Tayside’s biggest toybox will be opened up to car fans in an opportunity for them to fulfil their automotive dreams – if the price is right.
Hundreds of petrolheads are expected to flock to the latest Morris Leslie car auction at the firm’s Errol base between Dundee and Perth on Saturday when everything from the modest Mini to the luxury of Rolls Royce and Bentley will be among 170 lots going under the hammer.
The company is also hopeful of repeating past online successes which have seen cars sold across the UK, Europe and as far afield as Australia.
The sale has once again attracted a variety of vehicles of every age and with the unexpected upturn in the weather, vehicle auction manager Keith Murray is hoping a couple of convertibles may prove tempting.
A 2004 Mazda MX-5 was used only sparingly by its owner after picking it up from a Borders garage.
“It covered 839 miles before it was placed into storage where it has remained until now,” said Mr Murray of the limited edition machine which could go for five figures.
Another MX-5 in the sale, a 1998 version, also has an ultra-low total on the speedometer, having covered just 1899 miles.
It was used as a holiday machine by its second owner, but put in storage and has not been taxed since 1999, or ever MOT’d.
Another car with an interesting story is a 1958 Morris Minor, believed to have been used by an Edinburgh Rolls Royce dealer as a courtesy car at the Palace of Holyrood House for covert trips around the capital by Royal guests looking to escape the public’s glare behind the wheel of a modest motor.
One successful bidder may also take home both the real 1960s car of their dreams and a toy version if they snap up the 1965 Ford Zephyr 6 for an estimated £5-6,000, the distinctive light green machine coming complete with the Corgi Diecast model which the actual car inspired.
Another seller hopes there will be an Angus homecoming for a 1930s Sunbeam limousine which was once part of a Kirriemuir firm’s fleet and may have taxied aristocratic guests to and from local castles including Glamis and Cortachy.
