Strolling into the Speedmaster showroom for the first time is like entering a hall of fame

for classic cars.

Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Bentleys

sit proudly next to Surtees and Sunbeam racing cars, some dating back as long ago as the 1920s.

This undiscovered treasure, based in the newly developed Albion Mills business centre in Greengates, has come a long way from its inception 12 months ago to become a mainstay for high-class car

collectors across the country.

Speedmaster offers a specialised service to those who wish to buy or sell expensive and rare cars.

Effectively acting as an agent, the firm offers their showroom as a venue for people to come and inspect the vehicles and handles the advertising of the vehicle, taking a cut of the eventual selling fee.

Malcolm Scatchard, sales director at the firm, explained: "Normally people would trade these kind of cars in for a low figure, giving the dealership most of the money. Our service allows us to sell for the higher figure.

"The average person who wants to sell these kind of cars would rather not do so privately as their value obviously can make it dangerous and inconvenient.

"Our service allow people to avoid having to let individuals into their homes that are strangers."

Mr Scatchard said their clientele ranged from collectors of classic and high-end road cars to people who simply want to compete in races.

The firm also help to source rare and hard to find vehicles for customers.

"People who buy a new supercar and then seek to sell it will often find themselves bitterly disappointed at the offer they get from main dealers," says Mr Scatchard.

"We advertise internationally to reach a wide audience."

Putting these cars up for sale on behalf of private individuals has proven to be very successful, often with vast sums of money changing hands for the vehicles.

Prices of vehicles currently on the showroom floor range from £39,000 to close to £1 million.

The firm was the vision of managing director James Hanson.

Mr Hanson raced touring cars for

both BMW and Volvo and has been a

racing and motoring enthusiast for most of his life.

Both he and Mr Scatchard display a frighteningly comprehensive knowledge of luxury, high performance and classic cars - as well as a genuine enthusiasm and love for the vehicles they deal in.

The firm has formed a strategic partnership with one of Europe's leading vehicle restoration companies, Hall & Hall, to maintain and restore their vehicles to such a high standard that they can be entered in to competitive races.