An abandoned collection of British cars, whose owner planned to display them in his own classic car museum, has been put up for sale.
Cars on offer include an Austin Cambridge estate, Reliant Rialto and a Bond Bug.
The 13 cars were placed in storage a decade ago after their owner’s ailing health prompted him to abandon plans to launch a new motoring exhibition in Whitby, Yorkshire.
The collector – who wishes to remain anonymous – gathered the cars, plus six motorcycles, a Sinclair C5 and a haul of memorabilia for the ill-fated museum.
He had intended to store the collection and pick up on the museum plans when his health improved. However, when his condition deteriorated he relocated to the Isle of Skye and retired, leaving the collection far behind on the mainland.
North Yorkshire classic specialist David Mathewson has been asked to sell the cars at his 26 September auction at Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire.
Cars on offer include an Austin Cambridge estate, Reliant Rialto and a Bond Bug. David said all the vehicles and memorabilia will be sold as individual lots. He was unable to disclose estimates as Classic Car Weekly closed for press because the vehicles had not yet been retrieved from storage and appraised. He added: ‘The owner moved and realised he still had this collection of really interesting cars, as well as some classic motorcycles that have already been sold.
‘It’s terribly sad that he never got to fulfil his dreams of having his own exhibition. We’re going to keep them in completely as-found condition just as they were left in his storage facility, dust and all.