Ruspa/Pelegrin recorded an international class victory in the 1970 Targa Florio.

Two treats from the era that put Audi on the motorsport map

In typical Goodwood style, it’s not only track cars that are on the menu, but rally legends, too. Two Audi Quattros from the legendary group B era are an offer: the factory A1 Quattro driven in period by Hannu Mikkola and Arne Hertz (estimate: £240,000 – £280,000), and a 1985 SWB Sport Quattro with fewer than 25,000 miles on the odometer (£220,000 – £280,000). Also on offer is the ex-Pentti Airikkala 1975 Ford Escort RS1800 (£100,000 – £120,000), which was also piloted by the likes of Stig Blomqvist and Björn Waldegård in the 1970s – during which time it also wore both Rothmans and Marlboro liveries.

Bumbling around

Finally, those looking to compete at Goodwood might want to consider ‘Bumble’, a characterful 1956 MG Magnette ZA Competition Saloon estimated to fetch between £19,000 and £24,000. Despite its relatively modest value, it was invited to take part in the Goodwood Revival on several occasions, the most recent being last year’s event. The car has already been registered for the 2015 HRDC ‘Touring Greats’ series, so you could add to Bumble’s long racing history yourself.

Photos: Bonhams