Kim Henson reports on this year’s classic extravaganza for components and complete vehicles.
(Words © Kim Henson; Photographs © Kim Henson and Chris Adamson, as individually credited).
Each year, as we say goodbye to summer and autumnal hints arrive in the form of mellow-coloured leaves and morning dew-drenched grass, Beaulieu International Autojumble arrives. For me this has always been a very special automotive event, since my first attendance back in 1978.
At the outset of this article I should like to thank my colleague Chris Adamson for his welcome assistance (once again) in reporting on this year’s event, providing photographs and notes additional to my own, effectively enabling me to cover more of the show in the available time.
The ‘Beaulieu’ is always my personal port of call if I am on the lookout for specific components for my various classic projects, and in addition, the line-ups of cars for sale, both private sales and vehicles offered by classic car dealers, give me the opportunity to dream about vehicles that I might one day purchase… or not!
This year’s event was no exception. This time, before venturing into the ‘car sales’ areas, I prioritised visiting stalls that might be able to help me with cars on which I am currently working, in the hope of securing some much-needed parts.
These investigative operations bore fruit in the form of desperately-required ignition parts for one of my classics, some rare wiper arms and blades for another of my old cars, plus quite a few other parts that were not on my list but needed all the same!
While searching for the components on my ‘wanted’ lists, I came upon multitudes of parts that would be welcomed by many owners of the car models concerned. These included a new-looking front grille for a Ford Anglia 105E Deluxe, equally nice-looking grilles for a Vauxhall Viva HC and a Vanden Plas Allegro, respectively, plus a wide selection of body panels.
In this respect I spotted Ford panels a-plenty for cars from the 1950s to the early 2000s (including a three door Sierra unused side panel assembly, a used but sound Cortina Mark II bonnet, bumpers and wings for various pre-War cars, and mechanical units including an ultra-rare 1071cc Mini Cooper engine, gearboxes in quantity and axles plus drive shafts to suit many cars of the 1960s to 1980s.
(All photographs in the slide show below © Kim Henson).
In addition to the ‘nuts and bolts’ items, there were manufacturers’ handbooks and workshop manuals galore, all invaluable in terms of providing information to today’s owners of the models concerned, and such books were diligently put together by the firms and people responsible for building the cars.
I also spotted model vehicles of all types, contemporary photographs of cars in their heyday (including ‘press’ shots), beautiful enamelled advertising signs and automobilia ranging from fuel company stickers from the 1970s to two gallon petrol cans dating from the 1920s.
Situated among the stalls selling classic car components I found club stands dedicated to vehicles from Austins to Wolseley Hornets (plus many makes and models in between) with enthusiastic people on hand, ready and willing to talk to visitors about their respective organisations.
(All photographs in the slide show below © Kim Henson.)
Helpful
Just one of the aspects of the Beaulieu Autojumble that I find helpful is that many of the stallholders are very knowledgeable about their wares, and almost always will be pleased to delve into an old parts catalogue (for example) to help identify specific components needed to help their customers.
In this regard I was grateful to three different stallholders who went ‘beyond the call of duty’ in trying to identify and supply some of the obscure ignition parts that I required. Thank you chaps!
Special Moment
A very special moment occurred on the afternoon of Sunday 7th September, when the rear engine of the Sunbeam 1000hp record-breaker, that has been under meticulous restoration for a long time (and stages in its journey have been covered often on Wheels-Alive) was started up in public for the first time in 90 years. Wonderful it sounded, too.
Beaulieu tells us:
‘The legendary vehicle is currently being restored at the National Motor Museum, with the ambition to return it to Daytona Beach, Florida, in 2027, marking 100 years since it broke the 200mph Land Speed Record in 1927. Marking a significant milestone in its restoration, autojumble showgoers were the first to witness the colossal 22.5 litre Matabele V12 aero engine roar to life once again.
Chief Executive of the National Motor Museum Dr Jon Murden said: “This remarkable moment celebrates the legacy of the Sunbeam 1000hp and fuels the excitement as we move closer to completing the restoration. Join the National Motor Museum, a registered charity, in raising funds to see this important part of Land Speed Record history restored, displayed and run again. Every contribution counts to help us celebrate this symbol of great British endeavour and engineering.”
