AUTOMOBILIA
When selling is a wrench
Often disregarded in workshops, vintage tools can turn out to be treasures which some enthusiasts spend time and money hunting out. Gordon Cruickshank gets oil on his hands
Axaxasx Assortment will offer tools to suit scratchbuilt a veteran car, Nigel sold at Dawes Sotheby’s models, 2017 never Brighton previously Run sale for sold, £375at Goodwood Revival
You’ve bought an old car and inevitably you need tools to keep it going. Maybe it has imperial fittings, so most new equipment available won’t fit and you find yourself at autojumbles looking for old spanners. Or maybe you’re of a historical bent and you think it just feels wrong to use modern tools on an old car, so it would be nice to have a bench full of vintage equipment to match. You’re not alone.
David Dunn started The Vintage Tool Company in 2002, and not only buys and sells these items but has his own collection of interesting automotive ironmongery. You may have seen their stand at various car shows and autojumbles, especially the biggest ones. “Beaulieu is great,” he says. “I get to actually meet customers, and the weekend pays for my holiday!”