Classic Le Mans racing car goes up for auction for £55,000 – despite being ...

Classic Le Mans racing car owned from new by Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot goes up for auction for £55,000 – despite being in DOZENS of pieces Lotus car tipped for Le Mans and owned by Battle of Britain pilot to go for auction It was owned by Spitfire pilot 'Dickie' who then sold it to a Porsche racing driver The car's silver body is just a shell with the wheels, seats and engine all separate   The jumble sale of parts is estimated to fetch up to £55,000 when sold at auction

By Joseph Laws For Mailonline

Published: 01:10 BST, 3 May 2019 | Updated: 01:10 BST, 3 May 2019

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A classic Le Mans racing car could fetch up to £55,000 at auction- despite being in bits.

The 1959 Lotus Elite was owned from new by Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot James Richard Stoop, better known as Dickie.

The RAF flyer was a known motoring enthusiast and he entered his state-of-the-art vehicle into the famous 24-hour race just 11 days after purchasing it.

Mr Stoop became a racing driver after the war, but the car above never made it to the start line after it was involved in a serious collision while heading back from the track after a practice session

Mr Stoop became a racing driver after the war, but the car above never made it to the start line after it was involved in a serious collision while heading back from the track after a practice session

However, it never made it to the start line after it was involved in a serious collision while heading back from the track after a practice session.

Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot James Richard Stoop, better known as Dickie, joined the RAF during the Second World War

Battle of Britain Spitfire pilot James Richard Stoop, better known as Dickie, joined the RAF during the Second World War

Dickie, who flew both Spitfires and Hurricanes during World War Two, later nursed the car back to health before selling it to Porsche racing driver Patrick Guy Godfrey in 1966.

Since then it has had a string of owners with the latest stripping it out in preparation for a full restoration.

Sadly the enthusiast died

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