A rare Sunbeam car built in the Black Country, which was found abandoned in an orchard in Australia,has sold for £40,000 at auction.

The Sunbeam 12/16hp four-seater tourer was assembled in Wolverhampton in 1913 and would have cost around £450.

It is believed there are around 30 surviving worldwide and it had been expected tosell for between £28,000 and £35,000. The car was snapped up by a mystery bidder at Bonhams in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

Stewart Skilbeck, motoring expert at Bonhams, said today: “We are very pleased. It reflects the quality of the Sunbeam and we had lots of bidders.

Sunbeams of that era are very highly regarded among connoisseurs.”

The car was found in 1967 abandoned in an orange orchard at Niagra Park, near Gosford, New South Wales, then in the ownership of a Mr Curtis. It was restored over the next three years.

Upon completion in 1970, the Sunbeam was taken back to show Mr Curtis who, although too ill to drive it, was taken for a drive.

The restoration of the car had included rebuilding of the rear part of the body and the coachwork is now smartly painted in red livery with black wings and wheels, the original deep-buttoned leather upholstery to the front being carefully retained.

The Sunbeam was put up for sale by Yorkshire brothers Toby and Daniel Ward, who own one of Europe’s foremost collections of early vehicles. It is still roadworthy and can reach 50mph.