LONDON.- It was full steam ahead for Bonhams London to Brighton Sale today, 3 November, with an astonishing 91% of the magnificent veteran motor cars, quads and tricycles selling by value.

The highlight of the sale was the 1903 Panhard et Levassor Model B 10hp Four-Cylinder Rear-Entrance Tonneau, which achieved £326,667. The exquisite 1902 Westfield Model G 13hp Twin-Cylinder Four-Seat Rear-Entrance Tonneau (£200,000-220,000) caught the eye of a number of bidders both on the telephones and in the packed saleroom, eventually selling to a UK buyer for an impressive £287,100.

Estimates were exceeded throughout the sale, with models such as the 1903 Darracq Model H 12hp Twin-Cylinder Rear-Entrance Tonneau achieving £203,100 against a pre-sale estimate of £120,000-160,000.

The magnificent 1896 Salvesen Steam Cart (£150,000-200,000) delighted Mayfair crowds before the sale as it puffed down Bond Street, and similarly captivated the assembled bidders, selling for £158,300.

An important single-owner European collection performed very well, with the 1898 Germain 6hp Twin-Cylinder Open Drive Limousine (£150,000-220,000) achieving £225,500, the 1901 Hurtu Type H 4½hp Rear-Entrance Tonneau selling for £63,100, and the 1899 Vivinus 3½hp Two-Seater Voiturette reaching £58,620, more than double its pre-sale estimate of £20,000-25,000.

Quadricycles and tricycles were popular at the sale, with the 1901 Royal Enfield 4½hp Forecar Quadricycle (£25,000-30,000) achieving £50,600 and the c.1900 De Dion Bouton Quadricycle (£30,000-35,000) realising £51,750. The 1901 Singer Motorwheel Tricycle achieved more than double its estimate of £25,000-35,000 when it sold for £65,340.

James Knight, Group Motoring Chairman, commented: ‘The results achieved at Bonhams today show that the appetite for these extraordinary veteran machines remains very strong indeed. This was one of our largest ever London to Brighton Sales, and the range of vehicles on offer was remarkable. We look forward to seeing many of them at the Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run on Sunday.’

Several motor cars in the sale come with entry to the prestigious Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, which takes place on Sunday 5 November, with the first car leaving the Hyde Park starting point at 7am.