Driving Home For Christmas - Our Xmas Special!
About this episode
The Tire Kickers celebrate the festive season with a lighthearted discussion on whether classic cars can make the Christmas commute more enjoyable. Max and Matt explore various classic models, debating their reliability, style, and practicality for holiday travel. They also engage in a fun quiz about their own vehicles, revealing surprising gaps in their automotive knowledge. Additionally, they share unique gift ideas for car enthusiasts, ensuring that listeners have plenty of inspiration for the holiday season. Expect laughter, nostalgia, and a touch of holiday spirit throughout this special episode.
What if you could ditch the daily and do the Christmas commute in something more classic and classy? Would you make it or would you arrive on a low loader? Plus, just how much do Max and Matt know about their cars? We find out in a festive know-it-all quiz. And we swap socks for spark plugs and discover the perfect presents for classic car lovers. So press play and say Ho-Ho-Hello to our 2025 Tyre Kickers Christmas Special!
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Jaguar
"classic waft by, you know, like a roll still with shadow or an old jagger, a benty or something."
Jaguar makes fancy cars from the UK that are known for their smooth ride and good looks.
Jaguar is a British luxury car manufacturer known for its stylish designs and powerful engines.
Rolls Royce Silver Shadow
"screen now. Oh, what a 19 year old Rolls Royce Silver Shadow. This is beautiful."
It’s a very fancy, old British car that people use for special occasions. It’s big and comfortable, like a luxury sedan.
The Rolls Royce Silver Shadow is a luxury grand tourer produced from 1965 to 1971, known for its smooth ride and classic British styling.
V12 engine
"[353.4s] Jaguar XJS. Now, this would be steaming along the motorway because it's a rare V12 manual."
A V12 engine is a type of car engine with twelve cylinders, which makes it very powerful and smooth. It’s often found in luxury or high-performance cars.
A V12 engine has twelve cylinders arranged in two banks of six, forming a 'V' shape. This layout allows for smooth power delivery and high horsepower.
manual transmission
"[353.4s] Jaguar XJS. Now, this would be steaming along the motorway because it's a rare V12 manual."
A manual transmission is a type of gearbox where you have to change gears yourself with a stick and a clutch pedal. It gives the driver more control over how the car moves.
A manual transmission requires the driver to manually shift gears using a clutch pedal and gear stick, offering more control over engine power.
BMW 525E
"but here's a 1986 BMW 525E, E28 Auto. So it's the five series. Fantastic."
The BMW 525E is a popular older luxury car from the 1980s. It’s part of BMW’s 5 Series line and is appreciated for its comfortable interior and reliable performance.
The BMW 525E is a mid‑size luxury sedan from the 1980s, part of the first generation of the BMW 5 Series (E28). It was known for its comfortable ride, solid build quality, and classic BMW styling.
Citroen SM
""We've got Silver Shadow. We've got Citroen SM, a Jaguar XJS...""
It’s a rare French car that was very advanced for its time, especially with its smooth suspension system.
The Citroën SM is a luxury coupe produced in the early 1970s, famous for its advanced hydropneumatic suspension and distinctive styling.
Caron Classic
"I found this one, Caron Classic 60 grand. It's probably more than we'd want to pay..."
The Caron Classic is a small, inexpensive car from France that was made in the 1950s and 1960s. It’s a basic, practical vehicle that many people used as their first car.
The Caron Classic is a compact French car produced in the 1950s and 1960s, known for its simple design and affordable price.
3-speed automatic transmission
"So it's a 6.7 liter V8 2 tonne car with a 3 speed auto. 12 to 14 if it's moving, but in Christmas jams, 6 to 9 MPG."
A 3‑speed automatic is a gearbox that changes gears for you, so you don't have to use a clutch. It has three forward speeds.
A 3‑speed automatic gearbox is a type of transmission that shifts through three forward gears automatically, providing smooth acceleration without manual clutch operation.
Maserati
"[686.2s] of the bottom. So so I mean, the MPG on that isn't great. V6 Maserati. Yeah, that's not much"
Maserati makes fancy cars that are very fast and expensive. They usually have big engines like V6 or V12.
Maserati is an Italian luxury car manufacturer known for high-performance vehicles, often featuring powerful V6 or V12 engines.
MPG
"... of course, you get 30s in that BMW. If you slow traffic, 30 MPG."
It’s a way to compare how efficient different cars are; higher numbers mean less fuel needed.
MPG stands for miles per gallon, a measurement of how many miles a vehicle can travel using one gallon of fuel.
fuel economy
"... of course, you get 30s in that BMW. If you slow traffic, 30 MPG."
It tells you how far a car can go before you need to refuel.
Fuel economy refers to how many miles a vehicle can travel per gallon of fuel, often expressed as MPG (miles per gallon).
Morris Minor
"engine. Yeah, you really want that 948 cc or the later, what was it? The, it's the 1100, ..."
The Morris Minor is a tiny, classic car from Britain that was popular in the 1950s and 60s. It’s famous for being easy to drive and maintain.
