Looking to reduce its fixed assets and, at the same time, find new spaces for the projects it has up its sleeve, Jaguar Land Rover decided to promote the sale of more than a hundred classics that it has been keeping, through an initiative it calls “Affordable Classics”, or “Affordable Classics”. Scheduled for March 21 at Bicester Heritage, UK, participants will be able to purchase historic models, some of them single-unit editions, at no pre-defined price.
Of the available cars, which range from an Austin Allegro Vanden Plas to a Rover P6 shooting brake, from a Maestro Turbo to a Morris Minor, just any Jaguar Land Rover model is not included. Since these, and as is natural, the British manufacturer does not plan to discard.
All 100 vehicles at auction were part of the James Hull Collection, acquired by Jaguar Land Rover in 2014. A collection that added up to a total of 543 cars, covering models from various eras, starting in the 30s of the last century.
At the time, the collection was valued at around 113 million euros, an amount which, however, the builder never confirmed having paid.
To justify this value, the presence of rare models, among which, a Chevette 2300 HS, a Borgward Isabella Coupé and even a Ferguson Scimitar prototype. To which are added proposals that have little to do with cars, such as a Riva speedboat and, in large numbers, for children, cars and pedal planes. All of them, classics that JLR has taken care of and maintained since its acquisition, but which the excess stock now forces it to sell.
Charity association will also receive classics
In addition to the units up for auction, the British manufacturer also announced its intention to donate 40 classics to the charity organization Starter Motor. It's also a way to encourage a new generation of classics enthusiasts to learn to maintain, restore, and even drive historic vehicles. This, at the same time that, in its Solihull workshops, the manufacturer continues to train apprentices in the recovery of the brand's models.
Tim Hanning, Director of Jaguar Land Rover ClassicWe are expanding the scope of the services we offer our customers and the space gained from the sale of these vehicles will allow us to focus on other exciting initiatives. This includes manufacturing Reborn (Reborn) versions of the Range Rover and Jaguar E-Type, Works Legends cars for sale, and the Classic Collection, which are iconic vehicles delivered to the care of a team of experts based at the new Classic Works facility, in the United Kingdom.
If you are passionate about classics and have the necessary means, maybe this is your opportunity. While the auction time hasn't arrived, you can see some of the models offered for sale in the gallery below. The official website Brightwells, responsible for the auction, allows you to see all the models available for sale.
Austin A40 Sports, 1952