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Hi,I'mSam,theoldcarlady.
WelcomealongtotheWheelsandDealspodcast.
Solatelywe'vebeenlookingattheManchestermotortrade,andIthoughtitwastimeweheadeddowntoLondontoseehowtheydidthingsdownthere.
Andtrustme,thisoneisbrilliant.
TodayI'mwithHonestJohn,andifyouthinkyouknewhowitwasdoneinthe70s,youmightbesurprised,ormaybenot.
So,frombuggingcars,keepingsparekeysaftersellingthemotorsincasehehadtogoandgetthemback,sellingrollstoArabsandbuyingSidJames'sactualshadowtoendingupincourtforthrowingabucketofwateroveratrafficwarden.
Thisisproperoldschoolmotortrading,unfiltered,almostunbelievable,andcompletelyfascinating.
Sobuckleupandwelcometothe70s.
Lovecars,andyouwerejustgoingtothepicturesaskingifyoucouldcleanthem?
Yeah,theyneedalittlecarcleaner.
Iwasthatsmall,well,Ididn'tevengooverthetopofthebonnet,butanyway,theytookalikingtomeandIgotajobasacarcleaner.
Howoldwereyou?
Iwasonlyabout10yearsofage.
Andwhenwasthis?
Iwasborn1944,sowe'retalking '50s,late50s.
Okay.
Whentherewasthecarswithonlytwocolours,blackandgreen,blackandwhite.
Sohowdidyougofromcleaningcarsasakidtodealing?
Iwaswatchingthethemotordealers,howtheyworked,Iwastakingeverythingin,theprofits,wheretheyusedtobuy 'em,andIwasreallywatchingeverymovetheymadebecauseIwantedtobeacardealermyself.
Soyougottostartatthebottom,whichIdidstartatthebottom.
AndnextthingIknowthatastheyearswentpast,Igrewup,andthennextthingIknow,I'mbuyinglittleoldbangersinthemdaysforabout30pounds,andIwascleaningthemupwithmylittleschoolmates,andIwasputtingthemoutsideofmyhouseforsale,andIalwaysrememberit.
Peoplewouldsaytome,You'reabityoungforsellingcars,ain'tyou?
AndIgo,Well,mydad'sjustdied,andwegottosellourcarsowecangetsomemoneytoburyhim.
Anditusedtowork.
Andpeopleusedtobuythecar,noproblem,givemeabitmoremoney.
Butitdidn'tlastalongtimebecausepeopleusedtosell.
Howmanytimesdidyouburyyourdadthat'sbasedonthat?
That'swhatI'msaying.
Itdidn'twork.
Itlastedaboutamonth,andthenpeoplegotme,howmanydatesyougot?
ButthatwasthecunninglittlebrainIhadatthetime.
Sowhenyousaidyouwantedtobeadealer,becauseyouwerewatchingtheoldtheblokesthatweredealing,whataboutthemmadeyouwanttobeadealer?
Well,it'sthemoney.
Theywasalldrivingaboutinbigfancycarsandbighouses,andIlovecars.
Ijustlovemotorcars,andthat'stheavenueIwantedtotake.
AndIdidtakeitandI'ddonewelloutofit.
Sellingthemoutsideyourhouse?
Iusedtobuylittleoldcars.
IusedtolookattheExchangeandMartinthemdays,becausewedidn'thavecomputersandallthephones,andI'dgoontheoldExchangeofMart,andonethingIlearnedabouttheExchangeandMarkwasthatthetimetheyputitin,Ihadtoleavethemaloneforacoupleofweeksbecausewhentheyputtheiradvertin,theythoughttheworldwantedtheircar.
SoI'dletthemstewforaboutacoupleofweeks,andthenI'dphonethemupandsay,Look,thiscaryou'vegot,you'vehaditonacoupleofweeks,youhaven'tsoldit,andI'dbidthemapriceonit,andthey'dgo,Oh,well,Idon'tknowaboutthat,mate.
