By Maurice Hardy
Enthusiastic buyers were out in force at classic car auction sales, despite Covid-19.
Brian Chant, of Dorset Vintage and Classic Auctions, said that although the sale on March 19 at Henstridge Airfield, Dorset, was hit by a dramatic drop in the number of bidders, enquiries about unsold cars continued from British buyers and further afield.
“It’s obvious that enthusiasts are keen to keep their hobby going and the beauty of buying from a company like DVCA is that the provenance of the cars offered has already been ascertained. There’s also the reassurance that, should things not be as described, a remedy is quick and effective.
“We also have the ability to keep cars safe until the current restrictions on movement are lifted, so owners can celebrate virtually straight away once the cars can be delivered.
“The new owner of the 1924 Mathis Type PM Trefle Tourer in Germany will see his ‘new’ historic car some time in the summer, hopefully early enough to get plenty of enjoyment from it. The same applies to the buyer of a 1961 MG A 1600 Mk II Roadster, which should be getting plenty of top-down use when it arrives in Malta! Less likely to be enjoying constant hot weather, and therefore grateful for the permanent roof, is the Hampshire buyer of our 1947 Sunbeam-Talbot Ten Saloon.
“We have had enquiries about a 1998 Mercedes-Benz SL280 AMG Auto with hardtop which will certainly blow away the cobwebs after weeks of being stuck at home. That’s probably the thinking behind the calls we are getting for the stunning 1966 Volkswagen Type 2 Split Screen Camper from as far away as Romania!
“As well as an auctions house, DVCA has always been active in the classic and historic sales arena, and the associate Unicorn Motor Company is still busy with restorations and repairs as well as supplying classic Castrol oils.”