• This is a rarity indeed
• Purported to be one of only two Beauford limited edition limousines ever made, so the vendor informs us
• Built in 2015
• Inexpensive alternative to Thirties classic
• 7 seater vehicle including driver

• Simple Ford mechanicals

Beauford has been producing its own brand of nostalgia since the mid-Eighties. 

Most often supplied in kit form, they used glassfibre 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 is one of Beauford’s longer models, which will easily seat four rear passengers in comfort. It has been in event and wedding hire for all of its life, at present being in the ownership of a well-established West Yorkshire firm. It has been well maintained and garaged.

The Beauford comes with valid V5 document, various MOT pass certificates and a range of invoices for previous work and servicing carried out.

Finished in Old English White with black back side panels and a black vinyl landaulet-esque roof, this Beauford makes quite a good go at evoking Thirties flair. It will certainly stand out from the modern Jaguar and Mercedes saloons at any event.

The mainly fiberglass bodywork maintains good lines across its considerable length. Shut lines are good (okay; the driver’s door sits a little proud at the bottom), and mudguards and running boards fit close and firm against the central tub. The fabric roof too sits snugly in place, with no untidy edges where it joins the body. It retains all of its original colour, without any signs of fade and no rips or tears.

The paintwork is in generally very good condition and possesses a good gloss. Its finish is consistent across all materials – the engine covers are alloy. Unsurprisingly, considering it’s a working vehicle, the car shows a few small scuffs, but nothing that in any way detracts from the overall impression.

In keeping with the Beauford’s character, there is a fair amount of chrome on the car, most of which is in excellent condition. The wire wheels, spares included, all have straight spokes and are pretty clean. 

The steel bands covering the spares are bright with good fastenings. One or two of the smallest items show a little pitting, but the bonnet mascot and the headlight surrounds will both present as clean attractive features when the car pulls up in front of the red carpet.

Being the longer wheelbase model, this Beauford can seat four to six in comfort in the rear, as well as the usual two (including the driver) up front. The cream leather seats are in very good condition all round, showing only the gentlest patina, with the hides retaining all of their colour and suppleness. The dark blue piping makes for a nice contrast and is intact throughout the cabin.

The leather roll top, dashboard surround and pillar coverings are in a similarly excellent condition, as are the door cards which boast a neatly executed Art deco fan pattern and chromed door furniture in a suitably period style.

The interior chrome is in very good condition, as is the wood rimmed steering wheel. The nicely-figured glossily lacquered finish of the latter is continued in the burr walnut door caps and dashboard, which lend the interior an old-school quality feel. There are no significant scratches to these a panels, nor cracks or fading. 

Looking around the door seals too, these are supple and of a smooth finish. There are a couple of small nicks on one side, but again, nothing that will spoil the ambience of the cabin or the overall impression of the car. Carpets and headlining are clean, and the latter does not sag. Altogether, a pleasing space.

The limousine runs on relatively simple Ford (four-cylinder) mechanicals, with an engine bay that is easy to access when the folding side panels are raised. From here you can see that everything appears okay; not exactly pretty, but certainly functional. 

There is surface rust here and there – on the master brake cylinder and elsewhere, but nothing that will have any effect on the function of the parts. The edges of the rocker covers look a bit oily, but otherwise the motor itself looks fine. Leads and hoses appear healthy and sit where they should be – or at least where Beauford intended them to go. Ancillaries show a little oxidation in places but appear quite robust.

Looking down into the chassis and along the underside of the car, you will see more light surface corrosion, but again, all structures and components look to be sound and solid and all suspension and brake components fully functioning. Springs and wishbones look good and gaiters covering CV joints and the like appear supple and of a good colour. The long rear floor section looks solid and the equally long exhaust sound and well mounted.

As already mentioned, this old timer-styled limo provides a very different and probably more light-hearted ambience than many of its more ‘modern’ counterparts. 

It will also cost a hire company considerably less to maintain and run than the ‘real thing’ – as well as almost certainly starting first time every time. The versatility of seating four to six is very welcome, though there is a shorter version for sale from the same seller, should you think that more useful. Or; might the pair be the gateway to a new venture?