Reunited on the sales floor with an old boss

Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 thriller, To Catch a Thief, starring Grace Kelly and Cary Grant, also featured the 1954 Sunbeam Alpine Sports Convertible made here in Britain.
This one exhibited at the NEC Classic Car Show has its own glamorous model and is exactly the same colour combo as the one in the film.
Unfortunately, the gorgeous girl is not included in the £59,950 price tag. It is on sale at Hurst Park Automobiles, where I teamed up with my old boss from the 1970s.
Michael Wooding, who is approaching 90 years of age, still runs the business with his sons and frankly looks and acts half that age.
There are few businesses like this that have been family run for over 80 years and with such a reputation.
The moment I stepped onto the stand, I was handed a Hurst Park badge and told to get on with it.
The sales routine and show atmosphere quickly took me back to my induction at the 1969 Earls Court Motor Show, selling new Rovers for the same firm and same boss.
New and old customers alike constantly appeared and many just came to say hello and how happy they were with their past purchase. My sales technique was clearly still intact as I concluded a deal on a stunning 1967 Lotus Elan Drophead. I was particularly knowledgeable on this model since my father had owned several of them.
My ongoing ‘pension’ enquiries still seemed to hit a brick wall and were met with ongoing ‘paperwork issues’ and a lot of silence.
Had I tried calling the company accountant perhaps? Well, I would, but I know for sure he retired not long after I left the firm some 48 years ago! It would seem I shall just have to carry on selling their cars where I can!
The NEC produced an all-time price record at the Iconic Classic Car Auction on Saturday. £108,000 for a 1974 Ford Escort RS2000.
The market is still strong in certain areas and Hurst Park sold a good selection of their stock. Thanks to the high quality staff, I suggest!