Lewis Hamilton’s Father to Auction Remarkable £3 Million Classic Car Collection Featuring 27 Rare British Icons
Anthony Hamilton Parts With Extraordinary Private Garage Headlined by £500,000 Jaguar XJ220 Ahead of Silverstone Sale
Lewis Hamilton has spent nearly two decades collecting Formula One victories and world championship trophies, but away from the racetrack his father has quietly built an equally remarkable collection of automotive treasures. Now, Anthony Hamilton is preparing to part ways with one of Britain’s most impressive private classic car collections, with 27 carefully selected vehicles expected to fetch more than £3 million when they go under the hammer next month.
The sale offers a rare glimpse inside the private garage of the father of the seven-time Formula One world champion. Rather than focusing on exotic supercars from across Europe, Anthony Hamilton has assembled a collection that celebrates the very best of British automotive engineering, featuring legendary Jaguars, Aston Martins, Triumphs and Minis alongside a small number of carefully chosen German performance cars.
The auction will take place during the prestigious British Racing Drivers’ Club Classic weekend at Silverstone, creating a fitting backdrop for a collection assembled by a man whose family name has become synonymous with British motorsport.
Collection Reflects Passion for British Motoring
Anthony Hamilton, 66, has spent years carefully curating a garage that showcases many of the most celebrated models ever produced by British manufacturers.
Of the 27 vehicles entering the sale, an overwhelming majority were built in the United Kingdom.
Only four cars originate elsewhere, comprising three Mercedes-Benz models and a single BMW performance saloon dating from the 1980s.
The remainder celebrate generations of British engineering excellence, spanning everything from iconic sports cars to beautifully restored grand tourers and historically significant competition-inspired machines.
Together they represent not only considerable financial value but also decades of automotive heritage.
According to auction specialists, the collection stands out for both its quality and the thought behind its selection.
Anthony Hamilton, 66, is selling 27 cars from his private collection. The haul is estimated to be worth more than £3million
Anthony is the father of seven-time F1 champion Lewis who steered his son’s motorsport career from a very early age and well into his career in motor racing’s premier class
Jaguar XJ220 Leads The Auction
Among all the vehicles being offered, one model clearly dominates attention.
Anthony Hamilton’s Jaguar XJ220 is expected to become the headline attraction of the sale.
Showing just 3,800 miles and accompanied by a fully documented service history, the exceptionally well-preserved supercar carries an estimated value of around £500,000.
Widely regarded as one of Britain’s greatest performance cars, the XJ220 remains among Jaguar’s most iconic creations.
Its combination of rarity, condition and provenance is expected to generate intense bidding when the auction begins.
For collectors, opportunities to acquire examples with such limited mileage rarely arise.
As a result, specialists anticipate it becoming one of the highest-selling vehicles of the entire event.
Rare Jaguar XKSS Recreation Also Draws Attention
Sharing the spotlight with the XJ220 is another remarkable Jaguar.
Anthony Hamilton is also selling a recreation of the legendary XKSS, itself inspired by one of the rarest sports cars ever produced.
The recreation has been valued at approximately £375,000.
While not an original XKSS, the car recreates one of Jaguar’s most celebrated post-war designs and offers enthusiasts an opportunity to own a faithful interpretation of an almost unobtainable classic.
Its appearance alongside the XJ220 further reinforces Jaguar’s dominant presence throughout the collection.
Headlining the collection is this 1993 Jaguar XJ220. It has just 3,800 miles on the clock and a pre-sale guide price of up to £550k
Hamilton, 66, is also parting with his special recreation of Jaguar’s ultra-rare XKS, worth £375,000
His selection of Jaguars includes three stunning E-types, including this 1967 Series 1 roadster with the 4.2l engine, which is valued at £100,000
Historic Jaguar Models Showcase Racing Heritage
Beyond those headline attractions, Anthony Hamilton’s garage includes several Jaguars carrying enormous historical significance.
Two C-Type continuation cars feature prominently within the auction.
One faithfully recreates XKC001, the Jaguar that claimed victory at the 1951 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The second reproduces XKC003, famously driven by Stirling Moss and Norman Dewis during the 1952 Mille Miglia.
That particular car occupies an important place in motorsport history because it demonstrated the extraordinary effectiveness of disc brakes to an international audience.
Both continuation models are expected to sell for around £225,000 each.
For collectors interested in Jaguar’s racing legacy, they represent two of the most desirable lots available.
Three Beautiful E-Types Included
Jaguar enthusiasts will also find three outstanding examples of the legendary E-Type.
Two of the cars are 1967 Series 1 roadsters powered by the desirable 4.2-litre engine.
Both remain close to original production specification and are expected to achieve around £100,000 each.
Completing the trio is a Series 3 V12 finished in the distinctive Heather paint colour.
Rare even when new, the shade has become increasingly sought after among collectors.
Auctioneers believe it should command approximately £60,000.
