Classic Van Auction Talk

Thursday 30 June 2016

1973 ISO FIDIA 1 OF ONLY 16 RHD CARS PRODUCED - COYS AUCTION 02/07/16

COMING TO AUCTION
From Classic Chatter: www.classicchatter.co.uk


1973 ISO FIDIA

1 OF ONLY 16 RHD CARS PRODUCED



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Manufacturers of the Isetta bubble car, Iso joined the ranks of supercar constructors in 1962 with the launch of the Giotto Bizzarrini-designed Rivolta coupé at the Turin Motor Show. The styling was carried out at Carrozzeria Bertone and penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The Fidia, longer in the wheelbase by approximately 150mm, was a more practical proposition than the two-door Rivolta on which it was based. Originally conceived as the S4 and introduced in 1967, the Fidia’s four-door body was airy, graceful, purposeful and sleek, continuing Iso’s leadership in advancing automobile design. Chevrolet engines of 5.4 or 5.7 litres were fitted initially. Towards the end of production, 35 Fidias were finally built with the 5.8-litre Ford V8 engine.
Iso’s proven underpinnings included independent front suspension, deDion rear axle and four wheel, power-assisted, disc brakes (inboard at the rear). It is believed that in all 16 RHD Fidias (the first being sold to John Lennon in 1967) were produced, of which two were S4’s and seven were Ford powered; only a few righthand drive cars are thought to still exist.
This 1973 example is a real delight, coming from the custodianship of a collector of several ISOs and other rare and desirable Italian cars of the 1960s and 70s. The Fidia is one of a handful of RHD versions still in existence, rarer still in that it is fitted with the Ford V8 power plant.
According to the original build sheet the ISO was built on 20th July 1973, with the additional options of electronic ignition, automatic transmission, electric sunroof, power steering, a large sump pan, oil cooler, seat belts and Michelin tyres. The car was subsequently imported into the UK by Wood and Krailing Limited, a Lancia dealership based at that time in Theydon Boyle, Essex, and was first registered on 20th December 1973. Amongst the four previous owners are the importing dealership and Chris Lackner, the ISO & Bizzarrini Owners Club UK President. Chris compiled a chronological summary of the car’s account, which is contained within the history file.
Finished in the classic (and original) combination of mid-blue metallic with a Champagne leather interior, the Fidia exudes a level of plushness that only the very best luxury GT cars of the 70s are able to achieve. The driver is kept well informed with an array of instruments, the Nardi steering wheel keeps one heading in the right direction, and entertainment is provided by a high quality McIntosh sound system.
Now showing a recorded 51,500 miles from new, this example has enjoyed some sensible modifications in recent years, which have allowed the current owner to undertake European road trips with ease, and at speed. Alloy cylinder heads have been added, the gearbox upgraded to the later Ford ‘Automatic Over Drive’ (AOD) unit giving the driver better reliability and usability. The suspension has been overhauled with new bushes, and a vented disc brake conversion has been added. The Fidia is offered with a current UK V5 registration document and MoT test certificate.
This is a genuinely a super rare, extremely powerful, fast and comfortable GT car which is capable of transporting four people cross continent with consummate ease. A  wonderful proposition for the discerning collector.
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Address
Blenheim Palace
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
OX20 1PP
Date02 Jul 2016
Time1:00 PM
Viewing
Friday 1st July from 12.00am to 6.00pm
On the day of the sale from 10.00am to start of sale
LocationBlenheim Palace, Woodstock, UK
AdmissionAdmission by Catalogue (Admits Two)



Wednesday 29 June 2016

1935 ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY 17hp SPORTS FOURSOME - BRIGHTWELLS AUCTION 13/07/16