Butanyway,intheend,I'dthey'dsay,Goon,thenyoucanhaveit,like50quid,75quid,whatitwas,inthemdays,andI'dsquimpthebitofthatmoneytogether,andI'dgoaroundthereandgetmemotor.
Didn'thavealicence,IwasstilltooyoungbecauseIwasonlyabout14,15whenIwasdrivingmotorcarsabout.
ButI'vegotby,I'vegotby,andIrememberthesetheoldglassesguyintheolddays.
Youdon'tseetheseabout.
That'sanearlyone.
I'vestillgotboxesfullofthem.
I'vestillgotboxesfullofthem.
Whenisthatdated?
Thisone's1990.
Yeah,that'snineninety,andit'sgotthecommercialoneandallthat.
Butweusedtocarrythataboutintheauctionswithabigoldtelephoneasbigasme,butandtheyhadonlyonerington.
Andwhenthatringtonewenthole,theauctionshadallgo.
Becausetheyallthoughthewaswithhim,becausewesaidweonlyhadoneringtone.
Aslifewenton,Igotabitolder,Igotabitmorewiserinthemotortray,andsavedupenoughmoneytogetmyselfalittlecarfront.
Andalotofdemonsusedtosaytome,John,how'dyousellsomanycars?
AndIsaid,It'smypersonality.
Peopleusedtotakemeundertheirwing.
ButIhadalittlesecret,andIusedtoputalittlebugunderneaththeseatofthecar,andI'dgoinmyofficeandIputVHSonitandtunein,andIcouldheareverythingthey'resaying.
Like,howmuchdoyouwenttogiveusforthepartyexchange?
DidtheyneedHP?
Didtheylikeme?
Alotofthemdidn'tlikeme.
Ididn'tcareaboutthat.
Youdon'tcutyournoseoffthepartofyourface.
Anyway,someofthem,whentheycomeintheoffice,Iwantedtobashthem.
Swaggingmeoff.
Butanyway,Ikneweverythingaboutwhattheywanted.
Andit'ssayiftheywanted,Ihad£1,500inthecar,becauseI'dliketoearnathousandpoundsoutofamotorcarprofit.
SoifIhad£15init,Icouldwriteoffa£500note.
SoI'dbidthem£500,theyprobablyonlywanted£200or£300forthecar,becauseI'dhearthemsay,Oh,doyoureckonyougiveus£200forthecar?
NowI'mmissingintoallthis.
Sowhentheycomeintheoffice,I'dtalktothemaboutotherthings,slowlygetintothecaraswifeandasdoorsandwhatever.
Talkaboutanythingelsebutthecarandabouthisjob,etc.
AndthenI'dslowlymakemywayintothepartX,andI'llgo,uh,thecaryou'vegotacaroutside.
IsupposeyouwanttoputthatinpartX,andthey'dgoatme,ohyeah.
AndI'dgo,Thatcar'syourworld,soyouprobablywanteverypennyyoucanget.
AndIdon'tblameyou.
Andlikemycar,I'lltrytogetasmuchasIcan,andthey'regoing,yeah.
Soit'sit'syoubashinghimonthelegkindofthing.
Doyouandhegiveusthe£200?
AndI'llgo,thebestIcoulddo,myfriend,I'llgiveyou£500foryourmotorcar.
Bam,that'sdoneit,isn'tit?
TheythinkI'mamadman.
Amotordealer'sgoingtogiveusmorethanwewant.
Andthedeal,I'dsignthemupandthenI'lltalkmewithabitofHP,becauseIalwaysgetabitofcommissionoutoftheHP.
ButI'dsignthemupwithHP,eveniftheydidn'twantit.
BecauseI'llexplaintothemwhyuseyourmoneywhenyoucanuseanHP.
Isaid,Doyousmokelove?
Andshegoes,Yeah.
Orpegherthecigarettes,Idon'tknow,inthemdays,waslike,Idon'tknow,30plantsandplugitup.
