Every now and then something turns up that reminds us exactly why we started UK Barn Finds in the first place.
This week, it was this.
A 1951 three-wheel utility trike, built not in a factory, but by hand by Jim Richardson — an estate carpenter at Southwick Hall near Oundle. It’s made up of whatever he could get his hands on at the time: a Raleigh engine, Norton frame and forks, Sturmey-Archer gearbox and an Austin 7 rear axle.
It’s not polished. It’s not refined. But it’s honest — and that’s exactly what we love.
This wasn’t someone’s weekend project or a showpiece build.
It was a working machine.
Used to pull a plough, drag harrows and haul tools around the estate, it effectively became Richardson’s first “tractor”. That tells you everything you need to know about it — this thing earned its keep.
We’ve always had a soft spot for vehicles like this. Not the obvious classics, but the ones with real stories behind them. The ones built out of necessity, not for attention.
Before the auction, we’d heard rumours that people were interested in buying it just to break it.
Mainly for the front forks.
And while we completely understand that — early Norton parts are desirable — it didn’t sit right with us. Once something like this gets broken up, that’s it. The history goes with it.
That alone made us look at it differently.
So we bid.
There’s something about a machine like this that goes beyond the parts it’s made from.
It’s the fact it was built by a named individual.
It’s the fact it had a real job to do.
And it’s the fact it somehow survived, largely intact, all these years later.
You can’t recreate that.
And you definitely shouldn’t break it.
Now it’s with us, the plan is simple — learn as much as we can and tell its story properly.
We’re already digging into who Jim Richardson was and how this thing came to exist, and we’ve got a feeling there’s more to uncover.
We’ll almost certainly be featuring it on our channels too. Whether that’s getting it running, taking a closer look at how it’s built, or just sharing the story behind it, it feels like something people need to see.
This is exactly what UK Barn Finds is about.
Not just finding old vehicles — but saving the stories behind them before they disappear.
If you’ve got something tucked away, whether it’s a vehicle, a machine, or just an interesting bit of history, we’d love to hear from you.
Because as this proves…
sometimes they’re only one auction away from being lost for good.
Stay updated with the latest barn finds, auction news, and classic car adventures in our 'News & Waffle' section. Dive into rare discoveries, behind-the-scenes stories, and expert insights into the world of classic cars. Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or simply intrigued by the tales behind these treasures, this is your hub for all things classic and captivating.
View All
This VW Type 3 Squareback auction result left us wondering whether somebody had just bagged themselves a rather interesting old Volkswagen. The 1972 Squareback went under the hammer at Anglia Car Auctions with a £4,000-£6,000 estimate. The bidding ticked along, but eventually everybody stopped. And they stopped before reaching the bottom of the guide. So […]
This Ford Escort 1600 Sport auction result gave us one of the most entertaining bidding battles we’ve filmed for a while. Before the 1979 Mk2 Escort went under the hammer at Anglia Car Auctions, we took a closer look at the car and asked UK Barn Finds followers to predict what it would sell for. […]
This Ford Capri auction result is an interesting indication of just how much enthusiasm remains for early Mk1 Capris. The 1970 Ford Capri 1600 GT XLR certainly wasn’t presented as a pristine example when it went under the hammer at Anglia Car Auctions. It was scruffy, needed restoration or recommissioning, came with no history and […]
