‘Hollywood Special’ stars in Bonhams’ MPH Beaulieu sale

Bonhams - A rare 1949 Bristol 402 Drophead Coupé bought new for the Hollywood actress Jean Simmons by her future husband and fellow star Stewart Granger, was the star of the weekend’s Bonhams MPH Beaulieu Sale that took place September 4-5 at the Beaulieu Motor Museum, Hampshire (UK), and the top lot achieving £159,750, in the two-day auction which achieved an impressive 90% sell-through rate and sale total just shy of £2.5 million.

One of only 24 examples of the glamorous and exclusive convertible produced and one of 12 survivors, the Bristol was one of a matching pair bought by Granger for himself and Simmons and was extensively used to promote the 1949 romantic film Adam and Evelyne, in which the couple starred.

The streamlined convertible had retained its registration number NFP 2 (Granger’s car had the number NFP 1) and had covered just over 32,000 miles from new. It was powered by a more potent Frazer Nash 2-litre engine fitted by its next owner, Bristol dealer (and later owner of Bristol Cars) Anthony Crook.

In the Bristol’s slipstream was another example of elegant post-war open top motoring: a 1948 Delahaye Type 135M Three-Position Drophead Coupé which sold for £153,125.

Featuring rare coachwork by concours-winning company Pennock, the three-owner motor car had undergone a full restoration and had covered some 26,000 miles from new.

Other highlights of the sale which presented more than 120 modern, popular and historic vehicles, included:

1905 Lorraine-Dietrich CHR Two-Seater Sports-racer, made above estimate, selling for £138,375. A replica of 1905/1906 built from a rolling chassis, with a motorsport pedigree including VSCC races, hill climbs and rallies.

2012 Rolls-Royce Ghost Saloon, sold for £96,750, far exceeding its top estimate of £75,000. A one-owner example which had covered just over 3,000 miles from new, the Ghost had been fitted with a panoramic sunroof.

Another motor car touched by stardust was a 1996 Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000, previously owned by the McRae family and driven by the late Colin McRae, who won the 1995 World Rally Champion in a Subaru Impreza 555. This non-racing example made £11,250.

The Beaulieu Sale, staged as part of the International Autojumble event hosted by the National Motor Museum, also presented 400 lots of automobila. Notable lots included an Austin Pathfinder pedal car requiring restoration which sold for £5,355 and a Spirit of Ecstasy showroom statue after Charles Sykes which made £4,462.

The final MPH sale of the year will take place on December 11th, when the team return to Bicester Heritage for the traditional drive-through auction. Consignments are being invited now, contact mph@bonhams.com.

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world's largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewelry. The main salesrooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com. 

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