Design rites

1936 Bugatti 57C Special Coupé

For sale at Bonhams, Paris, 3 February, bonhams.com

Why buy it? Who wouldn’t want a car that was used by Jean Bugatti himself? Also used by the factory to test new ideas – including a supercharged engine – before being hidden away during the war years, the body was a unique art deco design by Jean Bugatti. Chassis 57335’s history is well documented and the car has always been carefully preserved and never restored. A gem.

Estimate £1.4m-£1.7m

1985 Saab 90

For sale at ACA, Norfolk, 29-30 January, angliacarauctions.co.uk

Why buy it? The 90 was only built for three years as an entry-level model with the body of the old 99 and nose section of the new 900. Just ten are left on UK roads; this might be the best. In long-term dry storage until recently revived at some expense.

Estimate £4000-£6000

1990 Ford Escort XR3I For sale at Manor Park Classics, Cheshire, manorparkclassics.com Why buy it? The estimate is a bit of a giveaway. It’s a completely unmarked and original secondseries XR3I with just 9004 miles from new. Kept by its first owner for 22 years, seemingly nestled in cotton wool, it even still wears its original and unfaded dealer number plates. Probably the best one you will ever find. Estimate £20,000-£25,000

1972 Triumph 2000 estate

For sale at SWVA, Dorset, 28 January, swva.co.uk Why buy it? Stylish and practical, Triumph 2000 estates are – like most estates – much harder to find than the saloon models, especially in fine order. This one appears so and shows an unwarranted but convincing 47,662 miles. Make your own mind up about the alloys, which are from a later 2500S. Estimate £4000-£5000