Rather fittingly – and we’re sure not coincidentally – the catalogue for Bonhams’ Goodwood Revival sale, which takes place on 8 September at the world’s most famous historic motorsport meeting, is teeming with British classics. For smiles-per-mile, we’re not sure there’s a better offering than the pretty little 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite Roadster, estimated at just £7,000–10,000. 

In the elegance stakes, the lovingly maintained 1954 Bristol 404 Coupé (est. £80,000–100,000) vies for our affection with the stunning and significant competition-spec 1953 Jaguar XK120 SE (£500,000–600,000). And if you really wanted to get the blood pumping, how about the Silk Cut-liveried Jaguar XJR-11 Group C prototype that won at Silverstone in the hands of Martin Brundle and Alain Ferté? 

The sharp end of the catalogue comprises mostly limited edition modern hypercars, including not one but two LaFerraris: a coupé and a much rarer Aperta. The hardtop car, which is finished in a rather beautiful gunmetal grey, is expected to fetch £2.3–2.8m while the stealthy black Aperta has been given an incredibly ambitious estimate of £5–6.5m dollars. Arguably our favourite car in the catalogue, however, is the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Supersport, mainly because of its specification – Chocolate Brown over Cognac leather. Of the six Veyrons offered in Monterey, not one found a new owner. Surely the unique specification of this car will help it across the line? It’s estimated to make £1.4–1.9m. 

If you can’t quite fork our the £1.2–1.5m for the ex-Tom Payne 1964 Shelby Cobra 289, the Autokraft-built AC Cobra 427 S/C recreation (£120,000–160,000) looks every bit as mean. Both would look entirely at home atop the legendary ex-Shelby American Fiat-Bartoletti racing transporter (£500,000–600,000), which perhaps oozes more style than most of the racing cars of the period. 

If beauty precedes brawn in your book, you’d be hard pushed to be out-glammed in the 1964 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso (£1–1.5m), the ultra-rare right-hand-drive 1966 Alfa Romeo Giulia GTC Cabriolet (£65,000–75,000), or Keith Richards’ old Dino ‘Ferrari’ 246 GT from 1972 (£300,000–400,000). Just be sure to avoid any swimming pools in the latter! 

Photos courtesy of Bonhams © 2018