The next generation: Jack Baker of Ashridge Automobiles Ltd

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How does one begin to get interested in classic cars? Parents, neighbours, friends or a summer job, that's how! For 26-year-old Jack Baker it all started eight years ago when he wanted to get some work experience during the summer.  He didn't know much about classic cars but found the right place to learn and has never stopped learning. That place was Ashridge Automobiles Ltd, a classic car dealer based in Bedfordshire, Great Britain, which buys, sells and restores historic cars with a speciality in pre-war Rileys. Being a small business, Jack had the opportunity to learn a lot and was fortunate to have people around him eager to help (and with a lot of patience). He started by learning upholstery work such as door cards, seats and tonneau covers and, as he learned more, he delved into other aspects such as sales and the photography side of the business.

For most of us, the passion for cars is what brings us together, and when we first met, we quickly noticed his passion and his enthusiasm to learn more, whether it was about a 1926 Lafitte cyclecar or a modern Aston Martin. As Jack himself puts it! "No car is ever the same, not even two copies of the same car, and this means there is always something new to learn (often discovered the hard way!)."

The rear wheel came loose…

And learn he did when recently one of the rear wheels of a car Jack was driving came loose and dislodged itself along with the brake drum and half the axle! After removing the wheel from the hedge into which it had fallen, he discovered that the locking plate holding the whole thing in place had apparently broken in the past, but had been re-welded to save a few pennies on the purchase of a replacement part. It may not have been the best time for Jack, but it was certainly memorable!

The future

As for the future of the classic car world, he is positive. "I hope to continue the business or stay in the industry for the next few years. At Ashridge we offer a relaxed, informal environment for people to come along and buy and enjoy cars and I would like to keep it that way while also exploring new ways to share what we do. I am sure that social media will play a bigger role in the future and I would like to try and make informative videos to highlight some of the unique cars we have for sale.

"I also hope to get out more and exhibit cars and maybe even try some competitions and rallies, partly for work but mostly for fun!

"In my opinion, the biggest challenge lies in restoration and in maintaining a network of specialists who can continue to do all the work on our cars. Unfortunately, not all brand experts and traditional craftsmen will be replaced when they retire. In the case of vintage and pre-war cars particularly, with parts such as ash frames, hand-formed bodies and parts that are not re-manufactured, it is going to be more challenging to restore them over the next 10 to 20 years. Those who choose to take on these skills can look forward to a long stream of work from grateful owners — the waiting list for these types of jobs is already quite long!"

Thanks, Jack, for your enthusiasm and we hope you and others will be able to continue learning and help keep our hobby alive!

The dealer page for Ashridge Automobiles Ltd can be found here.

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