Classic car shown on popular 1980s antique show set to go under the hammer at Stourbridge auction house

Fans of a classic 1980s TV show featuring the murky world of antique dealing are being invited to put in bids to give a classic car from the series a new home.

Fieldings Auctioneers in Stourbridge will be putting a 1971 Bentley T1 saloon motor vehicle used on the set of series one of the BBC TV Series Lovejoy up for auction on Thursday, April 16.

The car was driven by the show’s chief antagonist Charlier Gimbert across the first series about the eponymous antiques dealer, played by Ian McShane and also starring Chris Jury, Phyllis Logan and Dudley Sutton and running from 1986 to 1994.

Fieldings Auctioneers senior valuer and auctioneer Mark Hannam said the car had been found in long term storage in a barn in Rutland and spoke about how it harked back to a different time.

He said: “The show is a great portrayal of a golden age of auctioneering and antique dealing going back to the 1980s and all the way through the noughties when auction halls were packed.

“These days, there’s very few people in the call room as it’s all done online and it’s funny to see how our business has changed as I wouldn’t have seen it like that because auctions were public events and people came to do dealings with everyone.

“If you watched the show, you’d see how there were all the local rings, which have been broken by the Asian markets now, and how there are now 700 people with eyes online at auctions, compared to 100 people in the room.”

The car is one of a number of lots in the Collectors Auction on Thursday, which starts at 9.30am, and Fieldings advised that the car was listed with an estimate of around £10,000 to £15,000, but with extra costs being needed.

A message on the listing said: “The car is in need of a full mechanical recommission to complement its sound cosmetic condition with largely original paint and coachlines.

“Woodwork is superb and the leather sound if Connollised (but not sealed) so the original sheen can be recovered with some attention.”

Mr Hannam said that anyone who loved the show or wanted to enjoy some nostalgia should look at putting a bid in.

He said: “It’s certainly something which will create great nostalgia and good talking point in the family, so if you’ve got that sort of capital to spend on classic car, then this is worth going for.

“It has the TV connection and while it will need some work and, like most old vehicles, a bit of TLC, it’s still a beautiful car and once it’s up and running, it’ll be a great purchase.”