Top price for Le Mans 'horror' car
2011-12-05 07:47
INFAMOUS RIDE: The infamous Austin Healey 100 Special which was involved in motorsport’s worst disaster, has been sold for R10.5-million.
Author: Alan Baldwin
London - Earlier we reported that an unrestored car involved in motor racing's worst accident at Le Mans in 1955 was set to go under the hamemr. Now the infamous machine has been sold at auction for over R10.5m after 42 years under wraps.
Auctioneers Bonhams said the Austin Healey 100 Special, in "barn find" condition, was sold for a world record price of £843 000 (R10.5-million) at auction in Weybridge, England.
LE MANS DISASTER
Driven by Lance Macklin at the Le Mans 24 Hours sports car race, it was rammed from behind by Pierre Levegh's Mercedes which then flew into the crowd and killed at least 83 spectators in motor racing's most horrific crash.
The car was impounded by the French authorities for 18 months before being handed back to the Donald Healey Motor Company for repairs, racing through the late 1950's and into the 1960's.
Bonhams said it had been stored, untouched, by the vendor since he bought it in 1969.