1988 Hutson TF

Built in 1988, this Hutson TF went straight to Spain with its first owner who didn’t even register it for many years. He stored it in his basement as part of a private classic car collection, which preserved it extraordinarily well.

The current owner bought this car in 2012 when it was showing just 180 miles. He had it MOT’d and transported from Barry, South Wales to his home in the Midlands where he set about removing years of dust from the interior and engine bay, feeding the leather seats, and polishing the chrome and dashboard.

The old hood had cracked as a result of being stored furled for many years, so a new mohair replacement was supplied by L. Pipers of Sparkford at a cost of £750 last summer. As might be expected, it fits beautifully and adds to the imposing, no-expense-spared impression this wonderful car exudes.

The one-off Cream Pearlescent paintwork (which seems to change colour depending on the viewing angle and lighting) is in the expected excellent condition, but would just appreciate a good polish to bring back the showroom finish.

On a more minor note, the removal of the nearside door mirror has left a mark and a new front number plate would smarten up the front end.

The underside of the car is completely solid and free of rot and serious rust, although the wire wheels and some of the exterior chromework is showing some tarnishing and light rust, most of which would be restorable in a workmanlike afternoon with the metal polish. The tyres are showing good tread.

The black leather seats have been trimmed in contrasting white piping. While they look amazing, they would, like most cars, benefit from a good leather feed. The dashboard has slightly suffered from being stored in such a hot country for such a long period of time and might benefit from more extensive restoration.

The custom engraved steering wheel and satin-finish dashboard instrument bezels lend the car a bespoke feel, and the care and attention to detail to get the vehicle through type-approval is obvious.

The Austin Rover 1.7-litre O-series engine has been fitted with a Boyce Motometer on the bonnet, a lovely period addition that allows the water temperature to be read from the driver’s seat. The engine starts well, and holds good oil pressure, endowing the Hutson with sprightly performance.

The rest of the mechanicals are in good order, expected given the mileage, and the vehicle gained an MOT in June.

The first recorded MOT test was carried out on the 22nd of October 2010, at which point the odometer was showing just 179 miles! This supports the car’s incredibly low mileage, proving that it wasn’t really used until after 2012; by 2014 the mileage had reached a heady 811, still barely run in…

The car comes with a small number of old invoices and bills to support the owner’s claim that it has been well-looked after over the years. A copy of The Naylor and Hutson TF 1700 Story compiled by Jim Burnhill, a couple of original Naylor brochures, an original press pack and loads of Naylor Club magazines will also accompany the car.

A car like this is hard to value accurately; on the one hand, it is a remarkably low-mileage example that exhibits none of the wear-and-tear and structural rust of some of its contemporaries, while on the other the heat storage have taken a small toll and there are some, albeit really minor, cosmetic issues to address.

So, taking all the relevant factors into account, we’ve placed a guide price of £16,500 on it, which we think balances the underlying quality and soundness of the car with the need to sort some of the superficial problems it presents. Of course, if you’re an inveterate tinkerer in search of a winter project, please feel free to substitute the word ‘opportunity’ for ‘problem’…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen here at Patina HQ in Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.