Thursday, February 27, 2014

Classic Cars at Charterhouse

The Charterhouse February classic car auction at The Royal Bath & West Showground was another great success with over £200,000 worth of vehicles sold.

“The classic car and motorcycle market continues to be very buoyant with vehicles selling above estimate.” Commented Matthew Whitney. “With interest rates remaining low in savings accounts, many of our clients would much rather put the money into a classic which they can now enjoy, take to shows, or pop down to the pub on a Sunday. Put simply, you get plenty of smiles for miles with classics!”

A 1925 Riley 12hp four seater sports tourer was the star car at the auction. Sold for a client in Poole, it went to a car collector near Bridport for £36,000 after a bidding war against a specialist car museum in Devon. 

Elsewhere in the auction, a one family owned 1958 MG Magnette, which had been stored for many years in a barn that had become overgrown with brambles sold very well. Needing total restoration, it was pulled out of hiding and sold for £3,500. With Summer due sometime later this year, a 1961 Morris Minor convertible, adapted from a saloon, also sold well to a Norfolk bidder at £9,000, a 1923 Maxwell tourer, being sold for a client in Surrey, sold for £8,700, a 1962 Morris Mini-Minor which had only had one lady owner from new, sold for its Kent owner at £7,600.

However, perhaps one of the more unusual lots in the Charterhouse auction was a 1983 Leyland Titan double decker bus. Having covered more miles than you will ever have hot dinners, it sold for a client in Cyprus bidding live on the internet, for £4,000.

Charterhouse is now accepting for their forthcoming Spring auctions including medals, militaria, coins, stamps & other collectors items on Friday 14th March, followed by classic cars and motorcycles on Sunday 6th April and an auction of pictures, prints and books also in April.

For further information regarding these auctions, or to arrange a home visit, please contact Matthew Whitney, Associate Partner at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne, Dorset 01935 812277 www.charterhouse-auction.com or via email on info@charterhouse-auctions.co.uk

1925 Riley 25hp sold for £36,000
1958 MG Magnette, as discovered by Charterhouse, sold for £3,600
1983 Leyland Titan bus, sold to a buyer in Cyprus for £4,000
1961 Morris Minor convertible sold for £9,000
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Post Title Classic Cars at Charterhouse

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Avenger Assembles at Charterhouse

****Stop Press*** We are fortunately unaffected by the awful weather, if you are unable to attend our auction this Sunday, don't forget you can bid live at
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A 1974 Hillman Avenger, which has covered only 2,523 since new is one of the more modern lots entered into the Charterhouse auction of classic cars and motorcycles on Sunday 16th February.

“We are asked to look at some fantastic cars and motorcycles, but they do not always have to be a Ferrari or a Rolls Royce to be interesting. Commented Matthew Whitney. “Unsurprisingly this Avenger is just about mint in every way coming into our auction as a time warp discovery.” 


The Hillman Avenger was a direct competitor for Fords Escorts and Vauxhall Viva’s in their day. The Hillman going under the Charterhouse hammer is a rare Sunseeker limited edition. Finished in a sandy beige known as Orange Blossom, with a vinyl roof, a 1600cc engine, an automatic gearbox and sporty looking Rostyle wheels it was a popular family car in its day.

Today, a Hillman Avenger is a rare sight on our roads as many have disappeared due to the dreaded tin worm. Having covered and average of just 63 miles a year and with a fresh MOT, this rare survivor is ready to be used and enjoyed and is estimated at just over a £1 per mile travelled at £3,000-4,000.

Charterhouse is now accepting for their forthcoming programme of auctions including classic cars and motorcycles on Sunday 16th February closely followed by silver, jewellery and watches also in February.

