• Inexpensive alternative to Thirties classic
• Not as pretentious as many of the bigger limos.

• Simple Ford mechanicals

Beauford has been producing kit cars since the mid-Eighties. Most often supplied in kit form, they used glassfibire bodies built onto on fairly standard mechanicals - Ford, Austin Mini etc., and usually resemble classic and Vintage models from the Twenties and Thirties. Many find their way into the wedding car hire business.

This particular Beauford carries their four-door body built over Ford Granada mechanicals. It comes from a well-known and experienced limousine and wedding car hire company and has been in storage for some time.

The Beauford comes with a V5, a couple of invoices of the work carried out on the vehicle and previous MOT checks. The last MOT expired in December of last year.

Finished in Olde English White, the big tourer can still make quite an impression. Panel fit is generally good and all doors and lids open and close as they should. 

The car needs a good clean, but the paintwork is generally good, with the odd scuff here and there. The exception to this is, of course, the damage to the near-side mudguard where the glassfibre is cracked and splintered. 

The Beauford is actually a Category-N write-off, which means there was no structural damage sustained, but the insurance company found it ‘uneconomical’ to repair. (You may wish to make your own judgements about the subtle differences between uneconomical and ‘too much trouble’, but the damage doesn’t go beyond what can be seen).

The chrome all around the car - of course a lot newer than the Thirties ‘look’ - is generally very good, though the door hinges and the front driving lamps both show pitting and some corrosion. Rubber seals around the car; doors, windows and the beading between the panels look pretty healthy.

Another item that will definitely need replacing is the canvas top. This is very faded and has a couple of  large tears around one of the hoops. A replacement could probably be obtained from Beauford.

The limo’s interior is basically sound, but needs a bit of tlc - including a good valeting. The seat vinyl/leather is intact and sound - the driver’s is more dirty than worn, and the carpets, at least in the back, should be fine. The door cards are acceptable and the wood around the car generally fine, with the odd chip.

What looks like chequer plate around the gear selector is actually thick but flexible plastic. (A standard Ford Granada auto selector hides beneath). The frame holding up the roof shows some surface rust, but after rubbing down and repainting will most likely be totally acceptable. As already said, the canvas itself needs replacing.

Everything under those side-opening engine covers looks basically sound, if a little unloved. It’s a Ford V6 in there. There is some surface corrosion here and there, and joins in the plumbing show oxidation, but everything looks basically servicable. 

The engine starts and drives readily enough and the auto transmission slots easily into gear and drives.The underside of the car looks to be solid. Again there is surface rust on suspension and steering components, but structures look basically strong and sound. 

Everything is very accessible and - remember - it runs on Ford mechanicals - nothing exotic.

If you want olde school charm in the wedding car business without the Vintage servicing headaches, a Beauford is one way to go. 

If shampoo and elbow grease is more readily available than cash right now (and you know someone who is handy with glass fibre), this cabriolet might be the starting point for a new venture.