11:23 am, December 28, 2012
FORMER F1 World Champion Nigel Mansell is opening a CAR DEALERSHIP on Jersey.
The grand prix legend is setting up shop with his son Leo in St Helier in an historic Art Deco building.
Car buyers will be treated to a mini museum of Mansell memorabilia on one floor while the father and son duo source them a car on another.
‘We want to throw our net and have the opportunity of anyone in Jersey coming and seeing if we can be of any assistance,’ Mansell told the Daily Telegraph.
‘Whatever the budget the customer has, that’s an important budget to them, and to us. We are going to develop a more personal way of doing business.
‘We are not looking at quantity, we are looking at quality and that makes a big difference in how you trade. With the experience we have and with the enthusiasm that the Mansell team have, and our history in motorsport and the car industry, we are looking at doing things a little bit differently.’
Mansell is no stranger to car dealing. He once owned a Ferrari dealership and several franchises of Westover Motors on the south coast.
Son Leo told the national paper that word had already got around the island that they were in business and they had already begun sourcing cars after enquiries from their website.
The dealership is laid out over two floors – on the ground floor is the car showroom, where a selection of cars can be found, while on the first floor is the Mansell museum where buyers will be able to see the Williams FW14B in which Nigel won the world championship in 1992.
The family firm’s website says they cater for buyers with a budget of £4,000 upwards and promises ‘no hard sell’.
‘If it’s not here, we’ll go and find it,’ promises the firm. ‘Whether you’re looking for a supermini, sports coupe, cabriolet, 4×4 or even a racing car – we’ll find it for you. If it isn’t in stock, our guys will go out there and source the best one just for you.’
