What inspired you to start AutoPrivé?
Having been involved in finding cars for clients for over fifteen years, invariably I found myself being tasked with other aspects of car ownership such as arranging storage, transportation and assisting with maintenance requirements. Whilst this naturally saved my clients time, I was shocked at the sheer length of time it often took to arrange a simple inspection with a car dealer for example. I realised that such ownership services would be a huge value-add for busy individuals and that this could be expanded to form an automotive concierge service. It was from this that AutoPrivé was born, offering one point of contact for its clients and using suppliers that had been pre-vetted to ensure a seamless, reliable and personal service.
What’s the most interesting car you’ve sourced throughout your years in the business?
One car became particularly interesting because of the request that preceded it. A client called us one evening after watching Top Gear saying how he wanted to buy the sports car that he had just seen, a not uncommon request, until he then mentioned that he wanted the exact car that had been featured. Not only that but he wanted it in six weeks’ time in time for his house-warming party. Fortunately, we knew the director of the niche British manufacturer and after engaging him in the fine art of persuasion he agreed to sell but only on the provision that he could hold on to the car for another three-months for promotional purposes. The client accepted the delay but as luck would have it the completion of his house was pushed back and his new car was delivered in time for the celebrations. Our contacts all helped us to make it possible, but Lady Luck conspired to give us the time to deliver.
Your sourcing services are available through a network of contacts worldwide. What’s the most unusual/unexpected country you’ve sourced a vehicle from?
Sourcing and then exporting a classic Mercedes sports car out of Libya and into Europe was one of our more unusual briefs. The first headache was getting into the country during the conflict to inspect the car and then the next challenge was to navigate the endless bureaucracy to get it out safely and importantly intact! The key throughout the whole process was having local contacts on the ground who could not only be relied upon but who could also assist with streamlining all of the domestic processes. This is why our network of contacts are so important.
Is there an approximate timeframe for vehicle sourcing, and if not, what factors does this depend on?
The timeframe is hugely dependent on either the client or the car in question and often involves a combination of the two. If we have a request for a new Range Rover for example, we can usually process this and arrange delivery within a couple of days. Factors that can extend the timeframe relate to whether the client wants a specific combination of options. With a brand-new car this may lead to a factory order which could take 10- 12 weeks between enquiry and delivery. At the other end of the scale, we are currently assisting a client who wishes to purchase a rare classic car that will most likely take in excess of 6-months to source due to the low built numbers. Thankfully the client understands this and she is happy to give us the necessary time.
You not only source vehicles, but also assist with the selling process. Was this service available from the beginning or was it incorporated at a later date? Assistance with the sale process was always part of our service offering, in keeping with our ethos of offering one point of contact to the client for all of their automotive needs.
When did you begin to offer the other vehicle related concierge services and which of these is highest in demand?
Linked to the above, from the outset I wanted AutoPrivé to go to market as an automotive concierge service so that we could continue to look after our clients during their ownership tenure. The most frequent requests we get are to arrange secure storage, as many of our clients have purchased a car as an investment and therefore want to keep it in prime condition.
We also often get tasked with moving cars from one location to another, especially during the summer holidays or when a car requires servicing. Other requests include professional driver tuition for those clients who want to make the most of their vehicle as well, car detailing and automotive photography for owners who wish to create a special tribute to their car.
Lastly, what’s your dream car?
A question that I often get asked and one that never gets any easier, but after experiencing a client’s example it would have to be a Pagani Zonda Roadster. I have been fortunate to meet Horacio Pagani (Company founder) a number of times and his cars perfectly express his ethos of mixing art, engineering with a generous helping of Italian flair. Pagani Zondas have also proven to be a worthwhile investment and therefore offer a rare case of when both the heart and head can emphatically say yes.
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