Mark Osborne

As Head of Bonhams US Motoring Department, Mark Osborne has presided over some of the company's key consignments, achieving a number of world record prices along the way. His most memorable consignments include the mighty Gulf-Porsche 917 Coupe that sold in 2010 for $3,967,000 and the Ferrari 312PB.

Osborne's interest in all things motoring was inherited at a tender age from his father. Osborne Sr. competed in variety of motorcars during the 1950s and '60s, some of which were home-built specials. These proved to be the origin from which Osborne continued the family heritage - building Austin Seven and Riley Specials in the garage of the family home.

In the late 1990s, after a career in London and Edinburgh involving fine motorcars, Mark was approached by Robert Brooks – then Chairman of another international auction company – and was invited to take the reins of the US Motoring Division, based in San Francisco. After a brief period at the company's contemporary South London headquarters in Clapham, Osborne moved to San Francisco.

Competition cars have, for Osborne, been a lifelong obsession and he can be seen competing on racing circuits across the US throughout the year, driving his Lotus 69 and Merlyn Mark 6 sports-racing car. Always hands-on, he has overseen the restoration of a number of important vehicles throughout the years. Current projects include an early long-stroke Manx Norton motorcycle and a Lotus Type 22 Formula Junior. As with all of Bonhams Motorcar Specialists, Osborne is an enthusiast at heart and relishes a new automotive discovery both academically and from behind the wheel.