Bumper turn-out for the UK's biggest autojumble

| 11 Sep 2013

Nearly 40,000 people flocked to the National Motor Museum in Hampshire for the 47th annual Beaulieu Autojumble from 7-8 September. They browsed and bought from a selection of more than 2000 stands and hundreds of classic cars for sale.

There were plenty of interesting vehicles ready to be snapped up, including a beautiful 1960 Austin-Healey Frogeye Sprite selling for £11,950, an unrestored, showroom condition 1958 MGA Coupé at £24,950, a 1969 Jaguar S2 E-type fixed-head at £34,500, Malcolm Bishop's restored 1949 Citroën H Van at £50,000 and a stunning red 1959 Daimler Dart with cream leather interior, which the seller had spent 2000 hours restoring to sell at £50,000.

Every age of vehicle was available to buy, from a classically elegant burgundy 1934 Sunbeam 25 HP at £35,000, to a blue 5-litre supercharged 2010 Jaguar XFR for £27,500.

American cars included an eye-catching red 1958 Ford Thunderbird, at £32,000, thought to be one of fewer than 100 1958 four-seat convertible Thunderbirds left.

Restorations were also on offer, including a Ford Model T body found by the seller in a hedge in Cyprus and priced at £3500, plus a 1959 Citroën 2CV chassis at £625.

Some brisk business had already been done by as early as mid-morning on Saturday, with Brian Mondey's 1970 Austin 6CWT van selling for £5250, a Rover 3500 making £775 and a 1964 Morris Mini Moke which sold in two minutes for £19,500.

Winners of Best Stand for the third year running was the Burnett family's SU Carburetters for its Desert Rats theme. Lord Montagu presented the Burnetts with a trophy donated by Lolly Lee, in memory of her father, Terry, a keen autojumbler who spent his life looking for rare items of interest. In addition to the trophy, SU Carburetters receives a free stand at next year’s International Autojumble.

Beaulieu events manager Judith Maddox said: “We are always looking to improve the event for both exhibitors and visitors and were delighted to be told by one frustrated show visitor of long standing that – for once he couldn’t find anything to complain about!

“There was very little theft from stands this year but unfortunately, despite an increased police presence, warning notices and announcements, some visitors were targeted by professional pick-pockets. This very unwelcome activity has been seen at many major shows around the country this year, for the first time, and we ask all our visitors to take extra care when carrying large sums of money.”

Click here for our report on the Bonhams Beaulieu auction.