The Morris Minor is a small British car produced from 1948 to 1971, known for its simple design and reliability.
jump leads
"It's quite a straightforward engine, isn't it? Get some jump leads on it, get it going."
Jump leads are the thick cables you use when a car’s battery is dead. They let another car give it a boost so the engine can start.
Jump leads are heavy-duty battery cables used to transfer electrical power from a working vehicle or external source to start another car’s engine. They are essential for troubleshooting dead batteries.
wheel bearing
"The wheel bearing went and it was, I think it used a massive five liters of oil."
Wheel bearings are small parts inside the wheel that let it spin easily. If they fail, the wheel can make a loud noise or even wobble.
A wheel bearing is a set of rollers or balls that allow the wheels to rotate smoothly around the axle, reducing friction and wear.
Ford Capri Mark II
"going to put it on your screen now. What's that? It's a Ford Capri Mark II or Mark III."
The Ford Capri Mark II is a popular 1970s sports car from Ford, famous for its cool looks and good driving feel.
The Ford Capri Mark II is a 1970s compact sports car produced by the American automaker Ford. It was known for its distinctive styling and performance options.
battery charger
"I mentioned about my stag Max when I put a battery charger, the trickle charger on and I'll wire it all up."
A battery charger is a tool you plug into the car’s battery to help it recharge when it runs low.
A battery charger is an electrical device that replenishes a vehicle’s battery by providing a controlled flow of current, allowing the battery to regain its charge.
trickle charger
"I mentioned about my stag Max when I put a battery charger, the trickle charger on and I'll wire it all up."
A trickle charger is a gentle charger that keeps your car’s battery topped up, especially useful when the car isn’t driven often.
A trickle charger is a type of battery charger that supplies a small, steady amount of current to keep a battery fully charged without overcharging it.
Coventry Climax race engine
"They had that Coventry Climax race engine we talked about."
Coventry Climax made small, powerful engines that were used in many racing cars. They are lightweight and can give a car good speed.
Coventry Climax was a British engine manufacturer known for producing lightweight, high‑performance engines used in racing and sports cars during the 1950s and 1960s.
T-bar
"Which unique structural feature compensates for the missing roof? Rust? No. The T‑bar."
A T‑bar is a metal bar that goes across the top of a car’s roof to keep it strong, especially when there isn’t a full roof covering the whole vehicle.
A T‑bar is a structural reinforcement that runs across the roofline of a car, compensating for the absence of a full roof. It provides rigidity and safety in the event of a rollover.
manual fuel pump
"Manual, I don't know, manual fuel pump."
A manual fuel pump is a hand‑operated system that pushes gas from the tank to the engine, common in older cars.
A manual fuel pump is a mechanical device that draws gasoline from the tank and delivers it to the engine, often used in older or high-performance cars.
twin Stromburg CDSE carbs
"Twin Stromburg CDSE carbs."
Twin Stromburg CDSE carbs are two fuel mixers that help the engine get the right amount of gas and air for better power.
Twin Stromburg CDSE carburettors are dual carburettor units made by Stromburg, designed to deliver precise fuel-air mixtures for high-performance engines.
Ford Mustang STAG
"What was the standard gearbox on early Stags?"
The STAG is a version of the classic Ford Mustang from the 1970s, famous for its unique look and sporty feel.
The Ford Mustang STAG was a special edition of the 1970s Mustang, known for its distinctive styling and performance upgrades.
Borgwarner
"[2392.9s] Borgwarner. [2393.9s] Borgwarner Type 35 apparently, but you can have that."
Borgwarner makes parts for cars, especially gearboxes that help the car shift gears automatically.
Borgwarner is an automotive parts manufacturer known for producing automatic transmissions, among other drivetrain components.
water pump
"[2719.8s] Do a water pump."
A water pump is a small component that moves coolant through the engine. If it stops working, the engine can overheat and get damaged.
A water pump circulates coolant through the engine to keep it from overheating. In many cars, including the Triumph Stag, a failing water pump can lead to serious engine damage.
V8 engine
"But it's a toy V8 engine kit. So basically you get all the component parts of this kit and then you have to build a V8 engine, which would be quite useful for you to see what's inside your V8."
A V8 engine is a car part with eight cylinders that helps the vehicle move. It’s bigger and usually stronger than engines with fewer cylinders.
A V8 engine is a type of internal combustion engine that has eight cylinders arranged in two banks of four, typically producing more power and torque than smaller engines.
jump pack
"Let's jump to my last one, which actually is a jump pack. Now, I've got one of these in the back of my car... I mean, they're not much bigger than a sort of mobile phone"
A jump pack is a small, battery-powered device you can keep in your car. When the main battery dies, it gives a quick burst of power to start the engine.
A jump pack is a portable battery system that provides enough power to start a vehicle’s engine when the main battery is dead. It typically contains a rechargeable battery, an inverter, and cables to connect to the car’s starter circuit.
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