Shell Art Deco garage recreation furnished with rare Cars International stock

Cars International Kensington, a leading worldwide supplier of high-performance road and racing cars, teamed up with Shell at the ever-popular Goodwood Revival last weekend (31 August – 2 September 07) to provide the record crowds with a stunning new attraction.

The dream-like recreation of the fabulous Shell ‘Woad Corner’ fifties garage was made real by a mouth watering collection of Cars International’s rare cars filling the forecourt. The garage, which took its name from the original Shell site in Newport Pagnell, proved to be  much  more  than  a  cardboard  cut-out. 

The  sensational  Art  Deco-style  period  car  show room, with matching petrol pump and kiosk also housed a working garage, where the Cars International team prepared its luscious Ferrari 250 Lusso racing car. It was an appropriate setting during long-time Shell partner Ferrari’s 60th birthday celebrations.

“It  was  a  real  privilege  to  be  invited  to  work  with  Shell,  one  of  the  most  iconic  brands  in motor sport. Goodwood probably offers the only setting in the world, where could recreate the  glamour  and  romance  of  the  1930s  car  show  rooms  and  petrol  stations,”  said  Cars International Kensington co-owner Paul Osborn who partnered media man Tony Jardine in the  car  in  the  prestigious  Tourist  Trophy  race  -  the  jewel  in  the  crown  of  the  Goodwood Revival.

Cars  International  co-owner,  Jonathan  Kaiser  orchestrated  the  delivery  of  Ferrari  models from the company’s showroom in Kensington, which included 1967-season Ferrari 312 F1 car, and the Ferrari 250 SWB.  The collection fitted in well with the Goodwood ambience - once  described  as  a  huge  film  set  with  all  the  spectators  and  participants  becoming  film extras for the weekend. The  exceptional  display  welcomed  some  very  distinguished  window  shoppers  during  the weekend including  Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, Murray Walker, musician Jay Kay and former Arsenal star Ian Wright. 

Jonathan Kaiser commented, “We had a top class Art Deco-period base  from  which  to  display  our  great  cars  whilst  demonstrating  the  other  side  of  our business  -  Cars  International  Service  and  F1  Hire  -  that  prepares  everything  from  1960’s GT’s to late model F1 cars and the hire division has available a variety of both road and race cars for both TV and film companies.” Cars  International  Service,  the  racecar  preparation  and  restoration  arm  of  the  business headed up by Tim Preston, a former F1 engineer to the likes of Jenson Button, Damon Hill and Juan Pablo Montoya, prepared the car at the Shell Art Deco garage.

Preston  commented,  “We  attracted  a  huge  audience  as  people  watched  our  technicians fettling our precious Ferrari  in period setting while other entrants had to make do with the ordinary open shelter.” Preston added, “The Goodwood Revival is a unique opportunity for motoring fans to feed their passion for classic cars, presenting them with a rare chance to get up close to these rare beauties.”