Beaulieu Autojumble - thought?
Discussion
I went to the auto jumble today.
Usually one of the highlights of my year - a gratuitous indulgence of my weird fetishism for the bottom end of the classic car world.
Maybe it was because it was the Sunday, maybe because its earlier than normal this year, maybe it was because the weather was so great that people stayed away but it really did feel like it was dying on its arse.
Many fewer cars than normal for sale in the automart, massively fewer stands in the main field and the place felt about half full.
Lady running one if the F&B stalls where I bought a bottle of water said that today had been "dreadful" but yesterday was a bit better.
What did other attendees think?
Usually one of the highlights of my year - a gratuitous indulgence of my weird fetishism for the bottom end of the classic car world.
Maybe it was because it was the Sunday, maybe because its earlier than normal this year, maybe it was because the weather was so great that people stayed away but it really did feel like it was dying on its arse.
Many fewer cars than normal for sale in the automart, massively fewer stands in the main field and the place felt about half full.
Lady running one if the F&B stalls where I bought a bottle of water said that today had been "dreadful" but yesterday was a bit better.
What did other attendees think?
Last year, I went to the Beaulieu Spring Autojumble. TBH it was a shadow of previous years - lots of long time stallholders were absent. And there was a general air of gloom and doom. I think the age of the autojumble may be over.
So many autojumbles seem to have stopped after Covid, for example autojumbles (and car shows), held at Shepton Mallet for so many years, have seemingly fallen off the calendar. It's a pity because autojumbles are/were such an important part of our hobby.
But, traders (have told me) that attending an autojumble costs big money - over and above hefty fees there are other costs: stands/weekend staff wages/accommodation/food etc etc.
With the internet traders can just conduct their business, sitting around their breakfast table (in their underpants!)
So many autojumbles seem to have stopped after Covid, for example autojumbles (and car shows), held at Shepton Mallet for so many years, have seemingly fallen off the calendar. It's a pity because autojumbles are/were such an important part of our hobby.
But, traders (have told me) that attending an autojumble costs big money - over and above hefty fees there are other costs: stands/weekend staff wages/accommodation/food etc etc.
With the internet traders can just conduct their business, sitting around their breakfast table (in their underpants!)
ClaphamGT3 said:
What did other attendees think?
I went on the Saturday and had a great day out.Bonhams took over the car park that was usually reserved for normal folk selling their P&Js but other than that not a lot had changed. To be fair there were less stalls overall than previous years, but there was still plenty to rumage around if you wanted to look at everything on offer in one day. The car park was pretty much as before with plenty of foreign plates on cars.
That said, sadly I suspect the whole classic car thing will struggle in the future, it is no longer a cheap hobby and as the people most interested in it get older (as we have) and give up with tinkering with their cars it will come to an end. There will always be investment cars, many of which are owned by people who are more interested in their worth than if they are driven but the cheaper end will struggle. The cost of a restoration for most can only be justified if the vlaue of the car increases and it really doesn't work like that, not every car is a Cosworth Sierra.
The only blip on the graph is that there is a little more interest in classics 40+ years old due to the actions of the moron Khan, but I doubt that will save the day.
alfaspecial said:
Last year, I went to the Beaulieu Spring Autojumble. TBH it was a shadow of previous years - lots of long time stallholders were absent. And there was a general air of gloom and doom. I think the age of the autojumble may be over.
So many autojumbles seem to have stopped after Covid, for example autojumbles (and car shows), held at Shepton Mallet for so many years, have seemingly fallen off the calendar. It's a pity because autojumbles are/were such an important part of our hobby.
But, traders (have told me) that attending an autojumble costs big money - over and above hefty fees there are other costs: stands/weekend staff wages/accommodation/food etc etc.
With the internet traders can just conduct their business, sitting around their breakfast table (in their underpants!)
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head re: the reason for the decline. I’ve been going to classic shows for years, and the number of traders has diminished markedly year on year. It’s a shame, as rooting around the stalls was one of the pleasures of a good show for me. For those traders that continue, prices seem high for even hitherto cheap stuff like old tools and consumables. Auto memorabilia has similarly shot up. At a recent show, a fairly tatty 5’ x 3’ enamelled BP Motor Spirit sign (with the Union Jack/union flag) was £450 So many autojumbles seem to have stopped after Covid, for example autojumbles (and car shows), held at Shepton Mallet for so many years, have seemingly fallen off the calendar. It's a pity because autojumbles are/were such an important part of our hobby.
But, traders (have told me) that attending an autojumble costs big money - over and above hefty fees there are other costs: stands/weekend staff wages/accommodation/food etc etc.
With the internet traders can just conduct their business, sitting around their breakfast table (in their underpants!)
, and his other stuff was equally pricey. Maybe it’s the ‘Bangers & Cash’ effect?Several factors, probably.
Unfortunantly ours is no longer a cheap hobby.
It is very popular, and not just with enthusiasts. Some events have created their own "scene", where some want to attend for being there.
Those who have the cash, have "carefully curated collections" of cars, working with an auction house of course, whose value isnt in the second hand parts
The demand for classics is now post 1970, not pre-war. And the newer the classic, the greater demand will be for electrical and trim rather than boduywork or engins- what you used to see most of at autojumbles.
...and why cart big, heavy trim or delecate electricals down, when I can order online, have them securely delivered next day, with a 30 day guarantee.
Unfortunantly ours is no longer a cheap hobby.
It is very popular, and not just with enthusiasts. Some events have created their own "scene", where some want to attend for being there.
