1965 Ford GT40 at Goodwood Festival of Speed

As the founding sponsor of the Goodwood Festival of Speed, scheduled to take place on July 3, in Sussex, Bonhams will line up a great selection of sports, competition and collectors’ cars, as well as automobilia and models for sale.

The 2009 Bonhams line-up will be the highlight of the 17th edition of the event, led by a 1965 Ford GT40 Endurance Racing coupe, a period-built, modern-day, race-prepared competition car, estimated between 900,000 - 1,100,000 pounds.

The only details offered by Bonhams regarding the car’s most recent owner is that he was a former three-times Group C2 endurance racing World Champion. Ford GT40’s successes include victory in the Whitsun Trophy at the 2007 Goodwood Revival Meeting, first place in 2005 for both the Tour Britannia, Tour de Espana and class honours in every running of the biennial Le Mans Classic 2002-2008.

Other lots include a 1922 Sunbeam 2-litre Strasbourg Grand Prix Works Racing Car, believed to have been driven by Kenelm Lee Guinness in the French Grand Prix of 1922. The Sunbeam, estimated at 300,000 - 350,000 pounds, later won the Championship race and Private Competitors’ Handicap held at Brooklands.

Included in the auction is also a 1958 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I Drophead Coupe with coachwork by Mulliner & Co, which is estimated at 210,000-240,000 pounds, a 1931 Bentley 4-Litre Coupe with coachwork by HJ Mulliner, which is expected to achieve 180,000-240,000 pounds, a 1930 Aston Martin International, priced in between 80,000-90,000 pounds and a 1973 Ferrari 246 GTS Dino, which is priced between 65,000-75,000 pounds.

Mini Cooper fans will be thrilled to find out that two classic cars will also be included: a 1962 Mini Coooper S 8 EMO which is estimated between 80,000-100,000 pounds and a1965 Mini Cooper S GRX 555D which is expected to reach 50,000-60,000 pounds.