Gallery: Highlights from the Bonhams sale

Ford’s P68/F3L is one of the most unusual. It’s one of three cars Ford Europe made to replace the GT40 when Ford USA pulled out of sports car racing after the 1967 Le Mans success. The car was fast – leading, setting the fastest lap, or qualifying on pole position in every race it entered – but unreliable, largely due to not being allowed to use the Cosworth engine as a stressed member. The P68 on offer at Bonhams has undergone significant improvements since it retired from racing, including a longer wheelbase and a stressed engine.

You’ll also find an example of Jaguar’s relatively unfancied XJR-11. Like the P68, this was a car developed to replace a Le Mans-winning model – 1989’s XJR-9 – but remained overshadowed by its predecessor. The XJR-11 did manage a single race win, with this chassis taking victory at the Silverstone round of the 1990 WSC. It was quickly succeeded by the V12 XJR-12, but the XJR-11’s engine did go on to power the XJ220 supercar.

There are many more competition cars available, including a Shelby Cobra and a Bugatti Type 30, Bugatti’s first V8 car.

Of course there’s no shortage of historic cars. The Revival auction includes five Bristols, from 1949 to 1980, and four Jaguar E-Types, including a 1962 lightweight low drag coupe. There’s also a beautiful 1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint Speciale.

It’s not just classics on offer either. Modern supercar lovers will be spoiled for choice, as the auction includes a 2012 Bugatti Veyron, a 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari and a 2017 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta. The last of these carries a guide price of £5m-£7m, making it potentially the priciest purchase this weekend. There’s also a truly up to date car, in the shape of the 2018 Honda NSX.

Photography by Peter Summers