COMING TO AUCTION
From Classic Chatter: www.classicchatter.co.uk



WEDNESDAY 13th JULY 2016
EASTERS COURT, LEOMINSTER, HEREFORDSHIRE, HR6 0DE

1935 ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY 17hp SPORTS FOURSOME

Armstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports FoursomeArmstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports FoursomeArmstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports FoursomeArmstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports FoursomeArmstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports Foursome
Armstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports FoursomeArmstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports FoursomeArmstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports FoursomeArmstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports FoursomeArmstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports Foursome
Armstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports FoursomeArmstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports FoursomeArmstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports FoursomeArmstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports FoursomeArmstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports Foursome
Lot number70
Estimate£10,000 - £12,000
DescriptionArmstrong Siddeley 17hp Sports Foursome
RegistrationBYT 977
Year1935
ColourGrey
Engine size2,396 cc
Chassis No.31981
Engine No.4673
DocumentsV5C; buff logbook; one old MOT; photos of restoration; two handbooks etc
One of the great Coventry marques, Armstrong Siddeley Motors was formed in 1919 by a merger between Armstrong Whitworth and the Siddeley Deasey Motor Company.

With a strong background in aircraft development which fed into the design of their cars, the company quickly gained a reputation for fine engineering, craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail – ‘The Car of Aircraft Quality’ as the advertising slogan had it.

The range had developed into a a wide spread of models by the 1930s, from the small 12hp to the fabulous 5-litre Siddeley Special. During the Second World War the Parkside factory produced tank engines, torpedoes, airframes and engines for Lancaster bombers – attracting considerable attention from the Luftwaffe!

Quickly finding their feet once war was over, Armstrong Siddeley was among the first British manufacturers to produce a new range of cars, the 16hp, Lancaster, Whitley, Hurricane and Typhoon being wholly new and modern designs followed by the Sapphire and Star Sapphire in 1958. Car production ceased in 1960 in favour of increased production of aircraft engines and these facilities are now part of the Rolls-Royce organisation.

Their most sporting model was the 17hp Sports Foursome short chassis which was launched in 1934 and produced until 1938. It had a six-cylinder in-line monobloc engine displacing 2,396cc with a four bearing crankshaft, balanced alloy pistons, overhead valves and a downdraught Claudel-Hobson carburettor.

Transmission was via a four-speed preselector gearbox with a Salisbury rear axle and semi-elliptic springs all round, underslung at rear. Steering was by worm and nut, with Enot’s ‘one shot’ central lubrication system and a permanently installed jacking system. The extremely attractive bodywork was by Burlington of Coventry and featured a four-seat, two-door pillarless coupe with ingenious front side windows that both slid back and forth and wound up and down.

Registered new in 1935 to Lady Grace Dance, widow of the late Sir George Dance, theatre impresario and great friend of King George VI, she remained loyal to the Armstrong Siddeley marque long after his death, this being their third or fourth new example. The vendor has been told that the Imperial War Museum holds a photograph of her driving the car through the gates at Buckingham Palace and also that footage exists in a British Pathe News clip showing the car, again being driven by Lady Grace, arriving at a concert in London with jazz star Charlie Kunz.

The buff logbook lists her as its first owner, along with a number of new owners as the years went by. The car's history file contains a book of photographs showing details of a protracted bare chassis restoration that took place in what looks like the 1980s.

The vendor acquired the car in 2013 with just a few minor finishing off jobs remaining, the car having had very little use since its comprehensive restoration was all but completed. He fitted a stainless exhaust, renewed much of the wiring and fitted a new battery, petrol pump and fresh tyres, bringing the car back to good health. Sadly he has found it a bit too cramped for his extended frame and so has not been able to enjoy it has he had hoped.

This is a great pity, as the extremely handsome bodywork is in very sound condition, along with the engine and preselector gearbox which also function as they should. The interior is a particularly nice place to be, retaining its original red leather upholstery which is in super, patinated condition with a good headlining, although the car would be further enhanced with a new set of new carpets.

