Racing legend Jack Sears’ car collection for sale

The classic car collection of the late Jack Sears is heading to auction. Bonhams will offer the collection at this year's Goodwood Revival on 9 September

Sears, who won the inaugural British Touring Car Championship, was known as ‘Gentleman Jack’ and put together an eight-car collection before his death in 2016.

One of the most versatile and talented racers of the 1950s and 1960s, he made his racing debut at Goodwood in an MG TC, while also regularly competing in Veteran Car Club rallies. Even single-seaters formed part of his extensive racing repertoire, with a third place finish in a Formula 2 Cooper at Crystal Palace in 1960. 

Sears then progressed to the international stage with drives at Le Mans 24 Hours in a Works Austin Healey 3000, a class win in a Ferrari 330LMB at La Sarthe and a GT class win in a Daytona Coupé while contracted as a Shelby American team driver.

Sears was the first to claim the BTCC title (then known as the British Saloon Car Championship) in 1958, and won again in 1963 after swapping his Riley 1.5s for the seven-litre 1963 Ford Galaxie 500, one of the cars being offered by Bonhams and a firm favourite of Jack’s throughout his racing career. 

Click here to see a gallery of the Sears collection