WHY DEALERS AREN’T AFRAID OF LOCKDOWN
UK specialists say that lessons learned from the first lockdown will help to protect jobs and keep your classics on the road
Classic car specialists are saying that they’re ready to respond to tough new measures being brought in during tomorrow’s England-wide lockdown and that the strength of the UK’s current classic car market will help to protect jobs.
Dealers and restorers are saying that the first lockdown taught them how to work virtually and be better placed to respond to the new rules being brought in tomorrow.
James Szkiler of the Classic and Sports Car Centre in North Yorkshire said that he was not planning to furlough any of the site’s staff as a result: ‘The biggest difference is that we feel more prepared. We’ll go back to doing video walkarounds in place of viewings, monitoring the situation and working behind closed doors.’
Classic car dealerships are among the non-essential retailers required to close under tighter coronavirus rules enforced in England from tomorrow (5 November). The closures, to be written into law today, are expected to last until 2 December at the very earliest.
Repair garages and MoT stations will be permitted to remain open during this time, with dealerships and garages able to access extended furlough payments under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which is set to run for another month.
James Szkiler, CEO of the Classic and Sports Car Centre in Malton, North Yorkshire, told Classic Car Weekly that he is not planning to furlough any of his staff: ‘The biggest difference is that we feel more prepared compared to March. April saw unprecedented sales for us; we will go back to doing video work [walkarounds] in place of viewings, monitoring the situation and working behind closed doors.’
Greatworth Classics in Oxfordshire said that it was well prepared for the month ahead and reverting to working practices that it had developed over the summer months. Founder, Angus Watt, said: ‘ We’re not expecting any dramatic effects on business; we stayed open during the first lockdown and still have the space to keep a socially distanced workshop running.
‘ We will revert to not having customers and visitors on site and have suggested to our staff members who can’t work from home that they come to work and nowhere else.
‘ We’ve become more proactive with photo reports emailed and sent to customers. Getting some parts remains difficult, but I’m optimistic that suppliers are better prepared for this lockdown than they were the last one.’
LUDEN Automotive director, Luke Harding, however, called for more clarity on the new lockdown rules: ‘At the moment we’re a bit unsure of what we can and can’t do; our workshop and storage areas remain open. Many places use their showrooms to book in work, however, and I’d like to know if deliveries of cars can continue or whether it will just be recoveries allowed.
‘ Viewings also remain in question but I will take as many photos and videos as the customer wants in the meantime to keep things as hands-off as possible. The second lockdown may last longer than a month, and sales typically slow heading into winter anyway; people tend not to use classic cars.
‘ You may well see the odd person sniffing around for a bargain but I think the people who rushed to get a car during the summer lockdown will have one by now, unless there are buyers looking for a project over the winter months.’
Welsh classic showrooms remain closed during its enforced firebreak, lasting until 9 November, but stricter five-tiered Scottish measures, reviewed on 10 November, have not stopped dealerships from trading, provided they meet all COVID-19 secure requirements and staff have the correct personal protective equipment.
Northern Irish garages did not appear in the closedown schedule for tighter lockdown measures either, and can carry on trading as normal before regulations are reviewed once again on 13 November.
‘ We will revert to not having customers and visitors on site’
ANGUS WATT, GREATWORTH