Supporters of the Museum can contribute to the restoration with donations, visit: https://nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/sunbeam-1000hp-restoration-campaign/
Watch the Sunbeam 1000HP start up here.’
Classic Car Park
New for this year was the ‘Classic Car Park’ area, where visitors arriving in their classics could park together with other older models. My colleague Chris felt that there were some very interesting vehicles to be seen here, with a stand-out example being the 1938 4.3 litre (137 bhp) Alvis pictured below, with chassis and engine built by Alvis in Coventry, and with one-off coachwork by owner Trevor Hirst.
Cars For Sale
Chris Adamson surveyed a variety of vehicles offered for sale, including some of the cars being sold by Bonhams in their Saturday auction at the event. All the following photographs in this section were taken by Chris.
To start with, the following four cars were examples of vehicles offered in the Bonhams auction on the Saturday of the Autojumble… (Note: Prices shown here include ‘Premium’).
Sold with ‘No Reserve’, this 1953 MG Midget TD II Roadster had a pre-auction guide price of between £10,000 and £15,000, and was sold for £13,800.
This 1964 DKW F12 Roadster carried a pre-auction estimate of £10,000 to £15,000, but was taken home by a new owner for £9,775.
With a pre-auction estimate of £22,000 to £26,000, this 1958 Austin-Healey 100/6 BN4 Convertible changed hands for £25,300.
Selling for £27,600 (against a guide price range of £35,000 to £45,000) was this 1962 Sunbeam Alpine Harrington Le Mans B V8 Fastback Coupé.
Carrying a pre-auction estimate of between £15,000 and £20,000, this 1952 Daimler DB18 2.5 litre Special Sports Drophead Coupé sold for £17,250.
In the Automart area, Chris’s attention was drawn to the following cars for sale:
This 1969 MGC GT ‘Fast Road Car’, said to be sold with many thousands of pounds worth of ‘work done’ invoices ‘by the right people’, was advertised with an asking price of £34,000.
Sensible offers of £50,000 o.n.o. were sought for this fixed head Jaguar E-Type.
Described as a 1953 Ford Popular ‘Hillbilly Moonshine Wagon’, featuring a fully rebuilt engine. stainless steel exhaust system, sand-blasted and painted chassis plus new brakes, seats and carpets, this unusual classic was offered for sale at £6,850 o.n.o.
A more recent ‘modern classic’ looking for a new home was this 2006 BMW Z4 2.0, with an asking price of £2,750.
For a little less than the BMW Z4, this Austin J40 pedal car carried a price tag of £2,500 (although Chris also espied another example, in less good condition, among the stands and offered for £1,500).
This Standard Nine dates from 1936 and looked remarkably sound. The information sheet with the car noted ‘no brakes’ and ‘clutch needs attention’, but this Standard would surely make a great pre-War project to bring back to life, use and enjoy. Offers were invited but through the grapevine we believe these needed to be at around the £1,400 level.
‘The Essence of Beaulieu’… Further fascinating items spotted by Chris Adamson at this year’s International Autojumble
(All photographs in the slide show below © Chris Adamson.)
VERDICT
Visitors I spoke to enjoyed being there and searching for the parts and vehicles they came to buy.
I too was pleased to be at Beaulieu once more, for the atmosphere, the experience of chatting with like-minded ‘car’ friends (always there in numbers), learning from stallholders about specific components that I required, and acquiring a variety of parts, all at what I consider to be reasonable prices.
In particular, and as mentioned, I was fortunate to be able to find and purchase some obscure items that I needed to rejuvenate a non-running classic of mine. Just being there and being able to talk in person to the Beaulieu Autojumble stallholders was invaluable in obtaining the correct components.
