Classic Bentley left to rot in garage for over 50 years sells for eye-watering amount at auction
A CLASSIC Bentley left in a garage for over 50 years has sold for an eye-watering amount at auction.
After failing an MOT in 1968, the late owner James Young placed the 1935 classic in his barn.
The vintage 1935 car was bought new by wealthy Australian tea merchant Philip Bushell.
He shipped it over to Australia, where it spent two decades before it returned to Britain in 1954.
The Bentley went up for sale at a garage in Shaftesbury, Dorset, where local farmer James Young paid £1,050 for it.
After the aforementioned MOT failure, it was then parked up in a barn from 1968 until a winter storm damaged the barn’s roof last year.
Mr Young’s grandson, Roger, and his wife, Linda, feared it would only deteriorate further in the exposed condition, so they decided to put the car up for auction.
The family received numerous inquiries from classic car fanatics interested in purchasing the vehicle, even though it was covered in dust and that fixing it up would cost a fortune.
Finally, the Bentley was sold for £58,000, which rose to a total of £60,000 including all the fees and charges, while it’s estimated that the new owner would have to pay £100,000 to restore it to its former glory.
Richard Bromell, from Charterhouse Auctioneers in Dorset, said to Metro: ‘It was a fabulous discovery, and we are delighted with the price it achieved.
“Although I have seen and sold many barn finds over the decades, this one certainly trumps all other previous discoveries.”
Linda said it’s a ‘beautiful car’ which holds a lot of memories for the family.
“We were sad to let it go,” she added.
“It would be nice if the new owner could get her back up and running and care for her.”
This comes after Hollywood icon Paul Newman’s amazing Volvo went up for sale.
Plus, a classic Mini tucked away in a dusty garage for 33 years has been sold for an eye-watering amount at auction.