1955 Le Mans Sprite involved in crash that killed 84 is set to sell for £1m

Run_to_da_hills

"An Austin-Healey racing car involved in the worst crash in motor sport history is set to sell for nearly £million.

The disaster at the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1955 saw 84 people killed after the car was clipped by a Mercedes, which then flew into the crowd.

But now, the Austin-Healey's anonymous owner has decided to sell it at auction after keeping it locked up for the past 42 years at a garage in the north of England".

I don't know who would come up with a million for a Sprite with such a nasty history behind it, best place for it would be in a static museum.

I'm surprised that the race was even allowed to continue after the atrocity.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2068015/Austin-Healey-racing-car-involved-1955-Le-Mans-disaster-sell-1m.html

bijapos

There is an article in classiccars magazine about this. I got the magazine a few weeks ago so it looks like the Mail is looking for a shocker of a page filler.

The car is very interesting even without being involved in the accident and was one of 4 built that were used to develop later AH road and track cars.

The race continued because if it was abandoned the huge amount of people leaving would have just menat the ambulances and rescue vehicles would have been caught up in the traffic and more people would probably have died before they got to hospital. There is a very good documentary on the accident, its often repeated on various stations both terrestrial and satellite.

This is the cover of the Dec 2011 edition that includes the article.

carchaeologist

The car did not kill anyone.
Its got an interesting history regardless of the accident.
If someone wants to pay silly money for it more power to them.
Whats the issue?

The Mail loves a bit of drama!:rolleyes:

Theres a lovely patina on that car.

mountai

I agree with everything Carchaologist says. I also think "atrocity" is a bit strong. Usually an "atrocity" is associated with a deliberate act against another person.

gipi

There was a very good BBC documentary a while back about the 1955 crash.

TRNIALL

Sold for £843,000.Nice little earner.