A sneak peek inside Bonhams' awesome #75MM sale

So what will the headlines be saying on Sunday afternoon? There are 82 cars, one car transporter and one boat in the sale, and there are sure to be some shocks when the hammer falls – which is why we asked Bonhams’ Sholto Gilbertson for where he thinks the big surprises will lie. But first, here’s our selection of the likely top 10 big-ticket cars, with their guide prices – all £3 million worth of them…

1961 Aston Martin DP214 replica GT competition coupe, guide price £600-700,000.

1924 Bentley 3-Litre Red Label Speed tourer, £270-320,000.

1903 Clemont 12/16hp rear-entrance tonneau car, £250-300,000.

1965 ex-David Hobbs Lola T70 Spyder, £200-300,000.

2006 Ford GT, £250-300,000.

1968 ex-Alan Mann Racing Ford Escort Twin Cam, £200-250,000.

1964 Bentley S3 Continental Drophead, £190-220,000.

1966 Ferrari 330 GT Series 2 Berlinetta, £180-220,000.

2015 Alan Mann Racing Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe (engine extra!), £160-200,000.

1962 Jaguar E-Type 3.8-litre flat-floor roadster, £160-200,000.

That’s the official top 10, here’s Sholto Gilbertson’s pick of his favourites… and some cars that might just cause a surprise.

He goes first of all for a 2004 Mercedes-Benz McLaren SLR, actually, the seventh one ever made. “Modern supercars are starting to get more attention now,” says Sholto. “Prices have been rising over the past year or so and I think this will be a surprise. The guide price starts at £130,000 but I think it will make £160-170,000.”

At the other end of the price scale, with a guide of £10-12,000, is a car with plenty of topical appeal: it’s one of just two Cadillac limos built in 1988 at the suggestion of one Donald J Trump, and marketed as the Cadillac Trump Golden Series. “The cars never really got off the ground which makes this something of a unique opportunity,” says Sholto. “I think this will really exceed expectations.”

A 1903 Gladiator 10hp rear-entrance tonneau car comes with quite a claim to fame: it’s been on 25 London-Brighton runs since 1991 and finished 24 of them! “It’s a big four-seat family car with strong performance and that’s what makes it so special. The value of London-Brighton cars depends on horsepower and seats, a two-seater with a small engine is worth less. You want to be able to ferry a good group of people down to Brighton and this car can do that.” Guide is £130-160,000. 

Sholto thinks that at least one of the two flat-floor E-Types (one original, one restored) will spring a surprise, but for his last pick he goes for a 1913 Talbot 15hp competition car, the sole survivor of the “invincible Talbots” works team – and as owned and driven by Sir Malcolm Campbell (guide price £140-180,000).

“It’s been re-bodied but is fundamentally correct, and you just don’t find that many matching numbers cars from this period,” says Sholto. “It’s not very racy but as Sir Malcolm’s Campbell’s car it’s just so desirable. We have telephone bids from oversea on it already.”

What would Sholto himself most like to take home? “I love E-types but have one already so don’t need another. I do quite like the 1959 ex-Monte Carlo Jaguar MkI 3.4, which has a lovely history and that classic Jaguar saloon look.” Guide is £70-100,000.

And how are car values doing, post the Amelia Island sales in the US? “The continuous rise in motor cars is slowing a little, cars are still selling, and selling well for high percentages, as long as the vendors manage their expectations, especially at the higher level. If they are expecting a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow then they are not going to do as well.”

Photography by Tom Shaxson