EVENT REPORT
BEAULIEU INTERNATIONAL AUTOJUMBLE Beaulieu, Hants September 10 and 11
This year’s autojumble heralded a new beginning. It was the first with a king, Queen Elizabeth II having died just a couple of days before. The inaugural Beaulieu autojumble was run in 1967 and of course the Queen had reigned throughout. Lord Montagu said: “Like all those born after 1952, Lady Montagu and I have never known anyone but the late Queen on the throne. She was a reassuring presence throughout our lives, and while we often followed her activities from afar, the New Forest was fortunate to receive Her late Majesty on a number of occasions.”
Secondly, Covid thankfully seemed a thing of the past and the event reverted to normality with not a face mask in sight. Good riddance I say. The weather was glorious, which helped put a smile on the faces of the 26,000 people who passed through the gates. There was also a noticeable increase in foreign visitors with lots of incredibly tall Dutch folk and many gregarious Germans, some sporting rather fine handlebar moustaches. I didn’t hear many French accents though. The number of trader stalls was a little down, especially in the top field, for those who know the place. It’s still a huge affair and if you got to see everything on offer in two days you’d have done well. Bonhams Auction was once again centre stage in the main arena with the Automart car sales display on the surrounding grass areas.
One of the most interesting of the Bonhams lots had to be a 1914 Ford Model T motor caravan which is claimed to be the oldest surviving motor caravan in the world. It was commissioned by a member of the Bentall family, founders of a British department store chain. The chassis was extended and strengthened by Baico. I overheard a couple of old sages say that it was for some reason based on a car chassis not a lorry chassis. The all-timber body was built by Dunton of Reading who usually made traditional travellers’ caravans and you can certainly see the resemblance. It even has a side door with a letterbox. The vehicle was rediscovered in a derelict state in the Seventies and restored. Amazingly 95% of the original timbers were reusable. It has since taken part in many vintage runs and shows and featured on TV. It was offered with a price guide of £20-£30,000 but sold for a strong £63,250. That’s a lot of money for a 20mph shed on wheels.
Two iconic Fifties American sports cars also went under the hammer. A lovely red and white matching numbers ’57 Corvette convertible with a guide price of £40-£60k sold for £55,200, while I was rather attracted to a gorgeous salmon red ’56 Ford Thunderbird convertible with matching hard top. It had apparently been subject to a bodyoff restoration prior to its sale in Ohio in 2008 but not used since. So, a recommissioning was in order. This was estimated at £20-£30k but went for £35,650. Both cars appeared to be from the same seller and if they remained in the UK would be subject to import taxes and fees.
A very handsome and sporty artillery wheeled 1910 Overland Model 46 Roadster fetched £32,200 – just exceeding its bottom estimate – while a usable, rather stylish 1931 right-handdrive Plymouth PA Sedan looked great value at just £10,666. In the Automart a black ’85 Buick Riviera that was offered in the spring autojumble was still for sale at £8500. I thought this would have found a new home. There was also a very presentable ’65 El Camino but I reckon £24,995 was a bit rich; while although slightly rough around the edges, for two-wheel fans a ’74 Harley 1200 cruiser could have been ridden away for £11,000.
Out on the stalls there were bargains to be had but also let the buyer beware. I found an evocative Dragstrip Girl film poster but at £450 you would need to know your onions as there are a lot of fake and reproduction posters around. I bought a couple of brand-new books by Veloce Publishing on ’50s American sports car racing with a combined cover price of £135 for just £15 the pair. Now that was a bargain. There were Elvis books for a fiver, or for your man cave, there was a Harley Davidson petrol pump for a rather ‘high octane’ £2450. Did Harley ever sell petrol?
Whatever you needed – or even didn’t know you needed – it was there. I got talked into buying some Bulldog BDX spray by an enthusiastic and likeable Irishman who had kissed the Blarney Stone. It’s a lubricant, a penetrating and releasing agent and a rust protector developed from products used in the marine and heavy engineering industries. If it’s half as good as he says it is, I’m on to a winner. I’ll let you know…
Summing up, Beaulieu’s PR executive Ben Coleman said: “Although we were deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty the Queen a few days before, the international autojumble was able to take place as planned. With great weather, a diverse range of motoring treasures on offer and strong visitor numbers, including quite a number of enthusiasts returning to the show from overseas, the show felt more like its old self. With the added attractions of the colourful Nifty Fifties car display, a tempting range of cars for sale in Automart, and the excitement of the Bonhams auction, it really was a great automotive weekend.” I think he’s done this before!