Humber collector ‘heartbroken’ at having to sell off 24 cars
The owner of the Humber Car Museum in Hull is hoping that he can sell his 24-car collection to a single buyer as he is now having to close due to rising costs.
Allan Marshall has built up his collection of Humbers since the 1970s but is being forced to sell as he can no longer afford to pay business rates at the museum.
He says: ‘I’m absolutely heartbroken that I’m having to do this, but I can’t afford to keep it going.
‘I used to loan cars out for about ten weddings a week, but I’ve had to dial it down as I’ve got arthritis and physically can’t prepare the cars anymore. I’m shattered. I really don’t want to split this collection up so they have to go to a single buyer or another museum.’
Allan says that he can’t afford to give the cars away and is hoping to make around £250,000 from the sale.
He’s had interest from major auctions houses but they haven’t wanted to sell the collection as a whole, preferring to pick out the best examples.
Allan adds: ‘You can’t just adopt the nice-looking orphans, you have to take the lot. I don’t want a situation where they’re all picked off one by one. My ideal scenario is that they would stay at the museum here in Hull and someone would keep it going.
‘I’m getting older and I can’t leave my wife to deal with all this if I go. I’ve got a meeting with a Humber fan who is also a millionaire so I’ll see what comes of that. Either that or I’m hoping Chris Evans or Richard Branson will take the lot.’
Allan is to keep his 1954 Pullman, originally built for Baroness Rothschild, and Pullman Landaulette, built for King George VI (who died before it was delivered).
Allan Marshall, 01482 804466