The low-slung chassis, refined yet powerful engine and particularly elegant pillarless coachwork conspire to make this one of the most attractive pre-war sports saloons available, a fact no doubt appreciated by Lady Grace when she took delivery 81 years ago

Tuesday 28 June 2016

1962 FIAT OSCA 1600S COUPE - COYS BLENHEIM PALACE 02/07/16

COMING TO AUCTION
Brought to you by: www.classicchatter.co.uk
Classics are our Passion



1962 FIAT OSCA 1600 S COUPÈ


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The O.S.C.A. developed Fiat 1600 S Coupe stems from the end of the era of the Modena-based Maserati brothers, who between the wars, gained a first class reputation as suppliers of the Trident badged racing cars to privateer drivers. 1938 saw the sale of their eponymous company to Industrialist Adolfo Orsi.
To their discontent, Orsi’s son Omer, was pressing for the construction of road cars. Towards the end of 1947, their service contract completed, the three surviving brothers went off to form O.S.C.A. (Special Organization for the Construction of Automobiles) in nearby Bologna.
Nevere more than 30 cars a year were built consisting of mainly small engined sports racing cars. There was an outright victory at the 1954 Sebring 24hrs and numerous class wins at Le Mans and in the Mille Miglia. In a reversal of the policy that led them to leave Maserati, the brothers began building GT cars using a tuned 1.598 cc Fiat engine and with disc brakes on all four wheels. Each car was built to individual requirements and bodies came from Zagato, Fissore, Boneschi Touring and Morelli.
The Fiat Osca 1600S Coupè that we have for sale here is a 1st series which can be identified by the air vent on the bonnet compared to a series 2 car. It is offered with its French papers and is said by the vendor to be in good condition. A beautiful car that looks superb finished in White, this represents a good opportunity to own a stylish Italian car with racing origins.
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Address
Blenheim Palace
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
OX20 1PP
Date02 Jul 2016
Time1:00 PM
Viewing
Friday 1st July from 12.00am to 6.00pm
On the day of the sale from 10.00am to start of sale
LocationBlenheim Palace, Woodstock, UK
AdmissionAdmission by Catalogue (Admits Two)
SOURCE: http://www.coys.co.uk/blenheim-palace-2016

Monday 27 June 2016

1966 FORD LOTUS CORTINA MK.I - COYS BLENHEIM PALACE SALE

COMING TO AUCTION
Part of Classic Chatter: www.classicchatter.co.uk
Classics Are Our Passion


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1966 FORD LOTUS CORTINA MK.I

Please be aware: Library Photos
The immortal Lotus Cortina by Ford of Dagenham, in England, is one of the most charismatic, best loved and universally successful high-performance cars ever to represent the great globalized American company’s famous blue-oval badge.
The two-door Ford Cortina GT had already been proven in rallies and circuit racing when Ford executive Walter Hayes approached Colin Chapman to produce a world-beating racing saloon, following up a series of successful Ford-powered Lotus Formula Junior single-seaters. The plan called for Lotus to assemble 1000 cars to homologate the model for FIA Group 2 racing.
Engineer Harry Mundy – who had previously helped design the Formula 1 World Championship-winning Coventry Climax engines – had been commissioned by Chapman to design a twin-overhead camshaft cylinder head to top the Ford 1500 Kent engine’s “unburstable bottom end”.
Cosworth Engineering helped develop and fine-tune these engines, while the Ford 4-speed gearbox as specified for the Lotus Elan was adopted for the Cortina program. Colin Chapman significantly revised the Ford Cortina’s suspension, changing the spring and damper rates, reducing the ride height, and utilizing coil springs at the rear. The body shell was lightened with aluminium skins in the doors, hood and trunk lid. Aluminium was also adopted for the clutch housing, remote gearshift extension and differential case. The standard full-width front bumper was replaced by quarter bumpers. Lotus badges were added externally while the interior featured bucket front seats, pistol-grip handbrake and a wood-rim alloy-spoked steering wheel.
Production began in February 1963, with homologation being achieved in September 1963 despite production not yet having reached the FIA’s 1,000-off minimum. Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Jackie Stewart, Vic Elford, Jack Sears, Sir John Whitmore, and Jacky Ickx all raced Cortinas. Jim Clark – multiple F1 World Champion and Indy 500 winner, also won the 1964 British Saloon Car Championship in his works version.
The production Lotus Cortina was itself updated, the 1965 homologation model returning to leaf springs in place of coil-springs at the rear. The engines were tuned by 1962 F1 World Champion constructor BRM. By the end of production late in 1966 it is believed that some 2894 Lotus Cortinas had been built, virtually all finished in Ermine White with Sherwood Green body band and flash. In 1967 a Lotus Cortina Mark II followed, assembled by Ford not Lotus, and therefore not allocated a Lotus type number.
A well known and much admired and respected example by the Lotus Cortina Register, PBF 489D is in beautiful condition both mechanically and cosmetically. A later air flow model on leaf springs, this example shows an odometer reading of 88,700 miles which is believed to be genuine and is supplied with many older MoT test certificates, invoices and a copy of ‘The Quarter Bumper’ Club Magazine in a very good history file. The interior is highly original and un-restored and all panels are straight and present extremely well. The car was subject to light recommissioning by the previous vendor-who is a Lotus Cortina Register member and now runs and drives as it should.
Unquestionably one of Britain’s icons of the Swinging Sixties, the Lotus Cortina remains a saloon car racing legend and a memorable ‘giant killer’ capable of far more than its modest looks would suggest. The chance to acquire a genuine Lotus Cortina is a rare one, and should not be overlooked today.
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AUCTION DETAILS

