You may think that only Italian supercars cost the Earth, but our very own Bentley brand has demonstrated how revered our automotive past actually is. Sir Henry "Tim" Birkin’s 4½ Litre Supercharged Bentley single-seat racing car – nicknamed "Blower" – has reached a staggering £5milion at auction – beating the previous Bentley record of £2.8 million for a 1920s Speed Six known as "Old No 2".

“Blower” was sold by Bonhams recently at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. The dazzling looking machine boasts 240bhp engine and once reached 137.96mph on the Outer Circuit of Brooklands in March of 1932, breaking the previous record.

Sir Henry ‘Tim’ Birkin was a bit of an adrenaline junkie, having served as a fighter pilot before going into motor sport.

You may however think that such an old vehicle would mean any new owner would know more about breakdown insurance than adrenaline, but “Blower” can still growl away with the best of them.

While the identity of the buyer is not currently known, there have been some concerns raised about the possibility of the car leaving the country, such is its historical importance to the UK’s automotive industry. The Earl of March, for example, has argued that funds should be sought to ensure the car stays in Britain, suggesting that ideally some well-moneyed philanthropist should purchase the vehicle and offer it to Brooklands Museum.

The alternative may be that the car gets shut in the garage of a Sheikh or other tycoon, seldom if ever to be seen by the public of Britain or indeed any other nation.

Do you think such examples of Britain’s automotive past should be allowed to be sold abroad, or should they be kept here if at all possible?