Thursday, March 28, 2024
Home Wedding Cars Rare classic cars worth thousands discovered in Derbyshire

Rare classic cars worth thousands discovered in Derbyshire

Two rare classic cars which have been discovered after decades in storage, have been polished to perfection in time for their auction debut. A 1960 Mark II Jaguar 2.4 manual, owned from new with only 51,000 miles on the clock, and a 1922 Morris Bullnose, which celebrates its 100th birthday this year, are back to their gleaming best after being discovered under dust sheets in an outbuilding near Repton .

Now both are set to go under the hammer with the Jaguar listed at an estimate of £20,000-£30,000, while the Morris has a guide price of £15,000-£20,000. The vehicles will be offered in Hanson’s Auctioneers’ Fine Art sale on Thursday, March 31.

The Jaguar is in “remarkable original condition” given its age. The interior is excellent with superb walnut fittings and black leather seats with red piping and is being sold with its original bill of sale and full tool kit.

Read more about auctions in Derbyshire

The vehicles, which have sparked national press coverage, are on display at car dealer Geoff Cox’s showroom in Denby. And the man to thank for buying them in the first place – and looking after them so well – is the late Peter McManus.

Mr McManus was a keen motorist and Charles Hanson, owner of Hanson Auctioneers spoke highly of him. Mr Hanson said: “He treasured his cars and took care of them, as did his son and daughter who inherited them.

“Finds like this in original condition, stored with care in a clean and dry outbuilding, don’t come along often. According to Peter’s children, the cars represent family togetherness and happy memories.

The Jaguar was originally bought from new in 1960 but only ever used on high days and holidays, including New Year trips to Scotland, hence its low mileage. Even though it went to Scotland, it was carefully garaged away while they were there.

His garage-mate was the Bullnose Morris, which was sold by GH Robbins of Evesham in 1922 and registered in July that year. Mr Robbins bought it back in 1939 and kept it until he passed away in the 1960s.

In 1963 it was purchased by Mr McManus. Mr Hanson said: “He loved its simplicity and ease of use. His children say people used to smile and wave at them when they were out and about in it.

“They (his children) recall their father driving them to a sweet shop in Rocester, to buy sherbet fountains and sunny picnics in Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The Bullnose was also used as a wedding car when the car enthusiast’s daughter married.

“Though born in Rhyl, Wales, in 1923, his family were from Shardlow and his grandfather had a butcher’s shop in Kegworth. Peter undertook an apprenticeship in engineering in Derby and, during the Second World War, worked on Merlin engines at Rolls-Royce .He died at the age of 94 in 2017.”

The Morris Bullnose and Jaguar Mark II will be offered in Hansons Auctioneers’ March 31 Fine Art Auction. The catalog can be found here: www.hansonslive.co.uk and www.the-saleroom.com.

RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular

Recent Comments