I was called mad for restoring wrecked classic car – now it’s worth £500k

There were no windows or roof and the whole thing was held together with cable ties.Charlie Elliott snapped up the smashed motor at an auction back in 2017, prompting some to call him ‘mad’.

Charlie Elliot spent years restoring a wrecked classic car he bought for £30,000
Charlie Elliot spent years restoring a wrecked classic car he bought for £30,000Credit: Supplied
The 1930's motor was held together with cable ties when he got it in 2017
The 1930’s motor was held together with cable ties when he got it in 2017Credit: �H&HClassics
Now, though, it's an award winner and is worth £500,000
Now, though, it’s an award winner and is worth £500,000Credit: Supplied

“It was a complete wreck.When Charlie, from South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, got hold of the 1937 Talbot BI 105 Airline Saloon, it hadn’t been driven in over 40 years and had suffered severe damage.But that’s small change compared to the estimated £400,000 it is worth now.Indeed, the Talbot was his dream car when he was young so when Charlie got the chance to buy one and restore it in the same garage he had such fond memories of, it was too good to miss.

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Now, though, it has won multiple awards and is a highly-prized collector’s item in showroom-ready condition.”I actually saw it in The Sun after, it was literally cable tied together.The 28-year-old also revealed the heartwarming inspiration behind the project – his dear departed grandad.”We were in the sports car class and we were the only car with four doors and a roof.”

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To that, Charlie laughed: “Do you know what? I don’t know.”I care about it too much for that.”

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Over the years, he has spent over £100,000 restoring the Talbot to its original glory, on top of the original £30,000 purchase.”Everyone thought ‘what are you doing, this will cost thousands’.A PETROLHEAD has revealed that he turned a wrecked classic car he bought for £30,000 into a pristine award-winner worth £500,000.”It would have to be someone as passionate as me.”I’ve always said if someone came and offered me the cheque I might feel differently but I don’t think I’d want to put it up for sale.So the half-a-million pound question is whether he would ever sell it.He added: “To get to Pebble Beach and take on all the multi-billionaires with their restoration teams, it was a pretty crazy experience. Charlie told Sun Motors: “I was working in the motor trade at the time, for BMW, and then I saw this dream car for sale.”But I just hoped maybe one day it will get an invite to Pebble Beach, which is sort of like The Oscars of the classic car world.”

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Not only did the car receive such an invitation just two years late, but it also took third place in its awards class, leaving Charlie overjoyed.Charlie credits him with inspiring his love of vintage vehicles and that the pair used to restore cars together before he tragically passed away.

Charlie took on the project in memory of his late grandad
Charlie took on the project in memory of his late grandadCredit: Supplied
It was his 'dream car' when he was growing up
It was his ‘dream car’ when he was growing upCredit: Supplied
The car took home a third-place award at Pebble Beach, dubbed 'The Oscars of the classic car world'
The car took home a third-place award at Pebble Beach, dubbed ‘The Oscars of the classic car world’Credit: Supplied
It was competing with professionally restored sports cars owned by billionaires
It was competing with professionally restored sports cars owned by billionairesCredit: Supplied
Despite the whopping price tag, Charlie doubts he'd ever sell it as it means too much to him
Despite the whopping price tag, Charlie doubts he’d ever sell it as it means too much to himCredit: Supplied

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