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

• 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 particular limousine carries Beauford’s shorter four-door body built over Ford mechanicals. It comes from a well-known and experienced limousine and wedding car hire company and has been well maintained and garaged when not in use.

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

Finished in white with black inserts, this is a handsome and distinctive vehicle. The glass fibre body panels maintain a pretty good fit all round. The metal bonnet panels also sit snugly and open and close smoothly. The paintwork is generally very good, with no significant scratching or crazing. There are a few small scuffs to some leading edges. 

The chromework – quite an emphasised feature of the car – is in very good shape. Driving lamps, mirrors and headlight surrounds all retain a good shine, as do the wire wheels, all of which boast clean and straight spokes. This includes the twin spares. There is a very small amount of surface corrosion in some small details, but nothing that has any effect on the overall impression the car makes. 

The chrome strips along the running boards remain very tidy, as do their rubber inserts. This goes for other rubber/plastic seals and inserts around the car; door and window seals and the windscreen surround, which remain supple and retain their colour – no fading or perishing.

The big soft top also appears to be in very good condition, with, again, no signs of fade, mold, rips or tears. It sits nicely on its frame and buttons neatly around its edges.

The Beauford’s interior is offers a pleasant space for both its driver and the happy couple in the back. (This car is a four-seater, though there is a larger model on offer from the same seller if you need the extra space). The cream leather seats are in very good condition; clean and supple, and retaining a good colour with neat contrasting edges – and only a gentle patina across the hides. 

The door cards are trimmed in matching leather, with an Art deco fan pattern and chromed door furniture in a suitably period style. Again the leather is good – a few scuffs at the bottoms – and the metal parts bright and firmly fixed.

The door tops and the dashboard sport walnut burr trim, which is quite nicely figured. Okay, the period feel disappears around the dashboard with some more modern switchgear, but this is confined to the driver’s space. Instrumentation and controls are simple, clean and in good working order.

The (black) carpets throughout the car are clean and nicely trimmed, while the underside of the canvas roof, though perhaps needing a clean, remains very presentable.

Mechanically, the Beauford looks to be very sound. There is surface rust on chassis components, but struts, bracing and brackets all look pretty robust. Suspension parts too, appear to be in good working condition. As previously mentioned, the wheels look good and the tyres have plenty of life in them.

The engine bay itself is quite clean with no signs of overheating, and the firewall/bulkhead appears strong and healthy. With its folding side-access covers, the car’s long snout provides a lot of space to get around the (Ford four-cylinder) motor. Again, there is a little surface rust/oxidation here and there – and a few grimy marks – but nothing that hides any serious issues or faults. 

Air filter and radiator look to be dirt-free and up to their tasks, and hoses, leads and wiring appear supple, neatly joined and clean.

A Beauford provides old school charm with a Duesenberg/Auburn-esque feel, while operating over pretty sound and simple Ford mechanicals. The car has a few small scuffs, but nothing that will stand in the way of it making an excellent and distinctive impression at any event it attends.