Bonhams Auction 2014.
The balmy weather of an Indian summer, fields full to bursting with exhibitor stands and a record number of visitors contributed to make the 2014 International Autojumble the perfect Beaulieu.
The event retained its cosmopolitan feel, with thousands of European and overseas motoring enthusiasts joining the British contingent for the 48th International Autojumble, held in the parkland of the National Motor Museum on September 6-7, 2014.
Total visitor numbers were 39,071, the best since 1992. The Autojumble was another sell-out for stand spaces, with a waiting list of hopeful exhibitors—a very healthy sign for the future of the event. The final total number of stands was 2,431, which included 293 cars for sale on the Beaulieu Arena and in the Dealermart classic cars area.
“We are delighted with the success of this year’s show, with record visitor numbers and many exhibitors reporting their best year ever for sales,” said Judith Maddox, Beaulieu’s events manager. “The whole weekend had a vibrant energy, with the camaraderie of the Beaulieu Autojumble community never more in evidence, a good indicator that the whole autojumble movement continues to prosper.”
There were plenty of interesting vehicles ready to be snapped up in the Automart, including a 1921 Ford Model T truck complete with American licence plates for £8,500 (CDN$15,242), a 1934 three-wheeled Morgan Super Sports with an exposed V-twin engine at £38,000 (CDN$68,198), and a beautifully preserved 1949 MG YT Tourer, one of less than 900 produced.
The little known French marque, Amilcar, was represented by a re-built aluminium bodied 1925 example at £25,500 (CDN$45,764). Its current ‘lofty’ owner recommends it to potential owners of a shorter stature!
1940 Ford Mercury Coupe modified with a Chevrolet V8 engine, sold for CDN$43,028).
A pair of classics from 1963 was a Riley Elf Mk l with a modest 105,000 kilometres on the clock for £4,950 (CDN$8,876), and a Ford Cortina Mk l, fully restored to replicate the special edition Lotus Cortina, at £15,000 (CDN$26,920).
Other classics included a 1971 Morris Minor 1000 for £2,950 (CDN$5,289), a 1973 Austin 1800 ‘Landcrab’ restored to rally specification at £4,995 (CDN$8,964), and a modern classic 1988 Porsche 911 Carrera with an asking price of €45,000 (CDN$63,305).
Among the American classics were two customised cars, a 1940 Ford Mercury Coupé, modified with a Chevrolet V8 engine at £23,995 (CDN$43,028), and an attention-grabbing 1963 Ford Thunderbird, a high-profile ‘West Coast’ custom, built in California in 2002, with a sale price of £24,000 (CDN$43,037).
A more quirky offering was a 1976 Trabant Kübelwagen, a fascinating example of East German design, on offer at £7,500 (CDN$12,552); which came complete with original fittings, including spades and ammo boxes!
Much more expensive was a fully reconditioned 1950s Bristol Lodekka London Bus with a price to match its size, £165,000 (CDN$295,879).
By Saturday lunchtime, many cars were already displaying ‘Sold’ signs, including a fully roadworthy 1937 Peugeot 302, a Rolls-Royce motor hearse, a classic 1972 Jaguar XJ6 Series l and a 1960 Armstrong Siddeley Star Sapphire.
The top-selling lot at the Bonhams sale, held on Saturday, was 1920 Vauxhall 30-98 two-seater with Dickey coachwork which fetched £242,300 (CDN$434,854), more than £60,000 (CDN$107,681) above its top estimate.
A 1961 Jaguar E-type 3.8-litre Roadster, a rare ‘Flat Floor’ example last used on the road in 1992 and needing total renovation, attracted a lot of interest and sold for £77,660 (CDN$139,376), almost four times its top estimate.
Another restoration fetching a high price was a 1957 Aston Martin DB Mark lll which had been off the road since 1971. It exceeded its £60,000 (CDN$107,681) top estimate by more than £30,000 (CDN$53,797).
A 1923 Vauxhall OD 23-60-horsepower Kington Tourer, a former Southampton taxi which had languished in a North London garage for almost 30 years and now awaits sympathetic restoration, sold for £55,200 (CDN$98,986), almost double its estimate. An official replica of the iconic Lambretta LI 125 ‘Jimmy’ scooter that featured in the cult 1979 movie Quadrophenia went for £10,350 (CDN$18,559).
“We were delighted to be back at Beaulieu for another exceptional sale showing good strength in the market place,” said Rob Hubbard, Bonhams Motor Car specialist. “With 127 vehicles, 35 motorcycles and 174 lots of automobilia in the auction and more than 84 per cent of the lots sold on the day, a Premium total of £3.3-million (CDN$5,918,065) was reached. As always, the Beaulieu Autojumble weekend continually achieves record prices and a high level of sales.”
Trunk Traders was a Sunday highlight, popular with exhibitors and visitors alike, with amateur jumblers bringing a fresh injection of stock onto the showground. The free delivery service, taking large or heavy items bought at the Autojumble back to the car parks, was kept busy throughout the show.
When confirmed, the date of the 2015 International Autojumble will be displayed on the Beaulieu website www.beaulieuevents.co.uk.
2014 Beaulieu Autojumble.