BUYERS AFTER VANTASTIC DEALS

Market experts report strong interest in classic commercial vehicles

Auction experts are reporting a flurry of interest in older commercial vehicles from enthusiasts, with restored examples fetching stronger-than-expected prices at auction.

BMC and BL products predominate in today’s market with Mini and Minor variants along with occasional A60 and ‘County’ Austins making it to the saleroom. Ford Anglia and Escort vans can be found, too, while occasional examples of Hillman Huskys and Commer Cobs fly the Rootes Group flag.

Manor Park Classics’ managing director, Roger Nowell, said: ‘We have done very well with them, including some Jowetts, a Morris Minor pick-up and a Mini van.

‘There’s a healthy interest from private buyers and business users for promotional purposes, and the best results have been for restored vehicles that can be personalised.’

Brightwells also said that it had seen plenty of interest, particularly in carbased vans, and said that any classic van or estate is ‘in vogue’ with buyers.

Head of Brightwell’s classic and vintage department, Matthew Parkin, said: ‘There is still a very strong following for these car-derived commercial vehicles, particularly BMC products such as the A35s, Minors and Mini, but also for Vivas and Thames vehicles.

‘I’m not sure how much enthusiasm there is for more modern machinery unless it is particularly quirky but

Classic vans – and estate cars based on older loadluggers – are proving popular with buyers, particularly if they’re well restored examples.

survival rates have never been great so they are rare and a bit different (and useful, too) – so I suspect there will always be a demand, especially for classic commercials that are small enought to fit in the garage.’

Charterhouse manager, Richard Bromell, said that the high attrition rate of commercial vehicles compared to the number of would-be owners who have a nostalgic attachment to them was helping to push up values, something echoed by Anglia Car Auctions in its assessment of how well these vehicles are performing in today’s market.

ACA consultant, Guy Snelling, said: ‘The market for these is definitely not slowing. The fact that they have a dual potential – both as a collector’s vehicle and for advertising purposes – ensures decent interest in them.

‘Following the trend of younger vehicles becoming more popular as the population gets older, comparatively young models like the Escort 55 are gaining attention.’

Southampton-based auctioneer, Barons, said that it didn’t believe that interest in car-based commercials is

as strong now as it once was, but that they’re still popular with enthusiasts.

Barons’ Tim Gascoigne said: ‘Minis are very popular in van and Countryman form and pick-ups even more so. Morris Minor versions also remain ever popular. I would say that there isn’t the same interest in more modern models, but that may well change in years to come.’