Bonhams, the international fine art auction house established in the UK since 1793, will host the inaugural 'Collectors’ Motor Car Introduction' in Dubai on November 20.

A special presentation on the worldwide classic cars market will be given by James Knight, International Head of Bonhams’ Motoring Department.

Four cars from a UAE-based private collection will be on display from 6pm to 7pm at the One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel.

The models include a 1931 Lincoln Model K Rumble-Seat Roadster, a 1955 Ford Thunderbird Convertible, a 1965 Bentley S3 Saloon and a 1972 Ferrari 246GT Dino Coupe.

'This Collectors Motors Cars presentation is aimed at providing new and potential collectors an overview of the classic car market, and provide a rundown on what sort of cars to buy, periods and styles, acquisition costs, running costs and market perceptions,' explained Knight.

“The Middle East is tipped to become an emerging market for classic car sales, and it’s a trend Bonhams aims to support and develop. The motor car is over 100 years old and we’d like to demonstrate that there’s a wonderful world of motor cars out there in addition to modern era high-performance cars,” he added.

Knight has been active in the car market since 1984 and conducts major motoring auctions all over the globe.

Notable motor cars to have come under James’ hammer recently are the 1904 Rolls-Royce 10hp Two-Seater, which sold for Dh26,605.309 ($7,242,916) and the 1955 Jaguar D-Type, which fetched Dh15,999,618.92 ($4,355,712).

'For too long the world of classic motor cars has been the domain of Europe, America, Australasia and Japan, and it’s refreshing to see collectors from the Middle East now becoming passionate about vintage cars and memorabilia,' he remarked.

'For the market to truly emerge in this region, there needs to be an infrastructure in place to cater for vintage and classic cars. Collectors should start by attending and participating in international historic race meetings, tours, rallies and concourse d’elegance events.'

'The passion and desire will then follow to recreate similar events in the region, with the infrastructure network growing in tandem,' he added.

Prominent in the auction of classic Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce and Jaguar motor cars, Bonhams is the largest auction house to hold scheduled sales of classic and vintage motor cars plus car memorabilia, and holds around 25 auctions annually around the globe.

Key upcoming highlights for Bonhams’ classic car auction in Olympia, London (December 1) include James Bond’s Lotus from ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’.

Expected to fetch £100,000-120,000, the white 1976 Lotus Esprit was one of two Lotus cars driven in the film by Roger Moore as 007.-TradeArabia News Service