A vintage car found in a box of toys donated to a charity shop smashed its estimate to smithereens at auction to net St Giles Hospice a winter windfall.
The 1920s tinplate, chauffeur-driven clockwork car with electric lights was given to a shop run by St Giles, which offers care to families across the Midlands through its facilities in Lichfield, Walsall and Sutton Coldfield.
St Giles gains support from Hansons Auctioneers, so it asked the antiques experts for advice on the stylish collectable that had come its way.
Adrian Rathbone, associate director for Hansons, said: “It’s a lovely car, the sort of thing you could imagine on the set of TV’s Downton Abbey. I placed it in our Autumn Fine Art Sale, held at Staffordshire’s Bishton Hall, and was delighted to see it sweep past its £100-£150 estimate to reach £600 – six times its low estimate.
“We’re very proud to support St Giles and nothing pleases us more than seeing an item excel at auction for a good cause. We invite people to make a donation to the charity in return for free valuations which we offer every Monday at Lichfield’s Hedgehog Inn.”
Tracey Kelly, who manages St Giles eBay account, said: “We’re absolutely delighted by the fantastic result at auction for the car, which was donated in a box of toys at one of our shops.
“Our shop manager spotted it and sent it to our eBay team, who had a chat with the experts at Hansons and agreed to submit it for auction.
“We are committed to making sure items donated to us make the best possible amount and we’re really pleased such a fantastic amount has been raised to help local families living with incurable illnesses.”
The vintage car sold at Hansons Auctioneers Fine Art Sale at Bishton Hall in October.Hansons offers free valuations, with donations invited for St Giles Hospice, at the Hedgehog Inn, Stafford Road, Lichfield, WS13 8JB, every Monday from 10.30am-12.30pm. To find out more, please call Carol Jones on 07802 839915. For details about future auctions or valuation events, visit www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk.
