Jim Clark's Aston Martin smashes record at Bonham's auction!

©Bonhams

An Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato 2 VEV once raced by the legendary Jim Clark has become the most valuable British car ever sold in Europe.

The 1961 iconic '2 VEV', which earned its credentials at Le Mans and at the RAC Tourist trophy among other events, was auctioned by Bonham's at Goodwood this week for a whopping £10,081,500!

'"In 34 years in this business I've handled around 35,000 cars for sale,' said James Knight, group motoring chairman, of Bonhams.

"But every now again you get to handle something very special. And sometimes it's something very very special."

Owned for the past 47 years by Essex Racing Stable, the car's value is defined by the fact that it was
one of only two of the legendary ‘VEV’ quasi-works cars, and built to a rare ultra-light DP209 specification.

The invaluable DB54 was campaigned by Jim Clark five times in-period before it was passed on to its long-term owner for nearly 50 years.

Two-time F1 world champion Jim Clark drove '2 VEV' in 1961 and 1962, racing the stunning machine against Ferrari's 250 Gt and 250 GTO Berlinetta models.

The DB4 GT Zagato underwent an intensive restoration in the mid-1990s, but remains ready to race.

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