Former Formula One winner Jenson Button sold a 1970 Ford Bronco that had been fixed up on Collecting Cars for $166,000 in 2022. Even though a fixed Bronco doesn’t usually sell for as much, Button’s ownership made the car worth a lot more. The buyer has since complained, though, saying that Button does not really own the Bronco. He is now suing the race car driver. British businessman Leo Eccles bought Button’s Bronco. He was ready to pay a lot more than the going rate for a normal classic Bronco to get one owned by the 2009 world champion. The American model Brittany Ward, who was dating Button at the time, is thought to have legally owned the old SUV that Eccles found when he bought it. The car really has something to do with Button because he was often seen driving it in public. Button and Ward were seeing each other before the sale, but now they’re married. But from a value point of view, it might not be the same as him really having it, especially if the Collecting Cars ad said that Button was the owner. “It has been in Jenson’s ownership for the last four years and features a raft of discerning upgrades,” the release stated. The Collecting Cars podcast interviewed Button, who said, “I have a Bronco, which is actually not mine; it’s my missus’ car, but I’ll call it mine.” From what the Daily Mail says, Button even offered to have the Bronco reregistered in Ward’s name. Court records show that Button probably bought the car for Ward. Court documents say that Button agreed to Eccles’ requests for rear seatbelts and other changes to be made to the car before sending it. Sources say that Eccles told Button to hold on to the Bronco until he could set up transport and registration, which Button did. But since it’s not clear who owns what, Eccles wants the deal to be undone and his money returned. Eccles is being sued by Button for “defamatory relief,” and Eccles is trying to back out of the deal because he can’t register the car in South Africa, where Button is traveling at the moment. If what both sides say is true, Button is acting reasonably by offering to pay for the changes, reregister the Bronco in his name, and store the car for Eccles after the sale. It needs to be clarified if Ward bought the Bronco by herself or with Button, but it was clearly the F1 champion’s car. It has become a family car since he married the owner. What started as a simple sale is turning into a difficult court case. It’s interesting to see what happens, like whether Eccles ends up taking delivery or forces Button to give him a return.
