The first Charterhouse sale of 2024 is set to be a cracker, with a wide range of cars from all eras to suit all tastes on offer

1950s cars are surprisingly well represented a Charterhouse’s sale this week, starting with a 1957 Austin A35 – sporting the ubiquitous 948cc A-Series, its powder blue paintwork is complemented by Minilite-style wheels and decals in homage to the famous Powerful Peanut racer. With new door seals and a new brake servo included, it could be a bargain with its £1000–1500 estimate.

Altogether grander is the 1951 Bentley MkVI Standard Steel saloon, family-owned for 60 years and including 30 years of invoices and a hand-written log of all work carried out sine the 1980s. Benefitting from a £10,000 engine rebuild in 2013 and a body restoration in 2018 to the tune of £15,000, the estimate of £18,000–22,000 looks like good value. A 1955 Vauxhall Velox offers a stylish Americana-esque look with a tempting estimate of £5000–6000, while the 1954 Sunbeam-Talbot 90 Series 2 Convertible will be a standout at any show with its metallic blue over red interior colour scheme, and is guided at £12,000–14,000.

There are plenty of sports cars on offer, with a 1987 Morgan 4/4 estimated at £18,000–20,000, the fantastically fun 1994 Suzuki Cappuccino carrying a £3000-£4000 estimate, similarly diminutive 1969 MG Midget Mk3 estimated at the same £3000-£4000 figure, and numerous bigger MGs to complement it. The 1967 MGB Roadster benefits from a bare-metal respray in British Racing Green, a 1950cc Oselli Stage 2 engine and alloy bonnet and has a £12,000–14,000 guide, while a 1968 MGC Roadster looks lovely in the same British Racing Green and offers a difficult choice with its similar £15,000–18,000 estimate.

For anyone wanting more from an MGC, there’s another 1968 Roadster, this one in Tartan Red and benefitting from a Downton Engineering triple-carb conversion, six-branch manifold, unleaded head conversion and overdrive gearbox, equating to a £14,000–16,000 guide.

Humbler classics are in plentiful supply too, with the charming 1973 Fiat 500F offered in an unusual hue of Mustard Yellow with a £7500–8500 estimate and a 1990 Citroën 2CV6 Special offering another air-cooled flat-twin people’s car with a £6000–6500 guide. Perhaps more interesting, however, is a 1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire GLS – with just three owners from new (a company, the owner’s father-in-law, and his wife), the maroon-over-blue saloon looks quite solid under the dust of sitting in a barn for nearly 10 years, and is sold with no reserve.

Other curios like the 1935 Morgan Model F Three-Wheeler with a £12,000–15,000 guide, 1996 TRAC Technic Porsche 550 Spyder replica – curiously powered by an Alfasud engine – estimated at £12,000–14,000, and 1948 Bristol 400 (one of just 487 made and few left) carrying a £46,000–48,000 estimate round out what is sure to be one of Charterhouse’s most varied auctions yet.

For the list of lots, head to charterhouse-cars.com

  • Fitted with a 948cc engine, this 1957 Austin A35 sports Minilite-style wheels and is stickered up as a homeage to the iconic Popular Peanut racer. The £1000–1500 estimate looks extremely good value, especially considering numerous spare parts included.
  • Recently restored and complete with a complimentary wicker hamper on the luggage rack, this Mustard Yellow 1973 Fiat 500F is perhaps the most charming car in the sale – it’s estimated at £7500–8500.
  • This 2001 Jaguar X100 XK8 Convertible is a later 4-litre car with the associated improvements – with just 87,000 miles on the clock and seemingly excellent all-round condition, it’s offered with no reserve.
  • One of very few surviving, this 1994 Rover Metro GTa has just 31,000 miles to its name and boats the Sports Option Pack, adding alloys, sunroof and central locking. Such rarity and seemingly excellent condition carries a temptingly low £3000–3500 estimate.
  • This 1968 MGC Roadster boasts numerous tasteful upgrades, including Downton Engineering triple-carb conversion, six-branch manifold, unleaded head conversion and overdrive gearbox, all justifying its reasonable £14,000–16,000 estimate.
  • This 1961 Austin Seven Mini was lightly restored by its owner of 20 years and included many 1959 model features, including wheel trims, flat sills and a floor push-starter. Resplendent in red with a red-over-white interior, it looks a tempting lot.
  • A Porsche 550 Spyder at a glance, this is a 1996 TRAC Technic, a spaceframe-constructed Porsche replica, powered intriguingly by a 1.5-litre Alfasud engine. Recently recommissioned following storage, it’s estimated at £12,000–14,000.
  • With just 43,000 miles on the clock, this 1996 TVR Chimaera is a tastefully-specced car in seemingly excellent condition, and could be a bargain with its £7000–9000 guide price.