They might not be thought of as traditional antiques, but there’s a certain thrill when classic cars appear in the saleroom.
I always wonder, if antiques could talk, what would they say?
And, in the case of these beauties – some still gleaming, others waiting to be restored to their former glory – their stories would be epic.
Who drove them, what journeys did they make and with which passengers on board?
Together, the collection captures more than half a century of motoring and transport history.
Up first is an iconic 1971 Ford Mustang Mach 1.
Does anything embody 1970s American cool like this car? It is straight out of an age of excess, from an era when petrol was cheap: neon-lit boulevards, drive-ins, Route 66 and laid-back American style.
It is also one of the most iconic cars in cinematic history, famously driven by Sean Connery as James Bond in the 1971 film Diamonds Are Forever.
One scene sees a thrilling Las Vegas car chase where Bond evades police by tipping the car onto two wheels.
Admittedly this Mustang is currently not looking its best and showing every one of its 55 years.
It was purchased by its previous Surrey owner as a passion project but after substantial investment made in parts and preparation, the restoration was sadly left unfinished.
What an opportunity this is for an American classic car enthusiast to bring back to life a motoring icon.
If you have recently retired, why not embrace a new passion?
While the Mustang is pure American powerhouse, another car going under the hammer takes the elegant shape of a British-based 1920s Chevrolet tourer.
Forget Route 66, this vintage beauty looks like she was lifted from the pages of an Agatha Christie novel.
With its elegant open-top body, towering driving position and wooden artillery wheels, the four-door vehicle captures the romance and adventure of motoring’s earliest years when motorists travelled with picnic hampers, maps and goggles.
Roads were empty and driving was still considered an occasion – think Jeeves and Bertie Wooster popping out for a spin in the country.
Although currently not running after around 12 months in storage, it is full of character, with good bodywork and enormous potential for sympathetic recommissioning.
Slightly later in date, but still redolent of pre-war charm, is a charming 1935 Morris Eight that looks straight from the pages of Enid Blyton.
Finished in elegant dark coachwork and complete with a rare sliding sunroof, the four-door saloon offers a glimpse of family outings, seaside holidays and when Sunday drives were among life’s great pleasures.
Built just four years before the outbreak of WWII, the Morris Eight helped bring affordable motoring to ordinary British families and became one of the nation’s most recognisable small cars.
This particular example, registration WP 7795, is powered by a 918cc engine and is presented in excellent restored condition.
An elegant 1949 Riley RM completes the quartet, quietly evocative of post-war British craftsmanship.
Finished in traditional black and green coachwork, the handsome 2,443cc saloon looks perfectly suited to country-house driveways, tweed jackets and winding rural lanes.
The Riley, with 48,386 miles on the clock, is currently not running after time in storage but remains notably complete and presentable.
It is a wonderfully dignified survivor from Britain’s golden age of motoring.
These vehicles tell stories. One transports you to the streets of 1970s Las Vegas, another to an English village fête between the wars.
They are rolling pieces of social history which people connect to as emotionally as mechanically.
Auction Details
Auction: Derby June Three-Day Antiques & Collectors Auction: including Pre World Cup Football Sporting Items
Auction date: 18th – 22nd June 2026 | 10am
Location: Hansons’ Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
