Watched over by former pilots Hans Herrmann and Sir Stirling Moss, an initially steady bidding war culminated in the record price for a car sold at auction. Lot 320 – in a fantastically original condition – had silenced the room from the start of bidding, bar applause for landmark bids as the 5, 10 and 15 million pound marks were surpassed. Despite competition from within the room, the winning bid of GBP 19,601,500 was taken over the telephone.

Photos: Jan Baedeker