A Scottish demolition contractor has purchased a gold JCB as an anti-recession talisman.
Scottish demolition contractor Alan Beattie is proving he has the Midas touch when it comes to beating the recession by buying a £50,000 JCB and having it painted gold.
Alan, who has been in business for 40 years and has the honorary title Lord of the Manor of Oversley, purchased the top-of-the range backhoe loader 4CX to show he is bucking the trend of the economic slump and to demonstrate his confidence in the “best of British” manufacturing. The gilt-edged finish – which replaces the traditional yellow and black livery synonymous with the world famous machine – should have cost him an extra £4,500 but local dealer Scot JCB decided to do the work for no extra charge.
It took three weeks for a craftsman at the dealer’s Glasgow depot to complete the job and also inscribe the vehicle with two slogans: “The Gold Digger” and “Beattie’s The Best”. The backhoe loader is the 18th new JCB Alan has purchased since he started his business, A and J Demolition, during the late 1960s.
Larger-than-life Alan says he is thrilled with his gold digger and the 24-carat service he receives from Scot JCB. He said: “I feel extremely proud to be British when I look at this great machine built by one of Britain’s best companies. It is a great work of art which should be celebrated.
“Although the gold JCB may look like a status symbol there is a serious message in it. It’s my belief that 90 per cent of this recession is about a lack of confidence, but business must not give in to it under any circumstances. Customer loyalty is extremely important during a recession but so is equipment reliability, and I’m glad to say I have never had one of my JCBs break down or let me down in all the years I have been using them. I bought my first JCB when I was about 15 and I am nearly 65 now and they have been an integral part of my working life.”
And he added: “I see my new golden JCB as a talisman of hope for the future and to show people you can buck the trend and there is work out there if you demonstrate quality and professionalism. I haven’t given in to past recessions and I have no intention of giving into this one.”
