Bonhams London New Bond Street Premier Collector Car Auction Featuring Iconic Classics (Oct. 30, 2026)
Bonhams’ Golden Age of Motoring Sale takes place on October 30, 2026, in London, featuring rare veteran cars from Darracq, Brasier, and Belsize.
Bonhams will host its Golden Age of Motoring Sale on Friday, October 30, 2026, at its flagship New Bond Street saleroom in London, England. The auction celebrates the earliest generations of motor cars, featuring a collection of veteran, Edwardian, and vintage automobiles alongside historic motoring memorabilia.
Among the featured vehicles are a 1904 Darracq 10hp Twin-Cylinder Swing-Seat Tonneau, a 1910 Brasier 12/18HP Tourer, and a 1913 Belsize 10/12hp Open Tourer. The sale takes place ahead of the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, an important gathering for enthusiasts of early motoring history.
Auction Preview & Highlights
The Golden Age of Motoring Sale offers collectors a look at the early development of the automobile, when manufacturers were experimenting with mechanical designs, body styles, and new approaches to personal transportation.
Bonhams’ New Bond Street galleries will host approximately 180 auction lots, encompassing historic motor cars, early automotive equipment, accessories, and collectible automobilia.
The featured vehicles represent the transition from the pioneering veteran-car period into the more developed Edwardian era. Each provides a different perspective on the craftsmanship, engineering, and driving experience of automobiles built more than a century ago.
Leading the featured cars is a 1904 Darracq with a presale estimate of £150,000 to £200,000. A 1910 Brasier and a 1913 Belsize complete the selection, illustrating the diversity of early European automobile production.
Quick Overview
Quick Overview: Bonhams’ Golden Age of Motoring Sale takes place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 101 New Bond Street in London, England. Publicized viewing hours are October 29–30 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The live auction begins at 1:00 PM GMT with early lots, followed by the motor car session at 5:00 PM GMT. View Official Bonhams Auction Details.
Feature Cars
Three notable early automobiles highlight the October 30 sale, ranging from a historic Darracq veteran car to two Edwardian touring automobiles. Together, they represent an era when motoring was still developing from an experimental pursuit into a practical means of transportation.
-
1. 1904 Darracq 10hp Twin-Cylinder Swing-Seat Tonneau
Lot Number: 216
Estimated Price: £150,000–£200,000
Chassis Number: 5723
Engine Number: 5704Advertisement
Leading the featured selection is a 1904 Darracq 10hp Twin-Cylinder Swing-Seat Tonneau, an important example of early French automotive engineering. Built during the pioneering years of the automobile, the Darracq represents the period when manufacturers were rapidly developing more practical and reliable motor cars.
The vehicle was originally delivered new in the United Kingdom and has a known ownership history. It underwent restoration during the 1980s and has remained with its current owner since 2000.
Of particular interest is its history as a multiple participant in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, one of the world’s most recognized celebrations of early motoring.
With its distinctive swing-seat tonneau coachwork, twin-cylinder engine, and long association with veteran-car events, the Darracq offers collectors a rare opportunity to acquire an automobile from the earliest years of the motor industry.
-
2. 1910 Brasier 12/18HP 12C Tourer
Lot Number: 203
Estimated Price: £40,000–£60,000
Chassis Number: 262
Engine Number: 146-12CX
Reserve: Offered without reserveThe 1910 Brasier 12/18HP 12C Tourer represents the early Edwardian period of French motoring. The Brasier name developed a strong reputation for engineering quality during the first decade of the twentieth century.
This example features a 1,955cc four-cylinder engine, a four-speed gate-change gearbox, and shaft drive. These mechanical features illustrate the progress manufacturers had made in automobile design by 1910.
The car was formerly displayed at the Aalholm Automobil Museum in Denmark and is described by Bonhams as highly original and in running condition.
Its historical presentation and mechanical character make it an interesting addition to the sale for collectors of early European touring automobiles.
The Brasier is offered without reserve, meaning it is not subject to a seller’s minimum reserve price.
-
3. 1913 Belsize 10/12hp Open Tourer
Lot Number: 211
Estimated Price: £10,000–£15,000
Chassis Number: 7348
Engine Number: K 923Completing the featured group is a 1913 Belsize 10/12hp Open Tourer, a British automobile produced during the years immediately preceding the First World War.
Belsize was among the early British manufacturers involved in the transition from experimental automobiles to more established passenger vehicles. Its cars reflect the mechanical simplicity and practical open-body designs common during the Edwardian motoring period.
