1951 Vauxhall Wyvern £16,995
Fancy a beautifully-preserved rarity? Dale Vinten tries out a Vauxhall that also enjoyed a recent spell of TV stardom
This thoroughly recommissioned Wyvern exudes charisma, and the volume of paperwork and memorabilia included in the sale is testament to how loved and cherished it has been over the course of its life. Today it's in fine running order, with pleasing period details, and well deserving of many miles of motoring to come. The under-bonnet area is as clean and tidy as the rest of the car, with both the engine and its bay immaculately presented. With all of the correct badges in place, it really does look like a new car. We found no oil or fluid leaks, no buildup of grime or any signs of rust.
With a little choke, the engine fires straight into life and quickly adjusts to a healthy idle speed, the temperature gauge settling bang on the mid-way point and staying there throughout our time with the car. There is no smoke from the exhaust or rattling from the valvetrain and the Zenith carburettor is set up perfectly.
The car wafts along effortlessly. It may only have 35bhp from its 1.4-litre engine, but every single horse does its best and the power delivery is smooth. Steering is light, and although there is a small amount of play side-to-side at dead-ahead, it drives straight and goes where you point it. The column-shift manual gearbox is pleasing to operate, with positive selection and no graunching of gears or slipping of the clutch when shifting. The brakes feel sharp and the car pulls up in a straight line without squealing or fading. Handling is comfortorientated, but it doesn't wallow or feel too soft, and it takes corners confidently.
Thanks to a recommissioning process that began in 2006 and was only completed recently, the deep black paintwork has a glorious lustre. All of the chrome trim, including the domed hubcaps, is in top condition with a brilliant shine. The original semaphore indicators work and self-cancel as they should, and all of the glasswork is perfect. The car proudly displays a bevvy of badges on its front bumper and grille. The underside is as clean as the top, and there is no hint of rust anywhere.
The interior of this Wyvern is beautifully preserved, from the patinated leather seats to the well-trodden carpets. The latter is the only element which could do with being replaced if we're being picky, but it would have to be done sympathetically to maintain the overall sense of patina. Everything is in keeping with the car's vintage, including the pulldown windows and original factoryoptioned stereo. Additional touches include a period fire extinguisher and first aid kit – in the boot and under the front bench seat respectively.
The history file is reassuringly huge and comprehensive, confirming the 40,787 miles on the odometer. The car's 16-year refurbishment is documented in full, and it comes with a large quantity of Vauxhall memorabilia plus evidence of its appearances on recent the spy drama, The Bletchley Circle. A lot of history to take on, but it promises to be a lot of fun to own too, as well as extremely rare. With that in mind, a fiver short of £17k for this old Vauxhall doesn't look unreasonable.