AndI'dgo,theinterestonthatbitofmoneyisabout15paday.
Butifyouworkthatoutovertheyears,itwilltakealotofmoney.
Andtheygo,Cool,yeah,Iwouldn'tmissthat,John.
15paday.
Bang,I'vegotthemonthatandI'llsignthemuponthat,etc.
Lovely,jobdone,bang,dingdong,nextone.
AndthenpeoplecomeintheofficeandI'llgo,look,Idon'tneedcash.
Givemeacheck.
Now,nomotordealertakesacheck.
Noway.
Anyofthesemotordealerswatchingthiswillsay,Go,hetakesacheque,noway,becauseifyoutakethecheck,they'vegotthreedaystostopit,andtheyalwaysfindsomethingwrongwithit.
Anyexcusetostopthatcheck.
Wetakethecheck,butyoucouldn'tpickthecarupuntilthechequehadcleared.
Yeah.
I'lltakethecheckandtheysaidtheypickthecarupatfiveo'clockbecauseIwantmymechanictogooveritandmakedoublesureit'sperfect,becausethere'snothingworse.
Gooutthereinthemorning,trytostartthecar,andyou'vegotthatwholesayyoudon'tneedthat,myfriend,andI'myou'resuchlovelypeople.
Ilikeya,andIdonotwantyoutosufferthatinthemorning,becauseasIsaid,it'snothingworsegoingouttogotowork,butcan'tstartthecar.
SowhatIsay,pickthecarupfivenow,thecheck.
Whatyoudo,youpaythecheckstraightintohisbank,SanSnackWest,youtakethecheque,andyou'repayingstraightintohisbank.
Andthatmeansyoucutoutmybank,youcutouttheclearingbanks,you'vegonestraighttohisbank.
Nowthey'vegotupto$3.30
toeitherhonourthatcheckorbouncethatcheck.
He'sgotupto$330topaythemoneyintocoverthatcheck,etc.
SothenIgetmybanktophonetheprovidingbanktoseeifit'sclear.
Andthey'llphonemebackandsay,yes,John,that'scleared.
Noproblem.
Allgone,can'tdonothingnow.
I'veclearedhischeck.
Gotme?
Sohe'sundertheimpressionthathe'sgotthreedayswiththatcheck,becausetheylovethat.
Becausewhenyousaythat,itgivesthemalittlebitofsecurity.
Anyway,check'scleared.
That'sit.
Can'tdonothingaboutit.
I'vegothischeckscleared.
Takethemotoraway.
Nextday,hiswifedon'tlikeit.
Hiswifedon'tlikeit.
Nowmemorewithacar,buthiswifedon'tohthedogdon'tlikethecolour.
Oh,John,I'mgonnahavetostopthecheckandI'llreturnyourcar.
Oh,thatthat'sokay.
Noproblem.
Noproblem.
I'mactingsillyhere.
Anyway,nextthingIknow.
Hello,John.
Yeah?
ThatcheckI'llgiveyou,it'sbeenclear.
No.
Whatdoyoumeanit'sclear?
Hesaid,yeah,Iphonedmybanktostopit,andIsaid,theycan'tstopit,it'sallreallyclear.
Isaid,that'sagoodenoughofme.
Isaid,it'sneverunluckyhere,haven'tI?
Isaid,no,Ican'thavethecarback,mate.
Isaid,notforthemexcuses,likeyourcarifyourwifedon'tlikeit,etc.
Thatwasit,I'vedealt,andheboughtthecar.
AndanotherthingIusedtodo,whentheyusedtobuyacar,straightawaytakeitoffthelotandhideit.
Becausethey'dalwayscomebackintheeveningwiththeirmatestoshowthemthecar.
They'reproudofthecar,theylovethecar,buttheirmateswillfindsomethingwrong.
Look,there'salittledenthere,there'salittledent,oh,I'llneverseethathere,go.
Becausehe'sallhypedup.
Hewilldescribethatcarasthemostbeautifulcarintheworld.
