Toys have come a long way since the late 1940’s, what was once a child’s plaything can now be an adult’s collectable. In the next Charterhouse Vintage & Classic Car, Motorbike and Automobilia auction on Sunday 8th November at The Footman James Autumn Restoration Show held at The Royal Bath and West Show Ground, Shepton Mallet, just such an item will come up for sale – 1949 Austin Pathfinder Junior pedal car is the item in question.
“The original price of £20 plus £5 purchase tax made the Pathfinder an expensive toy. This Pathfinder was delivered to a very excited eleven year old boy on his birthday who has owned and enjoyed it ever since.” commented Matthew Whitney. “However, now this pedal car is in need of some TLC from the next owner, although I doubt if it will be bought as a present for child with its £600-900 estimate!”.
Pathfinder pedal cars were made at a government funded, purpose built factory in Bargoes, South Wales, by disabled Welsh miners injured in the Welsh coal fields. They were based on the Jamerson OHV 750 Austin Seven racing car of the late 1930’s and were only produced for one year before manufacture changed to the more common Austin J40 we see in garages and at classic car shows.
Amongst the other interesting lots automobilia consigned for this sale includes a very rare run of Motorsport, featuring the first volume of the Brooklands Gazette from 1924 in original blue and orange binders estimated at £1000 – 1500, in the car section is the famous millionth Morris Minor produced, with chassis number 1,000,000 and original registration number 1 MHU at £25,000-30,000 and a rare Vincent Rapide motorbike which was last on the road in 1956 £6,000-9,000.
For further information or to enter classic cars, motorcycles or automobilia, contact Matthew Whitney at the Charterhouse head office in Sherborne on 01935 812277 or via email [email protected] alternatively you can view items already entered on their website at www.charterhouse-auctions.co.uk