REASSURINGLY EXPENSIVE

We’ve all got aspirations when it comes to old cars – we’d like the funds to improve the motor we already own, or we’d like something a bit better... perhaps something very special.

Looking at Bonhams’ Festival of Speed sale there’s a wonderful selection of cars that might be expensive, but they’re definitely special – I’d be more than happy with one of those sitting on my drive, or driving over the Brecon Beacons on a summer evening.

I don’t subscribe to the view that because a car is expensive, it’s only worthy of disdain. I’d love a Bentley R-type Continental in the same way I’d like a Lutyens house and some Munnings artwork on the walls, but that will always be something to aim for rather than being a reality.

Sadly there have been unpleasant elements of inverted snobbery in the old-car movement for several years, and it never ceases to amaze me that such opinions are prevalent. To those who espouse those views and can see no further than their turned up noses, I can only think of two words: Grow Up.

‘Inverted snobbery in the old-car movement amazes me’