Variety is the spice of life at Cheffins

Auctions
 | 23 Oct 2012

Sir Winston Churchill’s Land-Rover may have been the star at Cheffins’ 20 October sale, but it wasn’t the only interesting lot at an auction that was dominated by farm and heavy machinery.

Cars were few and far between, though there were still some highlights such as this Youngtimer 1985 Opel Monza GSE. The Opel equivalent of the Vauxhall Senator, the big coupé featured a 3-litre straight-six and rear-wheel drive. It sold for just £1200.

Meanwhile, for vintage car fans there was a 1933 847cc Morris Minor van. Apparently last used in 2009, the interior was said to have fallen victim to mice, but it came with 12 months’ MoT and sold for £5700.

There were several more peculiar items, too, such as a 1934 Leyland Cub FK Fire Engine. Its career had started in the brigade before it was drafted into action as a farm’s irrigation pump.

After it fell into family ownership, the tender’s roles included the school run and charity work, last being used 10 years ago at an event organised by Kent Fire Brigade. It sold for £15,000.

Surprisingly, it was a lot that didn’t sell that rivalled Churchill’s Series 1 as piece of history – a 1969 Range Rover Velar Fire Engine (main pic). A pre-production prototype, the machine was originally finished in Lincoln Green and starred in the promotional film A Car For All Seasons.

After that it was converted into a rapid response airport fire tender incorporating the familiar third axle and a lengthened chassis. It remained on active service at Marshall Airport, in Cambridge until 2003 and was said to be in full working order.