Express & Star

Car dealership rolls back the years to celebrate century

A new television ad campaign is celebrating 100 years of one of the West Midlands' most successful businesses.

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Bristol Street Motors was established as a single motor retail dealership in Bristol Street, Birmingham.

Now part of Vertu Motors, it has grown to operate 154 sales outlets across the UK with the original West Midlands site still operational.

The ad has been filmed at the Rotunda in Birmingham, part of the iconic Bullring, the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley and various locations around the Midlands.

It taps into the love of British nostalgia, and features classic cars including a 1930s Vauxhall Cadet, Ford Cortina, Ford Escort and a new model Hyundai Ioniq 5, which was shipped from Germany especially for the shoot, with support from the manufacturer who made it happen in good time for the filming.

A host of top names worked on the project, including music producer Jonathan Quarmby, who works out of the legendary RAK studios in London; director of photography Paul Bond and principal stylist David Hawkins, who has worked on campaigns for brands including M&S and Peroni.

The ad has been partly filmed at the Black Country Living Museum

It was produced by creative director Ian Cassie of Black Arts, working with a team from Vertu Motors led by its creative director Tom Cummings.

Robert Forrester, chief executive of Bristol Street Motors, said: “We are very proud of our heritage, and our Birmingham roots. The creative for the TV advert is unlike anything we have commissioned before, marking the longevity of the business while highlighting the growth into modern, forward-thinking organisation.

The ad has been partly filmed at the Black Country Living Museum

“100 years is a significant milestone that is worth celebrating, but we always have an eye for the future and ensuring we continue to be a growing, successful company.”

The ad has been airing on ITV and Channel 4 from the start of the month.

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