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
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
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