Aston Martin DB2
United Kingdom

Among a raft of supercar exotica and a bounty of legendary race cars available at auction, a sorry-looking Aston Martin stole the headlines at the inaugural Goodwood Festival of Speed Bonhams sale. Under the flaking paint and weathered leather bonnet strap is a post-war endurance racer that's remained almost untouched since it completed back-to-back 24-hour marathons almost 70 years ago - and a buyer has just spent £679,100 including buyer's fees to acquire it. While it might not have won, it did take seventh position overall (third in class) at what was the first postwar Grand Prix d'Endurance in the hands of Arthur Jones and Nick Haines. Tragically, one of the sister cars ran by the factory Aston Martin team had a brake failure while occupying fourth position in the race, resulting in a crash that tore the engine from the chassis and collapse the roof on driver Pierre Maréchal, who later succumbed to his injuries.