Some of the ‘professional’ sellers with whom I chatted expressed their concern that they were genuinely struggling to sell enough of their wares to cover the costs of attending and travelling to Beaulieu. In part this is thought to be due to the relative lack of visitors from overseas in recent times, compared with the pre-Covid era and the days when there was much less ‘red tape’ involved in buyers taking their goods out of the country. That said, to me there seemed to be more visitors from France and Ireland (for example) than in recent years, and some stallholders told me that they had found business to be very encouraging this year. I guess it depends who you speak to, what they are selling and asking prices too.
Like me, Chris Adamson felt that the Autojumble seemed busier than in previous years, with stands looking busy and plenty of buyers loading up their karts with ‘stuff’ they had purchased!
Chris also noted that items such as enamel signs seemed to be selling well, and attracting high prices.
On the other hand he found this year’s ‘Automart’ car sales area to be very disappointing, notably with fewer cars on offer than in recent years.
For me personally… Overall I rate the Beaulieu International Autojumble very highly on my list of ‘must attend’ classic events, and certainly hope to be back next year for more immersion in old cars and components!
Stop Press… Update at 2pm, 8th September 2025…
We have just received further information from Beaulieu about this year’s International Autojumble, and they tell us:
Over the weekend some 22,500 enthusiasts attended the event.
They say, too… “Every year, the Best Stand Award is awarded to the exhibitors whose stand captures the spirit of the International Autojumble. This year’s winner was Edward Day, who arrived at the International Autojumble in his impressive 1943 Bedford QL. He had intended to attend with the vehicle last year, but unfortunately broke down before the event, so he had to come without it. After months of hard work to get it back on the road, he was finally able to showcase it at this year’s event. The original military truck was especially fitting, as this year marked the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe at the end of World War II. They were presented with a trophy by Lord Montagu, with the trophy kindly donated by Lolly Lee, who provides the trophy for the Award in honour of her late father and avid autojumbler, Terry Lee.”
With regard to the Classic Car Park, Beaulieu, they advise… “The Classic Car Park, showcased classic vehicles of all makes, models and conditions. The varied line up saw everything from a Rover 3.5 to a Ford Granada. A Show Favourite was chosen on both days of the event with Dr Jon Murden presenting trophies to the winners. On Saturday, Jason and his father, Chris, won with their beautifully preserved 1958 Morris Cowley ½ Ton Van. The vehicle has been part of their family for forty years. Chris originally owned it during his time as a mechanic but eventually parted with it, until Jason later brought it back into the family. Sunday’s winners were Pete and Michelle with their stunning 1965 Alvis TE21, complete with its original 3-litre engine and 5-speed gearbox. With only 352 in existence, Pete spent two years searching for the car, and has now been the proud owner for eight years.”
Beaulieu says too: “Custom car builder Andy Saunders made a striking return to the show with his latest masterpiece, the Daroo 1/3, a recreation of the legendary Dodge Daroo. Originally unveiled on the 1967 show circuit, the Daroo was hailed as “the car that revolutionised the Hot Rod scene,” before vanishing. Using just six surviving photos, Andy painstakingly rebuilt it from the ground up. Visitors had the rare chance to see the remarkable recreation up close and chat with Andy about bringing this lost icon back to life.
Acclaimed artist, Maxime Xavier, was also at the show, showcasing her latest creation, Spirits of Genius, a beautifully hand-painted Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit. The car features four iconic masterpieces: The Great Wave by Hokusai, The Kiss by Klimt, A Bigger Splashby Hockney, and Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe. The eye-catching motor was an excellent talking point for showgoers, taking a break from treasure hunting to admire the vehicle.”
Last, but not least, looking ahead to 2026 (and indeed to events still to come this year) Beaulieu tells us:
“Beaulieu’s Spring and International Autojumble will return in 2026, with provisional dates set as 16th and 17th May for Spring Autojumble and 12th and 13th September for the International Autojumble.
There’s still plenty to look forward to in the 2025 events calendar at Beaulieu. Coming up on 14th September is Simply French, followed by Simply Audi on 20th September and Simply BMW on 21st September. Don’t miss brand-new event VauxALL South on 27th September, then Simply Italian takes place on 28th September and Simply Smart on 9th November.
Visit beaulieu.co.uk/events/ for more information and to see our full list of events.”