Tony Bramall and Peter Jones back car subs firm Drive Fuze

Former motor dealer Tony Bramall (Pictured left) has given his backing to DriveFuze, a car subscription service.

The 88-year-old businessman, a serial investor in dealer groups over the years, has invested in the business.

Subscription models have a patchy record to date but Bramall believes they have their place with younger generations.

Drive Fuze is headed by founder and chairman Nick Rothwell (right), a heavy weight in motor finance.  Also, on the board is the former CEO of Lookers and ex-Vertu chairman Peter Jones.

“People my age like to pick up a car, drive it and own it, but there’s a trend towards using a car rather than owning it, especially among younger people,” Bramall told This is Money.

Car Fuze has cars on its site offering all in price for comprehensive insurance, car tax and maintenance.

Bramall has a long record of success in buying and building and selling dealer groups.

In 1967 he became MD of family firm Hamilton and built up the company, floated and renamed it as CD Bramall and sold it to Avis for £97m in 1987.

Three years later he bought Sanderson Murray and Elder and built that up until it was sold to Pendragon in 2004 for £230m.

“He also launched Bramall & Jones. Its VW dealerships were sold to Lookers and its Audi dealerships to JCT600.

“I was brought up by a father who instilled a very strong work ethic in me from a very young age,’ he recalls. ‘I can’t overstate the impact that had on my attitude,” he  told This is Money