Over 550 collectable automobilia items went under the hammer at the Cheffins Machinery sale ground at Sutton, near Ely, on Saturday 14th June.
Forming one of the largest and most comprehensive standalone automobilia auctions of the year, this was Cheffins’ second dedicated sale for this popular collecting class, following a successful inaugural auction in November 2024. The sale saw a total of over 250 buyers take part, with people bidding from worldwide, including from New Zealand, the USA, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.
Cheffins automobilia and early advertising sales offer a wide range of items relating to motoring, motoring history and motorsports; including mascots, illuminated signs, petrol globes, petrol cans, enamel signs, models, accessories,
The sale grossed a total of over £100,000, with highlights including a National Benzole Refuel Service original hanging light box which achieved £9,204, Wood-Milne Steel Rubber Motor Tyres enamel sign fetching £2,832 and a beautiful Clarke’s Melox enamel sign achieved £4,720.
Tom Godsmark, Director, Cheffins Machinery Sales comments:
“The market for automobilia is red hot right now. Following the success of primetime TV shows such as Salvage Hunters, Shed & Buried and the like, these pieces of motoring history are now forming one of the fastest appreciating collecting classes out there. In the past five years, values for enamel signs, illuminated forecourt signs, oil and petrol cans, tinplate advertisements and so on have almost doubled in value, as people really seek out those prime pieces for their collections.”
Tom Godsmark continues:
“The real appeal here lies in nostalgia. While some collectors focus on items related to a specific car make or model, others are drawn to pieces that evoke memories of their childhood. There’s also an entirely different group of collectors who are attracted to automobilia purely for its visual charm. These individuals aren’t necessarily car enthusiasts—they might be into interior design or simply want something colourful and vintage to brighten up their walls. That’s part of what makes collecting automobilia so enjoyable: it doesn’t require a lot of space. It can easily be displayed in a shed, a man cave, or even around the house. In many ways, it’s a form of art.”
The next Cheffins automobilia sale will take place on Saturday 22nd November 2025 and looks set to include a host of enamel signs, fuel cans, and early advertising.
For more information, please visit www.cheffins.co.uk, or call Cheffins auctioneers on 01353 777767.