It will be more like bottom gear than Top Gear when Porsches and Range Rovers are left at home for a challenging 470 mile drive.

Entrants of the Air and a Prayer Rally’s first object is to buy a banger for less than £300 – and then drive it to Scotland for charity.

This whacky variation on the Gumball Rally is the brainchild of Baron and Sarah-Louise Cole of Wimborne, who are organising the July event along with Dominic Oxley and Lorna-Jayne Hoyland.

Luxury car seller Baron will be driving an L-reg Mazda, which he will be using for the next few months with “please sponsor me” scrawled along the side.

Sold out within three days with 30 teams of two taking part and a waiting list 17-strong, they have already raised £20,000 for Julia’s House children’s hospice service through a £500 entrance fee and minimum sponsorship of £1 a mile.

“Julia’s House was struggling, having to shut certain days of the year,” said Baron. “Obviously looking after children with a life limiting or life threatening condition is an important charity.

“We wanted to stand up and do something to help. So we came up with something where we can raise a lot of money and at the same time have a lot of fun.”

So luxury cars with heated seats and climate control will be left at home and Echo Wheels and other sources plundered to find beat-up, but road legal motors such as a Vauxhall Cavalier or Nova, Ford Escort or Mini Metro.

“This rally has never been done before,” said Baron. “It’s not a race, it’s a rally.”

They will leave Canford Arena amid fanfare on July 26 and drive a set route to Manchester for an overnight stop.

The finish line is at the Cameron House Hotel beside Loch Lomond and the drivers will be trailed by Cole Transportation, just in case a car breaks down.

But then the magnificent motors literally reach the end of the road, being collected by Charles Trent and crushed.

“With the cars checked out for free before the rally by Mike Stokes and many business sponsors on board, the rally is revving up for the off.

“It might end up being an annual event, the response has been unbelievable,” said Baron.

Anyone who wishes to make a donation or sponsor a car can email baron@bjcarsales.co.uk