Bonhams’ Goodwood Revival sale on the weekend was a huge success, achieving across the board sales of £10.7m ($14.5m).

Among the top lots was a 1963 Ford Galaxie 500, from the collection of British rally legend “Gentleman” Jack Sears (1930-2016).

'Gentleman' Jack Sears raced this Ford Galaxie 500 to victory in the 1963 BTCC

This was the car Sears drove to victory in the 1963 British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). It sold for £471,900 ($622,650) on the day.

There were four other cars in the Sears collection, including a 1948 MG Midget TC Roadster that achieved £28,750 ($38,107).

Elsewhere, a 1961 Austin-Healey 3000 MK I works two-seater, driven to third place by Peter Riley and Tony Ambrose in the 1961 Acropolis rally, made £236,700 ($313,741).

Immediately after the race the car was acquired by Finnish racer Rauno Aaltonen. He sold it on to another buyer, Caj Hasselgren, who has held on to it for more than 50 years.  

Hasselgren said: “He asked me if I would like a test drive or have him demonstrate the car...

“On the newly opened motorway, we exceeded 220km/h (137mph) in overdrive top. I was smitten. I knew immediately that I had to get the car no matter what..."

James Knight, Bonhams' global motoring chairman, said: "Our long-standing association with the motoring fraternity enabled us to offer historically important collections and we were honoured to represent the Sears and Healey families.

"Both collections enjoyed competitive global bidding and sold spectacularly well, thus proving the continued power of provenance in the motoring market."

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