Bonhams has announced that it will be presenting the automotive collection of watchmaker George Daniels at the Goodwood Festival of Speed auction, on 29 June 2012. The sale, consisting of seven cars and two motorcycles, is estimated to raise in excess of £8m and is headlined by the ex-Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin 1929-32 Bentley 4½-Litre Supercharged Single-Seater – the car that set the Brooklands Outer Circuit Lap Record at more than 137mph in 1931.

George Daniels (1926-2011), highly respected watchmaker and engineer, created no more than 100 timepieces throughout his life, but each design was unique. Starting from scratch, Daniels put more than 2500 hours into each watch, and was responsible for developing the 'co-axial escapement' mechanism - which has been described as the most important horological development in over 250 years. In 2010, he was awarded the CBE, and has been the only watchmaker to receive the honour of ‘Master Watchmaker, for services to Horology.'

His engineering tallent gave him an enthusiasm and appreciation for fine motorcars, especially racers with historical significance. Over the years, Daniels accumulated an impressive collection and he took part in numerous vintage car races, until he was politely ‘warned off’ by the RAC due to concerns over his age.

Daniels was a huge fan of the legendary ‘Bentley Boy’ and ‘tween-wars boy’s hero ‘Tim’ Birkin, and enthusiastic bidding is expected for another Birkin car, the 1932 Alfa Romeo 8C-2300 Long Chassis Touring Spider. It formed part of the 1932 Le Mans Team Car entries with Birkin sharing driving duties with his great friend Earl Howe for the endurance race. Once its competition career came to an end, this stylish Italian classic was subsequently re-bodied in period by Pinin Farina and owned by the Mussolini regime’s Air Force Minister Marshal Italo Balbo, who is reputed to have delivered rousing political speeches while sitting on its bonnet.

James Knight, Group Head of Motoring at Bonhams, commented: 'We are immensely proud to have been selected to handle the George Daniels collection. It promises to be one of those landmark collection sales that will be talked about for years to come.'

Further highlights of the sale include:

- The ex-1908 French Grand Prix and 1910 Brooklands All-comers Plate winner (fastest lap at 101.8mph), 1908 Itala 100hp Grand Prix Car

-The ex-Frank Taylor of Taylor Woodrow Construction 1954 Bentley R-Type Continental Fastback by H.J. Mulliner

-The ex-Maharaja of Bhavnagar 1929 4½-litre Bentley Tourer by Vanden Plas

-The 1907 Daimler 45hp Roi-de-Belges Tourer originally built for the Earl of Craven

www.bonhams.com/cars