Aston Martin enthusiasts have an exceptional opportunity to acquire a 1956 DB2/4 MkII restoration project, offered at No Reserve, at Hampson Auctions’ sale at the magnificent Bolesworth Castle in Cheshire on 12 May. The car has already benefited from a recent, comprehensive engine rebuild, setting a solid foundation for the rest of the project.
Hampson’s Managing Director Zach Hamilton commented: “For fans of early post-War David Brown Aston Martins, this is a rare and exciting chance to secure an unrestored DB2/4, with the recent engine rebuild putting the new owner one step ahead in their journey to return this highly original machine to its former glory. Add in the fact that the car is being offered at No Reserve, and it’s not surprising that we are receiving a great many enquiries from prospective bidders.”
The diverse entry for Hampson’s sale features a number of other interesting ‘No Reserve’ lots, including a 1976 Land Rover Lightweight Series III, a ‘timewarp’ 1996 Volkswagen Golf GTi, a fully restored 1972 Triumph Stag and a 1961 3.8-litre MkII Jaguar.
The Land Rover has a captivating history, having been acquired by the present owner while he was working in Saudi Arabia in 2001. He bought the car for approximately £600 and then drove it to the UK through Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Switzerland and France in an epic, month-long road trip in which vehicle and owner braved the elements and overcame countless mechanical and bureaucratic challenges. This left-hand drive example has now been fully restored and just awaits a new owner to take it on another great adventure.
The Golf GTi is a highly original, one-family-ownership ‘timewarp’ car, with a warranted 42,000 miles from new, while the Triumph Stag, which has the desirable manual transmission with overdrive, has benefited from a comprehensive restoration in recent years. The 1961 Jaguar MkII was originally a left-hand drive machine with automatic transmission, exported new to the USA. It has now been converted to right-hand drive and equipped with manual transmission with overdrive.
Other notable entries in the 12 May auction include an outstanding 1989 Bentley Continental Convertible. This impeccably-maintained, luxurious motor car boasts a number of desirable factory options, including Waterford crystal decanters and glasses in the driver and passenger doors (estimate: £100,000-£120,000).
The 1967 Volkswagen Type 2 Split-screen camper van on offer is presented in an eye-catching ‘ice cream colour combination’ of pale green and white and has been the subject of expenditure totally more than £50,000 as part of a meticulous, ground-up restoration in the hands of a renowned VW camper specialist and was fitted with a brand-new engine just 2,000 miles ago (estimate: £20,000-£25,000).
Two charismatic and rare entries come in the form of a pair of Datsun pick-ups. The 1974 620, which features a hardtop canopy, is, according to howmanyleft.co.uk, believed to be one of just 14 on the UK roads today. This and the equally appealing 1972 1500 version each carry an estimate of £6,000-£8,000. Another unusual entry is the 1970 Citroen HY van, fully fitted out as a boutique catering van, so offering a business opportunity to its new owner (estimate: £20,000-£25,000).
