‘BPB 357’ is a 1934 Morris Minor two-door, two-seater convertible that benefits from having had a new side-valve engine fitted in 2021 – at a cost of more than £5,000 for the parts alone.

There are plenty of other bills from the same period too, including for a professional respray, all of which suggests an above-average degree of curation.

This becomes less of a surprise when you learn that the previous owner was an RAF electrical engineer and “fastidious fettler!”, words that should bring joy to every prospective bidder’s heart.

Like so many of us, he bought it as a lockdown project and relished the chance to keep himself busy during those uncertain times, so he didn’t rush the job, and took care to savour every step.

Once finished, he decided he’s had so much fun that he was going to restore an MG TC next.

The seller, who’s a friend of his, couldn’t resist buying it in August 2022, largely because he was so impressed with its condition.

He’s used it lightly since, putting perh...