Paul wrote about how valuable collectibles can crop up in unlikely places in his column last week, and that was once again proven at Historics at Brooklands' September 25 classic cars auction.
Take for instance this Aston Martin DB2/4 which, in the words of the seller, was "coaxed" back to life after 40 years of hibernation in a barn.
According to Historics at Brookland, the car was treated to a comprehensive restoration: "Adding fresh oil, the engine turned over and was running using road going SU carburetors.
"The vendor states the car sounds excellent and holds good oil pressure, the clutch works and the gears engage," read the accompanying lot notes.
 The 'barn find' Aston Martin DB2/4 |
"An important part of this car's original specification were the racing Solex carburetors fitted by Cunningham-Reid and a close inspection of the bulkhead shows it was modified to accept these Solex units in 1954.
"These carburetors are extremely rare and the vendor was able to reunite the original triple Solex twin choke racing units which had been sitting on his shelf for over ten years prior to him purchasing the car. The set of twin SU carburetors will be supplied with the car."
Aside from the rare and historic technology under its bonnet, the DB2/4 also boasts a remarkable racing provenance having been driven by Noel Cunningham-Reid.
 Under the car's bonnet, including rare racing Solex carburetors |
Cunningham-Reid was a British racing driver who began his career in 1954, and is one of the forgotten greats of motor racing.
The young racer's abilities were recognised early on by legendary Aston Martin team manager John Wyer who signed him up to race a works DBR1 for the factory in 1957.
His career began in an Aston Martin in 1954, and that car was a DB2/4 Mk 1 - the very automobile auctioned at Historics at Brookland.
In the end, the car - chassis LML 659 - rolled to a final price of £63,000, including commission.
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