Bonhams is delighted to announce the consignment of a piece of British sporting history for its December sale at Mercedes-Benz World Brooklands – the speedboat used during the London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony, which is expected to achieve in the region of £250,000.
An estimated 900 million people watched footballer David Beckham pilot the 2008 “Torchbearer” Bladerunner BR RIB 35 down the River Thames on Friday 27th July, carrying the Olympic torch on the final leg of its journey to the Olympic Park.
The heavily-customised boat – fitted with four dummy rockets with smoke canisters, a high-pressure waterjet bar and dozens of LED lights – played a crucial role in the spectacular opening ceremony orchestrated by Stephen Daldry, with its progress down the river synchronised to massive pyrotechnic displays including a curtain of fire descending from Tower Bridge.
It will be offered for sale at the Bonhams auction at Mercedes-Benz World Brooklands in Surrey, UK, on Monday 3rd December, complete with its original opening ceremony smoke emitting rockets and high-pressure waterjet bar.
The Bladerunner joins a Hawker Hurricane aircraft (estimate £1.4 million - £1.7 million) and a number of important motor cars at the sale, including a 1931 Invicta S-Type (estimate £450,000 - £550,000), a 1938 Jaguar SS100 (estimate £200,000 - £250,000), a 2010 Pagani Zonda F (estimate £500,000 - £600,000) and a 2005 Porsche Carrera GT (estimate £250,000 - £300,000).
Tim Schofield, Director of the Bonhams UK Motor Car department, said: “After a fantastic summer of British sporting success, Bonhams is proud to offer for sale the ultimate souvenir from the Olympic opening ceremony – what has been dubbed ‘the greatest show on earth’.
“With this boat, the Hawker Hurricane aircraft and a number of important motor cars among the lots, our ever-popular pre-Christmas sale is shaping up to be one of the best yet.”
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