Member Article

Durham workshop launches classic car showroom

An internationally renowned Aston Martin sales and restoration workshop is driving expansion with the opening of a new showroom dedicated to the finest non Aston classic and exotic cars.

County Durham-based Aston Workshop has opened Car Barn - a specialist 1000sqm purpose built site, which has created six new jobs in sales and servicing roles following a £500,000 investment in the building.

Car Barn is the product of Aston Workshop’s response to a growing demand for affordable non Aston classic cars, and features a range of iconic models for sale such as Bentley, Mercedes, Ferrari – and even a Porsche which once belonged to David Bowie, with costs starting from £20,000.

The site also boasts a body shop with dedicated booths for aluminium and steel fabrication and panel repairs and restoration, as well as the latest paint booth and preparation facilities, enabling the team to prepare and paint cars to the highest standards.

This is coupled with a state of the art servicing facility where staff will be able to undertake any degree of maintenance work on any make of car.

The launch of Car Barn marks the latest in a line of developments at the Aston Workshop, which is owned by Bob Fountain and has provided globally renowned restoration services since 1988.

The workshop received Aston service status in 2009, and opened the neighbouring gastro pub – the Black Horse Beamish – in 2010. Then in 2011, the company joined forces with long established North East classic car company Macdonald Racing to launch Beamish Morgan Ltd - the only Morgan car dealer in the North of England. Beamish Morgan welcomes visitors from around the world on a regular basis and is now based on the same site as Car Barn.

Bob Fountain, owner of Aston Workshop, said: “We’ve had enormous success in recent years and, as we see so many non Aston Martin cars passing through our showroom, we felt that the time was right to create a site specially dedicated to amazing non Aston makes.

“Many of our sales come from overseas, from Europe to the USA and Asia. We are keen for car fans closer to home – and not looking for an Aston - to benefit from the world class facilities and top standards of service we have here.

“That’s why Car Barn benefits from the same expertise and resources that have earned Aston Workshop its top international reputation, but based within an exclusive area where the focus and emphasis is purely on non Astons.”

The team are looking for a wide range of cars to showcase in Car Barn and welcome enquiries from those thinking of selling their car. They have also introduced a Car Scout scheme, meaning that if you, as a ‘car scout’, source a classic or exotic car that Car Barn subsequently buys, Car Barn will pay a pre-agreed commission.

To find out more, visit www.carbarn.co.uk, call 01207 606 120, email sales@carbarn.co.uk or like Car Barn – Aston Workshop on Facebook.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Aston Workshop .