  
Address
Blenheim Palace
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
OX20 1PP
Date02 Jul 2016
Time1:00 PM
Viewing
Friday 1st July from 12.00am to 6.00pm
On the day of the sale from 10.00am to start of sale
LocationBlenheim Palace, Woodstock, UK
AdmissionAdmission by Catalogue (Admits Two)


Sunday 26 June 2016

1988 MASERATI BI TURBO 250 COUPE - COYS AUCTION

COMING TO AUCTION
Brought to you by: www.classicchatter.co.uk



1988 MASERATI BI TURBO 250 COUPE


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There is no denying the Biturbo’s style and flair reflect the earliest cars to come from Bologna.’ – Mark Gillies, Autocar.
Maserati’s mainstream model throughout the 1980s and the first series-production road car to employ a twin turbo-charged engine, the Biturbo debuted in two-door form 1982. Intended to challenge BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the luxury sporting saloon market, the Biturbo was of conventional, front engine/rear drive layout and featured all-independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, and an interior boasting sumptuous leather upholstery and plentiful wood veneer trim.
The all-steel unitary chassis/body was styled in-house and built by Innocenti, part of the De Tomaso empire like Maserati. ZF five-speed manual and three-speed automatic were the two transmission options initially while a limited-slip differential came as standard. Produced initially with a 2.0-litre, three-valves-per-cylinder V6, the Biturbo gained 2.5-litre, 2.8-litre and 24-valve engines as the model range expanded throughout the 1980s to include four-door saloon and spyder variants.
Having covered a mere 29,700 miles from new, this wonderful Zagato bodied BiTurbo is finished in ivory with a tan leather interior, – including suede door inserts. The car has been in a collection for the last 15 years and is offered today in very good condition, and fitted with its factory body kit and spoiler this is a Maserati for the collector, and has to be one of the lowest mileage examples available worldwide. Offered with a realistic reserve.
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AUCTION DETAILS

Address
Blenheim Palace
Woodstock, Oxfordshire
OX20 1PP
Date02 Jul 2016
Time1:00 PM
Viewing
Friday 1st July from 12.00am to 6.00pm
On the day of the sale from 10.00am to start of sale
LocationBlenheim Palace, Woodstock, UK
AdmissionAdmission by Catalogue (Admits Two)
 




Friday 24 June 2016

2016 Bentley Continental GT V8 S Convertible - BONHAMS GOODWOOD FoS 24/06/16

COMING TO AUCTION
Brought to you by: www.classicchatter.co.uk


GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED SALE
FRIDAY 24th JUNE 2016
GOODWOOD CIRCUIT, CHICHESTER

The world's first and only British Pop Art Bentley, this unique Continental GT V8 S Convertible is the result of a collaboration between Bentley Motors and the godfather of British Pop Art, Sir Peter Blake,2016 Bentley Continental GT V8 S Convertible  Chassis no. SCBGE23W6GC058251

The world's first and only British Pop Art Bentley, this unique Continental GT V8 S Convertible is the result of a collaboration between Bentley Motors and the godfather of British Pop Art, Sir Peter Blake

2016 Bentley Continental GT V8 S Convertible

Chassis no. SCBGE23W6GC058251
*Unique design by Sir Peter Blake
*Hand-built by Bentley's Mulliner division
*All proceeds to the Care2Save charity
*To be sold without reserve

FOOTNOTES

  • All proceeds from the sale of the car will go to the Care2Save Charitable Trust, which supports palliative and hospice care around the world. 

