Ant Anstead has liquidated his bespoke car company after claiming the business venture was ‘a huge risk.’
The TV host, 44, who has been dating Renée Zellweger since 2021, revived historic retailer Radford Motors in 2021 with the help of F1 driver Jenson Button and designer Mark Stubbs.
After meeting on the set of Master Mechanic, the trio aimed to re-imagine and develop supercars, their first being a Lotus Type 62.
But according to documents obtained by PEOPLE, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week.
The publication reports that the filing came after he was accused of fraud and misrepresentation by one of his partners, Pastor Velasco.
Ant Anstead has liquidated his bespoke car company after claiming the business venture was ‘a huge risk’
The TV host, 44, who has been dating Renée Zellweger since 2021, revived historic retailer Radford Motors in 2021 with the help of F1 driver Jenson Button and designer Mark Stubbs
Co-founder Daniel Bednarski said: ‘Radford Motors is going through a Chapter 11 Business restructure that will be implementing strategic changes to strengthen our foundation for the future.
‘During this process, it’s expected that certain ownership transitions will occur, which is an important step in our evolution. We are excited about the road ahead and remain focused on continuing business as usual with renewed energy and purpose.’
as contacted Ant’s representative for comment.
Last year, Ant told PEOPLE: ‘This is personally a huge risk for me. We have seven people, and we privately funded this. We are doing it. We’re risking everything.’
In 2005 Ant left the police force and began to pursue his passion for restoring cars after he was stabbed while apprehending a violent offender.
Writing on his website, he recalled how he ‘renovated a farmer’s derelict cow shed in return for one year’s free rent’ and from this new workshop he built his business.
At the time Ant was newly married to his first wife Louise after welcoming their daughter Amelie in 2004.
To help fund the new venture and support his young family Ant played semi-professional football, amassing over 700 games over 17 years.
But according to documents obtained by PEOPLE , the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week (Ant pictured with Renee)
After three years Ant’s business began to take off and he moved out of his farm workshop and hired a team of car builders to create his bespoke cars and one-off pieces of art.
His talent in the niche industry attracted the attentions of TV networks and in 2013 he was approached to to co-host Channel 4 show For the Love of Cars with British actor Philip Glenister.
He has since hosted 16 different TV shows, broadening out into travel, homes and the arts.
It was his TV career that took him to the US in 2017 when he was invited to take on a hosting job on The Discovery Channel’s Wheeler Dealers, which was co-hosted by his London-based car dealer friend Mike.