Dibnah’s engine doubles estimate

The late Fred Dibnah’s 1912 Aveling & Porter Ltd steam tractor fetched £240,000 at Cheffins Vintage Auction Sale on Saturday 24th July 2010, twice its pre-sale estimate.

It was purchased by Michael Oliver, Chairman of Knutsford based manufacturer Oliver Valves and has assured that Fred’s beloved engine remains in the north-west.

The engine, which was last used to pull Fred’s coffin at his funeral in 2004, was lovingly restored over 27 years and featured in Fred’s last BBC TV series ‘Made in Britain’.

Bill King of Cheffins said: “Whilst the price achieved for this engine far exceeded our pre- sale expectations, it is testament to Fred and his skill and knowledge of traditional engineering and, of course, his big personality that we received so much interest’.

Michael Oliver has also offered Fred’s son Jack the opportunity to drive the engine and it is intended that the engine appears at Steam Shows across the UK.

For further information about the market in vintage machinery investments please click here (PDF).