Specialist Classic Mini Garage Sells Up

Charterhouse Auctioneers have been instructed to sell the contents of the Steve Harris Motorsport garage at Coombe Bisset, near Salisbury SP5 4LN, whose owner has specialised in Mini’s for 50 years, on Bank Holiday Monday 5th May.

“Steve Harris has been involved in Mini’s for nearly as long as I have been alive. During this time he was heavily involved with experimental Mini workshop items, worked for Downton Mini specialists and of course developed and raced Mini’s.” Commented Matthew Whitney. “This dispersal auction is probably a once in a lifetime auction where Mini enthusiasts can meet up, talk Mini’s, bid, buy and enjoy this iconic British marque.”

Included in the auction are hundreds of lots of Mini, MG, BMC, Leyland, Cooper and other spares and body panels along with garage tools and equipment such as a lathe, two post lift, rolling road, cylinder head reconditioning workstation and many, many other items.


In addition there are a group of classic Mini’s also going under the Charterhouse hammer. There is a 1963 Mini Cooper S restoration project at £10,000-12,000, a 1970 racing Mini £5,000-6,000, a 1962 Morris Mini Minor, affectionately known as Primrose, £4,500-5,500, a 2007 BMW Mini Cooper Diesel £5,700-5,900, and two Mini rolling shells.

Elsewhere in the auction, there is a motorsport/fast road prepared Austin Healey Sprite £5,500-6,500, along with restoration projects including a Ford Capri 2.8i, a BMW 635 CSi coupe, a Rover P5, other cars and even a horse drawn market cart.


Viewing for this retirement auction on Bank Holiday Monday 5th May being held at the Steve Harris Motorsport Workshops at Coombe Bisset, near Salisbury SP5 4LN, is on the sale day only from 9.00am, with the sale starting at 11.30am. 

Further information is available from Matthew Whitney, Associate Director, at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne 01935 812277, and you can view all the lots on their web site www.charterhouse-auction.com

Charterhouse is now accepting for their forthcoming auction of silver, jewellery, watches and antiques on 8th and 9th May, closely followed by classic cars and motorcycles in June.

Primrose, the 1962 Morris Mini Minor £4,500-5,500, a 1970 racing Mini £5,000-6,000, a 2007 BMW Mini Cooper Diesel £5,700-5,900, an Austin Healey Sprite £5,500-6,500 
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Post Title → Specialist Classic Mini Garage Sells Up

Clash of the Classics at Charterhouse Car Auction

The Charterhouse classic car auction on Sunday 6th April looks set to be a clash of modern over classic, with vehicles dating from the 1920’s through to the 1980’s.

“The classic car and motorcycle market is particularly buoyant at present, and despite our last auction only being in February, we have amassed nearly 60 vehicles for our April auction.” Commented Matthew Whitney. “We have mopeds to motorcycles and Rolls Royce to vintage tractors. With estimates from just £300 up to £40,000 and conditions from barn stored projects through to concours cars there is something pretty much for everyone!”

Highlights of the auction are a 1925 Sunbeam 20/60. In an immaculate condition, having had £70,000 spent on restoration, this powerful 6 cylinder tourer is now estimated at £35,000-40,000. Also from the same era, a 1927 Rolls Royce 20/25 is estimated at £28,000-32,000. Again having had over £75,000 lavishly spent on it is a 1972 Ford Escort evocation rally car, now estimated at £32,000-35,000.


On a more modest scale are a group of barn stored projects including a 1959 BMW Isetta bubble car £2,000-4,000, a late 1940’s/early 1950’s International tractor £1,000-2,000, and a 1936 Ford Popular at £1,300-1,500.

Viewing for this auction at The Exmoor Hall, The Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet on Sunday 6th April from 9am, with the auction starting at 11.30am.

Catalogues are available from Charterhouse in Sherborne 01935 812277, or you can look through all the lots on www.charterhouse-auction.com

Charterhouse is now accepting for their forthcoming spring auctions including a sale of pictures, prints, books and antiques on Friday 11th April and silver, jewellery, watches and antiques in May.

For further information regarding these auctions, or to arrange a home visit, please contact Richard Bromell, Partner at Charterhouse, The Long Street Salerooms, Sherborne, Dorset 01935 81227 or via email on info@charterhouse-auctions.co.uk

1925 Sunbeam 20/60, which has had had over £70,000 spent on it, going under the Charterhouse hammer estimated at £35,000-40,000
1972 Ford Escort evocation rally car, which has had over £75,000 spent on it, going under the Charterhouse hammer estimated at £32,000-35,000
1959 BMW Isetta bubble car, barn stored estimated at £2,000-4,000
Late 1940’s/early1950’s International tractor, barn stored, estimated at £1,000-2,000
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Post Title → Clash of the Classics at Charterhouse Car Auction

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

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
 i-bidder.com

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