0 ‘BARN FIND’ EARLY OSELLI MINI FOR BARONS’ BRITISH HERITAGE SALE FRENCH-BUILT HOTCHKISS HEADS THE ‘NON-BRITS’ CONTINGENT

Barons’ British Heritage sale at Sandown Park on September 18^th features a ‘barn find’ restoration project that should prove irresistible for any Mini enthusiast.
The 1961 Mini was upgraded by Oselli to 1125cc specification, in one of the famous performance tuning specialist’s earliest types of conversion, but was taken off the road in the early 1980s and has literally gathered dust in a garage for the past 31 years. This charismatic early Mini is a highly collectable little classic, and a fascinating piece of motoring history (estimate: £7,000-10,000).
At the opposite end of the condition spectrum, there is an immaculate 1969 Mini Cooper MkII, which was the subject of a ‘nut and bolt’ restoration in 2004/5, including a 1980s BMC replacement body shell. Since the restoration, the car has never been driven in the wet, or in bright sunlight, and has only been used as a concours car. £14,500-15,500.
The British Heritage sale also features a fine 1950 Bentley MkVI, which the vendor’s late husband acquired in 1987 as a swap for ‘a very nice Ford Cortina’, and then comprehensively restored. Well known to Bentley Drivers Club members, and the winner of a number of concours’ trophies over the years, it carries an estimate of £18,000-22,000.
The ‘nut and bolt’ restored 1948 Rover P2 12 Tourer on offer is one of just 200 examples ever built. In beautiful condition, it is offered complete with the original tool kit. £16,500-18,500.
And the sale also includes the perfect registration number for an Aston Martin DB9 owner. ‘DB09 AML’ doesn’t just feature the model identity, it also carries the initials for Aston Martin Lagonda. £4,750 to £5500
Rare Hotchkiss heads the ‘non-Brits’
The auction also has a section for cars made outside the UK. This is headed by a very glamorous, 1939 French-built Hotchkiss 686 Riviera DHC, equipped with a revolutionary Cotal electromagnetic self-changing gearbox. £37,500-42,500. And the European glamour continues, with a very stylish 1958 Mercedes-Benz 190SL, complete with factory hardtop. £30,000-40,000.
Entries still invited
Barons is still accepting entries for this sale in the splendid Surrey Hall at Sandown Park. For further information, or to consign a car to the sale, visit www.barons-auctions.com, email info@barons-auctions.com or call 08454 30 60 60.