A pioneering, classic Vauxhall bought used for just £115 is set to go up for auction, and is expected to sell for almost £200,000. The 1920 Vauxhall E-type 30-98 was purchased in 1952 by Ian Ferguson, before his brother Murray bought the car from him in 1962. It will go under the hammer at a Bonhams auction at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire – a fitting venue for the rare example.
Just 30 of the early sidevalve 30-98 models are believed to still be in existence, and the model heading to auction is one of only two with this kind of bodywork. It was also the first production car released in the UK to reach 100mph, using a four-cylinder 90bhp engine to do so.
A representative for Bonhams commented: “Although the complete history of this car is not known, it was first registered in Westmorland and it is believed that in its early days it was owned by the Lings family of Bollington, Cheshire.” It was then passed on to a Mr Jeffreys around 1930, and was used during World War II by the Home Guard in the north of the country.
The 30-98’s high auction price is a sign of Vauxhall’s long-standing reputation in the motoring industry, which it continues to build on today. The manufacturer’s latest-generation models are a more affordable option, and you can discover them all with Lookers Vauxhall across Liverpool, Birmingham, Wirral and Cheshire.
