Beaulieu is just 30 minutes drive from Southampton, located in the New Forest.
Apart from some stunning scenario the estate is most famous for it’s car museum and the various events it hold through the year.
The museum was visited by another TeamBHP member earlier:
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/beyond...museum-uk.html
It’s definitely worth a visit, quite an interesting collection and these days they also have the various TopGear cars on display (e.g. the amphibious boats, the combine harvester, etc)
By far the most famous event every year is the so called International Autojumble. More than 2000 market stalls with car parts, old, new, some incredibly old, all sorts of automobile and a whole lot more. I visited some 10-12 years ago. As it so happens I had to be in London on business on the Friday. So I took the night ferry Hook of Holland to Harwich, drove to our London office and spend the day there. In the evening I drove on towards Southampton. I had reserved a small B&B in the centre of the town. You best make reservations as this event draws a huge crowd. In the morning during breakfast every single guest was on their way to the Autojumble. Seven different nationalities!
I like Southampton, as I like all coastal towns. I walked down to the harbour, took a ferry to the Isle of Wight, walked around a bit, had a very nice Indian dinner, took the ferry back again and went to sleep.
There was a sailing regatta taking place as we approached East Cowes:
The next morning after a hearty full English breakfast that set me up for the day I left for the short drive to Beaulieu. It’s only 30 minutes, but it can get very congested. I left by about 08.30 and got there at around 09.00. No problem. The event doesn’t open till 10.00 but I would rather wait at the estate then sit in an endless que waiting to get into the parking. At the estate the restaurant and the museum are open from early on so you can get a cup of coffee and wonder around.
The logistics, route signage, parking etc are all extremely well organised. They have been doing this for several decades and it gets bigger every year.
At 10.00 they let us in. These market stalls are set up on the grounds of the estate, so all on grass land. If it’s rainy and or wet, it all turns into mud very quickly. Luckily it was a gorgeous day, the sun was out, pleasant temperature of around 22oC. It can’t get any better than that.
Now this place comprise of some 2000 market stalls. Some are professional companies, some are clubs, a lot are just amateurs. On Sunday there is also an additional terrain for a car boot sale. Most of the stuff on sale is second hand
There is a saying amongst classic cars enthousiast, if you can’t find it at Beaulieu, it doesn’t exist. It’s probably true, and many people come here specifically to look for hard to get parts.
Feel free to roam, open each box, look, discuss, haggle and enjoy
And you can find just about anything, in just about any state of repair or disrepair if you like. Here’s a little engine from an Austin Riley I believe. Needs a bit of TLC, but somebody bought it. I walked past this stall in the morning when it was there, around noon I came across it again and it was gone!
Next to part there is a sheer endless amount of automobile on sale and display. Look at this, every single item is for sale, from the cupboard to each oil can.
Later this year we will move home and I’m finally getting a big garage. So I’m on the lookout for some of this stuff.
More parts and all sorts of stuff:
This guy is selling brand new leather interiors for various MGs. They are pretty good and easy to install yourself. A friend of mine, bought something similar several years ago. These leathers just fit over the existing vinyl seats. Just like putting on gloves. Works a treat! Having nice leather seats makes a world of difference, I think, on the visuals of the car.
Although it’s an Autojumble you will find all sorts of other stuff as well. Here for instance is a complete steam boiler!
And of course, tools. You will find a huge collection of rusty old tools at just about any market stall you care to look. But there are also a fair number of traders that sell brand new tools. For me it’s like being in heaven!
How about this as a nice paper weight on your desk? The guy had at least four of them lying around.
On these sort of events you will always run across one of these stands. A guy selling “Super Glue”. I find it fascinating to watch and hear him promote his glue. The English are very good at this sort of thing, very funny too.
You are looking for a second hand tractor or maybe a Lister engine? Look no further, this guy will sort you out.
I’m still looking for an original oil pressure meter for the Alfa Spider of a friend. I’ve looked at hundreds last week, but I must have missed it, because I’m sure there is one in here!
Believe it or not, but these kiddy push carts are hugely popular and go for a small fortune. Interesting combination to be selling these push carts in combination with the wing of a Jaguar (Or MG, not sure)
Not sure what it has to do with cars, but there you are. It still makes for an interesting, if not unusual stall to look at:
Again, not so sure what this is, but it would make somebody a nice project for the next ten years or so.
Of course, if you own a Classic RollsRoyce you want to make sure you have the correct set of tools with it. For many classic car owners, getting hold of an original tool set to go with your classic car is like the proverbial holly grail. I have one for my Mercedes, but not for my Alfa Romeo. Still looking
I have no idea what this is, other than a bike of course. Looks like somebody knocked himself out tarting it up and making it a lot more complex looking than it was.
Another piece of machinery I could not figure out:
Here is one of the very first mopeds. Essentially a bicycle with a little engine strapped to it.
Strolling around the estate makes you hungry and tired
This must be somebodies project. Some dad decided his kid needed an E-type. going cheap! (compared to the real deal that is)
This guy like so many of us, is pondering about all these parts. Is this the part I’m looking for, how much would he be asking for it. It’s a bit rusty, I can probably clean that off, etc. etc.
An English lady working an English wheel, Most would put on overalls and gloves, but this lady had a go at it just like this! The bit that’s for sale is the English wheel.
One of the last stalls I visited. I mean you clean up your garage. You find an old radiator and a pair of boots. See if you can flock them at Beaulieu’s
Catering is very English and very good. The weather helped too of course.
Here are my goodies. In the end I only bought some tools. Got myself a set of torque sockets, a compression meter, brake fluid tester, oil can and a nifty little canister with a little spout to spray for instance soapy water into hard to reach places.
This event also has several hundred of classic cars for sale and an auction, but I just walked past them. I had been there from 0900 till about 16.30 and I needed to head back out to Harwich to catch my ferry.
Jeroen