1974 Time Warp VW Beetle in mint condition with just 90km's on the clock is going up for auction.

A 42 year old Volkswagen Beetle,that has covered just 90 km, has been discovered in time warp condition and will be sold at Silverstone Auctions’ Classic Race Aarhus Auction in Denmark on 28^th and 29^th May.

Unique is a word often used incorrectly, but in the case of this 1974 Beetle, it is not inaccurate. With just one owner from new and only 90 kilometres on the clock, this little car must be one of the lowest mileage examples in existence still in its original condition.

Supplied new by G. Terragni Volkswagen, Genoa, Italy, on the 23rd January 1974, its first and only proud owner was an elderly gentleman by the name of Armando Sgroi. He had never owned a motorcar before and did not particularly want this one. However, he was a deeply religious man and walked every Sunday from his house in the hills to his local church. This was only a short distance, but it had become a struggle as he became more and more frail with age.

The car was used less and less as his church-going became more infrequent, up until the last outing in 1978, when the car was retired to a barn where it has remained for almost four decades. This little Beetle has recently been rediscovered, has been lightly recommissioned and will now be offered at auction. For sale for only the second time in its life, it will head to auction with an estimate of €35,000 to €40,000.

Speaking ahead of the sale, Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions commented, “The VW Beetle is one of the most successful and loved cars worldwide, and we’re no strangers to them at Silverstone Auctions, but this one is a very special example and something we rarely see. With such an incredibly low mileage it is in virtually new condition, 42 years after it was first bought.”

Finished in blue with a black leather interior and all its original features, this left-hand drive, manual example still holds the original oil in the engine and is shod with its first set of tyres. The original books and invoice, along with its unwrapped tool kit, are also supplied with the car.

The car features as part of the Classic Race Aarhus Auction hosted by Silverstone Auctions and Lauritz.com at the prestigious motorsport festival in Denmark.

Time Warp 1968 Mini Van with 300 miles to go under the hammer at the Silverstone Auction.

Virtually unused for 47 years, a ‘time warp’ 1968 Austin Mini Van is set to be auctioned at Silverstone Auctions’ Practical Classics Restoration Show Sale on March 28^th, at the NEC, Birmingham.

The car, estimated at between £23,000 and £25,000, was first registered on the 14^th March 1968. It was bought new for a mere £400 by a Miss G. Crumcott from Northern Ireland so she could learn to drive. Miss Crumcott never managed to pass her driving test however, so the car was kept unused in her garage for nearly 30 years.

The car was then bought in July 1997 by a local BMC Mini dealer, Mr T. Turkington, who placed it in the Mini centre’s showroom until 2006 before selling it onto another collector in Northamptonshire. It has now been brought back onto the market, and, with so few owners, it is no surprise the car has covered a miniscule and very desirable 302 miles.

The charming classic is in remarkable unrestored original condition, right down to the seat protectors and rubber floor mats. Still retaining its original crossply Dunlop tyres and spare wheel, all of which are unused, the motorcar has been so carefully stored it has also preserved its initial exhaust and sealed Lucas battery. The car is also supplied with its original toolbox, which remains unopened; a delightful added extra. All in all, the van is in perfect running order.

Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions, said: “We are thrilled to be offering this virtually unused and untouched Austin Mini Van at our sale on March 28^th. This rare find is in ‘as new’ condition and is surely an alluring, promising prospect for Mini or other collectors in the market.”

Built on the longer Traveller chassis but without side windows, the Mini Van proved popular in 1960s Britain as a cheaper alternative to the car. It was classed as a commercial vehicle and as such carried no sales tax.

The Austin Mini Van joins nearly 70 other cars on offer in the sale, including a beautifully presented 2001 BMW Z8, a restored 1980 Aston Martin V8 and a 1969 Porsche 912 Restoration Project.

Nick added: “Our sale at the Practical Classics Restoration Show is the perfect place to find your next project or road ready classic car and this very special Mini is sure to attract much interest when it goes under the hammer.”

1987 Volvo 340 - Time Warp - 132 miles and in near mint condition

A 1987 Volvo 340 with just 132 miles on the clock from new has been uncovered by Anglia Car Auctions for the upcoming Classic sale on Saturday  April 5^th at its King’s Lynn auction house.

The car was bought brand new from Lancaster Volvo and was barely used by the original owner. After a few weeks the car suffered a coming together with a bollard at a garden centre, grazing the driver’s side wing.

Confidence shaken, the elderly owner put the car into garage where it stayed until the beginning of March when its was dragged out of hiding and added to the auction catalogue. 

The 340 was the result of a joint venture between Volvo and Dutch carmaker DAF. DAF were looking for a partner to help them bring the car to market, while Volvo were interested in the Renault engines that DAF had access to.

The partnership worked, and eventually DAF would be absorbed into Volvo. Compared to contemporaries from Ford and Volkswagen the Volvo stood out, thanks to its rear-wheel drive layout, De Dion suspension and rear-mounted gearbox. The 340 would go on to enjoy a successful career in motorsport and, typically for a Volvo, an enviable record for safety.

This 340 uses the 1.7 litre Renault-sourced petrol engine and still boasts its original battery, coolant, oil and spark plugs. Incredibly it’s even retained its original dealer-issue Volvo-branded paper floor mates.

Rob George, Anglia Car Auctions, said: " Plenty of people claim to offer a ‘time warp’ classic but in the case of this Volvo 340 the term was never more fitting.”

Despite its long hibernation the 340 starts and runs, though understandably items like the brakes may well require attention. There’s no sign of corrosion on the car and the interior retains that new-car smell.

For more information on Anglia Car Auctions, visit www.angliacarauctions.co.uk