Horror car may fetch £½m

A VINTAGE racing car involved in the Le Mans disaster more than 50 years ago is expected to fetch up to £500,000 at auction.

The Austin-Healey 100 Special Test Car competed in the 1955 Le Mans 24-hour race, during which 83 spectators were killed and hundreds more injured in one of motor-racing’s most horrific crashes.

French authorities impounded the classic car after it was clipped by Mercedes driver Pierre Levegh, causing large parts of racing debris to fly into the crowd.

Now, having been fully restored and kept in storage for 42 years, the 100 will be exhibited to the public at Bonhams Goodwood Revival sale from 16-18 September. It will go toauction at Mercedes-Benz World, Weybridge, Surrey, on 1 December.

James Knight, group head of Bonhams’ motoring department, said: “As an owner of a 100 myself, I’m thrilled to be handling such a historic Healey.”