Buthismatescanbealittlebitenvious,alittlebitjealous,andthey'retryingtotalkhimoutofitbecauseofthat.
Butno,thatdon'tworkbecauseI'veequippedthecarup.
Next,where'sthecar?
CanIcomedown?
No,mate,Iputitaway,cleaneditallup,anditwassoshinyIdidn'twanttogetdusty.
Andsomethingyoucomedowntopickitupwasglittery.
Andtheseusedtowork.
Butastimewenton,I'dgofromsixcarsandetc.,
uptotencarsitewithashowroom,etc.
Carswithabitdearer,abitnicer,fullcortinas,MarkViveswasmykiller,becauseIusedtogotocolouringsandI'dgiveathousandpoundsroomandI'dmarkthemupattwogrand.
SoIwasnickingagrandonacar,andI'daverageonaworstweekaboutfivecarsaweek,sofivegrand.
ButafterIpaidmeabitofthein-depthrevenue,mybitoftaxandmeabitofthatandallthat,becauseyouhadtokeepyourbooksright.
Istillendupwithaboutjustunderfourgrand.
SoIwashappywiththat.
Isellalotofmoneyinthe70s.
Well,itwasalotofmoney,butasIsaidtooneofthe,Ihadallthetricksandpeoplesay,I'llgodownandseeJohn,he'dgiveyou,he'dgiveyousillymoneyforyourpartX,becauseIwaslisteningtothem.
Theyallthought,oh,wefoundaDivomotordealer.
SometimestheirmotorcarswerebetterthantheoneIwassellingthem.
AndIusedtogoagainandgoandtakeanicelumpoutoftheirmotorcar.
AndbutIalwaystriedtokeeptobreadandbutter.
ButItriedtokeepawayfromlumpyoldmotors.
Iusedtotry,see,withbreadandbuttermotors,yougotsay80%ofthepublicwillbuyabreadandbuttermotorcartoFord,theGroxall,carslikethat.
BakesandMulesWiss'sJensen'sinterceptorsandMGsandallthat.
Becauseonly20%ofthepublicareonthatpower.
ButIwantedtoworkonthe80%,whichIdid.
Andbecauseitallbuiltup,itallbuiltuplovely,andthenIhadabigcompanydowninPlumpstead,SouthLondon,andthatwasauha20-cardlot.
AndJamesHunt,theracingdriver,afriendofafriend,thatwasamotorby,soheletmeputhiscaronmycarfronttodragallthecustomersintohavealookatitandtakepictures.
Youweredowntownmotors?
Yeah,downtownmotorplantsandtheHerbertRoadPlumpsdid.
That'swhereIhadtowalkinwithatrafficwarden.
She,look,nodisrespect.
I'veseenthenewspaperreport.
Yeah,nodisrespect.
Butshewasacastawa.
Shehadabeard,shehadabigmoustache,youknow?
AndIsaidtoher,look,Iknowyou'redoingthejob,uh,sweetheart,butifyouwantmetotakethiscarofftheroad,I'mgonnahavetomovethatcaroffthelottoputthatonebehindthatone.
Andshesaidtome,ifyoutakethatoneoffandputitthere,I'mgonnaputaticketonit.
Eachthen.
SoIhadacarcleaner,becauseIwasaposhcardealer,becauseIhadacarcleaner.
Butanyway,hewaswashingthemotorcars.
Andthis,IthinkthiswasinNovemberorsomething,itwaswintertime.
SoIsaidtohim,Bill,Isaid,comehere,mate,Iwanttoborrowyourbucket.
SoI'mhopinghedidn'tknowwhatIwastalkingabout.
Sohecameover,givemethebucket,andIsungitoverher.
Thewholekaboof,bang!
Icecallswerecomingupthenosebecauseitwasthatcold,yeah?
AndIputwindeverywhere.
Isaid,heresweet,I'lltakethat,becauseyou'retalkingtomemental,I'mactingmental.
