I’m ‘Britain’s richest car washer’ charging £1,200 for a polish – I’ve shined £52m classics with my £3k box of tools
BRITAIN’S ‘richest car washer’ charges an eye-watering £1,200 for a polish and leaves £52MILLION classics sparkling.
Richard Tipper started his motor trade when he was just 14-years-old – and never earned more than a fiver.
He meticulously worked on neighbourhood cars for hours, quickly garnering attention for his skill and passion before starting an official business at 17-years-old.
Now his company, Perfection Valet, offers just that.
Tipper is trusted with priceless motors, from the Ferrari 250 GTO to Le Mans-winning Jaguar XJR-9.
Other staggering car cleans in his jaw-dropping portfolio include a Ferrari 312 T4 F1 driven by Gilles Villeneuve.
Speaking of a Ferrari F50, which took a week to clean, Tipper told The Mail: “The car was an original Series 1 from 1963 and the hairs still stand up on the back of my neck when I think of how lucky I was to have looked after her.
“It was certainly a career high for me. I often wonder if I’ll ever get the chance to work on another. I live in hope.”
His impeccable services typically cost around £350 but at the top end these valets see customers fork out a whopping £1,200.
He completes the job using specialist products and tools – even an astonishing £3,000 wax.
But Tipper is happy to detail your average car too, when he’s not sprucing up a vintage 1905 model.
“Some jobs, if every day is the same, can be boring. But every car I work on is different to the one I worked on before,” he told The Telegraph.
“They all provide different challenges. And then if it’s not the car that provides the challenge, it’s the owner.”
One owner in particular shocked Tipper with an interesting surprise in the boot.
As he removed the mats, he uncovered a stash of X-rated magazines.
Meanwhile, another lady left behind an eyebrow-raising collection.
“I was also working on a lady’s Porsche and when I found a bag containing 2,000 pound coins,” Tipper explained.
“She had hidden the money when moving home and, a year later, had completely forgotten about them.”
Despite sitting in luxury at work each day, Tipper drives a Vauxhall Zafira minivan to cart around his two kids.
And, when asked if he ever wishes to own the cars he works on, the humble tradesman said: “No. No, I’ve worked for enough people who have plenty of money, but are unhappy.
“I’m very content with what this career delivers.”
He has also turned down offers from impressed clients to fund growth for his business.
“I wouldn’t be able to relax knowing that I’ve got 10 vans out on the road working while I’m not,” Tipper explained.
Classic car washing errors
Tipper gave some golden advice on what NOT to do when cleaning classic cars
PRODUCT MIX
Damage can occur when products and cleaning chemicals aren’t diluted properly.
WEATHER CONDITIONS
It’s best to avoid cleaning your car while it’s hot outside as it can have an adverse affect on cleaning supplies.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
If you want to leave your motor sparkling you have to use more than just snow foam – you need to do a second clean after washing it off.
GIMMICK GADGETS
Tipper warned against using drying blades as even the softest ones can scratch paintwork.
WHEEL CLEANERS
Acid-based wheel cleaners are “horrible stuff, highly corrosive” and will likely damage surfaces, said Tipper.
‘TRENDS’
Social media trends, such as those on TikTok, often cause more problems than they solve.
PRESSURE WASHERS
If you use this tool, avoid moving and electronic parts.