A historic property in the centre of Fremantle this month has given up its collection of rare cars and boxes of parts and automobilia as its owner sells up.

The cars — including a very rare six-cylinder Marcos — have been sitting for decades in the distinctive limestone-block outbuildings, partially hidden and initially unrecognisable in the dark corners of the two sheds by sheets and cardboard boxes.

A dismantled and never restored MG TC sat, surrounded by boxes of its components and stripped of its doors, fenders and drivetrain, occupied one dark corner.

In better condition were a 1934 Riley Kestrel 12/4 and a 1935 Singer Nine Le Mans Four Seater, both complete except for needing some cabin parts tightened down and some relatively minor repair, mainly to the interior.

Parts included a spare Singer engine and some additional wire wheels and tyres.

The Singer is a 1.0-litre four-cylinder, twin-carb model that uses the drivetrain shared with the Le Mans roadster.

It is finished in the popular two-tone nutmeg and English white paint that was a palette used by many English car-makers right through to the 1980s. The upholstery is brown leather with walnut dashboard.

The Kestrel is dark blue over black for the wings and with upholstery in dark brown leather which requires attention.

It has a 1.5-litre OHV engine mated to a four-speed preselector gearbox with centrifugal clutch.

Both these elderly cars are regarded as being in good condition and likely to have ben the subject of restorations and/or renovations in the 1980s and 1990s.

The MG TC is in pieces but believed to be complete. It was surrounded by boxes of parts and a heavy blanket of dust.

It would be ideal for an enthusiastic buyer who had space and time to rebuild it, with the attraction being that this vehicle has never been restored or fettled with.

The Marcos is intriguing with an interesting history. It is one of only 172 made with Volvo’s inline 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine that was used in the car-maker’s 164 model.

It was chosen because it was more powerful than Marcos’ traditional go-to engine suppliers — Ford for the 1.6-litre Kent engine and later V6 and Volvo for its 1.8-litre four — and met the US emission regulations.

But not all Volvo six-engined Marcos’ made it to the US. This one was rejected and sent back to the factory where it was fitted with a right-hand drive steering system and the US-spec three-speed Borg Warner automatic transmission was swapped for a four-speed manual.

It has been restored and has new paint, with extra attention to the fully rebuilt engine. It comes with its original Cosmos wheels and a new Webasto sunroof, still in its factory box.

Much work is needed to assemble the car, specially the cabin and the instrument panel that will need its dashboard electrical harness refitted and tested.

Expressions of interest in the sale of these cars are expected to be open at a later date but BMC is available beforehand to answer written questions at neil@buymyclassic.com.au _ NEIL DOWLING