eBay accidentally demonstrates risk of buying car parts online

Online marketplace eBay’s attempt at drawing more attention to the millions of car parts it sells has backfired in a very public way.

For this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, eBay restored a first-generation Ford Transit van with period-correct mechanical parts from its marketplace, including driveline, brakes and suspension components.

With all eyes on the Transit as it completed its low-speed processional run up the Goodwood hillclimb, it approached the final turns before slowing down, eventually coming to a rest next to a marshals post.

The breakdown caused a brief red flag to the session, bringing to a halt a line of classic and modern BMW M5s behind it.

A spokesperson for eBay provided this update to CarExpert:

“We were excited to debut the eBay Lounge at the Goodwood Hill climb and encountered a minor mechanical issue during its run. As millions of car enthusiasts around the world know, these unexpected moments are all part of the fun of owning and operating a classic vehicle.”

To add to the embarrassment – and perhaps show the divide between the past and present – the Transit was recovered by a circa-$705,000 Rolls-Royce Cullinan SUV, which was comfortably able to tow the van with its twin-turbo V12 engine.

It’s not all bad news for the Ford though, as the vehicle was primarily designed to act as a makeshift stage for competitions and automotive industry talks throughout the event.

The eBay Lounge, as it’s officially called, features an awning and various interior changes, with McLaren F1 designer Peter Stevens responsible for the look of the modified van.