If any name is associated with classic cars in the UK it’s Derek Mathewson. Derek Mathewson founded Mathewsons Auctions as a small operation which quickly became a respected classic car auction house across the United Kingdom. In recent years however the man behind the business of classic cars, Derek Mathewson, is most recognized for being the driving force behind Bangers & Cash a TV show detailing the daily business of the auction house, based in Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire.
Derek Mathewson combines a vast amount of on-hands expertise on classic cars with charisma in front of the camera in a way rarely seen. He had no plans to break into television and just continued the day-to-day run of his business, camera’s happened to just follow, which is the most appealing thing about Derek Mathewson to his millions of fans.
Early Life and the Founding of Mathewsons
Derek Mathewson’s first foray into the car trade began in Bedfordshire, buying and selling as a customer before trading at contemporary used car trade sales – it meant that even long before he owned a car auction, he knew the drill, from the buyers side. By 1970 he was in business, launching Mathewsons to sell contemporary cars and commercials to retail and trade customers alike. Business was booming, but Derek Mathewson yearned for more than selling new and used.
From the start Derek Mathewson had a long-held ambition; to mix the company’s trade into his passion – vintage and classic vehicles.
Derek Mathewson started to add other strings to the bow, vehicle contract hire and leasing for a wider audience, and Derek Mathewson began to build up a private collection of vintages, adding them quietly to the stock.
The Move to North Yorkshire
The turning point for Derek Mathewson‘s career, however, was in 1988. At the instigation of the family – and through years of childhood holidays there had developed a strong love for the area – Mathewson family moved to North Yorkshire. It wasn’t simply a change of scenery – it was a change in the fortunes of the company.
With the addition of Scarborough in 1988, and then Malton in 1990 and Pickering in 1992 the business spread its reach. More importantly, though, this new era in North Yorkshire brought a complete change in direction as far as new vehicle sales were concerned. They ceased and in their place, and very much more in keeping with Derek Mathewson’s own passion and also with the demand at the time, came an emphasis on classic and vintage car sales. Derek Mathewson was no longer just a general car salesman – he was developing as a specialist.
Building Mathewsons Auctions
He grew the Thornton-le-Dale operation into a real port of call for the budding classic car owner of Yorkshire and farther afield. He’s often been characterised as no-nonsense and down-to-earth, and indeed this trait sits comfortably with the down-to-earth character of the area in which he now lives and works.
Perhaps what distinguishes Derek Mathewson from many of his colleagues in the field is the almost palpable personal affection for the cars. He has dozens of his own collection lining the walls of the main display building alongside the cars up for sale. For Derek Mathewson, there seems to be very little distinction between private and professional life.
Aston Martins, in particular, are dear to Derek Mathewson’s heart; he has a few Aston Martins, one of his personal favourite car marques, appreciating their looks but understanding their difficulties. The S3 Bentley, too, is used as an everyday driver; along with others, it shows decades of judicious, measured buying, not that of a man likely to go and blow his money on something that’ll not stand the test of time.
Bangers & Cash: Derek Mathewson’s Rise to Television Fame
Before stepping onto the small screen in the documentary-style programme Bangers & Cash, the average viewership of which exceeds 500,000 an episode, Derek Mathewson was known as an esteemed auctioneer and was, with good reason, to be celebrated in such a manner. But why does the owner of the family business work so well on television? Well, it all boils down to the qualities that were key to Derek Mathewson’s business success: knowledge coupled with the lack of pretension.
After all, people do not watch programmes that feature well-worn vehicles or people negotiating price to see the well put together façade that some television presenters produce – instead, they watch programmes that feature Derek Mathewson being Derek Mathewson, assessing cars, making deals and passing on years of accumulated wisdom in a seemingly off-the-cuff fashion.
Family and Personal Life
From the very beginning, family has been an intrinsic part of Derek Mathewson’s journey. Getting married formed the base from which he and his wife were able to raise two sons of their own, both of whom found themselves drawn to the family business as time went on. Over the years, both sons worked at Mathewsons under Derek Mathewson, extending the foundation laid down decades before. Indeed, as is so often the case, Mathewsons has needed constant re-calibration between work and family life, and Derek Mathewson has steered the family business for a long and fruitful career.
Why Derek Mathewson Continues to Matter in the Classic Car World
Some thirty years after launching his first business enterprise, Derek Mathewson still stands at the helm of the United Kingdom’s classic car market. His story is one of gentle growth: from youthful car enthusiast in Bedfordshire to the principal owner of a successful nationally established auction business, and thereafter to an amiable household face on British screens.
Scarcely any individual in the professional world of classic motoring can point to such a long-standing record, the combined validity and high level of publicity as Derek Mathewson himself. Whether he is meeting prospective purchasers or appraising prospective sellers, buyers or just general audiences, Derek Mathewson remains the exemplification of an authority that has come about with integrity and an honest hard work, and it is his intrinsic authenticity that continues to undergird his popularity even in today’s world.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Who is Derek Mathewson?
He’s the owner of classic car auctioneers Mathewson’s Auction House, based in Thornton-le-Dale in North Yorkshire, and he is the leading light in Bangers & Cash.
When was Derek Mathewson’s business founded?
He started his company in 1970 in Bedfordshire and his initial operations were in modern cars and vans before he switched to dealing in vintage cars.
Derek Mathewson most famous for?
Derek Mathewson is best known for a particular TV show where he has been part of since 2019. Bangers & Cash – where Derek Mathews runs his classic car auction house as part of.
Has Derek Mathewson amassed a private collection?
Yes, Derek Mathewson does have a private car collection which features numerous Aston Martins and a S3 Continental Bentley which are stored at his premises.
Does Derek Mathewson run his business as a family business?
Yes, Derek Mathewson’s boys have come into his family business with years to assist carry on what he has constructed and started.
