19th Oct, 2022 13:00

Imperial War Museum, Duxford

 
Lot 93
 

1928 Hadfield Bean

Sold for £19,125

(including buyers premium)


Lot details

Registration No: PK 3576
Chassis No: B94484
MOT: Exempt

  • Rare vintage tourer in fine condition with an interesting known history since 1936
  • Owned by the vendor between 1968 – 1974 and 2015 to date
  • Offered with magazine articles, sales poster and list of spare parts

We are indebted to the vendor for the following description:

“In 1968, whilst working in Three Mile Cross, Berkshire, I noticed, amongst a large bramble bush, what looked like a car. It was indeed - a 2.2-litre Hadfield Bean Tourer which I learned had crashed into a horse and cart during the wartime blackout in 1944. Simply pulled off the road, it had lain there for 24 years. Eventually, I acquired the car and set about freeing it from its ‘prison’, a massive tangle of vegetation. With the aid of a tractor, we finally had it out in the open air and loaded onto a trailer. It was not surprising that it had seen better days with the bodywork detaching itself from the chassis with great ease! We took it to my home and garage in Newbury and I set about freeing the wheels and acquiring new tyres. That way I could move it and commence work. A daunting challenge and one which I soon realised was beyond my skill level and pocket!

So, with great reluctance, in 1974, I advertised it for sale and very soon a deal was done. Imagine the “interest” of neighbours as a covered lorry arrived and out-stepped two Pearly Kings (or more accurately a King and Queen). As the Bean was being loaded, I persuaded my wife to go up to the bedroom window and to take a photograph as the car departed. I was somewhat upset to see it go, to put it mildly.

In 1986, my wife’s uncle was Treasurer of a village fete in Surrey, not far from where we lived. To support him, we went along and there on the hillside was a row of old cars. Naturally drawn to have a look, imagine my surprise when I recognised the number plate and saw a copy of the photograph that my wife had taken all those years ago resting on the bonnet! The car was beautiful! The owner and restorer having driven down from London for the day. I gently asked for first refusal should he ever wish to sell and he readily agreed. However, this was frustrated by my employer sending me overseas and when I returned 10 years later, the car had been passed on. I tried to keep in touch, learning it remained in very good shape and had been on the Shetland Island car rally in 2008.

The car still held a special place in my memory so in 2015 I made another enquiry as to its whereabouts, only to learn that it was now in Lanarkshire. My correspondent happily agreed to forward my email to the owner and three days later I had a reply to the effect that the car was in great shape, but that he, the owner, was “getting on a bit” and wanted to sell. There and then, and I did “forget” to consult my wife, I bought it back, 41 years after having sold it. A trip to Scotland with a friend, a trailer and a Land Rover brought it home.

I researched what history I could, the earliest records not being available. The Hadfield Bean was only made for two years, and the production run was not high. Thus, and being the only model known to exist, it is rare. In fact, we believe, unique.

The history can only be traced back to 1936 when it was owned by a Londoner which may not be surprising as the Company had a showroom in London. Then came the accident in 1944 and it remaining off the road until 1968. Following the 1974 sale it was restored over the next four years in Isleworth. In 1991 it found its way to an owner in Hertford and then, in 1995, to an owner in Alcester. Another change of ownership found it in Ayrshire and on to Lanarkshire. Then in April 2015, I acquired the car back again.

The history of the Bean Car company is well covered in the Veteran and Vintage magazine of the Automobile Magazine of October 1983 and the car itself was featured in the Automobile Magazine in November 1983. It reappears in the Automobile Magazine of March 2009 and copies of all of these magazines are included in the sale. Also included are an original Owner’s Handbook, an original sales poster, a complete list of spare parts, a copy of the Bean Bulletin from March 1928 and a ‘Buff’ logbook with the earliest stamp dated January 1943.”

Described as having “excellent” bodywork, pale Yellow / Bronze paintwork, engine, electrics and transmission with “very good” Brown leather interior, this delightful vintage tourer is very much one of a kind.

For more information, please contact:
John Markey
john.markey@handh.co.uk
01428 607899

 

All successful bids must be paid in full by midday the day after the auction at the latest.