Anyway,I'dphonedthepolice,butthepolicewereburstingtheirfacesbecausetheywantedtoknow.
Theyreally,becausetheygottokeepastraightfaceandI.
Andtheywasreally,buttheysaidtothistrafficbook,look,theonlythingwecandohere,wecannickhim,butalltheynickedmewasdestroyinggovernmentproperty,likethenotebookandthepen.
BecauseIdestroyedyeah,thecleaningoftheuniformandallthatstupidness.
Theygetnickedonit.
Andtheysaidtoyou,ifyouwanttogoanyfurther,you'llhavetotaketheprivatesummonsoutagainstMr.
Dixon,andyou'llhavetoexchangenamesandaddresses.
Shedidn'twanttogivemeEarl'sdress.
Ididn'twantit.
Thedresswouldn'tfitme.
Anyway,umagoodfriendofmine,ChristopherMitchell,QC,Iphonedhimupandtoldhimallaboutit,andIsaid,Willyourepresentme?
Hesaid,John,Ican't,Idon'tdomagistrates'courts.
I'maQC.
Hesaid,butasit'syou,I'llcomedownanddoitforyou,butIcan'twearmerobesormywigornothing.
Buthesaid,don'tworryaboutthat.
Youcouldhearmeinthatcourt,twostreetsdowntheroads,becausehe,whenhetalkedinthecourt,itthecourtusedtoecho.
Really.
Butanyway,hegotmeupwithafine,etc.
Icouldhavegonetoprisonfortwoyears,theycouldhavetriedtomakeanexampleofme,becausenobodymesseswiththemtrafficwardens,dothey?
Butum,anyway,Igotafine,asitsaidinthepaper.
Iwaslucky.
Buthavingsaidthat,Igotlettersfromalloverthecountrypraisingmefordoingthat,andthewholestreetHerbertRoad,theyhadawhiproundtopaymyfine,andIsoldover50carsthatweekbecauseofher,andIearnedalotofmoney.
Almostsoldthewholecarfront,andIcomealittlebitofacelebrityforaboutfourweeks.
Peoplewantedmeautograph,butdon'tgetmewrong,Iwouldn'tdoitagain.
Thatwasaone-off.
Shegotme.
I'mnotabadguy,Idon'tblameinsultingpeople.
Thatain'tmygame.
I'drathergiveamanapoundandtakethepound.
Andthereain'tmanydoodlerslikethat.
Didsheleaveyoualoneafterthat?
Yeah,andallthetrafficwardens.
Noneofthetrafficwardenshavecomenearme.
Andsomeofthemcomeandshutmeoutin.
Howaboutthecoppersshookyourhandaswell,didn'tthey?
Uhuh,theylovedit.
Theylovedit.
Theyliterallylovedit.
Becausetheywerebursttheirfacewasburstingwheretheywantedalaugh.
Butthatwasastory.
IthinkthatthatwentinthatbookofGiles,wherethey'dalltheircartoons.
Ithinktheyhadmeinthataswell.
Yeah,theydidhavemeinthat.
Theyinthatthey'dshowthemotor,they'dbeonawallwaitingforthetrappingboardtocomedowntheroadandbang.
Butanyway,thenIwenttoDixonMotorCompany,30carsales,10,10,10,inElbanyRoad,offtheElKentRoad,nextdoortotheThomasBeckett,wherealltheboxersusedtogo.
Iusedtoslipinthere,talkingtoafewoftheboxesandetc.
Andtryandnickabitofbusinessoffofthem.
Butthatdonewell.
Butthetricksofthemotorgame,forgetthecar,you'vegottogetthepeopletolikeyouasaperson.
Becauseiftheydon'tlikeyou,you'vegotmorechanceofgoingtothemoonthansellingthatcar.
Youmightaswellbe.
IusedtoalwaysworkonmeasapersonandthembeforeI'llgetintothecar,sellingthecar.
Theyweregooddays.
Therewasaplotofpeople.
