Auction house profile: DVCA

Dorset Vintage & Classic Auctions’ (DVCA) debut sale in 2006 represented an expansion of the classic-car related business activities of founder Brian Chant, who also runs the Unicorn Motor Company, specialising in high class body repairs to modern and classic vehicles.

In fact, Brian started his business back in 1969, following an apprenticeship as a panel beater with traditional coachbuilder and sheet metal fabricator SE Hamblin of Sherborne, Dorset. Soon after, in 1971, he started racing vintage and classic cars, achieving most success with a 4.3-litre Alvis Brutus.

Alvis cars have always featured high in Brian's interest; for seven years he was competition secretary for the Alvis Owner Club, and is often called upon as a concours judge. Brian is also an enthusiastic member of many other owners’ clubs, including the Aston Martin Owners Club, Austin-Healey Club, Vintage Sports Car Club, Morris Minor Owners Club, and Yeovil Car Club.

His wide-ranging interests and contact network contribute to the variety of DVCA’s auctions, which feature automobilia, transport ephemera and motorcycles alongside classic cars. There are usually three sales per year, each featuring around 50 vehicles that offer as much diversity and eclectic interest of many sales with twice the number of cars.

A very refreshing policy, much appreciated by enthusiasts and collectors, is that when a vehicle is entered in a DVCA sale with associated spare parts these are included within the lot, rather than being sold separately, a common practice elsewhere, which often results in the buyer of the vehicle being held to ransom and drawn into a bidding war. We approve.