Donate a classic car and provide a vital lifeline to the RNLI

Last year two of the world’s rarest Ferraris, donated by generous RNLI supporter Richard Colton, were auctioned by H&H Classics at the Imperial War Museum in Cambridgeshire.*

The cars sold for an impressive £8.5M and made the vehicles the most valuable items ever left to the RNLI.

To celebrate the anniversary of the remarkable lifesaving auction, the RNLI and H&H Classics are asking car enthusiasts to consider donating a classic car for the event in October.

All proceeds raised from the sale of the vehicles will go to the RNLI as no seller fee (normally 5% +VAT) will be charged.

The auction will again be taking place at the Imperial War Museum, Cambridgeshire.

RNLI Community Fundraising Manager, Chloe Shore, said: ‘We were deeply humbled and incredibly grateful for the money that was raised by the sale of Mr Colton’s Ferraris last year. His amazing legacy will ensure that we can continue saving lives at sea for many years to come.

‘To mark the anniversary of the historic sale, we have once again joined forces with H&H Classics and are urging anyone who has a classic car collection to consider donating a vehicle to the auction. Naturally we’re not expecting anything on the scale of Mr Colton’s staggering donation but the sale of each car, large or small, will provide a vital and essential lifeline to our volunteer crews and the people that they save.’

Dominic Lyncker, H&H Classics MD, said: ‘We are delighted to have this partnership with the RNLI following the signal success of our first sale for them which will provide two new lifeboats.  It is a privilege for H&H to be associated with the RNLI and to assist them in their wonderful work.’

For more information about the auction please email: [email protected] or to register an interest in donating a classic car please email: [email protected]

Notes to editors
• The auction will take place between 10.00am and 2pm on 11 October at The Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, CB22 4QR.

• Richard Colton was a Northamptonshire-based businessman who had a distinguished career in footwear distribution and who for 40 years collected and actively campaigned sensational classic cars.

Described by close friends as “a shy and private man”, he was known to be somewhat nervous of the sea, which may have added to his great respect for RNLI volunteers who risk their lives daily around Britain’s coast. When deciding on which charity to leave the legacy of his two classic Ferraris there was only one choice.

Media contacts
For more information, please contact Clare Hopps, RNLI Press Officer, North, on 07824 518641 or at: [email protected] or Julian Roup on 07970 563958 or at: [email protected]

RNLI Picture caption
Photograph credit: Mark Chappell.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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