1976 Beauford Series 3

35 Bids
8:00 PM, 10 Nov 2023Vehicle sold
Sold for

£4,490

(inc. Buyer’s Premium)

Background

Created by Beauford Cars Ltd, the company was initially based in Upholland, Lancashire and later moved to Biddulph, Stoke-on-Trent. Originally, the Beauford tourer was built using the Mini bodyshell, which was mounted on a ladder-style chassis that gave the car a long front end and created the 1930s look.

This made the long-nosed tourer perfect to accept the Ford 2.0-litre Pinto engine or various Nissan engines, and also, the larger Rover V8 and 5.0-litre engines have been known to be used in the stylish tourers. As time went on, the company switched from using the Mini bodyshell to a fibreglass moulding, which gave slightly more room in the passenger compartment but also meant that a convertible and half convertible option was available. These options have become ideal for many wedding couples, especially in the summer months. 

The Beauford has become a timeless classic which is well known, particularly in the wedding industry, for being an elegant 1930s style tourer that not only looks the part but is also comfortable to be in, keeps up with modern-day traffic and is very easy to drive.   

Key Facts


  • Ideal as for Wedding Use
  • Carefully Looked After Throughout Its Life
  • Lots of Recent Work to Keep it in Top Condition

  • BABFSL47486
  • 27491
  • 1993cc
  • manual
  • Cream
  • Red Leather
  • Right-hand drive
  • Petrol

Vehicle location
Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, United Kingdom

Background

Created by Beauford Cars Ltd, the company was initially based in Upholland, Lancashire and later moved to Biddulph, Stoke-on-Trent. Originally, the Beauford tourer was built using the Mini bodyshell, which was mounted on a ladder-style chassis that gave the car a long front end and created the 1930s look.

This made the long-nosed tourer perfect to accept the Ford 2.0-litre Pinto engine or various Nissan engines, and also, the larger Rover V8 and 5.0-litre engines have been known to be used in the stylish tourers. As time went on, the company switched from using the Mini bodyshell to a fibreglass moulding, which gave slightly more room in the passenger compartment but also meant that a convertible and half convertible option was available. These options have become ideal for many wedding couples, especially in the summer months. 

The Beauford has become a timeless classic which is well known, particularly in the wedding industry, for being an elegant 1930s style tourer that not only looks the part but is also comfortable to be in, keeps up with modern-day traffic and is very easy to drive.   

Video

Overview

This wonderful Beauford, known by the vendor as Daisy, has all the charm and looks of 1930s styling but with the added addition of modern touches, which make it easy and a pleasure to drive. It is also said to be the tenth car to roll from the Beauford production line. 

The vendor has owned it for the past three years as part of his wedding car hire business; the Beauford has always been an enormous success, especially within the wedding industry, as they offer plenty of room inside and look superb for those special day photographs. When it comes to maintaining them, they are relatively easy to maintain, being based around a Ford Cortina, Escort or Sierra.

Recently, the car has seen some nice upgrades to keep it looking the part and also make driving easier. These include power steering, a new hood, new walnut door cards, a MOMO steering wheel and a Cruella De Ville sounding horn just in case guests don’t see you coming; they will certainly hear you.

The Beauford has excellent business potential should you wish to add it to your very own wedding car business or even embark on a new venture. 

Exterior

Who would have thought this 1930s-style tourer was designed around the classic British Mini? If you look closely, you will probably recognise the doors, which are the most resembling feature of the British classic. 

From front to back, the Beauford presents very well. At the front, the bumper and headlight surrounds have a bright finish with no signs of excessive tarnishing. The Beauford grille is in good order, and the silver lady mascot sits in pride of place. The long bonnet aligns well with an equal gap and opens easily from either side by releasing two sprung catches. 

The side profile of the Beauford is where you can take in the whole 1930s styling. Long flowing wings run into the short running boards attached to the swept rear arches. There are a couple of minor blemishes and chips on some of the edges, all of which are in keeping with the age of the Beauford and wouldn’t take a great amount of work to touch in. Spare wheels are mounted to each wing, held in place with a locked chrome strap. Both wheels are in good condition and fitted with new white wall tyres. There has recently been a new fabric roof fitted. This is, therefore, in excellent condition with no damage or discolouration to the plastic windows. 

At the rear, the bumper is in good condition, again with no tarnishing. The light lenses are free from damage, and a wicker basket is perfect for carrying any essentials. The chrome wire wheels are all in good condition, with the smallest amount of tarnishing between the spokes. The tyres are matching Bridgestone white walls, which have a good amount of tread remaining. 

Interior

Inside the Beauford is a lovely place to sit either behind the wheel or as the bride and groom in the spacious rear. The Garnet Red leather seats are in excellent condition with no real signs of excessive use in the front or rear. The door cards have been trimmed to match and finished with walnut cappings that have recently been replaced. 

The dashboard matches the seats, finished with the same leather and walnut fascia, which are both in excellent condition. The auxiliary instruments are working correctly and keep an eye on the vital statistics of the Beauford, such as the water temperature, oil pressure, amps, fuel, and the odometer shows a reading of just 27,492 miles. A new MOMO walnut steering wheel has been fitted and sits well against the dash fascia. 

The switchgear is minimal, but what is there works as it should; also in place is a period PYE cassette player. A plush new grey carpet has been fitted over an existing carpet and kept clean with four rubber mats. 

Mechanical

Fitted with the classic Ford 2.0 litre Pinto engine, this fires up as you would expect with no untoward noises and the car is reported to run well, with no issues mentioned by the vendor. The engine bay presents well, with no leaks spotted when looking around the car. 

A recent addition to the Beauford is power steering, which makes a welcomed improvement when driving around town or manoeuvring in a tight churchyard. The gear change is said to be smooth and free from any unwanted noises coming from the drivetrain. 

The brakes on the Beauford work very well; usually taken from the donor car, which in this case would have been a Cortina or Escort that would have been a much heavier car than the Beauford. These bring the car to a stop in a straight line with no issues reported. 

History

Looking back at the MoT history, you can clearly see from the mileage that the car has only been used for tiny amounts, covering approximately 2,000 miles or less each year for the past 18 years. 

The vendor has reported that since he has owned the car, it has been well maintained regardless of cost to keep everything in tip-top condition, as the last thing you need is a breakdown due to poor maintenance on the bride and groom's special day. 

Summary

Around 1,500 Beaufords were produced and have become extremely popular within the wedding industry for their 1930s styling, they are economical to run and maintain while being very reliable. 

Perfect for a new business venture or an addition to an existing fleet of wedding cars, the two-door Beauford tourer could have excellent investment potential. 

We estimate this desirable wedding car to bring in the region of £10,000 - £15,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. Viewings are strictly by appointment.  To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

About this auction

Seller

Private: stephen butterworth


Viewings Welcome

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and is strictly by appointment. To book one in the diary, please get in contact.

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