The Iconic & Classic Sale at The NEC Classic Motor Show 2025

+ buyer’s premium of 12.5% plus VAT (15% incl VAT) 37 The superbly presented Avon Sunbeam Lotus on offer today will be familiar to Bangers and Cash viewers from Series 2 Episode 4, however probably recognisable only by its registration number. Originally registered on 1st March 1983 to a purchaser in East Moseley, XPK 9Y was enjoyed by two further owners before being purchased in 1986 from Wales by the owner prior to our vendor. A farmer in Yorkshire, he used the Avon for a few years covering about 14,000 miles before a fuel pump failure meant that he parked it in a corner of his mother’s farm yard awaiting repair but never drove the car again! However, he did have the foresight to purchase what was likely to have been the only surviving Talbot Sunbeam Lotus bodyshell as part of a job lot in 1989 and that was safely stored in an outhouse where it remained hidden away, protected from the elements, until removed in late 2019 by Dave from Mathewsons along with the, somewhat perforated, XPK 9Y. Shortly after his purchase in 2019, our vendor completely stripped XPK and set aside everything, before what remained of the shell was scrapped. All the items that were removed from the original shell were examined, cleaned, painted, lubricated, refitted, restored or replaced, with a focus on maintaining originality as our vendor’s intention was to replicate the car as it was originally delivered to its first owner as an unmodified standard road car. One of only 56 Avon examples built this is a rare car, however, its rarity was enhanced when it was established that the ‘new’ shell was one of the last few shells delivered to Skip Brown Cars in Cheshire after the factory ran out of 3-door Lotus Sunbeam bodyshells. The parts department delivered a number of standard shells to Skip Brown who carried out c.34 modifications to enable them to be finished as Avon cars. After initial preparation, the shell was finished in Moonstone Blue Metallic and Deep Blue Metallic, a process that was helped by having reference panels originally painted by Avon Coachworks ensuring an accurate colour match. A coating of Waxoyl completed the process, before reassembly. The vinyl roof is as on the original Avon, stitching running parallel with the roof line and material continuing down the ‘A posts’ as a one piece and to further complete originality, a coach painter applied the red coach lines, Avon-allocated build number and ‘Avon’ graphics. The blue velour material used for the interior by Avon Coachworks was of a high quality and, although the backing and foam had disintegrated, the original velour only required careful cleaning to bring it back to how it looked when new. The carpets are original and insulation as used in period has been replicated throughout the interior. The engine is the original matching numbers unit, stripped and reassembled as was the gearbox and all electrics and ancillaries were tested and renewed as required. Brackets, clips, cables, grommets etc. were mainly new but the car’s various identification plates were transferred from the old shell. As can be seen from our images XPK was subject to a clinically detailed, shell-up rebuild to a remarkable standard retaining considerably more of the original car than would seem likely when viewing the televised footage of its collection from the farmyard a few years ago. The current indicated mileage is 40,965 which cannot be verified but seems likely given the last MOT in 1989 shows 38,900 miles and the car’s documented history since. It’s accompanied by an fresh MOT until October 2026 (no advisories) and a detailed history file (see our website for more details). A fully restored Talbot Sunbeam Lotus ‘Avon Limited Edition’ with a rare Skip Brown bodyshell and Bangers and Cash provenance. Offered without reserve. Registration: XPK 9Y Chassis No.: T4DCYBL424994 Estimate: £25,000 - £30,000 Offered Without Reserve Specialist: Richard Greenhalgh Telephone No: 07948 152921 Lot 216 1983 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus ‘Avon Limited Edition’ More Details Lot 216 Bid On Lot 216