5 highlights from the Bonhams|Cars Members’ Meeting Sale

Picking just five lots meant we had to leave out quite a few temptations, but we hope this selection sums up the diversity of the machinery on offer. Racing cars are a disparate as a modern classic Porsche 911 and a Mini 1275 GT, while road cars range from a largely forgotten Morgan to a rare coachbuilt Bentley. Browse with us...

2000 Porsche 911 GT3R RSR

Estimate: £190,000 to £250,000

This Porsche 911 GT3R has competed in top-flight sportscar races and chalked up a class win (and eighth overall) at the 2000 Daytona 24 Hours and was running second in class at Le Mans in the same year when the bonnet popped open. The driver peered through the open door to guide the car back to the pits.

Immediately after Le Mans, the car was sold to the Jones brothers and collected from La Sarthe by Mike Jordan who ran the car for many subsequent years. It was in this period that it was converted to right-hand-drive and RSR specification. That upgrade included a new factory body, suspension, wheels and brakes.

Now returned to its Le Mans livery, the 911 has an engine that was rebuilt in 2024 and has only been run in the garage since. Before any ambition to race at the Le Mans Classic is realised, it will need a host of replacement consumables (including seatbelts, fuel tank and other safety critical items).

1952 Bentley Mark VI

Estimate: £140,000 to £180,000

To give you an idea of just how special this Mulliner-bodied Bentley is, consider this: 75 percent of cars came with the standard steel body from the factory, with just 1022 fitted with coach-built bodies. Of those, only five had drophead bodies. This example is one of that rarefied number, and was commissioned by the managing director of Standard-Triumph, Sir John Black.

After a couple of changes of ownership, the car was exported to the US where it had several owners, one of whom invested in a 12,000-hour restoration over five years. It was then that the all-black colour scheme was changed to tri-tone grey, the only alteration to the original specification.

It has since had a significant concours career in the US and has collected a number of trophies as a result. It is now being offered with a UK registration certificate.

1978 Mini 1275 GT

Estimate: £100,000 to £150,000

Richard Longman won almost every race in the British Saloon Car Championship for two years running in this Patrick Motor Sport-sponsored Mini 1275GT. He was utterly dominant, and deservedly claimed two consecutive Championships.

Longman had worked for the renowned factory-approved tuning firm Downton Engineering in the 1960s, so combined engineering know-how with driving prowess. He was therefore well placed to make the most of the hard-earned 122PS (89kW) from the highly-strung A-series against more powerful opposition.

When the Mini was last sold by Bonhams in 2023 it was believed to be a replica, but Richard Longman has since inspected it and confirmed it to be the double Championship-winning car.

1932 McDowell Ford Special

Estimate: £28,000 to £36,000

This 1932 McDowell Ford Special was built by Myron Stevens and Harry Miller, both of whom are inductees to the Indianapolis Hall of Fame. Miller was described by automotive historian Griffith Borgeson as “the greatest creative figure in the history of the American racing car.” He built cars that won the Indy 500 on nine occasions.

This Ford Special was rebuilt between 2011 and 2015 using period-correct components throughout and with reference to the original drawings. The 1932 Ford Model B block is fitted with a McDowell overhead-valve cylinder head and has been completely rebuilt. It has been in the car since 1932, when it replaced the original 1925 Model T engine.

The car also features a roll-call of notable components, such as rare liquid-cooled carburettors, a side-drive Scintilla magneto and an original Chrysler front axle from 1925.

1966 Morgan Plus 4 Plus

Estimate: £30,000 to £50,000

In the 21^st century, we’re quite used to Morgan applying modern technology to archaic styling, but its first attempt to bring things up to date wasn’t such a hit. Production of the Plus 4 Plus reached only 26 cars.

The glassfibre-bodied car was put into production in 1963 and that stumbling production run went on for four years. Morgan customers simply were not ready for styling that promoted sweeping curved and usurped running boards. Today, they’re much more sought-after, not least because that less than lukewarm reception has ensured the model’s rarity.

This one was purchased by its late owner in 2004 and remained in regular use until 2023, meaning it should require only light recommissioning to return to the road. It comes with the original engine as well as the replacement that’s fitted to the car.

The 83rd Members' Meeting is live now! You can watch every moment of the action on our live stream right here on GRR.

Tickets for the 84th Members’ Meeting will be available immediately after this year’s event for Members and Fellows of the GRRC. Admission and Grandstand tickets will go on sale on Monday 20th April for Members, and Tuesday 21st April for Fellows.

Images courtesy of Bonhams|Cars.