British classics that hardly anyone talks about
09/02/2020
Of course, you don't have to explain to anyone what a Jaguar E-Type or an Aston Martin DB5 is. The British car industry has created many icons and also many vehicles that you often see at classic car meetings, such as the MGA, Triumph TR4 or the Mini.
But there were also many British vehicles that hardly anyone remembers. There was the Wolseley 18/85 Saloon, as pictured above. Not even the basic model, the Austin 1800 (ADO 17), has a large following; the Wolseley variant with a modified front and different rear lights is practically unknown in this country.
The Maestro is somewhat younger, but nevertheless forgotten. It was available as an Austin, but also as MG versions, e.g. the MG Maestro 2.0 EFI, a particularly sporty variant that has completely disappeared from our roads.
The most famous of the three cars that we want to present today as British exotics is the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, the "Hot Hatch" with 16-valve engine and rear-wheel drive, which even won the World Rally Championship title. Original examples are very rare today and accordingly sought after.
Bonhams is offering these three and many other British rarities alongside other vehicles at its MPH auction on September 20, 2020.
The Wolseley 18/85 Saloon from 1969has been estimated at £3000 to £5000, the MG Maestro 2.0 EFI from 1989at £2000 to £3000, while the Talbot Sunbeam Lotus from 1983 is expected to cost £25,000 to £30,000.
All the cars in the MPH auction can be viewed on the Bonhams website .
