Rare collection of vintage British race cars headed to auction

It was a Scottish team with a French name racing British cars.

In the 1950s and early 1960s Ecurie Ecosse (French for Team Scotland) was a small private racing team that took on some of the world’s largest professional powerhouses -- and won.

Now a collection of cars from this historic effort is headed to auction at the end of the year.

PHOTOS: Ecurie Ecosse collection headed to auction

Bonhams announced it would offer seven of the team’s cars and one transport truck in a London auction Dec. 1. The collection is a “definitive representation of perhaps Britain’s best-loved motor racing team,” James Knight, Bonhams’ group motoring director said.

“We are delighted to have been appointed to handle the sale of this magnificent collection,” Knight said.

The cars offered are a 1952 Jaguar XK120 Roadster, a 1953 Jaguar C-Type, a 1956 Jaguar D-Type, a 1959 Tojeiro-Jaguar, a 1960 Cooper T49 Monaco, a 1961 Austin-Healey ‘Sebring’ Sprite, and a 1962 Tojeiro-Buick Coupe.

A 1959 Commer transport truck capable of carrying three cars, a pit crew, and on-board workshop will also be sold. It’s in running order, according Bonhams, and features a flat-six-cylinder diesel engine.

The cars and truck are all finished in the team’s blue and white livery that paid homage to the Scottish flag.

The Ecurie Ecosse team was founded in 1951 by Scottish businessman and racer David Murray, with the support of fellow Scottish racing enthusiasts, Bonhams said.

Using mainly Jaguar cars in competition, the team grabbed 68 victories in 10 seasons of racing in sports car competition and fielded several cars in F1 and F2 races. Ecurie reached its peak in 1956 by winning the 24 Hours of LeMans in a Jaguar D-Type. The team repeated the victory in 1957, again in a D-Type.

During its heyday, Ecurie also counted among its drivers a young Jackie Stewart, a racing legend who would later go on to win three world championships in F1 racing and earn himself a knighthood in the process.

The collection is currently owned by British businessman and car collector Dick Skipworth, an avid Ecurie Ecosse fan. It was Skipworth who bought the trailer and restored it to its current condition.

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