A BROTHER and sister run classic car dealership and coffee shop that is ‘like a little Beaulieu’ is the Daily Echo’s Trader of the Week.
Ashley Automotive and Lockett Fuel, based in Wallisdown Road, are run by Kiera Lockett-Chadwick and Ryan Lockett.
The car dealership, Ashley Automotive, has been trading for close to a decade, and moved into the old Kwik Fit during the pandemic.
“The dealership was already up and running as a successful business, but because of the sort of stock we were keeping we were looking to turn it into a showroom and make it visible to the public, it was a shame to hide those beauties away,” Kiera, 29, said.
“With the space that we had, we saw the opportunity to put in the coffee shop, because there’s nothing really in the area.
“It comes hand in hand with customers purchasing vehicles because it’s nice for the experience.”
Ryan, 41, said the business began as he started dealing ‘what most car dealers won’t touch’.
“Unusual stuff, the stuff you don’t see every day,” he said.
“The good thing is most of my customers know what they want by the time they come to me.
“They’re not going to go around looking at 20 different cars to save themselves £20 and aren’t more interested in the warranty package than the actual car – these are toys.”
Notable cars Ryan has sold include a 1923 Model T Ford Hot Rod, an Austin with a crank handle and a Mustang he ‘loved and didn’t want to sell’.
With the constantly changing classic stock, the pair describe the business as a ‘living museum’ and ‘like a little Beaulieu’ – only with the chance to buy.
Ryan spent 15 years as a graphic designer, dabbling in cars, after their father and grandfather were both car dealers on the Isle of Wight – so it is ‘in the blood’.
The businesses are open seven days a week, and anyone is welcome to come to the coffee shop and to take a look around the ever-changing stock of classic vehicles.
Upstairs, the business lets space to Subtle Studio gym and barbers, which opened just over a year ago.
Now, the business has recently opened another warehouse to store vehicles, after it outgrew the space, with Ryan also recently launching a car storage company named Stash.
For more information on the businesses, visit @LockettFuel and @Ashley.Automotive on Instagram.
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