Two brothers who are passionate about classic cars are scaling up their car storage business, enabling them to look after more collectible motors for other like-minded enthusiasts.
Petrolhead brothers Antony and David Kingham, who both worked as investment bankers for Meryll Lynch in London, launched their company in 2016, calling it Ecurie 137 because it was the number that their racing driver father, Malcolm King, used in the 1950s when he was racing in the RAC rally.
"Cars are my passion," admitted 54-year-old Antony Kingham. "It's been implanted in me from an early age. As a family we would spend most weekends working on cars and out racing them."
Antony and his 50 year-old brother own 12 classic cars - "some Porsches, and a few Jaguars," which they've amassed in the last 20 years. "We are hoarders," David confessed. "I sell the odd one - but only periodically, as my wife likes to point out."
When they found the perfect location to store their own collection, the brothers decided that the facility, which is tucked away near Great Yeldham, is large enough for plenty of other vintage cars too, and Ecurie 137 was born.
David claims that while other storage companies can be "sterile" in their methods, Ecurie 137 offers a more a personal touch. "I hate the corporate approach," he said. "A young buck might want all that, but I know all the people who have stored their cars with us. Our business is our extended hobby, and it keeps us in the world of classic cars which we know and love."
The Kinghams started their business with space for 50-60 cars, and due to the recent £20,000 expansion, there's now room for another 30.
"We kept the costs down by refurbishing buildings for use, rather than building new ones," David said. "As the business grows, we have the potential to expand again."
Storage costs begin at a flat price, and then the cost of bespoke extras such as servicing, an MOT, rolling the car back and forth to check tyre pressures or taking it out for a spin, are added on.
Although David asserts that he doesn't take his car passion to the extreme, the same cannot be said for some of his customers.
"We have been surprised at how close some people are to their cars," he said. "People tend to have names for their cars, they tend to refer to them in female terms. We look after the cars well because we appreciate how precious they can be to their owners."
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