Car enthusiasts’ dream find

Press, 14 November 1984, Page 18

Car enthusiasts’ dream find

NZPA-AAP London It was the kind of discovery car enthusiasts dream about — an immaculate, gleaming grey 1936 model Standard Flying 12 found in a garage after sitting untouched for more than 30 years. The car was used once a week for Sunday outings by. the Arnold family of Bournemouth until its owner, Bill Arnold, died in 1952. No-one else in the family could drive, so the car stayed in the garage, jacked up, and covered in old rugs. Mr Arnold’s sister, Florence, died recently and the car was discovered when the contents of the property were being valued, the “Daily Mail” reported.

"I looked in and there it was," said the auctioneer, Phil Bennett The car is in superb condition, with only 35,000 km on the clock. Its engine is in perfect working order and it even had a full tank of petrol which would have taken Bill, Florence, and nephew, John, on yet another outing had Bill not become ill. John Arnold, now middleaged, has never forgotten those weekly drives. “When we got back we always cleaned the car with a chamois leather and put it under a dust sheet" he said. The car will be auctioned and is expected to fetch thousands of pounds and to attract collectors from all over Britain.