Classic Aston Martin once crashed by Formula One champion Jim Clark to be auctioned

The 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT driven - and crashed - by Formula One world champion Jim Clark (Bonhams/PA Wire)

AN Aston Martin driven – and crashed – by Formula One world champion Jim Clark is due to go under the hammer.

The 1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT is expected to fetch a seven-figure sum after being owned by the same family for nearly half a century.

The car is due to be auctioned at this summer’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (Bonhams/PA Wire)

It was raced across Europe in the 1960s, competing at Le Mans 24 Hour race, Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and the RAC Tourist Trophy race at Goodwood, where the vehicle will be auctioned on July 13.

Bonhams said it would be auctioning the classic car at this summer’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, declaring it “the most valuable British car ever offered at auction in Europe”.

In total, 19 of the cars were made, with 314.1bhp, a top speed of 150mph and the ability to go 0-60 in around six seconds.

Known as 2VEV owing to its number plate, it is the same car which was famously crashed by Clark at Goodwood TT in 1962, along with two Ferrari 250 GTs.

James Knight, group motoring chairman at Bonhams, said: “It is, by some distance, the most valuable British motor car ever to be offered at a European auction, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for this historically significant vehicle.”