This 10/12hp Open Tourer represents an era when open touring cars were popular among motorists seeking greater personal mobility and the freedom to travel beyond established railway routes.
With an estimate of £10,000 to £15,000, the Belsize occupies a more accessible price range than several of the higher-valued veteran automobiles in the sale.
Veteran and Edwardian Cars: The Birth of Motoring
The Golden Age of Motoring Sale celebrates a period of rapid development in automotive history. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, manufacturers in Britain, France, Germany, and other European countries were introducing technologies that helped establish the modern motor car.
Early vehicles featured a wide variety of engine configurations, transmission systems, steering arrangements, and coachwork designs. Many were built in small numbers, and surviving examples now provide an important record of automotive engineering and craftsmanship.
The 1904 Darracq represents the veteran era, while the 1910 Brasier and 1913 Belsize illustrate the continuing evolution of automobiles during the Edwardian period.
For collectors, these early vehicles are valued not only for their rarity but also for their historical significance, originality, restoration quality, and potential participation in traditional motoring events.
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run Connection
Bonhams’ Golden Age of Motoring Sale takes place shortly before the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, one of the oldest and most celebrated events in automotive history.
The run commemorates the 1896 Emancipation Run, which marked an important change in British motoring legislation. Today, the event brings together veteran automobiles dating from before 1905, celebrating the earliest years of motorized transportation.
The featured 1904 Darracq is particularly relevant to this tradition, having participated in the London to Brighton event on numerous occasions.
The timing of the Bonhams auction provides an opportunity for veteran-car enthusiasts and collectors visiting London for the annual motoring celebrations to explore additional historic automobiles and memorabilia.
About the Venue
Bonhams New Bond Street is located at 101 New Bond Street in London’s Mayfair district. The historic saleroom is one of the auction house’s principal locations for fine art, collectibles, and specialist sales.
The venue’s central London location places it near major shopping districts, hotels, restaurants, and public transportation. Visitors planning to attend the preview or auction should confirm admission and registration arrangements with Bonhams before traveling.
Venue Address: 101 New Bond Street, London W1S 1SR, United Kingdom.
About Bonhams
Bonhams is an international auction house with a long history in fine art, antiques, collector automobiles, and luxury collectibles. Its specialist motoring division, Bonhams Cars, conducts auctions featuring veteran, vintage, classic, competition, and modern collector vehicles.
The Golden Age of Motoring Sale is among the company’s specialized events focusing on historically significant automobiles from the earliest periods of automotive development.
Ticket Prices & Event Schedule
- Auction Name: The Golden Age of Motoring Sale (See Bonhams Webpage)
- Auction Organizer: Bonhams Cars
- Auction Date: Friday, October 30, 2026
- Preview Dates: October 29–30, 2026
- Preview Hours: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM GMT
- First Auction Session: 1:00 PM GMT, beginning with Lot 1
- Motor Car Session: 5:00 PM GMT, beginning with Lot 201
- Auction Type: Live auction
- Venue: Bonhams New Bond Street
- Address: 101 New Bond Street, London W1S 1SR, United Kingdom
- Admission: Confirm current viewing and attendance arrangements with Bonhams.
- Bidding: Bidder registration and acceptance of the auction conditions required.
- Buyer’s Premium: For motor cars, 15% on the first £500,000 of the hammer price and 12% on the balance, plus applicable VAT.
- Official Auction Website: Bonhams Golden Age of Motoring Sale
Event Summary
Bonhams’ Golden Age of Motoring Sale takes place on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the auction house’s New Bond Street headquarters in London, England. The event focuses on historic automobiles from the veteran, Edwardian, and vintage periods, together with collectible motoring memorabilia.
Among the featured vehicles are a 1904 Darracq 10hp Twin-Cylinder Swing-Seat Tonneau estimated at £150,000 to £200,000, a 1910 Brasier 12/18HP Tourer estimated at £40,000 to £60,000, and a 1913 Belsize Open Tourer estimated at £10,000 to £15,000.
Viewing is scheduled for October 29–30 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with auction sessions beginning at 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM on October 30. Collectors interested in bidding should register with Bonhams and review the applicable auction conditions.
- Who: Bonhams Cars
- What: The Golden Age of Motoring Sale
- When: October 30, 2026
- Where: Bonhams New Bond Street, London, England
- Featured Cars: 1904 Darracq, 1910 Brasier, 1913 Belsize
- More Information: Official Bonhams Auction Catalog
