MG Roadster drives transport sale
The annual Transport Sale returns to Tennants Auctioneers in North Yorkshire, with an array of classic and vintage cars and motorcycles, along with a fantastic range of colourful vintage enamel automotive advertising signs and a broad offering of automobilia including a very rare pair of vintage car mascots.
Leading the sale is a 1956 MG 1500 Roadster, offered with an estimate of £20,000-25,000. Finished in white, the car is fully restored with rebuilt engine and is sold with its history file. An earlier 1953 MG TD in red is also on offer; first registered in California, it too has been fully restored and is sold with an estimate of £15,000-20,000. Also expected to attract interest is a 1972 Mercedes Benz 350 SL, which has been in the same ownership for over thirty years and estimated at £12,000-14,000. The roadster R107 range produced by Mercedes from 1971-1989 have long been regarded as dependable, refined and durable, and a favourite amongst classic car owners. A very low mileage 1985 Ford Capri Laser, which has been in the ownership of the same family since new and which has been in dry storage for over thirty years, will be sold with an estimate of £16,000-18,000.
Amongst the other vehicles in the sale are a Leyland 344 Tractor, a model first introduced in 1970, with 6818 hours on the clock, estimated at £2,500-3,500. On offer with an estimate of £8,000-10,000 is a 1957 BSA Goldstar 350cc motorcycle, which has unusual magnesium crank cases and a Taylor Dow headstock. Also noteworthy amongst the classic mid-century motorbikes are a good 1958 Triumph Thunderbird 650cc that has only had two previous owner and estimated at £4,750-5,000, and a good example of a 1963 Triumph Tiger 90 350cc, estimated at £3,500-4,000.
One of the rarest lots in the sale is ‘The Happy Couple’, a pair of Mickey and Minnie Mouse Car Mascots, made with the permission of Disney by the British company Desmo in the 1930s. The mascots were purchased by the vendor’s father, to mount on his Alvis. Now mounted together on a wooden stand, they will be offered with an estimate of £1,500-2,000.
Further notable lots amongst the automobilia in the sale is a Caterpillar Model Sixty 60th Anniversary Model, a 1:12 scale replica of the first CAT diesel powered tractor made in 1931. Handcrafted with over 300 parts, it is one of a limited edition of 500 and is sold with an estimate of £7,000-9,000. There will also be over seventy lots of vintage enamel motoring advertising signs, which always draw great interest at auction. Highlights of the section include a rare double-sided Motor B.P. Spirit advertising sign in blue, carrying an estimate of £800-1,200.
The sale takes place on July 12.