We love our classic cars and motoring memorabilia here at Hungerford Arcade. Here is a short article from our contributor Stuart Miller-Osborne.
“Sir
Through the pages of your excellent magazine I wonder if I could trace the whereabouts of two cars that belonged to my father in years gone by. The first was a 1934 Lagonda Reg.No AXB 104 and the other was a 1932 Rolls Royce 20/25 .Reg. No. XJ 3029. I should be very interested to hear from the present owners.
May I take the opportunity of thanking you for many hours of very enjoyable reading.”
This letter was written by a chap named John Eastwood who lived in Sutton Coldfield over sixty years ago and was printed in the November 1959 edition of the popular motor racing magazine Motor Sport. This magazine which still is very much alive began life as the Brooklands Gazette in 1924. It changed its name to the present one in August 1925.
I wonder if Mr Eastwood was ever contacted by the then owners of his father’s cars and if these beautiful cars are still in existence today. If so they would be worth a fortune given the prices that classic cars fetch these days.
Who knows you might see one of them at a classic car event which are frequently held in Hungerford near the Arcade.
Just some of our wonderful friends from the West Berkshire Classic Vehicle Club at our May 2025 Classic Car Show
Apart from the great articles and photographs the magazine has some advertisements which almost bring a tear to one’s eye.
The prices quoted would not buy you one of the more upmarket season tickets at a Premiership football club these days!
The small ads are a treasure trove of social history with second hand cars and vans going for between £30 and £100.
Valspar car Lacquer is still available today.
I cannot say that I have seen any but I can assure you that may find vintage copies of Motor Sport and other motoring magazines if you look around the units.
Petrol Head memorabilia is also for sale in the Arcade including oil cans and signage as well as lots of ephemera.
Like everything it depends on how seriously you take your hobby. I paid 25p each for the four 1959 Motor Sport magazines and they have been an enjoyable read ever since.
Happy Hunting
Stuart
