To celebrate the spirit of Beaulieu’s International Autojumble, which was sadly unable to take place this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lord Montagu welcomed event media sponsors Practical Classics magazine into the Beaulieu parkland for a ceremonial trade of automotive treasure.
Maintaining the unbroken Beaulieu autojumble record of trading, which has happened every year since 1967 when the event first took place, Lord Montagu purchased a 1950s Morris Minor steering wheel from Practical Classics Editor Danny Hopkins for the bargain price of £1 – both being sure to sanitise their hands and take the necessary precautions to ensure a safe exchange.
The Practical Classics team drove down to the New Forest from their Lincolnshire workshop in a convoy of classic cars, braving rain storms and gale force winds, before putting their ‘stand’ together and pitching their tents ready for their overnight stay. Their visit anticipated the return of the world-famous International Autojumble in 2021.
The team members’ own Triumph, Mazda, Morris and Smart were proudly parked alongside Lord Montagu’s own 1967 Morris Minor Traveller, which Beaulieu visitors can usually see on display in the National Motor Museum or being driven around the attraction grounds.
Danny Hopkins said: “Although it feels strange to be setting up our stand when the fields are empty, we certainly won’t be alone in being excited about next year’s autojumbles, which we are very much looking forward to. Coming to Beaulieu every year is always a thrill, it’s part of who we are.”
Joining the celebration in his classic Land Rover was Vintage Tyres Managing Director Ben Field, who brought along a brand-new set of tyres for one of the magazine’s project vehicles. Also joining the get-together was long-standing autojumbler Richard Skinner of Tudor Wheels, who had refurbished a set of wheels for the same project car.
Read the full story of the Practical Classics road trip in the November issue, on sale from 30th September. For details on Beaulieu’s revised calendar of Simply motoring events, which is now well underway, click here.