Richard Hammond Discusses Selling His Entire Car Collection For Business Venture: “I Sold Really Precious Cars”
Fans were surprised to see The Grand Tour presenter Richard Hammond selling almost his entire car collection to fund his latest venture, The Smallest Cog. This is a car restoration business with Hammond at its centre, and the star of Richard Hammond’s Workshop which is similar to co-presenter Jeremy Clarkson’s show, Clarkson’s Farm.
According to the presenter, this sale of his vast collection “hurt” at the time, but with it being for a “good cause” – his restoration business – he was happy to see them go.
“I’ve taken the plunge; I’m taking a risk. I’m putting my money where my mouth is,” he aid at the time.
“It is with a very heavy heart that they go, as they have a great deal of personal sentimental value.
“But they will be funding the future development of the business and giving life back to countless other classic vehicles.”
It’s been a year now and Hammond’s restoration business is picking up pace with it periodically being featured on the DriveTribe YouTube channel and, of course, the Discovery+ show, Richard Hammond’s Workshop.
Talking to Express, Hammond has admitted that he now loves driving his Ford pickup truck over supercars which make him feel like an “idiot”. He was asked what cars he owns now:
“Well, quite a lot fewer now since I had to sell a load of them to set up my workshop business.
“I sold really precious cars, but there’s still quite a lot of them knocking about.
“My favourite day-to-day car is a pickup truck because it’s useful and I need it for the workshop. Most days I am in the workshop because I have an office there and run the production company that makes the show.
“I still have Oliver [1963 Opel Kadett] of course, the little car that I drove across Botswana 16 years ago, which is unbelievable.
“I’ve had Ferraris and Lamborghinis but most of the time I feel like a bit of an idiot.
“The best supercar is somebody else’s that you can drive on a track, really drive it, and then hand the keys back.”
Hammond is now working towards maintaining his business so he can support the people working with him.
“It’s something I’m constantly doing because I am actually running the business.
“I’ve got to make it work. It’s the guys’ living, that’s how they earn a living.”
Series 2 of Richard Hammond’s Workshop is expected to launch to Discovery+ later this year.
