By Matthew Legg Business editor

Last updated at 14:04, Tuesday, 15 February 2011

The iconic red and white Ford Gran Torino of Starsky and Hutch fame is among a fleet of world-famous motors being sold off by a Cumbrian collector in a unique internet auction.

Peter Nelson with the Gran Torino from the film Starsky and Hutch

Peter Nelson, owner of the Cars of the Stars museum, in Keswick, is selling off 26 vehicles – including Harry Potter’s Ford Anglia, Kitt from Knight Rider and Mr Bean’s Mini – to make room for his other passion: James Bond.

He describes the sale, which will be conducted via internet auction site eBay, as an “attic clearance”.

“I’m not closing Cars of the Stars,” he said. “All of the popular cars that people expect when they come here, like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the FAB1 car (from Thunderbirds) are staying.

“I just felt it was time to sell on some of the cars I have in storage and clear some space.”

Mr Nelson said he had so many cars stored away, he “couldn’t hang on to them all”.

“These aren’t the stars of the collection: the Starsky and Hutch car has no engine and the Kitt car is just an exhibition model,” he added.

“I don’t intend to sell the rest of collection, unless someone came forward with an offer I couldn’t refuse and they promised to keep the collection together and in Keswick.

“I really want to develop the James Bond museum now. It is the only museum of its type in the world.

“Filming has started on the next film and hopefully there will be some vehicles that become available from that.

“Also, it’s the 50th anniversary of Dr No this year and in the following years it will be the 50th anniversary of the rest of the films, so interest will be massive.”

MLegg@cngroup.co.uk

First published at 11:47, Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk