Simon Hingston's Real World Dream Barn

If there's a prize for the most eclectic Real World Dream Barn ever to have appeared on PetrolBlog, then Simon Hingston will walk away with it. I won't ruin the article by telling you what they are, but aside from a people carrier, I reckon Simon has got pretty much every base covered. That said, there's plenty of room for passengers in some of his selections. Enjoy.

I’ll start off my rather unusual Dream Barn as I mean to go on with something practical, well Dream Practical anyway! Perhaps I should set the scene by saying that this dream assumes having bought a place with enough land to be self sufficient, at least for keeping my horses anyway. Let’s say about 30 acres with enough barns to keep this lot in.

Fendt Tractor

First we’ll have some motive power for moving, towing, making hay and shouting “Get ‘orf moi land” to any passing ramblers. It’ll be a Fendt as they’re like a John Deere with added engineering. Neither too big or too small as a tractor is no use if you can’t put it where you want it and lift the implements that actually do the work. Comfy seat and cup holders very important of course. £30k will be easily spent ;) Image © Fendt.

Mercedes Unimog

The Mercedes mountain goat. You name the purpose there will be a Mog to suit. Mine would be for forestry, snow ploughing and off road entertainment. This particular beauty is a ‘round cab’ 406 which puts it anywhere between 1963 and 1988 with a 6-cylinder 5.6-litre diesel producing around 130hp and enough torque and gears (20 here) to pull the mountain to the prophet of your choice. Don’t expect creature comforts but do expect to be grinning from ear to ear.. This restored example will drain £15k. Image © unimogs.co.uk, where it's for sale.

Oakley Horsebox

Best to have something to move the dobbins around in. Much better to drive to the beach then ride. I’d rather have something older made by craftsmen than a more modern box made of papier maché and string like many of todays van conversions. Perhaps a nice old wooden Oakley box and then mount it on a newer lorry. Easily done for our budget. Image © Oakley, where it's for sale.

JCB

What grown man wouldn’t want a JCB? With ditches to be made and cleared, fences to be maintained and a cross country course to build what else could be more useful or versatile? No new machine for our budget but not that old either. Image © geograph.co.uk.

Bentley Turbo RT

Up here in sunny Scotland many places are a long way away so it seems prudent to have a vehicle to get there in comfort. Rational excuse out of the way I’ve also wanted one of these since they were launched and I was nowt but a lad! An end of the line RT in wildberry with a dark ‘Non-Del’ interior will do fine and the change from £30k for the finest will pay the petrol for at least one trip to Aldi. Image © Wikipedia.

Renault 5 GT Turbo Raider

This one’s for my wife as she had the ‘normal’ 5 GT Turbo as her first car at 17, don’t ask about the insurance. Who could argue with an ’80s hot hatch legend anyway? Perhaps I can get my old turbo Volvo back and we can both bate VXR drivers? Image © Renault.

Range Rover CSK

What’s not to love about the CSK? The last hurrah of the two-door shell with improved handling and power. Added exclusivity with only 200 made as a salute to the Range’s designer Charles Spencer King. Not found for sale very often and rarely cheap, but well worth the wait.

Manitou Loader

Back to the practical for a moment and horses need a lot of hay and straw. Hay and straw is heavy. Moving it by hand can be between hard and impossible. Enter the farm loader. These can be used for a multiple of things, but for me the only one that matters is lifting and carrying bales. I’ve only driven a baby one for work a long time ago and it did a great job of demolishing a wall. Maybe I should use some change from £30k for a training course? Image © Manitou.

Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera

I was at school in the ’80s so there has to be a poster car in here somewhere. I’m no 911 geek so I will quite possible pick the wrong car but I’ll have a late ’80s 3.2 Carrera in Guards Red please. Granted I could get a much newer car for the money but I’ll stick with the memory and have something that needs driving. I may even buy some red braces.

Mercedes SL

I’ve only ever had one convertible. It was a Triumph Spitfire I was looking after when the owner emigrated. That ended with a dodgy rear spring, some mud and a hedge, but I did love having the top down. Especially in the rain. I know.

So to continue my love of Mercedes engineering it has to be an SL. At £30k a previous generation Pagoda would probably be a bit too brave so I’ll have a late R107, again from the late ’80s so the rust monster is kept at bay. Image © Mercedes.

Inspired by Simon's selections? Get in touch with PetrolBlog with your own Real World Dream Barn.