Kaaimans
Classic cars, racing replicas and potent new off-roaders
Car showrooms don’t come much grander than the one you’ll find at Kaaimans – it’s part of 300-year-old Tollerton Hall, a 20,000 square foot stately home outside Nottingham that’s owned (and lived in) by local businessman and lifelong automobile fanatic Ian Kershaw.
Established last year, the Kaaimans dealership grew out of Kershaw’s ever-changing collection.
The selection is nothing if not eclectic, either, comprising everything from two – yes, two – Aston Martin Vulcans to a 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat (the world’s fastest-accelerating road car) and a selection of limited-edition, race replica motorcycles.
Also unexpected is the sight of a Bowler Bulldog finished in Lamborghini ‘Verde Ithaca’ pearlescent paint. The latest model to emerge from the celebrated creator of tuned, off-road racing Land Rovers, the Bulldog features a three-litre, supercharged V6 driving through an eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox. This one’s on offer at Kaaimans with a price tag of £117,000 plus VAT, following a recent partnership agreement between the dealer and Derbyshire-based Bowler Motorsport.
The showroom itself, a sympathetic conversion of an extension that was added to the Grade II listed, 66-room property during the 1960s, offers space for up to 100 vehicles and currently houses an inventory of more than 30, mostly exotic, cars and motorcycles.
Kershaw says: “I absolutely love cars. They can be exquisite works of art and terrifying beasts all at the same time.”
1955 Aston Martin DB2/4 Vantage: £349,975. James Bond might be inextricably linked with Aston Martin’s DB5, but 007 originally chased his foe in one of these
2016 Jaguar C-X75: £1.25m. Speaking of Bond… This is the first of four petrol-only versions of Jaguar’s hybrid concept car that were built for use – and seen extensively – in the 2015 movie SPECTRE
2001 Ferrari 550 Maranello: £102,975. This 12-cylinder GT (once owned by 1966 World Cup hero Geoff Hurst) features black leather trim and desirable manual gearbox