Stunned Antiques Roadshow Guest Discovers Father's Car Sketches Worth Thousands!

An Antiques Roadshow guest was left gobsmacked when he learned the value of his father's unique design sketches. This episode, filmed at Firstsite in Colchester, featured vehicle specialist Cristian Beadman evaluating a collection of illustrations created by the guest's father while he worked for Ford Motor Company in the 1950s.

The Journey from Black and White to Technicolor

The guest shared a heartfelt story about his father's artistic journey, transitioning from "black and white in England post-war to technicolor in America."

An Extraordinary Collection

Beadman examined the sketches and noted, "This is in the heyday of those huge flying Fords with the big engines and the fins and the wings." He asked about the creative process, confirming that the original sketches began as crayon designs, later developed into detailed airbrush renderings. Beadman praised the craftsmanship, stating, "The way he has picked out the sparkle of sunlight on the chrome is utterly extraordinary."

Incredible Detail Beadman continued to marvel at the sketches' detail, saying, "If you look at the hubcaps, you can see that he's put reflected landscapes with the hubcap, distorting the light with an airbrush. It's absolutely incredible."

A Rare Family Treasure

The guest believed his father's designs were rare, often discarded after production. He brought only a small portion of his vast collection, which included around 50 drawings and 30 pencil outlines. Beadman expressed his admiration, saying, "What an amazing collection. Needless to say, these are very, very precious in your family. They're irreplaceable."

Estimated Value

After assessing the collection, Beadman estimated it to be worth between £10,000 and £15,000. The guest was visibly stunned, exclaiming, "Wow. That's surprising." He added, "I think Dad would be astonished as well. That's taken my breath away a bit."