British bonanza at Brightwells sale

| 11 Jul 2014

More than 100 British-built classic cars are set to go under the hammer during Brightwells' 16 July sale, with the lion's share expected to sell for less than £15,000.

The headline act is a 1937 Ford Model 62 V8 Woody, which is expected to cross the block for £25-30,000. The estate has a long association with the Dagenham firm, having been on display at Ford's Heritage Centre from 1981-2000. During that time, it was taken to Sandringham to be shown to the Queen Mother who, being familiar with a Ford Pilot Woody that was built for King George VI, wanted to reacquaint herself with a similar vehicle. As a result of that meeting, a photograph of the monarch with the car adorned a postage stamp on the island of St Helena.

The Ford is understood to be one of only two surviving examples. It appears in fine fettle, and a Ford Heritage information sticker still adorns one of the rear windows.

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A 1967 Austin 1100 automatic showing just 19,395 miles on the clock is also likely to draw a great deal of attention, having been kept in the Stondon Motor Museum for the past 17 years. It is reported to have been started and driven regularly, and prior to the museum's curation it had passed through the hands of just three owners. In addition to the original purchase receipt of £831 7s 9d, it also boasts its original handbook and fuel ration vouchers.

The Austin will be sold without reserve, and could be a genuine bargain.

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Also from the Stondon Motor Museum is a 1964 Jaguar MkX, which had been on show since 1997. Eight old MoT certificates from 1982-'12 support the displayed mileage of 66,000, while a photographic record of a respray in Powder Blue eight years ago should provide peace of mind about the Jag's structural condition.

As with the Austin 1100, the Jaguar will be sold with no reserve – but the auctioneers suggest making sure it will fit in your garage before bidding. Sound advice.

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Again from the British stable is a 1930 Lagonda 3 Litre Tourer, which has an upper estimate of £110,000. The low-chassis model was first registered in Liverpool in May 1931, and was owned by the same person from 1938 to 1962, before passing briefly to a Lagonda Club member. It was then bought by the vendor in 1963.

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A bursting history file details the extensive improvement work carried out over the past 50 years, including a brake overhaul in 1972, gearbox rebuild in 1986 and an engine rebuild a year later. The Lagonda was recommissioned for sale in 2013 at a cost of £4300.

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A 1952 Land-Rover Series I is expected to fetch £4-5000, but will need work before it is ready to be driven. The Landie has been off the road since 1976 and, though it was purchased in 2004 with a view to restoration, has remained untouched. The vendor states that it hasn't been run in a number of years, but that the engine still turns freely.

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Continuing the museum theme is a 1969 Marcos GT V6, which used to be housed at the Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon. The car is described as being 'restored to great effect', and is fitted with good tyres all round. The GT was previously owned by former Marcos sales manager Jeremy Kearns, and will be sold with a comprehensive history file. It could be secured for as little as £17,000.

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For the brave, there's a 1985 Sinclair C5, which could be yours for £3-500. The one-owner 'revolution in urban transportation' has been in storage for 25 years, but will be sold with its original manual, toolkit and charging equipment. Just 12,000 were made, which makes this a rare and affordable piece of '80s nostalgia.

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If your budget stretches a bit further, you could have a stunning 1935 Rover 12 Sports Tourer, which is estimated at £25-27,000. The scarce four-seat classic has led an eventful life, being involved in a shunt in 1955 and later covering 3000 miles in three weeks during a tour of Austria, the Dolomites and the Italian lakes. It is described as being 'a delight' to drive.

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There's also plenty to keep film buffs happy, in the form of a 1951 Morris Oxford stretch limousine, which was created for the 1997 picture The Borrowers. The movie star is now fitted with a 2.0-litre Pinto engine following a £20,000 restoration by Sidney Jackson and Sons of Macclesfield in 2004. It now represents good value at £2750-3750.

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A rally-prepared 1972 Mini offers affordable thrills for £8-9000. The car began life as a 1000 model before its engine was bored-out to 1330cc and an upgraded exhaust manifold and Weber carburettor were added. Twin fuel tanks were also fitted, along with straight-cut gears and Minilite-style wheels. It will be sold with 12 months' MoT.

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Click here for a full list of auction lots.