What would be the perfect touring car for the whole family?

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What would you say is the perfect touring car for the whole family? Any suggestions? It is so much more fun to go out on a sunny day with the family or with some friends to enjoy the lovely countryside’s. Some chit-chat while driving, maybe someone who can navigate. Or do you rather do that yourself…? Anyway, the more the merrier!

Wednesday the 11th of April 2018 Brightwells - Bicester Classic & Vintage Cars and Motorcycles will auction some amazing (touring) cars. We would like to give you three different options. Then you may decide for yourself what you think is the perfect touring car for you.

Option 1: a 1921 Vauxhall 30-98 E-Type. The 30-98 Vauxhalls were and still are famous for their reliability but most of all power. Vauxhall guaranteed that stripped off wings, lights, and windscreen, the 30-98 would top 100mph, making it the world’s fastest production car.

In the early 1970s, this Vauxhall was discovered in Australia. Especially after the First War, the 30-98 were very popular down South as they were the only production cars available that were ideal to drive long distances in a short amount of time… This is also the reason why approximately 44 of the 166-original surviving 30-98s still live in Australia.

When the car was found, the chassis (no. E441) was complete, but as the car was stored on a farm, there was some work that needed to be done. Especially to the body, "the farmer choose to dispose of the rear section when he loaded it onto the truck", as described by Bicester. Parts from an original body (OE124) were used for the restoration. In 2013, shortly before the car was sold to someone in the UK, it also had its gearbox rebuilt. 

The new owner already had a similar car. This car had the original engine belonging to this Vauxhall 30-98! He did what everyone else probably would have done, he reunited the car with its original engine. The 30-98 Register lists E441 as having engine number E447, front axle E444, gearbox E447 and rear axle E444. “As Vauxhall did not match the numbers of the components exactly to the chassis number, so it would appear that this car retains its original mechanical components,” as described by Bicester.

Fairly recently the car with its 4,525cc competed in the VSCC Pomeroy Trophy at Silverstone. The Vauxhall is estimated between £165 000 and £185 000.

Option 2: a 1933 Talbot AV105 VdP Special Sports Tourer. Only three of these Talbots AV105 with a long wheel-base chassis of the 95 were produced. They also fitted a larger capacity engine of the 105, with 2,969cc. These modifications meant that there was no standard bodywork. Owen Saunders-Davies on whose incentive the car was built, decided on a Van den Plas body. He was a successful racing driver, having co-driven the Fox and Nicholl Talbot AV105 team. And became third in the 1931 Le Mans 24-hour race.

Unfortunately, there is little history known about the car and has not been on the road since the early 1980s. This is also the reason why this rare and largely original car needs some maintenance. Chassis is numbered with 35330 and the engine (no. 189) has a capacity of 3,014cc. After some conservation or restoration is this sporty but elegant Talbot AV105 ready to hit the road with family and friends. The Talbot is estimated between £70 000 and £90 000.

Option 3: a 1933 Sunbeam 16.9 (18.2) six-light saloon. The Sunbeam Motor Company is well-respected for their high quality engineered cars and motorcycles. This 6-light saloon has bodywork by Sunbeam themselves and was used as a demonstrator for Sunbeam.

Later the car served as a wedding car and was used regularly. The engine (no. 5133R) is rebuilt in 2007 by marque specialist Bill Barrott. When also new STD Register half-shafts were fitted. The car, registration number LJ 6948 has been under the same ownership for a long time. After retirement from wedding duties, the car is used for various VSCC rallies and events at Prescott and Madresfield.

This beautiful and comfortable top quality saloon is ready to be enjoyed during many more events. The Sunbeam is estimated between £10 000 and £12 000.

Have you already made up your mind? What would be your ideal touring car? Lot 68: the Vauxhall 30-98, a ready-to-drive car. Lot 74: the Talbot AV105, that needs some work done. Or maybe lot 11: the Sunbeam, a beautiful and comfortable six-light saloon.

All three cars will be auctioned this Wednesday by Bicester Classic & Vintage Cars and Motorcycles.

Photographs courtesy Brightwells - Bicester Classic & Vintage Cars and Motorcycles.

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