Last month we reported that Aston Martin’s CEO, Dr. Ulrich Bez, announced that he would auction off his company car, a fully-loaded 2009 “Concours Blue” Rapide, during this year’s annual Bonhams event at Newport Pagnell on June 21.
The buyer was furniture designer and Aston Martin enthusiast David Linley, who paid £100,000 ($160,000), which was handed over to Toyota which can better direct it to charities providing aid to victims of the recent earthquakes and Tsunami that devastated Japan.
Dr Ulrich Bez said: “Nobody could have failed to be moved by the recent events in Japan and we at Aston Martin are no exception. After many years’ presence in the market and closer ties being forged with the Japanese automotive business in recent projects, we have many friends in the region and we wanted to do something to help.”
“I know by handing the funds we have raised to our friend Akio (Toyoda), his team will ensure that the proceeds find their way to the people who need it most,” Bez added.
Both companies’ CEOs were in Germany this weekend to attend the Nurburgring 24-hour endurance race, with Aston Martin’s boss also racing in the number 3 V12 Zagato. So it was the perfect opportunity for the oversized cheque to be presented by Dr. Bez to Toyota’s CEO Akio Toyoda.
