Cheffins, will host an on-site sale of over 25 classic and vintage tractors, vehicles, motorcycles, implements and spares on 17th July 2021 at Burford Cottage, Higher Clovelly, near Bideford, Devon.
The collection was assembled over 40 years by the late Dave Vanstone, a well-known figure on the vintage tractor circuit. As well as the vintage and classic tractors there will also be a handful of rare vehicles, including four vintage motorcycles and modern agricultural machinery available at the sale. Mr Vanstone, who passed away in July 2019, was previously a farmer, contractor, pig breeder and beef farmer throughout the Higher Clovelly area and was known for restoring tractors and other machinery back to full working order.
One of the most exciting vehicles on offer at the sale is a 1943 Willy’s Ford Jeep which has been verified by the Military Vehicle Trust as being a genuine 1943 Command/Reconnaissance vehicle. Perfect for the show and rally scene, it is offered in full running order and has an estimate of £15,000 - £20,000. There is also a 1928 Vauxhall R type which comes with a well-documented history, having spent most of its life in the Camelford and Wadebridge area of Cornwall. This rare car is one of only two known with a Grosvenor built two/three-seater body with dickie. The car comes with a full history and its original instruction manual and original 1928 buff logbook and has an estimate of £20,000 - £30,000. There is also a 1925 Ford Model T Float which was bought by Dave Vanstone in 2011. The history file reveals that it was previously in the ownership of a Sheikh who had then sold the car through Christie’s’ ‘Exceptional Motor Cars’ Sale in June 2002. It now has an estimate of £8,000 - £12,000.
Amongst the motorcycles there is a 1929 BSA S29 DeLuxe ‘Sloper’ which has been in Dave Vanstone’s ownership since at least 2004. In good order, the Sloper is still fitted with its original leather toolbox and has an estimate of £4,000 - £5,000. There is also a 1951 Royal Enfield Model G with an estimate of £4,000 - £5,000; a 1953 Velocette MAC which has been largely unused and requires re-commissioning which has an estimate of £3,000 - £4,000 and a 1960 Norton Model 50 which is in original condition and is set to sell for £3,500 - £4,500.
Highlights amongst the tractors include a Tract Continental, which was one of the first tractors which Mr Vanstone restored. Dating back to the 1940s, the tractor was built by French firm, Richard Bros of Lyon and was destined for Equatorial Guinea under the specification of the French Army for road building. It has an estimate of £3,000 - £5,000. There are also two Caterpillar crawler tractors available, one of which was supplied from the USA to the UK during WWII. This was meticulously restored by Dave Vanstone and his friends with Caterpillar in the USA assisting with providing replacement parts free of charge for the project. It now has an estimate of £2,500 - £3,500. Also amongst the tractors is an Allis Chalmers ex-army crawler dating from 1940 which has an estimate of £2,000 - £3,000, a Fordson Major County Full-Track which dates from 1952 and was bought for £600 but now has an estimate of £3,000 - £4,000 and an International TD9 which was made in 1942 and is expected to fetch a similar figure. These sit alongside a series of other classic and vintage tractors including Countys, David Browns, Fordsons and International examples.
There is also a good selection of modern agricultural machinery available at the sale, including a 1999 Massey Ferguson 6270 and a John Deere XUV 865M.
Bill King, Chairman, Cheffins comments: “Dave Vanstone was talented at restoring tractors and vehicles which otherwise would have been consigned to the scrap heap, and along with a group of friends, he looked to return them to as original a state as possible. This is an eclectic collection featuring some rare classic tractors and vehicles, many of which have local provenance or come from nearby farms and the majority are still in working order having been carefully maintained at the farm in Higher Clovelly. Mr Vanstone had a particular passion for crawler tractors, with these featuring heavily in the collection with some 13 examples on offer at the sale. The classic cars are also of particular note, especially the Vauxhall, which is an extremely rare opportunity for collectors, whilst the market for vintage motorbikes continues to be buoyant and we expect the four beautiful examples on offer at the sale will be strongly competed after. We are pleased to be able to help the Vanstone family with the dispersal of this wonderful collection and are hopeful for a sunny day in Devon for the sale.”
The sale will take place on 17th July both online via www.cheffins.co.uk and on-site at Burford Cottage, Higher Clovelly, Bideford, Devon.
To view the catalogue, click here
For more information, please visit www.cheffins.co.uk, or call Cheffins auctioneers on 01353 777767.