Bernie's second hand wonders - CNN.com

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Before Formula 1, the young Bernie Ecclestone carved out a lucrative career in the motor trade. And its clear that the lessons he learned early in his career have remained with him. In the intervening years, Britain's third-richest man -- and the overall boss of Formula 1 (despite having sold most of his stake to CVC Capital Partners) -- has amassed a collection of automobiles to delight and amaze.

This 1931 Marmon Sixteen is one of a number of depression-era American cars in Ecclestone's extensive collection

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Now the 76-year old is to sell a sizeable chunk of his collection at auction in London's Battersea Park on October 31st. The sale of 42 of Bernie's cars, to be held jointly by RM Auctions and Sotheby's, is expected to generate between $19,524,000 and $26,221,000.

The collection is entirely comprised of road cars, but there are cars from companies with an F1 heritage -- including Ferrari, BMW and a significant number of Mercedes Benzes. The auction's star turn is a stunning Mercedes Benz 540K Special Roadster which is expected to fetch between $6.5million and $8million. If it sells at the high estimate, it would make it the second most expensive car ever sold at auction (the most expensive being the 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe, sold at Christies in London for $8.7million in 1987).

While high-profile jewels are to be expected, Ecclestone's collection has its fair share of oddities. Of particular note are the American luxury cars of the Depression era. As well as the 1933 Marmon Sixteen Victoria (pictured here), Ecclestone's collection includes a 1931 Cadillac Series V-8 Phaeton, a 1931 Packard Deluxe Eight Sport Phaeton and a 1931 Chrysler CG Imperial Dual Cowl Phaeton.

Then there are a number of cars notable by their ordinariness. The least expensive car on auction is a 1964 Ford Anglia. This cute British-build Ford -- familiar to fans of Harry Potter -- is an unrestored museum piece that looks nearly showroom-fresh and is expected to fetch a modest $10,000 to £15,000. Joining this in the ordinary Joe stakes is a pair of VW Beetles and a pair of Fiat 500s.

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The most oddball inclusions date from the 1970s. The 1978 Calumet was an attempt to resurrect the art of coachbuilding. An attempt that failed -- resulting in an ostentatious lump torn between 1920s glamour and 1980s ostentation. Then there are two Rolls Royce Carmargues. This luxury coupe was launched in 1975 and its peculiar styling -- by Pininfarina of all people -- divided opinion. The 500 people who bought them liked its styling. The rest of the world didn't. But interest in RR's most unloved model has risen in recent years.

Mr Ecclestone's cars will be sold alongside collections of road and racing cars belonging to the Brazilian collector Mr M Kogan and a collection of historic Ferraris, and other Italian exotics, belonging to Giuseppe Provosti. E-mail to a friend