An outstanding 1956 Austin Healey 100/4 raced ahead at Barons auction house on February 9.

Built to Le Mans specification, the historic automobile featured alongside an extensive collection of classic, collectors', historic and sports cars in Surrey, UK.

The vintage car's success is even more remarkable considering it was just a rolling shell and box of parts when it was returned to its native UK, from North America, in 1992.

The 1956 Austin Healey 100/4 (£42k-£48k)

Ten years of loving restoration later - naturally, all in accordance with the original owner's manual - and the car has once again claimed the glory it enjoyed in bygone years.

The 100/4 is equipped with high compression Le Mans pistons, modified cam followers and a Denis Welch Le Mans camshaft, bearings and steel sprocket and fast road, aluminium cylinder head, and competition studs and washers.

It rolled off the auction block priced at a £39,000 - shy of its lower estimate, but still a remarkable sale for such an extensively-restored car.