Preview: Bonhams classic car auction, London, 1 November

Bonhams' celebrated London to Brighton sale, held at its headquarters at New Bond Street on 1 November, will be headed by a 1902 Panhard Levassor 16HP, thought once to have been owned by Lord Llangattock, the father of CS Rolls. 

The car, a four-cylinder rear-entrance Tonneau with coach work by Labourdette of Paris (above) estimated to sell for £550,000-650,000, and will be eligible for the run, whch takes place on the sale weekend as the Bonhams sale. Motoring historians believe that this car may be the one that the founder of the Rolls-Royce marque based his own earliest cars, because chances are, CS Rolls would have learned some of his love of motor cars as a passenger in this Panhard owned by his father.

As the car dates back to 1902 it means that it merits a relatively early start on the London to Brighton Run. It has taken part in every Run since 1958 according to the family and acquired by their grandfather in 1935. Malcolm Barber, Bonhams Group CEO, who sourced this car, says: 'Once in a while you find a car that really excites you, even after a lifetime of finding and selling automotive gems. Whoever buys it automatically becomes part of motoring history.'

Other notable cars in the sale include a 1903 Clement-Talbot, 18HP, Rear-Entrance Tonneau, Coachwork by Rothschild, estimated at £350,000-400,000; a 1903 Lacoste et Battmann 12hp Twin-Cylinder Four-Seat Rear-Entrance Tonneau (In family ownership since 1908), estimate, £150,000-200,000, and a 1901 Ariel 345cc Quadricycle (below), estimated at £25,000-35,000.

This wonderful machine was bought in a saleroom on New Bond Street 100 years ago and now comes home again to be sold once more in New Bond Street.

More information at Bonhams' website.