Preview: Bonhams classic car auction, Paris, 6 February

A 1947 Delage 3-litre competition car with a distinguished race history and a 1955 Austin-Healey 100S which raced in America - are early headline entries for Bonhams at the Gran Palais sale on 6 February, part of Retromobile Week in Paris.

The 1947 Delage 3-litre works competition Barchetta (below) is chassis no 880003 driven in the 1947-1949 seasons as a factory entry in many events including the 1947 Pau GP, GP de Belgique, the 1948 Spa 24 hour, Paris 12 hour and the 1949 Le Mans 24 hour, entered with such great drivers as P. Etancelin, M. Trintignant, A. Veuillet and C. Pozzi. The car is estimated to sell for €1,100,000-1,700,000.

Joining this magnificent French entry is a stunning British car, one of a mere 50 Austin-Healey 100S sports-racing models produced – and widely regarded as the most sought after of all Austin-Healeys. Offered with a pre-sale estimate of €580,000-760,000 this highly desirable Austin-Healey is bound to attract interest from across the globe.

The 1955 Austin Healey (above) was the second of these 50 sports racing cars built by the Donald Healey Motor Company. The car was dispatched on February 10th 1955 to Austin, New York and sold to Robert (Bob) Fergus from Ohio. He was a well know sports car racer in the US with whom it competed in that year’s Sebring 12 Hour race and the Nassau trophy road races together with various east coast USA races.

After being locked up for approximately 39 years in a shed, the car was sent a few years ago to the world’s leading Healey authority and restorer Steve Pike, from Marsh Classic Restorations (Australia). After a post restoration ‘shakedown’ AHS #3502 participated at the Phillip Island Historic races in Melbourne, Australia and since then in various events including both the 2009 and 2013 Mille Miglia.

• For more information, visit www.bonhams.com/cars