Dozens of rare vehicles - including record-breaking Triumph motorbike and rare Mini Cooper - to go under the hammer at Cheffins’ April auction

The 1963 Matbro Mastiff. PHOTO: Cheffins (Image: Archant)

The big Sutton sale on April 22 will see the auctioneer sell off the highest number of vintage vehicles to date – valued at a whopping £150,000.

Lots include a 1951 Triumph 6T Thunderbird Bonneville motorcycle – which holds the national record in the 650 MVG class held at the 2008 International Speed Trials – and a 1927 600cc Scott Super Squirrel, a pre-war water cool twin-engine bike, which is expected to fetch £10,000.

The 1920 Albion Model A16 Charabanc was sold new to the New Zealand Government for the use of the High Commissioner. It has also had a TV career, having starred in the TV series Houdini and Doyle last year. PHOTO: Cheffins (Image: Archant)

The only Albion war lorry in war department colours is also to go under the hammer, as well a 1920 Albion Model A16 Charabanc which was sold off to the New Zealand government for the use of the High Commissioner, valued at around £70,000.

Of the 230 tractors available on the day, the most noteworthy is the 1963 Matbro Mastiff.

The 1916 WD Albion A10 Troop Carrier is the only model in the UK in war department colours and it has been used in a series of films and TV programmes, including Godzilla, Testament of Youth, Peaky Blinders and Harriet’s Army. PHOTO: Cheffins (Image: Archant)

Of only 20 ever built, this particular machine was the very first to be produced and sold. It carries an estimate of £40,000 to £50,000.

Also on offer will be a virtually untouched County 954 Super-Six which was discovered on a county council farm in Hertfordshire.

The County 954 Super-Six, which dates back to the 1960s, will go on sale at Cheffins' April auction.Tthe Super-Six was one of the most powerful tractors on the market at the time and was only in production for two years. PHOTO: Cheffins (Image: Archant)

Dating back to the 1960s, the Super-Six was one of the most powerful tractors on the market at the time and was only in production for two years and this particular machine has an estimate of £12,000 to £15,000.

There is also ten steam engines on offer; one of the most important of these is the iconic 1919 Wallis and Steevens Traction Engine. No. 7683, named ‘Eileen the Erring.’

This famous machine took part in the first traction engine races recorded at Nettlebed, Oxon in 1951. It competed against Arthur Napper, the man responsible for the traction engine rally as we know it today.

Also to be sold will be the remaining items owned by steam enthusiast Colin Knight.

These include three steam engines, the rarest being 90 per cent of the parts of a Fowler Class DNA ‘Hercules’ steam tractor from the 1920s which has an estimate of £30,000 to £35,000 but could be worth £140,000 once fully restored.

There are three living wagons available, including a 1914 Burrell living van which is known to be one of only three in existence and has an estimate of £8,000 - £10,000.

Of the ten classic cars on offer set to generate the most interest is a 1966 Mini Cooper Mk1, which has an estimate of £16,000.

Bill King, chairman of Cheffins expects the auction to be one of the company’s best yet. He said: “This year’s sale is truly exceptional. Never before have we had quite so many noteworthy lots at such high values.

“A number of the items which will be going under the hammer are the rarest examples of their type worldwide and we expect to see hundreds of collectors and enthusiasts on the day.

“Bearing in mind there are only around 3,000 steam engines actually in existence it is amazing to be selling ten on the same day. This really will be a landmark sale for us.”

For more information, visit www.cheffins.co.uk, or call Cheffins auctioneers on 01353 777767.