Manor Park Classics
A fresh way to do classic business
There is nothing quite like Manor Park Classics, not in the UK at least. Part dealership, part storage facility, part all-round classic car care givers, part auction house – just about the only things they don’t do are in-depth restorations and magazine publishing (we’re happy to say). Based in a spacious facility on the outskirts of Runcorn, the team behind the venture were gearing up for a major auction as we visited, but it didn’t stop them giving PC the guided tour. Roger Nowell is MD and is clear about the mission: ‘We just want to do things in a more approachable, accessible and professional way – whether you are buying, selling or require curatorial help of any sort, we can do something for you. So far we appear to have tapped into something important.’
The warehouse home was bursting at the seams with preparations for the auction on April 27 – the place was buzzing. Sales director Sam Grange Bailey said: ‘The impetus to get together and launch the business was pretty straightforward. We want to provide the kind of experience for customers that we would like to have ourselves – whether buying, selling or owning a classic.’ She looks around the room. ‘It’s not just about trading, it’s about ownership, enthusiasm and customer service. We all love classic cars – there’s no snobbery, as you can see from the variety of cars here.’
There’s certainly a refreshing openess about a visit to Runcorn, plus you wont have to wait long to be offered a decent brew either. The process on the auction side of the business is extremely transparent. All cars can be viewed and driven, and examined on the four-post lift, and the vendor will also be given a clear indication as to each car’s condition prior to sale, as MPC has its own team of in-house technicians.
The sales themselves are interactive; you can connect online, by phone or be there live and in person. As we chat, other members of the management team are moving and preparing cars, checking through some of the Vauxhall Heritage Collection that MPC has been given the task of looking after, and generally being present; there’s no doubting the enthusiasm.
As BAFTA award winning documentary maker and MPC’S official photographer, George Jesse Turner, tells us as we make our way out: ‘It’s a bit different here, you know.’
Get in touch manorparkclassics.com, 0161 6975223