1951 Cadillac Series 62 convertible, Bonhams

Also due to go under the hammer at the Bonhams auction was this three-owner Cadillac, which was offered with its valuable registration number. Apparently it has been in single family ownership since 2007, before which it was owned by a wellknown (mystery!) rally driver. According to Bonhams he had it maintained by his rally mechanics, who repainted the car and retrimmed it in the correct-style leather. That’s as may be, but it’s a shame they chose what appears to be a modern metallic blue paint rather than one of the original shades of oh-so-fetching Cadillac colours from that year. The first owner was an American lady who ordered it new, had it delivered to Europe and when she returned to the US, she gave the car to her local garage in lieu of payment for maintenance and storage. It’s not clear why it was withdrawn from the auction.

Estimate £19-£20,000. Withdrawn.