Goodwood Revival: Legendary racer Jack Sears’ car collection goes to auction

Bonhams to sell British Saloon Car Championship star Gentleman Jack's treasured classics

British saloon car racer ‘Gentleman Jack’ Sears amassed an impressive eight-strong car collection when he was alive, and now the rare machines are set to go under Bonhams’ hammer at next month’s Goodwood Revival historic motorsport festival.

Sears, who died in 2016 aged 86 years old, was the very first winner of the inaugural British Saloon Car Championship back in 1958. As one of the most versatile and talented British racers of the 1950s and 1960s, he won the event again in 1963 behind the wheel of a mighty seven-litre Ford Galaxie 500. This ex-John Willment Racing Team machine is one of the star lots of the Bonhams auction at Goodwood. Still wearing its iconic white and red livery, and registered BML 9A, it is expected to sell for between £180,000-£220,000.

Accompanying the Galaxie are a further seven machines from the Sears collection, spanning decades from the 1930s to the 2000s. ANV 688, a 1938 Rolls-Royce Phantom III Limousine with coachwork by British coachbuilder Thrupp & Maberly, has been in the Sears family since new, and is hoped to fetch £80,000-£120,000.

There’s a 1948 MG TC, which could sell for up to £22,000, while the 1955 Nekaf Army Jeep M38 A1 has a guide price of £10,000-£15,000. Rather more luxurious is the 1969 Mercedes-Benz 280SL, reg LNF 354G, for which bids of £80,000-£100,000 are expected.

A further brace of Germans comes in the form of a 1971 BMW 3.0 S – £10,000-£15,000 – and a 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E Cosworth – £12,000-£13,000, while the 2001 Ford Mustang Bullitt (£15,000-£18,000) proves that ‘Gentleman Jack’ never lost his taste for good old American iron.

The Bonhams sale takes place on 9 September at the Goodwood Revival near Chichester, West Sussex.

Sarah Bradley is a writer for Classic and Sports Car.