Bonhams, 101 New Bond Street, London,
W1 1SR, United Kingdom

Bonhams is a rarity among the major international fine art auction houses, as classic cars are at the heart of its business.

The genesis of the modern company began in 1989 when Robert Brooks left Christie’s, where he had headed the car department, to launch Brooks as a specialist classic car auction house based in London. At Christie’s Brooks had wielded the gavel to knock down the Type 41 Bugatti Royale for a world record £5.5 million in 1987.

In the early 1990s Malcolm Barber joined from Sotheby’s car department, and in 2000 the development of the company moved up a gear with the acquisition of Bonhams, followed shortly thereafter when the European auction business of Phillips was merged into the business, the new company adopting the Bonhams brand.

From its headquarters in London’s New Bond Street, Bonhams today holds a central position in the UK classic car market, with a portfolio of international showcase sales. Highilghts include the annual Aston Martin sale at the Aston Martin Works Centre, a sale during the Paris Retromobile show, and two exclusive Goodwood sales, one coinciding with The Festival of Speed and the other running alongside the Goodwood Revival classic race meeting.

In the US, Bonhams’ portfolio takes in Scottsdale, Pebble Beach (Quail Lodge) and Greenwich, among others. Although the company operates in the higher end of the market, domestic UK sales at venues such as Oxford, Harrogate, Beaulieu and the RAF Museum in Hendon, London, retain a key presence in the broader classic car market. Classic motorcycles and automobilia are also key elements of the company’s presence in this sector.

Bonhams is responsible for hammering down six of the top 20 highest achieving cars ever sold at auction, including the number one car, the Ferrari 250GTO sold at its Quail Lodge auction in August 2014 for £25 million.