Today,Idon'tknowhowthey'redoingit.
Andtheninthe70s,late70s,80s,thentheybookedthat.
We'llgiveyou£2,000foryourcarregardlessofthecondition.
Doyourememberthat?
Imean,therewasalwaysavaluetoacartobreakit.
Sotherewasalwaysafigure,regardlessofthecondition,dependingontheparts.
Yeah,buttheybookedthatthingout,we'llgiveyou£2,000foryourcaranother,regardlessofthebutwhattheyusedtodo,theyusedtomarkthecarupanother£2,000.
Scrappyscheme,yeah.
Thescrappyschemetoday,butyearsago,itwasn'tcalledascrappyscheme.
Itwasjustmotordealersgiving£2,000awaywiththewholecarregardlessofthecondition.
Itwasn'tnothingtodowiththescrappyscheme.
Butwhattheyweredoing,theywereputtingtwograndextraonthewindowscreen.
Butthenwewouldhavepeopledrivingaboutincarsworth£100,thinkingthecar'sworth£2,000.
Andthey'dcomearoundyourcar,you'dhaveacarmultedupat£2,500.
Becausethat'swhatthey'llgiveforit.
Yeah,andtheygo,Imean,I'llgiveyou£500.
Mycar'sworth£2,000.
Isaid,no,mate,Ithat£2,000,I'lltrytoexplaintothem.
It'sascam.
Youain'tgetting£2,000inaclerk.
The£2,000isonthewindowscreen.
I'llgiveyouaclopperpriceforhim,whatit'sprobablyreallyworth.
I'msurethatyouwouldn'thavedoneanythinggodgy.
ButdoyouhaveanystoriesofotherdealersthatwereuptonogoodwiththebodgesandthecarsandI'dneverdothat,mysweetheart?
Nevereverknow.
Amillionyears,whatthattheydo,theylivewithit.
ButIthinkonceapolicemancameupandsaid,John,Iwantafullcapri,butit'sgottobea1600.
SoIhavea1300onthecarphone.
SoIchangedthethreetoa1.6
onthebadge.
AndIthrowitout,Isaid,I'vegotthatcapriforyou,that1.6
motor.
Andhe'stookit,he'sdrivenaway,andI'vebeennext.
Hesaid,John,thatmotor'salittlebitunderpowered.
I'mgoing,ohGod.
Isaid,no,itshouldn'tbe.
Andhe'sgettingmemore,Idon'tknow,mate.
Hesaid,ittakesmetwominutestogetawayfromthetrafficlights.
Butanyway,Italkedmywayroundit.
Hethoughtitwasfunnyandworkedhismouthabitandkeptit.
Butthatwasareallyfunnystory.
Buthecouldhavetakenmetothecleaners,buthedidn't.
Hefeltthatbeingapolicemanandallthat,heshouldhaveknownbetterbecauseitwasinthelogbook.
Butdon'tgivehimthelogbook,Iusedtoletitcomethroughthepunch.
I'dholditbacksoIdidn'tcomebackforaboutfourweeks.
AndthenIusedtogotothemotorauctions,andtheoldauctioneersdownatBrentford,whenIbidonacar,they'dgo,Howdoyouwanttobeonthis?
Andthey'dlookatmeandtheygo,bang.
Theywouldn'ttalknomore.
SoonasIwasbidding,they'dgo,threepick,bangtheham,andI'llgivethema£20noteattheendofthesale.
Iusedtogetthemotorsabitquicker.
Andalso,beforethemotorsusedtogointotheauctions,we'dchangedtheoldplugsover,soitwasfightingandshittingandeverything,smoking.
Sopeople,they'dgo,oh,fuckthat.
Therewasn'tnothingwrongwithit.
We'dchangetheplugsover.
Andyouhaveathingaboutmotordealersinauctions,thepublicwatchyoubecausetheyknowwe'remotordealers,andwe'rebuyingittogoagainst,sowe'reearningaprofit.
