Coys is to hold what it claims to be the largest ever no–reserve auction of cars ever to be held in the USA when they run their first ever auction at Houston in Texas on September 19.

The auction will see 500 cars going under the hammer with 200 of them being offered at no reserve. They come from a private collection, which has been built up over many years. Managing Director of COYS Chris Routledge said: 'for a number of years we have been exploring the possibility of opening up an operation to complement our international operations in Germany and Italy, which are fully developed.

'The consignment of such a substantial no reserve collection of predominantly European historic cars gives us great impetus and energy and we look forward to further sales in the USA.'

Coys is running the auction in conjunction with the Leake Auction and Chris Routledge added: 'Many industry pundits have speculated for years that we would make the inevitable move into the US market.  We have done so because we believe that the time is right and that there are great opportunities for the future.'

Among the British cars offered at no reserve are a 1953 Jaguar XK120 Drophead coupe, a 1949 Jaguar Mk V, a 1967 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII convertible and a 1951 Daimler DB-18 special sports convertible.European cars include a 1967 Mercedes-Benz 280SL Convertible, a 1985 Lamborghini Jalpa a 1980 Maserati Kyalami coupe and a 1958 Porsche 356 Coupe.

American cars include a 1916 Packard Twin-Six Runabout, a 1943 Lincoln Continental Coupe, a 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 convertible, body-off restoration and a 1951 Studebaker Commander convertible.

COYS inaugural United States sale will be held on September 19 at the Houston Reliant Centre, Number 1 Reliant Park, Houston, Texas, 77054.