The recent discovery of a more than 200-strong collection of barn find cars on a Herefordshire farm has sparked massive interest in the media and with just a few hours to go before the sale we visited for an evening viewing
With cars lined up across several fields and filling two barns plus several outbuildings, the collection has something for everyone, from modern classic rarities like the Ford Cougar to 1950s favourites including a split-screen Minor, early MGB and plenty of Jaguars. Oh, and Peugeot 205s. Plenty of Peugeot 205s… a legacy of the vendor’s one-time ambition to collect exactly 205 examples.
Be warned though, the cars aren’t all in pristine condition and many will be good for little more than parts for existing projects. Having had a good poke about though, we reckoned that at least one of the several Peugeot 205 GTIs and a Mk1 Golf GTI could go again given enough work and there were many others which looked as if they might offer promise once the layers of dust were wiped away.
The sale is conducted by Tewkesbury Auction Centre on Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29. It’s a traditional live sale with bidding in person and no online facility and the location is Doward Farm, Whitchurch HR9 6DU. Local residents ask that sale visitors don’t follow the sat nav up the very narrow Sandiways Lane but continue to the next turn, posted Doward and Biblins.
We’ve picked out some interesting lots here, but you can find a full catalogue at Tewkesbury Auction Centre’s Facebook page.
1989 Metro GTA
This late model Metro is the now rare GTA which offered the Turbo styling with the 1275cc engine. An insurance-friendly option back in the ’80s, this one has been off the road since 2003 and although it looks mostly complete it’s going to need at least a pair of front wings…
1977 Reliant Scimitar
No, the body can’t rust but this Scimitar has been off the road since 2011 and there will be plenty of work to do. On the plus side, it looked to be complete both inside and out and parts are easy to source
1974 Saab 96
Featuring the Ford V4 which replaced the two-stroke Saab engine from 1967, this Saab 95 has been unused for 30 years but does the legendarily solid Swedish build mean it can still be restored?
2004 Ford SportKa
The 1.6 engine turned the Ka into the warm hatch it should always have been but this example has been off the road for nine years, with the sills looking somewhat crusty. It’s a low mileage car though and its last MoT was pretty clean. Could it be an easy bargain project?
1970 Rover P5B coupe
It was last taxed in 1987 but this V8-engined Rover P5 coupe looked surprisingly solid despite the missing offside rear wing. A poke under the bonnet revealed the Rover V8 engine is still present and correct
1988 Panther Kallista
Running the 2.8-litre Ford Cologne V6, the Panther Kallista was a surprisingly credible sports car in its day, even if it was commercially unsuccessful in the face of rivals like the MX-5. This example was last MoT’d in 2009 but looked as if it wouldn’t take much work to get up and running
1974 Jensen-Healey
The Jensen-Healey is a rarity in itself but to add to the intrigue, this one was an automatic too. If you’ve been priced out of the Elan market, then what about this as a left-field Lotus Twin Cam choice?
1991 Peugeot 205 GTI 1.9
Incredibly, this GTI was put away in 2007 with a valid MoT including a sole advisory on an indicator bulb. It needs a bit of tlc and paint but looks ready to run again. Expect bidding to be keen given current values of these cars
1994 TVR Chimaera
This Chimaera 400 has been sitting in the barn since 2006 but looks like an easy project with its simple Rover V8 and fibreglass bodywork
1983 Golf GTI
This Mk1 GTI was one of our favourites from the cars inside the barns. Last taxed in 2003, it’s complete and standard but the leaky roof hasn’t been kind to the paintwork and it’s going to need at least a bit of bodywork on the horizontal surfaces
1995 Lotus Excel
This Lotus Excel (or Eclat Excel to give it the proper name) passed an MoT test in 2009 with only a single advisory on a brake pipe but hasn’t been on the road since
1995 Range Rover
Off the road since 2002, this white Range Rover sported the 3.9-litre V8 and the holes in the grille and dash suggest an interesting history in police service
1998 Peugeot 306 D Turbo S
The rare ‘S’ version of the legendary 306 D Turbo, this example has been unused since 2012 after failing the MoT on a couple of suspension issues and an exhaust leak
VW LT and Audi Coupe 100S
The LT transporter and its rare Audi 100 Coupe cargo make a great combination for VW/Audi fans, although both are going to need a lot of attention from the welder
Citroën CX
Decidedly frilly bodywork, Citroën CX estate looks beyond restoration but it would make a great parts donor for an existing project
Peugeot 205 GTIs
The vendor was on a mission at one point to collect no less than 205 examples of the iconic Peugeot 205 and there are several examples in the sale. All of these 1.6 GTIs looked like viable restoration projects
1999 Ford Cougar
Despite showing just 80,000 miles, this now rare example of the Mondeo-based Coupe has been unused since it failed the MoT in 2013 on just a couple of bulbs
Jensen Interceptor
We don’t have too many details on this Jensen Interceptor other than that it’s a Mk2 but it looked to be complete. Don’t expect an easy restoration, although all the parts are available
1972 Triumph 2000 estate
This Triumph 2000 estate looked surprisingly presentable and could well make a rewarding project
