The 45th running of the world's original autojumble – in fact the event that gave the classic car world the term autojumble – attracted an enormous 36,360 visitors to Beaulieu over the weekend (10-11 September).
The 2011 Beaulieu International Autojumble was far removed from the original shows, with 2390 buzzing stands – that's about capacity – a display of AA vehicles, a Bonhams auction (see separate story) and the ever-popular Automart.
At the top end of the Automart price range was a rare 1937 BMW 320 convertible, restored in Prague about 20 years ago with a windshield sticker price of £69,500.
Meanwhile a rather tidy dark green 1985 Morgan 4/4, with bills for a new maroon hood at an eye watering £4500 and wood dash at £3500, was on offer for a more affordable £13,500.
Staying with the soft tops, three Italians lined up abreast: a red ’87 Alfa Romeo Spider with pepper pot wheels was £3500, while an earlier chrome bumper R-registration model was £4500. Both had rebuilt engines and both were said to be driven up from Devon. Alongside was a resprayed 1980 Fiat 124 2-litre for £6950.
For the fuel conscious, a 1956 Isetta bubble car was offered for £6995 and for those who aren’t, a rare ’61 Chrysler 300G with a gas-guzzling 375 horsepower 413cu in V8 was a strong £32,000.
A pair of oddball Japanese cars were attracting considerable attention. A 1992 “home market” Toyota Sera 1,500cc 2+2 coupe with butterfly doors was just £1950 while a Jaguar Mk2-aping ’94 Mitsuoka – based on a Nissan Micra – was a rich £4750.
Other rarities included a gorgeous 1929 La Salle at £42,000, a pretty ’62 Gilbern GT which was “open to offers” and a 1924 Fronty-Ford Indy 500 race car replica at a hefty £39,950.
Out among the stalls, foreign accents could be heard everywhere, no doubt due to the strength of the Euro against the Pound.
Prices seemed quite strong across the board, although there were still bargains to be had if you searched hard enough and haggled well enough. A BMW book, on one store for £10, was offered elsewhere for €90.
