LONDON.- A very rare and handsome 1954 Aston Martin DB2/4 Cabriolet, which was previously owned by the legendary Grand Prix and sports-racing driver, Innes Ireland, is one of the highlights of Bonhams’ annual sale of Collectors’ Motor Cars and Automobilia at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed on 1 July 2011. Recently restored to concours condition, it has attracted a pre-sale estimate of £500,000 – 700,000.

One of two DB2/4s known to have been bodied in this style by Bertone, the famous Italian coachbuilder, it was delivered new to San Francisco resident, Mrs Edith Field, in 1954. Mrs Field is recorded as having exhibited the car at the 1955 Pebble Beach Concours d’elegance, where it achieved 3rd place in the two-seater sports car category.

Field, who was described by a friend as a ‘wealthy eccentric’ with ‘panache found only in people of significant means’, owned a number of motor cars including an AC Ace-Bristol, which she entered into several races for well-known California sports car racer, James Orr.

Bonhams is a founding sponsor of the Goodwood Festival of Speed and 2011 marks the 19th annual sale at the Festival. Sports, Competition and Touring cars will be offered for auction and several important motor cars have already been consigned. These include a 1925 Bugatti Type 35 (estimate £400,000 – 500,000); 1926 Bugatti Type 37, chassis no. BC78 (£120,000 - 160,000); 1937 Bentley 41/4-Litre Allweather Tourer by Vanden Plas (£130,000 - 150,000); 1972 Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona (£210,000 - 240,000); 1990 Ferrari F40 (estimate £320,000 – 350,000); and a 1988 Porsche 959 (estimate £160,000 – 180,000).