‘The A30 is going into the grave with me’
1955 Austin A30 and others Graham Harbord, Marsh Green, Kent
Impressive collection, how did it come about?
‘Thanks, the cars you see here are ones I always wanted. I’ve been in the motor trade for over 40 years. I run a business, CVS Limited supplying newer vehicles to people and sometimes classics find me. ’
What’s your favourite?
‘Definitely my 1955 Austin A30. It’s my first classic, bought over 15 years ago. Looks are deceptive with Frank – that’s his name. He’s very original and has that ‘lived in’ look including no carpets, but he’s just been fitted with a 1275cc MG Midget engine and rear axle plus upgraded disc front brakes. Now he keeps up with modern traffic and puts a smile on every face I drive past. When I die this little car is going into the grave with me.’
What about the others?
‘The 1958 Morris Minor was an impulse buy. I asked for the postcode thinking he was local, but it turned out to be Sheffield. I set out at 4.30am in the middle of Hurricane Katie – that’s the Minor’s name now – and bought the car at 9am. My vermillion 1978 MGB GT was another impulse buy. At a petrol station opposite a classic car showroom, my eyes met her headlamps across the A22. I paid for my fuel and within five minutes had bought the MG. A one-owner car whose lady owner had passed away, the B came with 34 old MOT certificates, 35 tax discs and fully stamped service booklet.'
The Riley looks completely mint!
‘It’s a 1948 1.5litre RMA. I’ve got information back to day one including the original logbook and tax disc. It had a full bare-bone restoration in 2004 costing over £20k and was hardly driven after that. The ‘Green Machine,’ as she is now known, is used on a regular basis by me and has a strange tendency to auto navigate via the nicest picturesque local country pub…’
The XJ-S looks original…
‘I spotted it in the same showroom as the MGB, again while filling up with fuel. It’s a 1989 Jaguar XJ-S 3.6-litre automatic that wasn’t driven for years and left in a damp garage. She needs some attention to the electrics, bodywork and wheels. But hills were made for climbing and this one is my very own Ben Nevis.
Where does that Fiesta fit in?
‘This 1990 Ford Fiesta 1.1 Popular Plus was purchased on May 25, 1991 by a lady from Burgess Hill. Supplied by her local Ford main agent – Dinnages – it’s covered only 39,000 miles and was serviced there every year. The service book stamps are overflowed onto the inside back cover to fit them all in. ‘Sadly the owner lost her eyesight and car went into storage. I see myself as the custodian of a future classic
and it’s fun driving around in with what’s known in the trade as a ‘Fitness Pack’ car – no power steering, manual choke and wind up windows.’
What’s the future for the collection?
‘I’d really like to get it up to ten cars – fortunately I have a very understanding partner. As well as these cars I have a 2002 BMW 530D – my only non-british car – and a 2006 Jaguar XK8, so that leaves two spaces. I quite fancy a GT6 as my next acquisition, so we'll see how that goes. ‘They all put a smile on my face and although investment value isn’t especially a consideration it is good to know none of them will be worth any less in the future. Currently I drive a different classic to work each day to keep everything in running order and I love every minute of it.'