Managing Director – Bridge Classic Cars
Two cars made famous by the television series Minder are to go to auction next month and both look set to become ‘nice little earners’.
A 1981 Daimler Sovereign, driven by the most famous second-hand car dealer on TV, Arthur Daley, and a 1977 Ford Capri driven by his sidekick Terry McCann, have been listed by auction site H&H Classics to go to sale at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, on April 20.
The Daimler, which recently underwent a bodywork restoration and £5,000 of mechanical fettling, has covered just 43,990 miles since new, and is expected to sell for £35,000 – £45,000.
The actor who played Daley, George Cole, reportedly wanted to buy the vehicle himself, however it was given away in a TV Times competition.
The Mk2 2.0-litre Ford Capri, driven by Dennis Waterman’s character in the comedy drama, is also believed to have undergone a restoration, and despite showing 88,700 miles on the odometer, is expected to sell for between £65,000 and £85,000.
If it does reach its target, it could potentially set a new record price for a 2.0-litre Capri, which is a testament to both the car’s popularity, and the power of celebrity provenance.
H&H Motorcar Specialist, James McWilliam, who consigned the pair, commented: “Both cars have been sympathetically restored and estimated to make allowance for their small screen history. We know from past experience that playing a major role in a TV series can have a big impact on value, as witnessed by the 1976 Jaguar XJ12C that we sold last October which made a record breaking £69,440 despite needing total restoration, due to its New Avengers TV provenance. These cars are celebrities in their own right.”
