Appropriately held at Gaydon, the home of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, Bonhams are auctioning without reserve many duplicates in the collection of mostly British Leyland vehicles, to make way for a broader selection of cars from other manufacturers. Among the many gems is a 1954 Land Rover State III review vehicle. You can just imagine the Duke of Edinburgh dispensing friendly advice to locals from the viewing platform at the back.

The vehicle, painted in blue rather than the usual claret and estimated at £6,000 – 10,000, is just part of a 67 vehicle collection including many part-sectioned, engineering display cars and ‘last of the line’ or ‘first of the line’ models which have trundled off the production lines at Longbridge or Solihull over the (mostly troubled) years.

Those not having the money to buy a genuine ex-TWR Bastos Rover at the TWR sale will be able to afford a 1982 lookalike Rover SD1 complete with red and white warpaint and a Vitesse engine for £200 – 300. A genuine ex-racing vehicle, believed to have been one of the works 1984 cars, is a MG Metro in ‘Computervison’ colours. Offered at £2,000 – 3,000 (no reserve remember) surely the poor little car deserves a quiet retirement in its old age?

Various 4wds are included, such as the c1983 ‘Harrods’ Range Rover with coachwork by Wood & Picket. Complete with various luxury additions, such as 8 track player, the car is estimated at £3,000 – 5,000.

The sale starts at 2pm on Sunday 29th June and is at the Gaydon Heritage Motor Centre, just off Junction 12 of the M40.

For a full listing, see the Provisional Auction Lot List

Text - Steve Wakefield