Restoration knowledgeable reckons Brits have hundreds of thousands in invaluable gadgets hidden in sheds
TV restoration expert Henry Cole estimates Brits have hundreds of millions of pounds worth of valuables hidden away – from vintage oil cans to classic cars
Henry Cole (pictured centre) believes there are millions of pounds worth of memorabilia in people’s sheds(Image: BLAZE)
Restoration specialist Henry Cole reckons Brits are sitting on hundreds of millions of pounds worth of treasures tucked away in their sheds and garages. The telly presenter, best known for sharing his lifelong passion for motorcycles and restoring vintage machinery, has explored over 1,000 sheds, and believes we’ve barely begun to discover the true value of these hoarded items.
He points out that private collections feature everything from hundreds of cars and dozens of aircrafts to stockpiles of tractors and motorbikes. Cole mentions that pieces such as automotive memorabilia and vintage oil containers and pitchers could bring in serious cash rather than ending up in the bin.
Branded examples like Shell, Texaco and Pratt from the 1940-50s can put some cash in your pocket with rare oil cans fetching £2,000 or more, whilst exceptional examples can be sold for more than £3,000.
The advice comes after research of 2,000 adults found 65% have things in their sheds they haven’t used in years, with an average value of more than £800. It was commissioned by BLAZE, which is launching a new series of Junk & Disorderly, which is on every Monday at 9pm.
Henry Cole, who presents the show, said: “Where Brits go wrong is that a lot of things they’re holding onto are worthless, from bikes to mobility scooters to brown furniture and bathroom goods. But at the same time, there is millions of millions of pounds worth of automotive related items, and when I go into a shed I can very quickly sift through the rubbish and find the good stuff.
“There are loads of things that can be valuable which don’t look valuable, like a G plan and mid-century furniture.”
The study found the most common items adults have lying around include garden equipment or tools (65%), DIY materials (58%) and old tools or machinery (43%). But 59% hold onto items as they might be useful one day, whilst 34% said they have sentimental value.
It also emerged 14% would restore old bicycles from their garage or shed if they could and 12% would rebuild or repair tools or machinery they own.
Meanwhile, 45% reckon they’ve got items of value gathering dust in their shed or garage that they don’t use. And 42% know others who could also be sitting on a small fortune from unused items at home. However, 48% confessed the only thing that would motivate them to sell or discard their unused items would be if they relocated.
A quarter even admitted they have sold or binned something that they now believe to be worth a tidy sum. But 46% claim they needed the space at the time and 31% thought it was just tat.
And of those who participated in the study, conducted via OnePoll.com, 53% have possessions they’d rather hand down to younger generations than flog them.
A spokesperson for BLAZE and the show Junk & Disorderly, said: “Adults are far more likely to be sitting on hidden treasures than they realise, with sheds and garages often packed with items that could be worth serious money.
“We want to highlight just how easy it is to separate genuine gems from everyday clutter and how satisfying it can be to turn forgotten belongings into cash. It’s all about taking a second look before writing something off as junk.”
15 ITEMS BRITS HAVE LYING AROUND IN THEIR SHEDS AND GARAGES:
- Garden equipment or tools
- DIY materials (e.g. wood, paint or tiles etc. )
- Old tools or machinery
- Boxes of miscellaneous items
- Bikes or sporting equipment
- Seasonal items (e.g. Christmas decorations, camping gear etc. )
- Old appliances (e.g. lawnmowers, fridges)
- Furniture
- Children’s items no longer in use
- Electronics or electrical items
- Car or motorbike parts
- Tyres or wheels
- Boxes of paperwork, manuals or instructions
- Collectables (e.g. toys, memorabilia or records etc.)
- Automotive memorabilia (e.g. petrol pumps, old oil tin cans etc.)
