COLLECTION OF COUPÉ BARN FINDS FOR SALE
Stash of classics collected by late MP to go under the hammer next month
Acollection of two Volvo P1800s and two BMW E9s are going up for sale at Bonhams’ 1 September sale at the National Motor Museum in Beauleu, Hampshire.
All of the cars are listed as projects in need of restoration, having spent decades decaying in an agricultural barn in the New Forest belonging to late MP and broadcaster Ednyfed Hudson Davies, who moved there in 1972.
Ednyfed was purportedly a compulsive collector, never selling his cars, even after they had strayed beyond economical repair through wear or accidental damage. The cars are not thought to have been driven since the 1970s. A rare 1908 Phoenix 10hp sports and a 1989 Mini Moke are also included in the collection – both in far better collection than the Volvos and BMWs.
Current owner Neil Lyndon, said: ‘Ednyfed acquired them when he was motoring correspondent for BBC Wales.’ Davies, who joined the corporation in the 1960s, held the post for 22 years and retained his love of fast cars during his political career, winning the Labour seat in Conwy, North Wales, in 1966.
‘He began collecting historic vehicles in this period, and carried on putting cars in the garage when he took a break from Westminster between 1970 and 1978. With a love both of Volvos in general and the P1800 in particular, Ednyfed drove them until they were supplanted in his enthusiasms by the BMW CSI coupes, of which he owned three at the same time.’