ENTHUSIAST’S HUGE COLLECTION FOR SALE

Mechanic’s labours of love to be sold as he looks to slow down on classics

Agold mine of affordable, rare and desirable classics will be sold in January, as a prominent collector looks to offload a lifetime’s work.

Around 23 vehicles collected by Cambridgeshire mechanic, Bob Empson, are coming up for sale at Anglia Car Auctions on 27 January.

Opened in 1919, Empson’s Garage is a local institution in Elsworth, near Cambridge, but owner Bob is retiring, and the garage has already closed.

The collection’s condition varies, with a Ford Escort MkI, Jaguar XJ Coupé and an Austin A90 Westminster all requiring full restoration, but a 1969 Ford Cortina 1600, 1983 Ford Capri 2.8i and 1984 Ford Sierra 1600 two-door are said to be in great condition.

The rarest car in the collection is a Ford Cortina 80 two-door, which also appears to be in wellmaintained order.

Markets editor, Richard Barnett, says: ‘These two-door Cortinas are really very rare – they hardly ever come up for auction. They were generally only sold under motability schemes, and many have been modified. However, this one looks pretty original, down to its engine. So, this will be probably be worth £4000-5000.’

The sale will also include a collection of tools, parts and automobilia. Together with the cars, the ‘Empson Collection’ will take over an entire hall during the auction.

Anglia Car Auctions founder, Lyn George, says: ‘It’s an interesting collection, particularly as many of the vehicles seem to be former customer cars, which Bob has first maintained and then purchased, as they were first registered locally and have few previous owners. To find a group of cars with such a history, being maintained by the same person from new, is very rare.’