You can collect your new pride and joy from our venue until 1pm the day following the sale or our partners are on hand to help arrange safe transportation:

               

Auction: Imperial War Museum, Duxford, 19th Oct, 2022

An auction of classic & collector motorcars

AUCTION VENUE  CONSIGN NOW 

VIEWING TIMES
Tuesday 18th October 2022 from 12pm to 6pm
Wednesday 19th October 2022 from 9am
Additional viewing for lots 200-254 on Thursday 20th October 2022 from 9am

To take part in the auction please click 'Register to Bid | Sign In' at the top of the page

Click To View Catalogue

 

View all lots in this sale

Do you have an item to sell?

If so, contact one of our friendly specialists for your free valuation by completing the form below and someone will get back to you as quickly as possible.

If you prefer to speak to humans, don't hesitate to call our office on +44 (0)1925 210035

Contact Us Today!

 

Images

Drag and drop .jpg images here to upload, or click here to select images.


Turning the Page: A New Chapter for H&H Classics
Goon, Goon, Gone: Unique Peter Sellers 1960 Bentley heads to auction
Eclectic 150-plus classic car auction helps round out H&H’s milestone 30th year celebrations
One of the UK’s best driving Aston Martin DB5s heads to auction
Mid-century sports car icons race to Buxton auction
Former front cover ‘star’ heads to auction
Classic British motorcycles shine as 230 lots head to the National Motorcycle Museum auction
Racing legend Patsy Burt's Jaguar XK120 speeds to Buxton auction
22-strong single owner classic motorcycle collection heads to auction
Norton's racing heritage set to ignite the auction stage
Rare Frazer-Nash BMW with rich racing history to be auctioned
“The Rolls-Royce” of the motorcycle world, heads to      auction
Martini inspired Porsche 911 ‘RSR’ Tribute to head under the hammer
Rare ‘Car on Two Wheels’ heads to auction for the first time in 30 years
More than 100 classics sold in H&H’s 30th anniversary sale
Stunning classics worth more than £9 million offered in 30th anniversary auction
Rare Aston Martin DB1 heads to anniversary auction from long-term ownership
Rare Bentleys to star in 30th celebration auction
H&H Classics 30th Anniversary Auction
H&H unveils details of its 30th anniversary celebrations
Classic car owners handed ULEZ lifeline
H&H Classics auction Hurricane X-75 Prototype to National Motorcycle Museum
Vintage and modern classics lead the way at latest H&H sale
H&H offers exceptional range of vehicles spanning 11 individual decades
Pavilion Gardens. Wednesday 26th July 2023
A whimsical blast from the past: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang recreation heads to auction
From Italy with love: auction showcasing the essence of Italian design and sprezzatura
250 Motorcycles & Vintage Scooters Set To Go Under The Hammer!
March of the Mods: Lambretta owned by Paul Weller heads to auction
Lawbreakers to law enforcers: historic scooters with infamous connections up for sale
Jaguar SS100 among £2¼  million worth of classics sold at the Imperial War Museum
British classics to shine at H&H Classics’ sale
Historic Guinness Collection heads to auction
Browse The Catalogue Now! 135 Classic & Performance Cars To Go Under The Hammer.
Robbie Savage’s Ferrari F430 to be sold at H&H Classics
RAC Rally winning ‘Jaguar’ to be sold at auction
Former MP’s Bentley and Facel Vega ‘garage find’ among £1.3m worth of classics hammered away by H&H
Pavilion Gardens, Buxton Auction Preview Video
Genuine ‘matching numbers’ 1967 Shelby GT500 Fastback among 89 strong classic car auction
Rare Facel Vega ‘garage find’ heads to auction
Indian 4 and Lambretta DL200
Golden opportunity to acquire famous limited edition Italjet scooter
H&H Classics commences landmark year with sale of 121 cars
‘Brand new’ Porsche 911 heading to auction after 21 years
Brooklands race winning Bentley to go under the hammer
Actor, Sir Michael Caine’s first car, heads to auction. £100,000 - £150,000
A Very Rare Survivor. A 1936 Indian Four. £50,000 - £60,000
A Car that will Unite Romantics and Cynics Alike. A 1937 Rolls-Royce 25/30 Limousine