As we reported earlier, the world’s oldest surviving Rolls-Royce went under the gavel yesterday, and came away from auction as the most expensive veteran class car sale of all time.

(Click through the jump to read on about the sale of the 1904 Rolls-Royce.)

The 1904 Rolls-Royce 10 horsepower two-seater was only the fourth car ever built by Charles Stewart Rolls and Frederick Henry Royce, and was rightfully expected to fetch a price of over a million pounds. But when the gavel had fallen on the Bonhams auction yesterday, the grand old lady had been sold to a private collector for well-over triple that estimate, a massive £3,521,500.

Senior motoring specialist at Bonhams, Stewart Skilbeck, said that strong global interest combined with the beautiful mechanical condition of the Rolls to drive up the price.

“It’s a very drivable car,