Sotheywatchhertomakesurethattheybuyacar.
SoI'mbiddingonavehicle,theywillbidagainstmebecausetheyknow.
Sometimesweputmotorsintherethatwerewronged,andwe'dbebiddingonthat,andthey'dbebiddingonthatbecausetheythinkwe'rebuyingit.
Butweweren't,wewererunningthem.
Soweusedtocathimthatway.
Thatwasquitefunny.
Butsee,thefinBrentford,itwasaaagoodmotorseemslikeusedtocomefromallovertheplacedownthere.
Butseetheotherthingaboutcarsandthat,goingbackafewyearswhenIdidn'thavecarfront,guysstillsellcarsfromoutsidetheirhouse.
Takeatipfromme.
Ifyou'resellingamotorcarfromoutsideyourhouse,thepeoplethatarecomingdowntobuyitwillgoalloverthatcarbeforetheyknockonyourdoor.
Wecallthemtirekickers.
Littlemarkhere,littlemarkthere,everything.
Andsowhatyou'vegottodo,you'vegottohidethecar.
Putthecararoundthecorner,justgiveittothecar,sothey'vegottoknockonthefrontdoor.
Womenknockonthefrontdoor,thenyoucantalktothem.
Sothecar'sgotalittledent,andyouknowthey'recominguptothatlittleden,youstarttalkingtothem.
It'shadanewbatteryandit'shadthis,andyoutakethemawayfromthatlittleden.
Andthat'swhatIusedtodo.
Ialwaysusedtoparkthecarup.
AguycalledPeterJarvis,he'sabignameinDart,butheusedtosellhe'shedoestoday.
IknowIcanmentionhim,yeah.
Heheboughthisfirstmotoroffmeinthesecond-handgame.
HesellsRollsRoyce,andpeoplegoontheGooglethatPeterJarvishavecomeup.
ButIeducatedhiminthemotorgameintheearlydays.
He'dseehowmuchIwasearning,buthestruckluckyandgreat.
He'ssuchalovelyman.
SoyouwerethestarofPeterJarvistrading?
Yeah,whenhefirststarted,yeah,IboughtaJenseninterceptoroffhimintheearlydays.
Whenwehadgreenlogbooks.
Yeah.
HaveyouheardofPeterJarvis?
SodidyouhaveamotorhouseinBromleyaswell?
Yeah,thebigshowroomdown.
Didyoupreferthepicturesortheshowroom?
Showroom,becauseitwouldseeopencarfronts,you'revulnerable.
Ifyouupsetsomebody,oryousellsomebodyacarandthey'renothappywithit,they'llcomebackandscratchyourmotorsofthenight.
Withashowroom,they'rebehindglass.
Yeah.
Plusit'sabitwarmer.
WhatIusedtodoaswellwiththepeople,whenwe'dhaveadeal,I'dput£500onthetable,again,Ihaveagoodbitofprofit,andI'llsay,look,Mr.
BumBumBum,takethis£500,andifanythinggoeswrongwiththevehicle,atireoralightbulborabattery,anythingyouwant,takeitoutofmy£500,andinthreemonths,bringmemy£500backbecauseIknowthere'snothinggonnagowrong.
Whichgivesthemconfidenceanditgivesthemalittlebitofuh,Idon'tknow,theygotalittlebitofsomethingtheygot£500amountofmoney,whichtheylove.
Didtheyeverbringitback?
No,Ineverseethemagain.
Andthatthatwastheideaofgivingthem£500togetridofthem.
BecauseSoyoubuiltthatintothedeal?
Yeah,itclosesthedeal.
I'dneverseethemagain,fullstop.
AndIusedtolovethat.
I'dhavesomuchprofitinthevehiclethatIcoulddothingslikethat.
Theycouldstilldoittoday.
Thingslikethat.
Hadanyproperscreamerscomeback?
Yeah,itain't,becausesometimesI'dhaverealbadscreamers,uh,andI'dsaymybecauseIalwayskeptthekeyback.
