Two Rugby entrepreneurs are celebrating after transforming a used car business during lockdown that’s seen them go from selling vehicles from a driveway to opening their own bespoke showroom. 

Best friends Steve Kempster and Richard Turrall had both spent 10 years working in dealership chains across the region. After losing his job at the start of the pandemic, Kempster risked everything to fulfil a lifelong dream of having his own independent dealership.  

Kempster recalled: “I had £2,000 in savings and I invested it all in two cars. At the same time, I built a website myself, started an account with Auto Trader and registered the business. I made the most of every moment and managed to sell 10 cars within the first month, all from my driveway. 

“There’s not many car salespeople that can say they worked from home, but the low overheads enabled me to invest in more stock in the early days and I focused on showcasing my range online – which worked particularly well during the pandemic.” 

Turrall had always shared his friend’s dream and a few months later he joined Klassified Cars as director. Together they have sold over 300 cars in three years from Kempster’s driveway in Rugby. 

Now, after several months of searching, they finally discovered a suitable location for their first showroom, based on Somers Road in Rugby. The unit was in a state of disrepair, so they spent four months transforming the warehouse into a dream car shop. 

Turrall, said: “As car enthusiasts ourselves, we always wanted our own venue where the vehicles were the star of the show. Our Rugby unit is exactly what we were after – its industrial décor mixes perfectly with the modern artwork we’ve installed, creating a cool yet inviting space for our customers. 

“At Klassified Cars, the customer experience is paramount, and our new showroom has helped us elevate that offering. We pride ourselves on providing exceptional service, transparent pricing and tailored solutions, ensuring a hassle-free and enjoyable car buying process.”