8:45 pm, May 21, 2011
STAFF and customers are celebrating a special moment in BCA Blackbushe’s history – the auction site is 25 years old.
Officially opened by HRH Prince Michael of Kent on May 20, 1986, BCA Blackbushe has become Europe’s largest vehicle auction centre at more than 60 acres, and sells four days a week.
On the busiest sale days Blackbushe will sell a car every 20 seconds and generate a turnover of up to £8m.
The centre will stage a number of events during a four week celebration period commencing on May 25, including competitions, spot prizes and a draw for tickets to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
There will also be a special fundraising day for the locally-based Make-A-Wish Foundation UK, the charity which is also celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Blackbushe general manager Darren Betteridge said: ‘Blackbushe really is the hub of the used vehicle trade in the South, although customers will travel from all over the UK and even further afield to attend our sales. We will celebrate our 25th Jubilee in fine style in partnership with some of our biggest sellers and present an even wider choice of vehicles for our many thousands of buyer customers.’
Throughout its 25 years, Blackbushe has sold some interesting cars – from TV icons Jonesey’s van from Dad’s Army which sold for £10,400 and Bergerac’s Triumph Roadster which sold for £16k, to Rod Stewart’s Lamborghini Countach which raised £61,500 and Lady Diana Spencer’s Austin Metro which made £6,100.
