Online marketplace eBay took part in the Goodwood Festival of Speed’s iconic hillclimb on 11 July, only to see its newly converted 1975 Mk1 Ford Transit ‘eBay Lounge’ break down near the finish.
The vehicle, driven by TV presenter and architect George Clarke, was towed across the line by a Rolls Royce Cullinan support vehicle, after the accelerator pedal failed on the steep assent.
The converted Transit was designed with the help of Peter Stevens, designer of the McLaren F1. Named the eBay Lounge, it has been restored using period-correct running gear, brakes and suspension, all sourced from the online marketplace, with the interior undergoing extensive changes, allowing it to operate as a pop-up eBay Store.
Slow start for eBay Lounge
Surrounded by vintage racing cars, modern electric vehicles and a celebration of the BMW M Series, the eBay Lounge Mk1 Transit took to the hill climb to the amusement of the crowd. With the large eBay decals on the side, the converted classic van certainly stood out.
Speaking to Goodwood TV after the vehicle was recovered, Clark stated: “We have only just finished the work on it all, and the accelerator pedal hit the floor as I was coming up the hill, which is where I needed the most acceleration.
“It is a bit of fun and we have converted the van into a lounge. It has got a lot of character, and it was brilliant. At the bottom of the hill, everyone is smiling, and laughing a little bit as well, which I did not really mind, because there are a lot of serious vehicles here.
“But the accelerator pedal just dropped. That is it. There is nothing about the design, it is just the mechanics.”
eBay will be inspiring petrolheads with the eBay Garage at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, an interactive stand space, where attendees can immerse themselves in the world of vehicle parts and accessories.
This year, the eBay Garage features a series of talks on the eBay Live Stage with content creators and restorers including Becky Evans, Mat Armstrong, and Workshop Diaries presenter and mechanic, Edd China.
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