The complete assortment from the Hammond Collection of Microcars goes under the hammer with Charterhouse Auctioneers later this month
Words: Paul Guinness
The museum was established by Edwin and Jean Hammond, whose microcar obsession started in the mid-Nineteen Seventies once they purchased a Heinkel bubble automotive for his or her son, Andrew. It marked the begin of a significant assortment, with the Hammonds happening to purchase a Nobel 200, Scootacar Mk1, AC Petite Mk2, Frisky Family 3, Messerschmitt KR200, Berkeley SA322, BMW 600 and Allard Clipper amongst many others, together with an unlimited array of spare engines and automobilia. The couple went on to buy a rural pig farm that they then transformed right into a microcar museum.
Sadly, Edwin later turned in poor health and handed away in 2003, however Jean continued with the venture and moved the assortment to a purpose-built museum the place the assortment of over 40 microcars was placed on show. Now that Jean has moved right into a care dwelling, nevertheless, the full assortment is about to be auctioned off as separate heaps.
“This fabulous and engaging assortment of microcars has been constructed up over the previous 40-plus years,” explains Richard Bromell of Charterhouse Auctioneers. “Edwin cherished his microcars and was well-known for saving them from the scrapyard. Once, he famously purchased a burnt-out Isetta in alternate for a pile of scrap, with many of his buddies remarking that no person might see the distinction!”
The Heinkel that marked the begin of the assortment again in 1975
Included in the sale is the Heinkel that marked the begin of the assortment again in the mid-Nineteen Seventies, though the Most worthy lot is bound to be the Hammonds’ 1963 Peel P50 – one of the rarest and most well-known microcars of all time – that’s guided £85,000–100,000. Also of explicit curiosity is a 1958 Opperman Stirling, a sporty wanting coupe and the solely survivor from simply two examples made; at the time, Stirling Moss thought the firm was taking benefit of his title and took out authorized proceedings to stop Opperman from utilizing it.
In addition to the 40-plus microcars being auctioned, the sale contains a big amount of spares, engines and automobilia, with the complete assortment virtually sure to realize a major six-figure sum.
Viewing is on the market on web site at the museum – situated in Hawkenbury, Kent – on Wednesday, October 26 from 9.30am to five.00pm, with the public sale being held on-line by Charterhouse at its Dorset saleroom on Thursday, October 27. The catalogue can be obtainable to view and obtain here.
