Nigel Hay has been active in the Classic Military Vehicle and Military Heritage scene for several decades. The military market information service for traders and private individuals, that he originally started as a hobby, now keeps him occupied full-time: he regularly contributes to Milweb.net and writes a monthly military vehicle market round-up column for Classic Military Vehicle, the go-to magazine for anyone interested in military heritage. A highly respected authority in his field, he is particularly knowledgeable about British and American equipment, and passionate next to many others about the Stuart M3A3 tank.
Nigel can always be relied upon for a balanced appraisal that takes the vehicle’s overall condition, provenance, authenticity, completeness and collectability into account. Thanks to his insider status in the military vehicle market, his valuations are always an excellent guideline and astoundingly accurate.
Roy Jacobs is a lawyer by professional, a respected amateur historian and avid collector of military memorabilia and objects. His fascination with World War II dates back to the day when his father gave him a German bayonet, obtained from a British soldier who had been stationed in Stein in the Netherlands. He was ten years old at the time. Since then his collection of wartime objects found in the area between Roermond and Eijsden has grown exponentially and is now exhibited in a private museum, Streekmuseum Maaskant 44, which is fittingly located in a beautifully restored 16th century millhouse.
As a lawyer, detailed and accurate research is second nature to him. He loves a challenge and once his interest in an object has been awakened, he digs down into the misty depths of the past to uncover every scrap of useful and relevant information. He can be relied upon for flawless research and a reliable, balanced appraisal of World War II equipment from all theatres of operation.
Gavin caught the Classic Military Vehicle virus from his father at an early age. As a gifted engineer and director of Tey Vehicle Restorations, he restores classic military vehicles for a living and has built up an enviable reputation for excellent, painstaking work of the highest standard. Tey Vehicle Restorations purchased Jeepparts-uk in 2017, so he is now also known as a Jeep expert. His technical knowledge of World War II tanks and vehicles is encyclopedic and second to none. He carries out work for museums and private individuals all over the world.
We ask Gavin to get involved when we need a full nut-and-bolt appraisal of restored and unrestored vehicles within his field of professional expertise. His expert eye is invaluable in appraising the quality of the vehicle and any work that has been done, or needs to be done.
As a 30-year member of ‘Keep Them Rolling’, the Dutch Historic Military Vehicle Association, Raymund is a respected Dutch authority in this field. He sits on the Association’s Technical Committee and is responsible (among other things) for technical and roadworthiness inspections. He is a collector, has restored many vehicles himself and also co-edits and contributes to the Association’s magazine.
He is well-known in the Benelux scene and we often call on Raymund for a well-considered and highly methodical appraisal, which is even more valuable of course when he has first-hand knowledge of a particular auction lot.
Robbert’s day job in the family business involves repairing damaged coachwork and spraying cars. In his spare time, he is a committed and passionate halftrack enthusiast and restorer. His first restoration was an International Harvester halftrack, which he found in France. After completing that complex restoration to a high standard, he branched out into halftracks from other manufacturers and nations, travelling all over europe to find them. He is now an internationally acknowledged expert in this field and currently engaged in two new restoration projects.
Known and respected throughout the market, Robbert is the guy for halftracks. There is literally nothing he does not know - down to nut-and-bolt level - about this niche in the Classical Military Vehicle market. Obviously, we always ask for his expert opinion when a halftrack comes up for auction.
Christian Grundmann and his father Traugott Grundmann are known as the most exacting and demanding collectors of unique Volkswagen Beetles and their derivatives in the world. Their collection even outshines the official Volkswagen Museum in Wolfsburg to some extent. They restore vehicles in their own workshops to completely authentic and better-than-new standards and have won several prizes with their work. Their interest in Beetles also covers the military vehicles built by the Volkswagen factory in World War II; i.e. the Kübelwagen and the Schwimmwagen.
Christian is our leading light on all things Kübelwagen and Schwimmwagen. He has access to unique records, knows the vehicles and the market like the back of his hand, and his opinion is accepted as gospel by collectors and museums all over the world.
