PART of a world-famous car collection based at Cross Hills is being sold at auction.

Twenty-five vehicles from the Yorkshire Car Collection will go under the hammer at Bonhams on Monday. Together, the lots are expected to fetch up to £400,000.

Among the vehicles is a 1923 Bugatti Brescia, which alone has an estimate of between £60,000 and £80,000. The two-seater once belonged to regular Brooklands race winner, Major Bertram Austin. Other notable vehicles include an 1895 horse-drawn steam fire engine, a 1908 Lanchester 20hp Landaulette, an iconic 1958 Chevrolet Corvette and a Hagan speedway motorcycle.

The Yorkshire Car Collection was started in the 1960s by the late industrialist Peter Black.

It was formerly housed in Keighley and was open to the public, but the vehicles were then relocated to Cross Hills where they are kept behind closed doors. Last November, the Duke of Kent was shown round the collection.

Stewart Skilbeck, director of Bonhams' motoring department, said: "The third generation of the Black family continues to take an active interest in the collection, but they have decided that some rationalisation is now necessary to reflect their current areas of interest.

"A core collection of vehicles will be retained by the Black family, including all of their London to Brighton motor cars."

He added: "I have known this collection from its inception and am delighted that Bonhams has received instructions to handle this part dispersal. The 25 vehicles to be sold reflect the widest of motoring and transport tastes and interests, with a notable section devoted to American cars covering four decades from the late 1930s onwards."