Fathers of the motor car take centre stage at Bonhams sale

It’s a 1903 Humber 2¾hp Olympia Tandem Forecar. One of the earliest surviving Humbers, and formerly part of the Rootes Group Heritage Collection, the tricycle was described at the time as “the ideal vehicle for two riders”. The rear rider drives while the front rider sits up front in an upholstered and sprung seat, “luxurious even to the most delicate” according to Humber.

The Humber is presented in blue livery with red coachlining and furnished with deep-buttoned blue leather upholstery. Ancillary equipment includes Lucas 'King of the Road' oil side lamps and nickel-plated fittings.

Nothing not to like then, and with a guide price of £35-40,000 – or not far from what a top Mondeo costs these days – the promise of huge fun on events like the London to Brighton Run. The Olympia Tandem Forecar has done that many times already, as well as the Pioneer Run and Banbury Run for which it is also eligible.

It hasn’t been used for a while but the 403cc air-cooled engine has been turned over regularly. Buy on Friday and drive to Brighton on the Sunday? Alas not this year. The Humber will need the usual careful recommissioning, says Bonhams. And, we suspect, its new owner might need a little time to get the hang of  driving the thing…

And if you want a little luxury on the way from capital to coast? Well, the Bonhams auction has something for you there as well, in the magnificent form of the 1904 Renault Type N/B 14/20hp Swing-seat Tonneau. One of the first four-cylinder Renaults, the traditional “coal scuttle” Renault was owned by the same French family for 60 years until it came to the UK in the mid 1980s, since when the powerful 3.0-litre car has been rallied extensively.

With semi-elliptic suspension, rack and pinion steering, transmission and rear-axle braking and a lavish interior offering full weather protection, it’s certainly a tempting proposition for transport to Brighton in November, something reflected in its guide price of £250-280,000.

The London to Brighton sale kicks off at 16.00hrs at Bonhams in New Bond Street on Friday 4 November. As well as the 14 veteran cars on offer there is a wealth of veteran automobilia in the sale – everything from oil lamps and acetylene generators to folding ladders and period driving coats from Harrods. The flag drops for the London to Brighton Run two days later at first light on the Sunday.

This year you can inspect more than 100 veteran cars in a concours d’elegance on Saturday 5 November at the free-to-view Regent Street Motor Show.

It is all part of the Royal Automobile Club’s London Motor Week which as well as the motor show, auction and the Brighton Run itself, also includes The Art of Motoring Exhibition (31 October at the Royal College of Art), motoring lectures at the RAC Club (1 November), and motoring book of the year awards (2 November).

Photography courtesy of Bonhams.