Together, the three E-Types demonstrate Anthony Hamilton’s appreciation for one of Britain’s most celebrated automotive designs.
Mercedes Collection Reflects Lewis Hamilton Connection
Although British cars dominate the garage, Mercedes-Benz also enjoys a notable presence.
The inclusion of several Mercedes models carries obvious significance given Lewis Hamilton’s enormously successful twelve-year partnership with Mercedes-AMG in Formula One before his move to Ferrari.
Leading the German contingent is a beautifully presented 1960 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL.
Finished in white over navy blue, the elegant roadster carries an estimated value of up to £120,000.
Also entering the sale is a high-performance 2013 C63 AMG Edition 507.
Expected to attract bids around £38,000, the car comes from the same period during which Lewis Hamilton enjoyed tremendous success driving for Mercedes in Formula One.
Completing the Mercedes trio is a 1989 300SL with an interesting history of its own.
Previously owned by heavyweight boxer Billy Walker, the collectable sports car is expected to sell for approximately £50,000.
Aston Martin And Triumph Classics Add Variety
This 1982 Aston Martin Lagonda – with a guide price of £100,000 – is widely regarded as one of the coolest retro designs from the brand
Hamilton Senior has a penchant for collectable Triumphs, including this Italia, described at launch as ‘Italian bodywork at its best, British tradition in sports car engineering at its finest’
The mass of British classics includes a number of Minis. This David Brown Remastered example is expected to reach £80,000
A one-of-100 David Brown Speedback GT is also part of the for-sale collection and is the third highest value car, said to be worth £240,000
Anthony Hamilton’s admiration for British motoring extends well beyond Jaguar.
Three Aston Martins also feature prominently within the collection.
Among them is a striking 1982 Lagonda, now appreciated as one of the marque’s boldest retro designs, carrying an estimate of £100,000.
Joining it are a 1970s Series 3 V8, also valued around £100,000, and a particularly rare 1990s V8 Coupe expected to fetch approximately £65,000.
All three are presented in concours condition.
Triumph also enjoys a significant presence.
Perhaps the most important example is the exceptionally rare Triumph Italia.
Only 330 were produced between 1959 and 1962, making surviving examples highly desirable today.
Iconic Auctioneers estimate the car could realise £100,000.
Alongside it sits an equally fascinating Triumph TR5 prototype.
Believed to be the sole surviving prototype of its kind, it has been carefully restored to its original experimental specification.
Auctioneers expect bidding to approach £90,000.
The Triumph selection is completed by two charming Spitfires carrying guide prices between £22,000 and £24,000.
Minis Celebrate A British Icon
Anthony Hamilton has also assembled an impressive collection celebrating one of Britain’s most famous small cars.
The auction includes examples of every major high-performance Mini Cooper S variant from the 1960s.
Collectors will have opportunities to bid on a 970 S, a 1071 S and a 1275 S.
Each carries estimates ranging from £35,000 to £38,000.
Alongside those classics are two highly exclusive David Brown Mini Remastered creations.
These extensively modernised interpretations of the original Mini combine traditional styling with contemporary engineering and luxury finishes.
Each is expected to sell for around £80,000.
Rare Speedback GT Offers Modern Luxury
One of the most unusual cars in the collection is a 2016 David Brown Speedback GT.
Built upon Jaguar XKR mechanical foundations while drawing styling inspiration from grand touring cars of the 1960s, the Speedback remains an exceptionally rare sight.
Only around 100 examples were produced worldwide.
Anthony Hamilton’s car, finished in British Racing Green, is expected to achieve approximately £240,000.
Interestingly, however, that figure would still represent a considerable loss compared with its original purchase price, which exceeded £600,000 when new.
Its rarity nevertheless makes it one of the auction’s standout modern classics.
Auctioneer Praises Carefully Curated Collection
Lionel Abbott, car specialist at Iconic Auctioneers, described the Anthony Hamilton Collection as one of remarkable depth and personality.
According to Abbott, the selection reflects genuine enthusiasm for British automotive history rather than simply focusing on monetary value.
He highlighted the diversity of the collection, ranging from the Jaguar XJ220 and XKSS recreation through to Triumph prototypes, Aston Martins and rare Mini Cooper S models.
Each vehicle, he suggested, demonstrates Anthony Hamilton’s appreciation for characterful British engineering.
Silverstone Provides Fitting Stage
The auction will take place on Saturday, July 25, during the British Racing Drivers’ Club Classic weekend at Silverstone.
Few venues could offer a more appropriate setting.
Silverstone has become inseparably linked with British motorsport history and carries even greater significance for the Hamilton family.
The circuit features the Hamilton Straight, named in recognition of Lewis Hamilton’s extraordinary achievements.
Presenting Anthony Hamilton’s remarkable collection there therefore feels particularly symbolic.
As one chapter closes with the sale of these carefully assembled classics, the auction offers collectors a unique opportunity to acquire vehicles chosen by a family whose name has become deeply woven into the fabric of British motor racing history.