Those who have the cash, have "carefully curated collections" of cars, working with an auction house of course, whose value isnt in the second hand parts
The demand for classics is now post 1970, not pre-war. And the newer the classic, the greater demand will be for electrical and trim rather than boduywork or engins- what you used to see most of at autojumbles.
...and why cart big, heavy trim or delecate electricals down, when I can order online, have them securely delivered next day, with a 30 day guarantee.
I went a year ago, the first time for 20 years.
It was crap. 8000 Haynes manuals and overpriced junk. What wasn't junk was silly money unless you really must pay £250 for a Hillman Hunter front wing. The day to go is the Sunday(?) for the car boot sale type bods selling stuff cheap before it goes to the tip.
The difference is......the regulars know what everything is and what it's worth, the car booters often don't. Last year I scored a 1275 S block for £125. He wanted £150 but I haggled.
The profit upon resale paid for the entire weekend including a massive piss up in Southampton.
It was crap. 8000 Haynes manuals and overpriced junk. What wasn't junk was silly money unless you really must pay £250 for a Hillman Hunter front wing. The day to go is the Sunday(?) for the car boot sale type bods selling stuff cheap before it goes to the tip.
The difference is......the regulars know what everything is and what it's worth, the car booters often don't. Last year I scored a 1275 S block for £125. He wanted £150 but I haggled.
The profit upon resale paid for the entire weekend including a massive piss up in Southampton. I've been many times (as a stall holder) over the last 45 years, there's always been good years and bad years. Beaulieu has never been a cheap autojumble but it more than made up for this by being the biggest and best.
I've not been regularly for a few years now, with the main reason being price for a stall. According to another regular who doesn't go any more, it's now £150 for a stall. That's just too much.
For many regulars the rot started when they started selling Friday tickets to the public, before this it was stall holders only. Also the increasingly lax rules about what you sell on your stall. They used to be quite strict saying it had to be car parts or automobilia. The last few times I've been there been quite a few stalls selling all sorts of crap.
I would disagree when people say autojumbles are on the decline,in this part of the world (East Anglia) we've had an increase in regular autojumbles and they are not expensive. One regular one is free (or a donation in the pot for the village hall), and the others, one of which is very large, are just £10 for a large pitch.
I've not been regularly for a few years now, with the main reason being price for a stall. According to another regular who doesn't go any more, it's now £150 for a stall. That's just too much.
For many regulars the rot started when they started selling Friday tickets to the public, before this it was stall holders only. Also the increasingly lax rules about what you sell on your stall. They used to be quite strict saying it had to be car parts or automobilia. The last few times I've been there been quite a few stalls selling all sorts of crap.
I would disagree when people say autojumbles are on the decline,in this part of the world (East Anglia) we've had an increase in regular autojumbles and they are not expensive. One regular one is free (or a donation in the pot for the village hall), and the others, one of which is very large, are just £10 for a large pitch.
Damned if I can find the photo at the moment, but one stall some years back had a load of chrome bumpers wrapped in the usual brown tape and marked "MK3". I had to take a good look to realise that this must have been Jaguar's code for the S-type. As regards jumbles, the E-type register had one for years at Farnham, but bit by bit it had less and less stalls and in the end, around the beginning of the century it came to a grinding halt. Same thing with the Prescott hill climb and the Goodwood track day. Incidentally, I heard a rumour that Prescott is now finished, which would be a great shame for the VSCC. Can anyone confirm this?
lowdrag said:
Incidentally, I heard a rumour that Prescott is now finished, which would be a great shame for the VSCC. Can anyone confirm this?
The VHRA (Vintage Hot Rod Association) had their annual hillclimb meeting there over Aug bank holiday, so just 2 weeks ago, and as far as I'm aware they are now planning next years one?lowdrag said:
Incidentally, I heard a rumour that Prescott is now finished, which would be a great shame for the VSCC. Can anyone confirm this?
I'm not a member of the MAC anymore but not heard anything along these lines for people I know competing in the British Hillclimb Championship, as you say it would be a shame if it's the case - not my favourite venue but a nice day out regardless.
t. Peter3442 said:
I've not been able to get to Beaulieu for years, but used to regularly attend the Jaguar Spares Day at Stoneleigh. I always enjoyed it, bought loads of stuff, and had pleasant chats. The last ones, post Covid, were definitely on a downturn. I think the biggest factor is ebay.
Not so sure its ebay, as several traders I know have now stopped using it because of the massive cost increases of ebay and other factors around using it.aeropilot said:
Peter3442 said:
I've not been able to get to Beaulieu for years, but used to regularly attend the Jaguar Spares Day at Stoneleigh. I always enjoyed it, bought loads of stuff, and had pleasant chats. The last ones, post Covid, were definitely on a downturn. I think the biggest factor is ebay.
Not so sure its ebay, as several traders I know have now stopped using it because of the massive cost increases of ebay and other factors around using it.CKY said:
lowdrag said:
Incidentally, I heard a rumour that Prescott is now finished, which would be a great shame for the VSCC. Can anyone confirm this?
I'm not a member of the MAC anymore but not heard anything along these lines for people I know competing in the British Hillclimb Championship, as you say it would be a shame if it's the case - not my favourite venue but a nice day out regardless.Riley Blue said:
aeropilot said:
Peter3442 said:
I've not been able to get to Beaulieu for years, but used to regularly attend the Jaguar Spares Day at Stoneleigh. I always enjoyed it, bought loads of stuff, and had pleasant chats. The last ones, post Covid, were definitely on a downturn. I think the biggest factor is ebay.
Not so sure its ebay, as several traders I know have now stopped using it because of the massive cost increases of ebay and other factors around using it.
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