CAFÉ RACER 76: Rule, Britannia! British racing legends at the autumn auctions

1929 Bentley 4½-Litre Open Tourer, estimate GBP 525,000 - 600,000.

Three significant British collectors’ car sales will be held over the next few weeks. Starting with Historics this Saturday, 100s of cars will be offered – many of them quintessentially British. Classic Driver has the catalogues, and presents a selection for you.

Historics at Brooklands, 31 August

With an event held at the famous English banked track, it’s not surprising that the catalogue features so many reasonably priced cars from Jaguar, Bentley and other famous British marques. We like the 1990 Bentley Turbo R prepared for racing by the ‘Crondall Bentley Boys’, and the 1976 MGB GTS Sebring racer lookalike. There’s also a 1986 Jaguar XJS dressed up in the colours of the Silk Cut Racing Team.

You can see all the motor car entries to Historics’ 31 August Brooklands sale in the Classic Driver Market .

RM Auctions, London, 8 - 9 September

Now for the big guns. After a steady pre-sale promotional campaign that included cars on display at Silverstone, the Nürburgring and now the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall, RM will offer the ex-factory, ex-Ecurie Ecosse D-type Jaguar on the second day of its annual London extravaganza, Monday 9 September. It carries an estimate of £5,500,000 - 6,500,000. Another high-profile British car is the Mille Miglia-eligible 1929 Bentley 4½-Litre Open Tourer by Vanden Plas, likely to sell for a tenth of the price of the D-type.

And moving up to date, genuine Lotus Elan 26Rs don’t often come up at auction. RM’s is a 1964 car, the last Series 1 and was raced in period by Ray Parsons. Estimate: £140,000 - 180,000, and ‘No Reserve’, note.

You can see all the entries to RM Auctions’ 6 - 9 September London sale in the Classic Driver Market.

Bonhams Goodwood Revival Sale, 14 September

Finally, to the Goodwood Revival, where Bonhams will once again offer many eminently ‘Goodwoodable’ British cars. Likely to crack the million-pound mark will be the ex-Works, Irish Tourist Trophy, Brooklands 'Double Twelve'1931 Invicta 4½-Litre S-Type 'Low Chassis' Sports. And in a similar vein, how about the ex-Works, 1934 Le Mans 24-Hour Race, 1934 Singer 1½-Litre Le Mans Sports, for £90,000 - 120,000?

There is also the property of ‘Mr Lola’, Eric Broadley MBE, a 1959 Lola Mk 1 sports racer. And don’t forget another significant ex-factory car, the ex-TWR, 1987 Spa 1000km-wining, 1987 Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-8.

You can see the entire Bonhams' 2013 Goodwood Revival Sale online in the Classic Driver Market.