The Big Story
Specialist plans to offer on-ramp inspections to give bidders confidence
Manor Park Classics offers historic auctions
The company behind a major facility providing classic sales and car storage in the north west of England has this week announced plans to hold its first classic auction later in spring.
Runcorn-based Manor Park Classics, a 30,000sq ft site that opened last year ( CCW, 30 September), said that it is now consigning classics for its maiden auction on 27 April and aiming to offer socially distanced viewing appointments, COVID restrictions allowing. It’s also vowing to allow all lots to be inspected on a ramp. The inaugural sale will have no entry fees or sellers’ commission, and the company will collect cars from anywhere in mainland UK and offer free indoor storage in the runup to the sale.
Classics consigned so far include a 1960 Chevrolet Corvette C1, a restored Austin 6cwt pick-up and a 1972 Fiat 500.
Manor Park Classics has hitherto focused on car storage and classic sales, but took on maintaining
Vauxhall’s heritage collection of 60 classics back in November, currently based at the nearby Ellsemere Port factory while creation of a new permanent home for the collection gets underway. It’s also planning to use its site as a venue for events and club gatherings when lockdown restrictions are relaxed.
The company said that it was aiming to address what it said were ‘widely-held frustrations’ with limitations on viewings during traditional auctions, which included being able to view lots by appointment in the evenings and weekends ahead of the sale.
Sales director, Sam Grange-Bailey, said: ‘Manor Park Classics has set out to reduce the risk for buyers and sellers and is focusing on a broad offering of genuine and interesting classic and collectors’ vehicles.
‘ With on-site facilities to see the cars running and driving, as well as a four-post inspection ramp, the risks of buying a car without an inspection are reduced.’