Manor Park Classics’ upcoming May 14th sale is already proving to be popular with sellers, and even though there’s still a month to go, 57 lots have already been consigned for the Saturday auction. Unusually, those include a rare selection of very low-mileage cars – and not just from more recent years, either.
A rare, original 1953 Land Rover Series 1 is being offered, with a believed genuine 34,000 miles recorded. Even more incredibly, the Landy has been garaged from new, and the current vendor had confirmed that there are no plates or patches on its original chassis. With just one owner until 2016, the vehicle has remarkable provenance, down to its date-stamped wheels and radiator, and Solex carburettor fuelling the 1997cc petrol engine. The current vendor carried out recommissioning work, but preserved its originality throughout. Estimate: £36-40,000*.
And why buy a nearly new Mazda MX5, when you can bag perhaps the purest of the breed – a Mk.1 model from 1995 – that’s recorded just 6,000 miles from new? This original UK car has had only three owners from new, comes with plenty of paperwork and an estimate of £12-14,000.
Two more low-milers – both ‘80’s favourites – will also cross the block next month. A one-owner 1987 Austin Mini Mayfair, which has covered 13,000 miles and comes with its original book pack, MOTs back to 1993 and two sets of keys, looks appealing with an estimate of £6-8,000. And a 1982 Rover SD1 2000, with a mere 19,000 miles showing, is a rare find, with just 21 cars now registered on UK roads. The Rover is highly original, down to its dealer plates, and it sports optional metallic paint and automatic transmission. This one-family car from new was recommissioned in 2014 and has recently been serviced. Estimate: £3,500-4,500.
Rounding up this group is a remarkable 1959 Austin Westminster Vanden Plas, which has accrued just 28,000 miles in the last 63 years. The car is also rare, its 2.6-litre twin-carburettor engine mated to a gearbox with a floor-mounted manual ‘shift, plus overdrive. Fitted with a period radio, and supplied with a comprehensive history, including MOTs going back to 1973, this is one lot not to miss. Estimate: £26-30,000.
Increasingly, buyers are turning to Manor Park for good quality modern classics, and in the May sale they won’t be short-changed. With an estimate of £11-13,000, the Rosso Red Ford Fiesta XR2, registered in 1986, has clearly been cherished by the its three keepers from new. Fitted with the optional pop-up sunroof and ‘pepper pot’ alloy wheels, plus central locking, this little hot-hatch is ready for the summer. But you may also be torn by its contemporary rival, the Peugeot 205 GTi 1.6, and in this case one of the 300 Sorrento Green Edition models. With 12 stamps in its service book, a factory sunroof and power steering, this 108,000 mile car will cross the block with a £9-11,000 estimate.
Two contrasting cars complete Manor Park’s modern classics highlights. Hardcore hot-hatch enthusiasts should take note of the 1999 Honda Civic Type-R, originally imported from Japan in 2007 and still with its export papers. This Civic had some sensible mods before it arrived in the UK, such as Meister R coil-overs, a carbon-fibre intake pipe and aftermarket exhaust system, and it comes with an estimate of £12-14,000. At the other end of the spectrum is a lovely 1990 BMW 320i Convertible, with just 75,000 miles showing and 12 stamps in its service book. Complete with factory BBS alloy wheels and original tool kit, the Bimmer is estimated at £8-10,000.
The star of Manor Park’s pre-war offerings is surely a 1931 Lagonda 3 Litre Tourer, so much so, that it’s deserving of its very own release (accompanying this one). But there are many more, including a handsome Humber 16/50 Saloon consigned by Manor Park’s very own ambassador, Fuzz Townshend. Fuzz’s Humber was built in 1929, but not registered until the following year. Fitted with a set of new Michelins and fully re-upholstered seats, much work has been done on the 2.3-litre six-cylinder car since Fuzz bought it in 2019. With just some work on the brakes and carburettor required to make this a thoroughly enjoyable vintage drive, the Humber is estimated at £8-10,000.
Two Jowett vans – one from 1936, and the other a Bradford Utility Van from 1950 – have both been consigned from the same collection. Both powered by flat-twin 907cc engines, the vans are original and offered at no reserve. In both cases, their identity will also need re-establishing with the DVLA, but Manor Park expects their huge potential will be a pull for buyers on sale day.
Two open-topped lots look sure to attract attention, as we head into the summer months. A superb 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280 SL ‘pagoda’, which has had tens of thousands spent on restoration work, is being offered with an estimate of £70-80,000. Originally a US car, it landed in the UK 15 years ago, and as well as being restored, has had its gearbox and torque converter rebuilt and benefitted from a service six months ago. Joining it at the sale, is a 1990 Porsche 911 (964) Carerra 2 Cabriolet, a beautifully maintained, original car with 38 stamps in its service book and 181,000 miles showing. Estimate: £36-40,000.
Finally, Manor Park is offering two increasingly rare Bentley models. A 1971 Bentley T1 has an estimate of £10-15,000, with more details to follow on our website. But rarer still is the 1951 Mk. V1 saloon, in need of recommissioning, but still running sweetly. With an estimate of £10-14,000, original Mk. V1s like this are becoming hard to find, with many converted to specials over the years.
As usual, Manor Park’s auction welcomes buyers in its sale hall on Saturday, May 14th (start time: 1.00pm), but also people who wish to bid online or over the ‘phone. Sellers’ commission is 5% plus VAT, and buyers’ commission is 12.5% plus VAT, with in each case a £150 plus VAT minimum charge.
Full details of all vehicles in the sale can be found at the link below, with customer viewings available on the days leading up to the sale.
https://auctions.manorparkclassics.com/auction/details/-the-may-2022-classic-car-auction/?au=8