For further information regarding these auctions, or to arrange a home visit, please contact Matthew Whitney, Associate Partner at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne, Dorset 01935 812277 www.charterhouse-auction.com or via email on info@charterhouse-auctions.co.uk

The 1974 Hillman Avenger 1600 DL Sunseeker with just 2,523 miles from new, being sold by Charterhouse on Sunday 16th February £3,000-4,000
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Post Title Avenger Assembles at Charterhouse

Thursday, January 9, 2014

It’s a Fair Cop at Charterhouse


An early 1960’s BSA motorcycle, originally used by the Police, is one of the more unusual lots entered into the Charterhouse auction of classic cars and motorcycles in February.

“We often come across BSA motorcycles, but this C15 is a real rarity.” Commented Matthew Whitney. “It was first registered by the Cumberland & Westmoreland Constabulary in 1964, and was probably in use by a rural officer  like on the popular TV series Heartbeat, rather than the city work of The Sweeny!”.

This BSA carries the 250cc engine with the correct engine initials of FP (For Police). It was discovered by a serving Police Officer in the Cumbria Police, (which was previously the Cumberland & Westmoreland Constabulary) in a garage in Manchester. The motorcycle had been “civilianized” when it left the force, whereby the fairing and all Police equipment was removed. It was then lovingly restored by its new owner to its former glory complete with fairing, siren and flashing blue light!

Having formed part of a collection of classic motorcycles in Weston Super Mare, it is now being offered for sale at Charterhouse in their auction at The Royal Bath & West Showground on Sunday 16th February with an estimate of £2,500-3,500. Ready to be enjoyed and taken to shows, this motorcycle also as the added attraction of being eligible for the Goodwood Revival.

Charterhouse is now accepting for their forthcoming programme of auctions including classic cars and motorcycles in February closely followed by silver, jewellery and watches also in February.

For further information regarding these auctions, or to arrange a home visit, please contact Matthew Whitney, Associate Partner at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne, Dorset 01935 812277 www.charterhouse-auction.com or via email on info@charterhouse-auctions.co.uk

Back on the beat – the 1964 BSA 250cc Police motorcyale being offered by Charterhouse on Sunday 16th February £2,500-3,500
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Post Title It’s a Fair Cop at Charterhouse

Friday, December 13, 2013

The Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round at Charterhouse


A 1960 Routemaster London bus is one of the more unusual lots entered into the Charterhouse auction of classic and vintage vehicles on Sunday 16th February.

“Over the years we have been instructed to sell just about every make of car from Ferrari to Ford and Sunbeam, to Skoda, but it is the first time we have been asked to sell a Routemaster bus.” Commented Matthew Whitney. “Once a common sight in our major cities, they are now highly sought after by collectors or business people looking to start hire companies, and this bus is estimated at £25,000-30,000 when it goes under our hammer!”

The double decker bus, painted in its iconic red livery, has been used as a business by the owner since 2005, who is now looking to retire. It appears on the credits of The Antiques Roadshow and has been hired on many occasions for Prom nights, been taken on numerous road trips with stag and hen parties along with groups looking to travel in an alternative and different form of transportation. Interest in hiring the bus has not only come from within the UK, but there have also been bookings from Australia, USA, France, Luxembourg and other countries. 

This Routemaster was last in public service in Reading when it was de-commissioned. During its working lifetime, it is estimated to have travelled about 1,500,000 miles, enough to go to the moon and back three times, and can be driven on the majority of car licence’s, although if it is being used for hire a PSV (Public Service Vehicle) operator’s licence will be required.

Charterhouse is now accepting for their forthcoming programme of auctions including their Beswick and Royal Doulton and other antiques auction in January and classic cars and motorcycles in February.

For further information regarding these auctions, or to arrange a home visit, please contact Matthew Whitney, Associate Partner at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne, Dorset 01935 812277 www.charterhouse-auction.com or via email on info@charterhouse-auctions.co.uk

Just the ticket  – the 1960 Routemaster double decker bus being sold by Charterhouse in their classic vehicle auction on Sunday 16th February £25,000-30,000
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Post Title The Wheels on the Bus go Round and Round at Charterhouse