THE 2022 BEAULIEU AUTOJUMBLE
28 October 2022
2022 marks possibly my 20th Beaulieu Autojumble, an event that always manages to surpass itself. There was the chance to marvel at a Fiat Dino Coupe, one of the most elegant cars of its generation and, in the 1950s display, a bright red late-model E-Series Velox. Such a handsome Vauxhall tempted me with its scaled-down 1949 Chevrolet lines, as did the Austin FX3 taxi that looked as though Sidney James piloted it. If that were not enough, such luminaries as James Walshe of Practical Classics, Gary Axon of Goodwood and our very own Stephanie Hoy were in attendance.
Plus, there were the book stalls and in one of the white tents a very kind gentlemen sold me six automotive magazines for a mere £5. First, there was Car of October 1972, the last edition before their major format change but with words of wisdom from the great L.J.K. Setright. One of the star attractions was the Monica, the Chrysler V8 powered French sports saloon that was the belated heir to the Facel Vega Excellence. The back cover proved even more nostalgic as it promoted ‘Aqua Munda’ toiletries - which were apparently “now for men”.
Four of the other titles were Autocars of the early to mid-1960s, when advertisements featured on the front cover. The star car of the 18th January 1963 issue was a Morris Oxford Series VI that apparently “has everything”. If you were a Graham Hill lookalike whose hobbies included pipe-smoking and parking beneath a motorway bridge, this was a pretty fair claim. Two years later, Ford promoted their new ‘Executive Zodiac’ Mk. III – the ideal car for anyone with Jaguar Mk. X tastes but a budget limit of £1,400 for company director transport.
And, of course, one of the other fascinations was the ‘small ads’, each a story in its own right. Did anyone call RENown 6174 to test-drive that six-year-old Jaguar Mk. IX Automatic, which was surely a bargain at just £395? A 1958 Riley Two Point Six could be yours for a mere £160, so dial BAYswater 9551 immediately. Plus, in the ‘Situations Vacant’, if you were aged “about 25” and of “smart appearance”, a new position of a car salesman in Putney could be yours.
The final title was perhaps my favourite as I remember seeing the 17th July 1976 Motor and the impact of the cover star on my six-year-old self. From a distance of over 45 years, it is almost impossible to describe the impact of a gold Fiesta Ghia as it represented a such a radical departure from all previous Fords. Inside, the road test section was devoted to the Lada 1500, which represented a genuine bargain at £1,798, although the writer seemed to regard the Polski-Fiat 125P as better value for £1,449.
All too soon, it was time to leave, not least because I was on the verge of purchasing approximately 30 more magazines. Still, there is always next year’s Autojumble, and until 2023 my challenge is finding a ‘Tel-U-log’ mileage recorder. After all, my Wolseley’s dashboard would not be complete without this must-have accessory as promoted in Autocar – a bargain for five shillings.
With Thanks To: Jon Murden, Jane Riddiford, Ben Coleman and everyone at The National Motor Museum