A white Fiat 500, dating back to 1971, that was once owned by Samantha Cameron, wife of David Cameron, the British Prime Minister, sold for three times its real worth at an auction.

David Cameron bought this little classic car back in 1998 for his wife Samantha for her birthday but in the 10 years that it was owned they only drove 1,000 miles believed to be around the Cotswold’s countryside.

The car only has 13,000 miles on the clock so has not been driven huge distances.

It would normally sell for around £6,000 but because of the Cameron connection that rather put a different light on things. Having said that it was still estimated to sell for no more than a couple of thousand pounds above its normal value.

The Silverstone Auctions took place at the Footman James Classic Motor Show last Saturday at the NEC, Birmingham.

There was so much interest that a bidding war took place with the car eventually going under the hammer for £18,150-putting a big smile on the lady owner’s face.

Two serious bidders eventually ended up bidding against one another with one being present and the other on the phone.

Will Smith who works for Silverstone Auctions stated: ‘We’re delighted with the sale and the lady who owned it is over the moon too – it goes to show what a famous owner can do for the price of a classic car.”

It was the British phone bidder who eventually won the day for this delightful famous classic car to add it to the rest of his private collection.

The Fiat 500 has a 479cc two-cylinder engine that is air cooled and this type of car was built between 1957 and 1975 with this particular car first being registered on 20 August 1971.

Nick Whale who is the managing director of Silverstone Auctions, said: ‘No matter what your political persuasion, this is one cool car.’