Clive and Tim Bate, centre, with staff, clients and suppliers
Published: July 18, 2024 | Updated: 18th July 2024
One of the UK’s leading specialists in Italian sports cars has celebrated its 20th anniversary with an open day at its Poole premises.
Emblem Sports Cars, known for its expertise in Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini, welcomed clients and suppliers to mark the milestone.
Guests being shown Emblem’s memory wall
Clive Bate and his son Tim founded Emblem Sports Cars in 2004. They later brought in experts Myles Aldous, Martin Chatfield, Darren Anderson, Rebecca Dismore, and most recently, Max Samways, with the aim of building a reputation for unparalleled knowledge and skill.
The Alder Road business is renowned for its attention to detail and boasts a diverse array of Italian sports cars. These vehicles benefit from the meticulous care synonymous with the Emblem brand.
To celebrate, guests enjoyed music, food, and drinks at the open day. Tim said: “We really wanted to give something back and thank our loyal clients, some of whom have been with us since we opened.
“We had a band called The Royal T’s playing and there were balloon animals and face painting for the children – although plenty of adults had car brand logos painted on their cheeks.
“A bit of rain couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm everyone has for their cars. Clients love them and know we always treat them as if they are our own.”
Emblem’s open day
Tim noted the business’s broad client base: “Many of our clients live abroad – we have a number in Hong Kong – and others are on the Channel Islands, so it was great to see them.
“We have people bring their cars to us from across the country – recently we’ve had cars from mid-Wales and Norfolk.
“Some of the cars we work on date from the 1960s, such as the Ferrari 250GTE, and others are more modern, like a Maserati Granturismo, but we have the knowledge and skills to ensure we can give them all the best attention.”
Emblem’s open day
Emblem Sports Cars has a team of six, including an apprentice.
Tim emphasized the importance of training the next generation: “We understand that our skills are in danger of dying out if we don’t train up a new generation.
“The business began because we love these cars, and that love has never left us.
“Our customers appreciate that and it’s why we have such loyal clients. Our aim is to carry on for the next 20 years, offering a fantastic service for these fantastic cars.”
The celebration underscored the company’s dedication to maintaining its legacy of excellence in Italian sports car care.
