Restored lorry to be auctioned for £15k
A 60-year-old Wolverhampton-built lorry that was restored after it was rescued from a city scrapyard was today set to fetch up to £15,000 at auction.
The so-called Guy Otter Pantechnicon was built by Guy Motors at its Fallings Park factory in 1951 but ended up rusting and decaying in a Wolverhampton scrapyard until it was rescued by Lancashire bed company, Silentnight.
Now it is up for sale and it is expected to sell for between £10,000 and £15,000 when it goes under the hammer today by Bonhams in Harrogate. According to auctioneers Bonhams the lorry was thoroughly restored after Silentnight found it in Wolverhampton.
The company said: "The original body was removed, the cab totally stripped and rebuilt to 'as new' condition and the chassis extended appropriately by Wheelbase Engineering, while Silentnight's in-house workshop carried out the mechanical overhaul and servicing of the engine,gearbox and rear axle. "The vehicle was then driven to Marsden Vanplan's works in Warrington for the body to be constructed."
Since restoration was completed in 1999, the Guy Otter Pantechnicon has won a string of awards.
Bonhams said: "Since completion in 1999, this vehicle has won its class in almost every event entered, including the prestigious Trans-Pennine Rally."
The lorry still retains one of its original features on the front – the famous Guy Motors Red Indian mascot. Wolverhampton-based Guy Motors was founded by Wolverhampton-born Sydney Guy on May 30 1914.
