A SELF-confessed car freak wants to sell his precious collection, including a 1978 Ferrari 308 and two vintage 1947 Standard Flying 8s, to raise cash.

Russell Partridge of The Stenders, Mitcheldean, is also selling a 1968 Lotus Cortina MkII and several other more recent classics so that he can invest in a filling station.

"It's very sad, but it's a matter of finding time to do them up as well as needing the money," he said.

"I have been running a petrol station in Worcestershire and commuting every day. Although I bought the cars as an investment I just haven't been able to put in the time they deserve."

He now wants to buy a petrol station in the Stroud area and needs extra cash for this – but he will still be in the same position, having to commute to work daily.

History

The ten cars – some of which are in his driveway, and some farmed out with neighbours and friends – are the Ferrari ("Red, V-8 power and lots of history" says the Review advert) at £11,995; an '86 Lotus Esprit Turbo ("Only 4,000 miles in five years, my pride and joy") for £13,995; the Lotus Cortina which is being restored and should be ready in November for £3,995; the two Flying 8s, one near-restored and the other perhaps for spares, at £1,000 for both; a '79 Escort Ghia at £495; an '83 Escort 1.3L at £395; an '83 BMW 525e at £700; a D-reg Fiesta XR2 at £895; and a Volvo 244 estate automatic ("Will go round the world if you want, needs test and tax") for £150. There's also a Westwood ride-on mower going for £895.

Opportunity

"I am not a dealer in motor vehicles," Mr Partridge's advertisement stresses. "All these vehicles are owned and driven by me."

He said: "This is a genuine opportunity to acquire a collection which I sadly no longer have time to care for and enjoy. They all need good homes."

The father of three triplets, Ryan, Quinten and Christian, 9, has been collecting his cars over the past six years, and says he and his wife Janet do not want to move out of the Forest and would rather commute.

"It's where we have all our friends," he said. "We did move away once, but we came back again. We feel at home here."