A COLLECTION of cars more than 100 years old is set to go to auction following the death of its enthusiast owner.

Colchester-based auctioneers Reeman Dansie say they were blown away after being called to inspect hundreds of years worth of vintage cars.

While used to inspecting items which are more than 100 years old, the auctioneers were surprised to see multiple century-old vehicles in a single car collection.

The collection is a lifetime’s work and belonged to George Allen.

Mr Allen died last year at the age of 94, but had spent decades of his life amassing a spectacular car collection, which would be the envy of any enthusiast.

Born and bred in Halstead, Mr Allen worked as a labourer at RAF Ridgewell during the Second World War.

He helped construct hangers for the American servicemen based there and after the war ended, moved to work for his family’s scrap metal business, based behind his Chapel Hill home in the town.

It was during this time that Mr Allen began to indulge in his passion for classic and veteran cars.

Known as Chips to his friends, Mr Allen spent decades building a collection of 1910s and 1920s Ford Model T’s, widely regarded as the first affordable and mass-produced car.

He also added Minis and other classic cars to his collection and could be seen regularly attending local shows in and around Colchester and Halstead.

His cars displayed his memorable Chips number plates and were a favourite of many families over many generations.

As he got older, Mr Allen carefully stored and maintained his collection in barns and garages on his Halstead property.

They hadn’t seen the light of day for a number of years until Reeman Dansie agreed to inspect the cars as part of a routine valuation.

Managing director James Grinter was the one called to Halstead to inspect the collection and was amazed at what he found.

Mr Grinter said: “To see one Model T is unusual, but to see four at one house is unheard of.

“The thing that really struck me was how well they were stored, not simply left, but very carefully covered, placed on to stands and preserved.

“Clearly the actions of a true enthusiast.”

Mr Allen’s car collection is set to go on sale with Reeman Dansie this month and the auctioneers have valued his entire collection at more than £40,000.

The most expensive car in the collection is one of Mr Allen’s Model Ts, which is valued at £12,000, while the cheapest vehicle is his Ford Sierra, which is valued at £500.

The collection, which is comprised of four Ford Model Ts, two Minis and a Ford Sierra, will be sold in the auctioneer’s specialist classic car sale on September 16.

Auctioneer and valuer with Reeman Dansie Lewis Rabett added: “It is a real privilege to be handling the sale of these special cars and it is nice to know that after the years of enjoyment that Mr Allen had from them, that they will be passing to a new generation of enthusiasts to preserve them for years to come.”

A range of 14 other cars will also be on sale which include everything from a 2006 Bentley Continental GT to a 1961 MK II Jaguar.

The auction will begin at 2pm, but residents will get the chance to view the cars the day before and on the morning of the auction.

For more information and to view each car going on sale, visit bit.ly/3kWSdme.