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Concourse condition classics are outrageously expensive but, if you have the patience (and skill), a rusting, dilapidated, "barn-find" classic could be within your reach…
Classic-car collectors and enthusiasts eager to heed the call of the hobby and become immersed in motoring history, will be at Brooklands in England on October 22 for Historics’ latest auction to bid for one or more of nine intriguing barn-find classics and restoration projects, many with no reserve.
These cars, especially with their "no reserve" price, are said to be classics in the making.
BEST FOR OPTION FOR DIY
Such wrecks are the perfect foil foil to the classic car-owning fantasies of genuine enthusiasts who have a restoration commitment, awesome patience or do-it-yourself initiative and skill. Despite obvious demands, a restoration needn’t be something tackled with trepidation; done correctly, it can yield hugely rewarding results, both emotionally and financially.
In a classic-car market such as the UK, where there remains a surfeit of after-market skills to assist with the restoration and maintenance of a classic car, ownership can be a generally hassle-free experience. Financially, conventional logic dictates that cars can never be anything but a depreciating investment, but chosen purchases (or at times, simply luck) have been shown to increase in value over time.
Amongst the cars on sale at the latest Historics auction is a very rare 1954 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Coupe – designed by engineering icon Vittorio Jano.
This Italian thoroughbred offers not only the opportunity to own a car considered sporty and sophisticated enough for the likes of racing legends such as Juan Manuel Fangio and Mike Hawthorn in their heyday but also, thanks to the limited number built and with no reserve, its value could soar with a sympathetic restoration.
The Aurelia's status is iconic in the history of automotive engineering; it was the first production car with a V6 engine.
HERITAGE APPEAL
While taking on a project can offer a return on investment, the attraction of becoming part of its history is often the spur for a classic purchase and collectors. The 1923 La France ‘Raceabout’, from the US emergency and vocational vehicle manufacturer, American La France, has an intriguing chronology within which to become a part.
Presented as a complete chassis, the speedster still has wooden artillery-style wheels in good order, running gear and a masterful in-line six, twin-spark plug, 75kW engine that presents a perfect project for hands-on restoration.
Fans of 1950's motoring will find a 1953 Jaguar XK120 ‘DHC’ in need of little work despite spending 40 years in a barn and matching numbers 1954 Singer 4AD Roadster.
Three Bristols are also on offer.
A 1954 and a 1955 Bristol 405 and their successor, a 1959 Bristol 406, all offered without power- or drivetrain, but (crucially), with the beautifully contoured bodywork intact, and all from the stable of marque legend Brian May.
Completing the list of barn finds on offer at this Historics sale is something Continental - a French-built, 1934 Hotchkiss Cabourg 413 that, while in need of some re-commissioning, is claimed to be rust-free - and a 1963 Jaguar Mk. II that represents not only an uncomplicated restoration but also a platform for a D-Type or C-Type replica project.
Classic-car collectors and enthusiasts eager to heed the call of the hobby and become immersed in motoring history, will be at Brooklands in England on October 22 for Historics’ latest auction to bid for one or more of nine intriguing barn-find classics and restoration projects, many with no reserve.
These cars, especially with their "no reserve" price, are said to be classics in the making.
BEST FOR OPTION FOR DIY
Such wrecks are the perfect foil foil to the classic car-owning fantasies of genuine enthusiasts who have a restoration commitment, awesome patience or do-it-yourself initiative and skill. Despite obvious demands, a restoration needn’t be something tackled with trepidation; done correctly, it can yield hugely rewarding results, both emotionally and financially.
In a classic-car market such as the UK, where there remains a surfeit of after-market skills to assist with the restoration and maintenance of a classic car, ownership can be a generally hassle-free experience. Financially, conventional logic dictates that cars can never be anything but a depreciating investment, but chosen purchases (or at times, simply luck) have been shown to increase in value over time.
Amongst the cars on sale at the latest Historics auction is a very rare 1954 Lancia Aurelia B20 GT Coupe – designed by engineering icon Vittorio Jano.
UNUSUAL: This American La France fire engine is an off-beat, yet novel, restoration choice…
The Aurelia's status is iconic in the history of automotive engineering; it was the first production car with a V6 engine.
HERITAGE APPEAL
While taking on a project can offer a return on investment, the attraction of becoming part of its history is often the spur for a classic purchase and collectors. The 1923 La France ‘Raceabout’, from the US emergency and vocational vehicle manufacturer, American La France, has an intriguing chronology within which to become a part.
Presented as a complete chassis, the speedster still has wooden artillery-style wheels in good order, running gear and a masterful in-line six, twin-spark plug, 75kW engine that presents a perfect project for hands-on restoration.
Fans of 1950's motoring will find a 1953 Jaguar XK120 ‘DHC’ in need of little work despite spending 40 years in a barn and matching numbers 1954 Singer 4AD Roadster.
SENSIBLE PROJECT: Headlights are among the most bothersome items to replace, so a “barn-find” classic with its illumination untouched is a bonus…
A 1954 and a 1955 Bristol 405 and their successor, a 1959 Bristol 406, all offered without power- or drivetrain, but (crucially), with the beautifully contoured bodywork intact, and all from the stable of marque legend Brian May.
Completing the list of barn finds on offer at this Historics sale is something Continental - a French-built, 1934 Hotchkiss Cabourg 413 that, while in need of some re-commissioning, is claimed to be rust-free - and a 1963 Jaguar Mk. II that represents not only an uncomplicated restoration but also a platform for a D-Type or C-Type replica project.