    This is your only chance to be the owner of 
    Sir Peter Blake's unique Bentley artwork.


    Sir Peter Blake
    Born in Dartford, Kent in 1932, Sir Peter Blake is a British Pop Art icon, best known for co-creating the sleeve design for the Beatles' 1967 chart-topping album, 'Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'. His work crosses all generational divides, and inspires immense respect from younger artists such as Damien Hirst, Gavin Turk, Pure Evil and Tracey Emin. Knighted in 2002, an honorary doctor of the Royal College of Art, and with his work represented in major collections throughout the world, Peter Blake truly is a grandee of British Art.

    Peter Blake's work reflects his fascination with all streams of popular culture and the beauty to be found in everyday objects and surroundings. Many of his works feature printed materials such as photographs, comic strips or advertising texts, combined with bold geometric patterns and the use of primary colours. The works perfectly capture the effervescent and optimistic ethos of the sixties, but are also strikingly fresh and contemporary. Blake is renowned for his connection with the music industry, having produced iconic album covers not only for the Beatles but also Paul Weller, The Who, and Oasis.

    Lovingly brought to life by the craftspeople at Bentley Motors, this is the first luxury car designed by Sir Peter Blake. 


    The Design
    Throughout the exterior of the car, the use of collage – a major element of Sir Peter's work - demonstrates bright but clearly defined colour. St Luke's Blue - a bespoke colour introduced by Sir Peter and named in homage to Bentley's local St Luke's Cheshire Hospice - dominates the car's rear haunches, doors, and boot lid, with a British Racing Green lower body and Fuchsia Pink radiator shell. The bright paintwork compliments the black exterior trim and a black hood, incorporating a darker sub-tone while allowing the bright exterior colours to take prominence.

    Perhaps the most striking feature of this one-of-a-kind car is a St James' Red heart motif hand painted onto the Continental Yellow bonnet, a symbol in-keeping with the compassionate work of hospices. The cabin is also an expression of individuality, with each seat trimmed in a different hide colour: Cumbrian Green, Imperial Blue, Newmarket Tan, and Hotspur, reflecting the tonal shades of the exterior surfaces. The same colours are echoed on the sports steering wheel, which features a Hotspur outer rim, Newmarket Tan inner rim, and Cumbrian Green centre, with Imperial Blue stitching. The vivid pink leather gear lever stands out against the centre console, while the dashboard and interior door panels are all veneered by Bentley's craftspeople in a rich Piano Black finish.

    Sir Peter's signature is incorporated onto the fascia panel and embroidered on all four seat headrests. To finish, unique storage cases feature a Piano Black veneer outer but with Continental Yellow and Pillar Box red internal linings to reflect the bonnet colour theme. A distinctive treadplate, bearing the legend 'No. 1 of 1' and signifying that this is a Sir Peter Blake design, finishes the car. These unique features have been delivered through Bentley's specialist bespoke coachbuilding division, Mulliner. Entrusted with the build, Mulliner ensured that every detail was delivered to the highest standard.

    The car is offered as UK registered with a V5C and an unlimited-mileage three-year Bentley warranty. Sir Peter Blake's design also includes a personalised playlist from the artist's favourite music. Sir Peter Blake himself said of his creation, 'I am proud to have been involved with transforming this beautiful car, and have enormous admiration for the people at Bentley who brought my design into being, to produce this one-off lovely car.'

