Bangers & Cash

Original low mileage vehicles are the holy grail for collectors of most cars – butespecially Fords. Dave is optimistic as he travels to leafy Leicestershire where StevePerry has a pair of them, a 1980 Ford Granada Ghia and a 1981 Ford Cortina. TheCortina, remarkably, has just 9000 miles on the clock. Dave's optimism is well founded when he assesses what he feels are amongst the best examples of this era Fords in thewhole country.

Paul has found a 4 wheeled pearl closer to home - a 1990 Audi Quattro which is lurkingat HQ. The car - which heralded the motor industry's digital computerised age - is inbeautiful condition. It also happens to be alimited edition vehicle signed by Swedishrallying legend Stig Blomqvist.

Derek meanwhile is off on a jaunt to the east coast seaside resort of Bridlington. He'svisiting Peter Marson who runs a vintage emporium in the town. Peter specialises inmotorbikes and scooters. Derek isinterested in a couple of vintage bikes but uncoverssome other treasures too in Peter's packed shop.

Derek heads up the A1 to County Durham where Neil Walker is reluctantly letting hislate dad's car collection go. There's a Wolseley Hornet, a Simon Templar Volvo P1800and an unusual Japanese take on a classic British Jag; the Mitsuoka Viewt. Half Nissan, half Mk II Jaguar and a whole lot of oddity. Even so Derek thinks it will dowell. Star of the haul though is a 1960 MGA Roadster. As Derek says `it's one of thenicest driving British cars that there is'

Paul's in the wilds of North Cumbria to collect a 1964 Sunbeam Rapier and a 1959Hillman Huskey. They'd been the owners pride and joy, but he's decided to letsomeone else get the pleasure from them. Back at base Derek's not sure they are allthat they seem. A quick test with the magnet shows the Sunbeam has fibreglasspanels. `It'd have been muchbetter if the Hillman had a pair of plastic wings, and theSunbeam had had original ones'. `They are a bedroom wall poster supercar, that hasn't gone galactic with values' saysDave of the Lotus Esprit Turbo that's just tipped up. It's a car made famous by theJames Bond films and when new owner Neil saw it he knew he had to have it `Here isa car that merits my attention' . And he knew he'd grabbed a bargain; 20,000 mileson the clock, an immaculate chassis, and a near pristine interior. A whole lot ofcarfor the money and a very definitely a licence to thrill.

It's the end of a busy week after another successful auction and while Derek's in the yard tryingto fettle a 1967 Ford Zodiac, Dave's heading off across the North Yorkshire moors to collect aFord Fiesta XR2i that's been stuck in a leaky garage for the past twenty-one years. When theMathewsonsaren't selling cars, they're racing them, so Jack and Paul have taken their FordEscort Mk1 and Mk2 rally cars to Dalton Forest for a relaxing weekend tearing around the pine-fringed tracks. Also keen to get out on the road, Derek visits a fantastic private collection inLincolnshire. He returns with an immaculate low mileage 1967 Humber Sceptre; a 1956 SivaTourer with a Ford Popular engine, a car made famous in early episodes of the Dr. Who TVseries; a quirky Garner tractor and a 100 year-old horse-drawn hay wagon. Back at the garage,a lovely 1953 AJS motorcycle is dropped off for the auction by its owner and draws anappreciative crowd.

Dave heads to South Yorkshire to pick up an ordinary car owned by an extraordinary fellow. John Holmes has had his Reliant Robin for 16 years but has decided to sell it to raise money for the children's hospital that changed his life when he was a child.

Also, Derek is glad of the help loading up when he lands in Surrey to collect three vintage Triumphs that haven't been driven in years. And there's much amusement when a BSA Bantam tips up, complete with everything you'd need for a picnic.