Turn you BMX into a BMW

“Some years ago, I had a customer that was keen on a car,” he says. “But he didn’t quite have enough money to conclude the deal, however, he was trying to sell his caravan, which would give him the necessary funds. For us the answer was simple, we made him an agreeable offer for his caravan and we sold him the car.”

At the risk of creating an Antiques Roadshow scenario outside all 31 Phoenix dealerships, the company is inviting the public to trade-in anything against a new or used car. Long lines of people clutching stuffed giraffes, leaning on grandfather clocks or fumbling nervously with a treasured guitar autographed by Jimi Hendrix may well be seen this weekend outside showrooms in Hyndland, Paisley or Stirling.

The company does not seek to cause domestic grief between husbands and wives as each recommends the surrendering of a motor-bike, power boat or residential caravan down the coast “that no-one visits anymore”. But it would rather see customers taking a careful look around and spotting articles of some worth that are no longer wanted. If you are fed up with that Mona Lisa painting hanging on your dining room wall or the Egyptian mummy that grandad brought back from Egypt get along to one of the Phoenix dealerships. The company also promises “an extra special prize” to the person with the most unusual trade-in this month.

The successful scrappage scheme has come and gone. In its place some manufacturers have introduced swappage schemes, however, the Phoenix Car Company has added some fun into the serious business of buying a car.