Cheffins’ Cambridge Vintage Sale, held at Sutton, near Ely, on the 21st and 22nd of April saw a number of classic and vintage tractors, alongside vintage motorbikes, classic commercial vehicles, petroliana and collectors’ items go under the hammer. The sale grossed more than £2 million.
Of more than 300 tractors, the headline lot was a 2001 John Deere 7810, selling for £45,500 to a collector in the UK. This was followed by a 1980s Ford 7810 Silver Jubilee, which achieved £32,500. Among the earlier examples, a 1964 Roadless Ploughmaster 6/4 made £31,000, while a 1918 Avery 8-16 made £29,000.
Tractors from the 1970s were also in high demand, with a 1975 Ford 7000 achieving £29,500 and a 1971 John Deere 3120 making £16,000.
Among the vehicles, a 2005 Argo Avenger 8×8 UTV, purchased new by Jeremy Clarkson, exceeded its £2,000 estimate to make £5,500, while a 1963 Thames Trade and Scammell trailer sold for £24,000. One of the most sought-after lots at the sale was a fully restored Brayshaw living wagon, selling for £17,500.
More than 70 motorcycles were on offer, with the highlights being a 1977 1,000cc Harley Davidson XLCR (£11,070) and a 1951 499cc Norton 500T trials motorbike (£10,422). These were followed by a number of automobilia collectables, including a Kismet Autocol air and water tower pump, dating back to the 1960s. This sold for £4,256.
Another highlight was an eight-foot long, 1/6 scale Scammell Pioneer tank transporter and Armotek Sherman Firefly tank model. This remote-controlled unit was created over a ten year period and sold for £20,000.
Oliver Godfrey, head of the Machinery Division, Cheffins, said: “The April Vintage auction really kicks off the start of the season for many collectors and vintage enthusiasts. The sale saw over 142,000 views online ahead of the auction, and we had hundreds of buyers in attendance from across the continent, all looking to pick up that next special piece for their collection.
“Over 75 per cent of the classic and vintage tractors offered sold on the day all for premium prices, illustrating the health and continued enthusiasm for this niche collecting market. With examples dating from the pre-1920s right through to the early 2000s and those which had been beautifully restored or those left to mature naturally, there was plenty of choice for both our regular buyers and a number of the new faces we welcomed to the sale ground.
“Classic motorbikes also saw some seriously competitive bidding as this section of the sale continues to strengthen. Undoubtedly the petroliana market is one to watch, with significant price rises being seen across all areas and some of the rarer examples of petrol pumps, enamel signs and other forecourt memorabilia achieving well into the thousands.
“We were pleased to welcome back familiar faces to this iconic sale ahead of the vintage rally and show season and will look forward to seeing the regular collectors and enthusiasts join us for the next vintage auction in July.”