CLASSIC car enthusiasts had plenty to get their motors running over the weekend at a special auction in Witney.
Saturday saw hundreds of petrol heads flock to the West Oxfordshire Motor Auction which held its first ever classic car sale.
In total 60 cars went under the hammer with the auction boasting everything from American muscle cars like the Corvette Stingray and Mercury Cougar to VW Camper vans and British classics such as the Austin A40.
Organisers estimate between 300 to 400 people from across the country attended the event with many arriving early on to get a close look at the impressive classic collection in the lot on the Bromag Industrial Estate, before the auction got underway on Saturday afternoon.
General manager at West Oxfordshire Motor Auction Steve Carter would not reveal exactly how many cars were sold but said: “We had a high sale rate with lots of buyers turning up from places like Scotland, Devon and Cornwall.
“It went better than we expected – we always attract big audiences with our modern car sales so to do better than that was very pleasing.”
West Oxfordshire Motor Auction Ltd has been hosting modern car auctions for the last 35 years, however, the firm has spent the last 18 months planning its first move into classic cars.
Mr Carter said there were a number of reasons why classic cars prove popular with both enthusiasts and those with a more casual interest.
He said: “People in this country have a real passion for classic cars.
“It’s probably best defined by the expression ‘my dad used to have one of those’.
“There was an Austin A40 there and that was said a few times – people aspire to get back to what they knew when they were younger.
“Other people look for projects to get their teeth into, while others want the prestige of owning something a bit unusual."
With the success of Saturday’s event, the family-owned business is now planning more forays into the world of classic cars.
Mr Carter said: “The next one is going to be in the summer but we haven’t got a date for it yet.”
For more information on West Oxfordshire Motor Auction and for details on upcoming events visit the website http://www.woma.co.uk/about/
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