When the directors of XLCR Vehicle Management Ltd purchased 35 - 43 Albert Road, Colne as the new home for the business in 2003 they dreamt of creating a statement that would get people talking and that would establish the company's identity for all to see.  Despite operating nationally, the company was surprisingly unknown in its own local area and something was needed to promote the XLCR brand.

Many ideas were suggested, debated & rejected.  The decision was complicated by planning issues as the magnificent georgian offices and former royal building was protected by conservation rights and so ultimately it was decided that the statement would have to be inside the building and was deservedly given pride of place in the company's main reception.

Then the daring suggestion came.  What about putting a car in there?  Our very own "ship in a bottle," which for anyone who has visited our offices and already knows, is exactly what we have done.

The idea came from Channel 4's television programme Grand Designs, where one of the inspiring and innovative property developers decided to create a desk from the carcus of an old mini and so the idea was formed.  After much searching we located the creator of the "TV MINI desk," and commissioned him to build another in our corporate orange colour with a white desk top and although reluctantly he eventually agreed and the project was underway.

Then came the real dilema, which was how we would get it inside the building.  Amazingly this hadn't even been considered when the project was commissioned and so a solution was needed quickly.  On the ground floor there was no door or window large enough to "drive" it in and although it could enter the building on the lower ground floor from the rear, there was no way of getting it up the two flights of stairs to place it in our new reception.  Many ideas were toyed with including the creation or widening of windows which were again plagued by planning problems and so at one point the only solution would have been to knock a hole big enough in our side wall, roll it in and then brick it up again after!

Finally our main contractor came up with a suggestion which meant bringing the Mini in on its side through a door just big enough, down a small flight of stairs, demolishing two large walls internally and then into our reception.  With very little choice this idea was adopted but although the Mini was stripped of its interior it still housed its engine which was needed to weight down the front.

Using a team of ten men, eight mattresses and some makeshift timber shoulder high handles we gave it a go and after two hours our little orange mini was eventually turned back on to its wheels after eventually reaching its final resting place at the heart of our building.  To our horror the front offside wing and door had been badly damaged during the move and although we'd now made it in we needed body shop equipment to repair it.  A mobile paint repair specialist was contracted and the damage repaired and all of the Mini's chrome re-added.

Finally after months of planning and hard graft, with walls rebuilt back into place, our building was opened with our bright orange bold MINI statement in situ as the centrepiece it was intended and despite all of the cost and heartache it had caused it was all worth it.  Today it is marvelled by everyone that visits our offices and because of local press, many pop in just to have a look.  If you're passing you should feel free to do the same.  You are sure of a warm welcome.