    Sir Peter continued: 'When Bentley approached me about this project I was excited by the challenge. Care2Save is a wonderful charity and I was glad I could do something to raise money and awareness for them. Bentley is a British icon, so I wanted to incorporate an element of that sense of tradition by using British Racing Green-alongside strong blocks of primary colour- in the design. I wanted the car to be bright and bold, keeping the design as simple as possible, so that the beautiful lines of the car could speak for themselves, but also create a design that reflected the motifs and patterns that I have used in my work throughout my career. Hopefully the finished result is joyous and unique. It was great fun working with the very skilled people at Bentley, I truly admire the craftsmanship and attention to detail they embody.'

    Peter Blake also created two limited edition prints inspired by the project: the immediate sell-out 'I Love Bentley' on the occasion of the car's unveiling, and 'Bentley by Blake' in celebration of Bonhams' auction at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. All proceeds from print sales go to Care2Save. Blake worked with the Bentley team to create the car design at Worton Hall Studios, Isleworth where he also made the print editions. Edition #1 of 'I love Bentley' and 'Bentley by Blake' are included in the Lot.


    The Process
    The relationship started when the three parties - Sir Peter, Bentley and Care2Save - met for the first time at the end of 2015. Bentley wanted to create a striking car that celebrated Sir Peter's iconic style and linked to the work of Care2Save, a charitable cause of key importance to Bentley colleagues.

    Sir Peter wanted to use bright primary tones on key areas of the body, so he asked Bentley which areas would work best in terms of shape and surface area. Once agreed, Sir Peter selected the desired shades from Bentley's extensive colour pallet. 

    Commenting on this individual commission and the Charitable Trust, Kevin Rose, Bentley's Member of the Board for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, said: 'Sir Peter has designed a strikingly colourful car, encapsulating exactly why he is thought of as one of Britain's leading artists. It was a fascinating project to be part of, particularly for the skilled artisans in our bespoke Mulliner division, who worked closely with Sir Peter to bring this design to life.

    'We have proudly supported the Care2Save Charitable Trust and the hospice movement for more than many years and so take great delight from donating this inimitable car for such a worthwhile cause.'


    The Car
    Introduced in 2003 and substantially updated in 2015, the Continental GT is the first all-new design to emerge from Bentley's historic Crewe factory following the iconic British car-maker's acquisition by Volkswagen in 1998. Its arrival represented a new departure for Bentley and bought in a new era of performance combined with extraordinary luxury never before seen. It was the main contributor to the company moving from a 1,000 car a year business to sales of 10,000 cars in 2007.

    After years of speculation about what form it would take, the Continental GT made its debut at the Paris Salon in October 2002 when it was revealed that the new 2+2 coupé would be powered by a twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 engine. Producing 552bhp at 6,000rpm, the latter was coupled to a ZF six-speed automatic gearbox and permanent four-wheel-drive transmission. Although considered by some to be rather brutal, the new streamlined styling was distinctive and thoroughly in keeping with the idea of a Bentley for the 21st Century. Maximum speed was within a whisker of 200mph, with the 0-60mph dash accomplished in 4.6 seconds. 



    A host of spin-off models followed, commencing with four-door Continental Flying Spur in 2005; the first convertible version - the Continental GTC - was offered in 2006. 

    With the second generation's arrival in 2011, a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 engine became available, which with 500bhp on tap was only marginally less powerful than the 6.0-litre W12. This new V8 motor incorporates fuel-saving 'cylinder deactivation' technology, enabling it to achieve an overall consumption of around 26mpg compared with the W12's 17. Announced in 2013, the Continental GT V8 S boasted a more powerful (521bhp) engine together with lowered suspension and improved body control to match the higher output. Other noteworthy features included an aerodynamic front splitter, discrete side sills, a rear diffuser, exclusive 20" wheels, and red-painted brake callipers, all of which was complimented by a wide range of options enabling customers to personalise their cars. 


    The Cause
    Bentley has supported hospice care for many years and has a close relationship with its local hospice, St Luke's, located near the company's headquarters in Crewe. Many colleagues have experienced the great work that St Luke's does to care for loved ones at a very difficult time in their lives. Colleagues actively fundraise and volunteer for the charity and have even helped them refurbish a double-decker bus in Bentley livery to help their fundraising efforts. Bentley recently donated tickets to its exclusive Power on Ice customer ice driving experience to raise funds, and importantly, profile for the hospice cause. This year, Bentley is donating two cars to put a spotlight on the hospice and palliative care movement and raise significant funds to help people in the UK and around the world. 


