A 19th Century motor car built by a Malvern family firm is expected to fetch up to £80,000 when it goes under the hammer at Christie's.

The three-and-a-half horsepower Santler Dogcart, believed to be Britain's first petrol-driven car, is up for sale as part of an Exceptional Motorcars auction on December 4.

It was built in Malvern in 1894 by the Santler family, who ran an engineering firm making steam engines, bicycles and water wheels.

At the time cars were frowned upon, and had to be preceded along the carriageway by a man waving a red flag, so the Santlers never went into production with their machine.

It made an appearance at King George V's Coronation bearing a sign on the front saying "Ye Olde Malvern Trackless Car" and one on the back inviting people to push. It also survived a bombing raid during the Second World War.

It was first powered by steam, then by a two-cylinder gas engine, and subsequently a one-cylinder petrol engine.

An enthusiast who bought the car after the Second World War, fitted it with a Daimler-Benz petrol engine, and recently it has been seen on the London to Brighton Run and at other veteran car rallies.