After being found in a barn, classic vintage cars including a’very rare’ miniature Jaguar for children are expected to fetch tens or thousands of pounds.

Peter McManus was the car enthusiast who found them in the building near Repton in Derbyshire.

His love for motoring was not restricted to his family. He believed that his kids could also have a Jaguar if they wanted.

Due to go under the hammer at a sale by Hansons Auctioneers, of Etwall, Derbyshire, on January 20 are the children’s cars – a 1960s Cheetah Cub D-Type Jaguar, valued at £3,000 to £5,000, and an Austin Pathfinder pedal car, converted to a petrol-engine, valued £4,000 to £6,000.

An advertisement leaflet featuring the Cheetah states that it is a miniature sport car kids can drive. The Cheetah Cub, based on the E Type Jaguar is a child’s ideal car. 

“With its small, petrol-driven engine they will experience all the excitement of racing track driving while remaining safe.”

Due to go under the hammer at a sale by Hansons Auctioneers, of Etwall, Derbyshire, on January 20 is a 1960s Cheetah Cub D-Type Jaguar, valued at £3,000 to £5,000

Due to go under the hammer at a sale by Hansons Auctioneers, of Etwall, Derbyshire, on January 20 is a 1960s Cheetah Cub D-Type Jaguar, valued at £3,000 to £5,000

An Austin Pathfinder pedal car, converted to a petrol-engine, is valued £4,000 to £6,000 ahead of next month's auction

An Austin Pathfinder pedal car, converted to a petrol-engine, is valued £4,000 to £6,000 ahead of next month’s auction

A promotional leaflet with the Cheetah declares: 'The miniature sports car children can really drive. Based on the famous E Type Jaguar, the Cheetah Cub is any child's dream car. 'With the small petrol-driven engine it will give them all the thrills of race-track driving in complete safety'

The Cheetah’s promotional brochure states: “The mini sports car that children can actually drive. The Cheetah Cub, based on the E Type Jaguar is a child’s ideal car. It will provide them with all the excitement of racing-track driving, but in safety.

McManus bought the extremely rare child's Cheetah Cub Jaguar at London's Earls Court Motor Show in the early 1960s

McManus purchased the rare children’s Cheetah Jaguar Cub Jaguar from London’s Earls Court Motor Show, in the 1960s

A retired Rolls-Royce engineer, he replaced its petrol engine with an easy-starter Honda. However, the original Villiers engine comes with the car

He was a retired engineer from Rolls-Royce and replaced the petrol engine with a Honda easy-starter. But, you get the Villiers original engine with your car.

The Austin Pathfinder with a Villiers 75cc petrol engine was made by a Derby-based motorcycle engineer in the 1950s and later purchased by McManus. It requires minor recommissioning and new tyres

In the 1950s, a Derby-based motorcyclist engineer built an Austin Pathfinder using a Villiers 75cc gasoline engine. It was later bought by McManus. Minor recommissioning is required and the need for new tires.

A rare 1960 Mark II Jaguar with only 50,000 miles on the clock, owned by McManus from new will also be sold at another Hansons auction in March

McManus will be selling a rare 1960 Mark II Jaguar Jaguar with just 50,000 Miles. It was purchased new by McManus.

Its garage-mate was the Bullnose Morris which has had three owners from new. It was sold by G H Robbins of Evesham in 1922 and registered in July that year

Bullnose Morris was its garagemate and it has been owned by three people since new. G H Robbins of Evesham purchased it and registered it July 1922.

Hansons Auctions will sell two original full-size classic cars. One of these vehicles is celebrating its 100th Birthday in 2022. 

McManus purchased one of these rare Jaguars, a 1960 Mark II Jaguar with just 50,000 miles.

Hansons spokesperson said that “Finds such as this, in their original condition and stored in a dry, clean outbuilding with care, are rare.” The curvaceous design of this classic, which is also a great delight to look at, was a true masterpiece. 

‘It will go to auction with an estimate of £20,000 to £30,000. The same sale will include a 1922 Bullnose Morris, £15,000 to £20,000.

According to Peter’s children and his daughter, all cars symbolize family unity, happy memories, high days and holidays. 

“They decided it was time to sell their father’s old classic cars, and any miniature motors that they had the opportunity to drive when children.”

McManus was a passionate motor vehicle enthusiast and bought the Jaguar Mark II new in 1960. 

His family stated that the father treasured it so deeply, he only used it on “high days and holidays”, including New Year trips in Scotland.

Bullnose Morris was its garagemate and it has been owned by three people since new. G H Robbins of Evesham purchased it and registered it July 1922. 

Robbins acquired it again in 1939. He kept it until his death in the 1960s. McManus bought it in 1963, and his daughter used it as a wedding vehicle.

A Cheetah D Type Jaguar, extremely rare Petrol driven child's size Jaguar, made in the early 1960s by a collaboration of three companies, the Watsonian sidecar company, the Swallow sidecar company (later manufactured the SS Jaguar) and the Birmingham Fibreglass company

An extremely rare Petrol driven Cheetah D Type Jaguar. This Jaguar was built in the 1960s by a consortium of three companies, including the Watsonian Sidecar Company, the Swallow Sidecar Company (later made the SS Jaguar), as well as the Birmingham Fibreglass.

The Austin Pathfinder pedal car with petrol engine conversion, a very rare car, made during the 1950s by retired Miners in Wales

Austin Pathfinder pedal car with a petrol engine conversion is very rare. It was made in 1950 by retired Welsh Miners.

This is an original steel bodied car with a Villiers 75cc petrol engine. It requires minor recommissioning and new tyres

Original steel body car featuring a Villiers 75cc gasoline engine. This car requires minor repairs and new tires.

The Jaguar was powered by a Villiers 75 cc petrol engine but later upgraded to a more reliable Honda engine with electric start

The Jaguar was powered by a Villiers 75 cc petrol engine but later upgraded to a more reliable Honda engine with electric start

An Austin Pathfinder pedal car, converted to a petrol-engine, is valued £4,000 to £6,000 ahead of next month's auction

An Austin Pathfinder pedal car, converted to a petrol-engine, is valued £4,000 to £6,000 ahead of next month’s auction

Due to go under the hammer at a sale by Hansons Auctioneers, of Etwall, Derbyshire, on January 20 is a 1960s Cheetah Cub D-Type Jaguar, valued at £3,000 to £5,000

Due to go under the hammer at a sale by Hansons Auctioneers, of Etwall, Derbyshire, on January 20 is a 1960s Cheetah Cub D-Type Jaguar, valued at £3,000 to £5,000

The children’s Austin Pathfinder was converted by a renowned motorcycle engineer from Derby who built it for his son

The children’s Austin Pathfinder was converted by a renowned motorcycle engineer from Derby who built it for his son

McManus acquired the rare Cheetah Cub Jag for children at London’s Earls Court Motor Show during the 1960s. 

Retired Rolls-Royce engineer, he swapped the petrol engine for an easier-to-start Honda. The original Villiers engine is included with the vehicle.

In the 1950s, a Derby-based motorcyclist built an Austin Pathfinder using a Villiers 75cc gasoline engine. It was later bought by McManus. The engine needs minor repair and replacement of tyres.

McManus completed an apprenticeship in engineering at Derby, and worked during World War II on Merlin engines for Rolls-Royce. 

In 2017, he died at the tender age of 94.