A classic car restored by apprentices at a Bridgnorth garage in Shropshire England has received a podium finish in a global contest for charity, and raised more than £30,000 for UNICEF. The 1954 Lancia Aurelia was one of hundreds from around the world entered in the ‘virtual’, Global Concours, and came third in the Post War Grand Tourer class.The competition included 245 cars entered into 18 classes ranging from pre-war preservation to 1980s supercars. A panel of expert judges was assigned to each class, to choose a Best of Class, that then went through to the final round of
David Barzilay, who owns the car and is a director at CMC, (Classic Motor Cars), said, “It’s great that the car came third. It was up against vehicles from all over the world including the USA. It’s a massive tribute to our apprentices who have worked on the car during its four-year restoration”.
"CMC is renowned for its restoration of classic cars and is the only company to have won restoration of the year twice. This award is special as it’s the first one that this car has won. It would not have received it without the work of many apprentices who have worked on the vehicle during the restoration process.”
The local lads were Harry Ruffell-Hazell, 20, Ben Morris, 22, and Hayden Cooper, 19.
The team of more than 40 judges included rock legend Nick Mason from Pink Floyd, Olympic cyclist and UNICEF ambassador Sir Chris Hoy, five-times Le Mans winner Derek Bell, Chasing Classic Cars TV star Wayne Carini, Goodwood's The Duke of Richmond, Andrea Zagato of the famous design house, Hagerty CEO McKeel Hagerty, classic car dealer Gregor Fisken, racer Lyn St James and Pebble Beach concours chairman Sandra Button.
Winner of the competition was the Mercedes-Benz 300 SLR ‘722’ which Stirling Moss drove to victory in the 1955 Mille Miglia.
Nigel Woodward, managing director of CMC, said: “I am immensely proud of the achievement of our apprentices. To receive global recognition at this level so early in their careers can only spur them on to even greater things."