    A message from St Luke's Cheshire Hospice and Care2Save

    Very often people who need palliative care are scared; they have difficult and sometimes painful symptoms, and all this while they worry about the people they will eventually leave behind. 

    If you have ever known anyone receiving palliative care, or living with a terminal illness, you will know these are just a few of the struggles a patient will go through on a daily basis. For almost three decades, St Luke's Hospice and Bentley Motors have been working together to improve end of life and palliative care in Mid & South Cheshire.

    The organisations started their relationship over 28 years ago and since that time have worked solidly together to fundraise for their shared local community in Cheshire, to improve the care given to those facing the end of their lives.

    Combining their expertise in the hospice and motoring sectors, St Luke's and Bentley have collaborated on several innovative fundraising initiatives that have seen hundreds of thousands of pounds flood in to the hospice to help its patients live more comfortably, and help its staff deliver an excellent level of care to those often living their final days.


    Up until now the most significant of these collaborations was 'Luke', a double-decker Routemaster bus which Bentley staff renovated to support the hospice with its fundraising efforts. The bus acted as a catalyst, making the two companies think bigger; they began to think how they could make their campaigns more effective, more ambitious, and – most importantly of all – help people on a wider scale than ever previously imagined. It was then that the initial concept of the Bentley by Blake campaign was devised.

    St Luke's always had ambitions of transforming palliative care on a global scale, and thanks to its longevity of community care, has the expertise and experience to educate people on why palliative care needs to change – today. Realising a separate initiative was needed to bring St Luke's ambitions to life without compromising the day-to-day care that the hospice delivers, the Care2Save Charitable Trust was born to support palliative care globally. 

    Every year, 40 million people around the world are in need of palliative care, yet 86% of them – 34.4 million people – will not receive the care they need. The UK – although ranked as the leading country when it comes to palliative care – faces its own challenge as part of this global crisis to improve standards and services to those receiving palliative care, with a recent report highlighting that four in ten hospitals are offering poor or indifferent care to the dying.

    Out of those who need palliative care around the world, 78% live in low- and middle-income countries and for children, 98% live in low- and middle-income countries, with almost half living in Africa. And in these countries, the situation is bleak. While in the UK we might receive chemotherapy, radiotherapy, have access to opioid relief and palliative care experts when approaching our final days, many living with terminal illnesses in deprived countries are lucky to receive even paracetamol. 


    There is such disparity in the cost of care, too; few realise the impact even the smallest donation could make to palliative care across the world. A donation of £500 ensures a patient nearing the end of their life in the UK receives 24 hours of one-to-one care from a palliative care nurse or doctor. In Uganda, for example, that same £500 would be enough money to guarantee a full care package for 28 terminally ill patients, for seven days. 

    While you might deliberate over buying an extra loaf of bread, or that tempting bar of chocolate, to someone living in Uganda that money is the lifeline they need to enjoy a few pain free days. A donation of just £1.50 would be enough to cover the cost of a week's worth of liquid morphine for a Ugandan cancer patient. Imagine the difference if that donation were £150, or £1,500.

    The proceeds of the Bentley by Blake auction, and any other donations received will not simply be used as 'hand outs'; they will be used to create a lasting legacy. Working in partnership with organisations and charities across the world, the Care2Save Charitable Trust will invest into education at a grass roots level, so youngsters hoping to start a career in healthcare are taught at the earliest opportunity the importance of delivering effective, efficient palliative care that ensures the dying are treated with dignity. They will be equipped with the skills to set up their own sustainable and affordable palliative and hospice care models. 

    Closer to home, the donations will be used to close the gaps we have in the palliative and hospice care system in the UK but it is only through your donations that those receiving palliative care in other countries will receive anything remotely similar. 

    It is our mission to use our experience and knowledge to educate and empower others around the world to care and support individuals and families who are affected by serious and terminal illness.

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