The last remnants of the DC Cook dealer group are in administration and will be liquidated at the end of the month.

DC Cook Direct and Indigo Cars were trading names of Sheffield-based holding company Changing Gears, run by Paula Cook, daughter of the late DC Cook founder, Derek Cook.

Indigo Cars occupied a showroom in Sheffield and DC Cook Direct had a site in Manchester. Both sold used and nearly new cars.

Paul Philmore, partner at administrator Tenon Recovery, said the busi-ness had faltered in the wake of the current economic climate and decline in car sales.

“If anyone is owed money we are urging them to get in contact with us to register their conditions. We’ve only just started our investigations and it will take some time to unravel the customer deposit position,” Philmore said.

Approximately 28 people were employed. All have been made redundant.

DC Cook had 27 dealerships when it collapsed in 2001 with debts exceeding £27 million. 

In 2002, Derek Cook made a comeback, launching Motor Solutions, an online business which sold new and used cars at fleet-type discounts through affinity partners. 

Cook subsequently sold a 53% stake to Virgin Group, which rebranded the business Virgin Cars and appointed Cook as its chief executive. 

However, Virgin Cars closed in January 2006, seven months after Cook’s death in a car crash. Customers were referred to DC Cook Direct.