Chris Evans’ prize car collection to go under the hammer at Goodwood Revival
New BBC Top Gear presenter, Chris Evans is clearly sorting out his garage ahead of his motoring show debut. He is sending 13 of his prized classic cars to auction next month for sales that are being predicted as reaching as high as £11 million in total.
The cars, which include six ‘outstanding’ Ferraris and three Jaguars, will be auctioned by Bonhams during the Goodwood Revival race meeting at the Goodwood Motor Circuit near Chichester in Sussex on 12 September 2015. Anyone fancying putting in a bid can choose from such models as the 1996 Ferrari 275 GTB/6C, estimated to sell for at least £2,600,000. Or there is the 1971 Ferrari GTS/4 Daytona Spider convertible, or the 1994 Ferrari 250 GT/L Lusso.
Vintage Jaguars are also amongst the cars going under the hammer, along with a 1936 replica of the car made for the classic film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and a 1964 police-specification Daimler Dart SP250. There is also a 1970 Mercedes 280SL and a 1983 Fiat 127 Abarth, so plenty to whet a petrol-head’s appetite.
Bonham’s director of motor cars, Sholto Gilbertson, said of the forthcoming auction: “In refreshing his collection, others will have the opportunity to enjoy Chris’ fantastic cars – after all, you never ‘own’ a classic car, you enjoy it, look after it and pass it on for others to appreciate.”
Evans is also parting with more than 140 items of car-related memorabilia and will donate the profits of these auction sales to the BBC’s Children in Need charity. He has been a long-standing supporter of the charity, which helps children and young people in the UK and abroad.
The TV and radio star signed a three-year contract in June to present BBC flagship motoring show, Top Gear. He replaces Jeremy Clarkson, who was fired from the show in March after punching a producer while on location. Evans originally denied claims that he would be replacing Clarkson, but will now take his place as lead presenter, promising to “do everything I possibly can to respect what has gone on before and take the show forward.”
Clarkson, along with his former co-presenters, James May and Richard Hammond, signed a three-series deal in July to produce a new motoring show for Amazon Prime.