EverycarIsold,Ikeptoneofthekeys.
IncaseI'daggravation,I'dgoandgetmymotorback.
Backinthe70s,I'dgetafewscreamers,andthenI'dgetmymatetogoaroundandtakethecarwhentheywereasleepandburnit.
Right?
IknowIshouldn'tsaythis,butthat'swhatcutthemotordealersusedtodo.
Itwasrife.
Didn'tonebecausetheyknewthemanweren'tlosingbecausehewasinsured.
Andandthenthey'dcomebacktohimtobuyanothercar.
Andthey'dphonehimupandsay,Oh,mycargotstolenlastnight,andthey'dbuyanothercaroffofhim.
Winnerwinner?
Yeah,whatawinnerain'tathing.
ButIneverwentdownthatavenue.
Ithought,no,ifIwouldfixthecar.
Ididn'tgetthenameHonestJohnfornothing.
Butifpeopledidcomebacktome,IIwoulddefinitely100%putitright.
Toprovidingtheyweren'ttakingthetakingthepissoutofme,becausepeoplecanchange.
Theylovemetoyourface,butassoonassomethinggoeswrong,that'sit.
Theycompletelychange.
ButI'vehadRollsRoyces,etc.
Therewasoneinstantwhereeverymotordealerhehashisowncar.
AndIusedtohaveaRolls-Royce.
AndIIboughtSidJames'soldRollsRoyce,whichisapictureofitupthere,andI'vedonewelloutofthat,soldittoanArab.
IboughtthisRolls-Royce,andwhenIwenttoregisterit,Igotoneofthedigitswrongonthechassis.
Andmebeingamotordealer,etc.,
andtheyallthinkmotordealersarewrongers,butwe'renot,we'reprobablythemosthonestpeopleyoucancomeacross.
AndbutwhyIsaythat,becauseifJoePublicgottheircarrepaired,themechanicshe'dsaythen,well,getridofthis,mate,yougottroubleshappening.
Sowheredoeshego?
Rantothecarfrontandputsitintous.
Sowebecomethebadperson.
We'renot,becausethepublicputthemintous.
Now,webuythatcaringoodfaith,andwesellitingoodfaithtothenewcustomer,notknowingthatit'sgoingtogowrongsomewheredowntheline.
Butyouknow,Ithinkpeopleslagoffmotordealersandthat,theyshouldn'tdothat,becausewegetourcarsfrompeoplelikeyourself,thepublic.
Icompletelyagree.
ThethegeneralpubliccanslotawrongandintousinapartX.
Yeah.
Butwehavetothenputthatcarrightbeforeitgoesoutagain.
Wehavetostandonforanyfaultsonit.
Butjusttoproveapoint,howlongwereyoutradingonaforecourtorashowroom?
Perhaps30,40years.
Youwouldn'thavebeeninbusinessfor30,40years,customerfacingwithashowroomandapitchifyou'rehavingpeopleover,wouldyou?
Thisisthethingthatgetsme.
Weallhavethisreputationandit'sallDelboyandAlphaDaily.
Andyousay,howifyou'vegottradersthathavebeeninbusinessandsecond-generationtradersaswell,likemyselfandlikeChristhatarecarryingonafamilybusiness,butifweweren'tdoingourjobright,wewouldn'tstillbehere,wouldwe?
Exactly.
Youknow,ain'tnobodyouttheretodaywillputgivemeabadname.
Eventoday,theyallspeakveryhighlyofme.
EvenpeoplewhoboughtcarsoffmeyearsandyearsagospeakveryhighlyofmebecauseIalwaysusedtoputthingsright.
Easylife.
Yeah,yeah.
ButbacktothatmistakeImadeonthatlogbookonthatRollsRoyce.
TheFordSquadatNewScotlandYardthoughttheywasontoabigone.
TheythoughtIwasringingRollsRoyce's.
Theythoughtthey'dhitthejackpotwithme,andIwasnickingMollsRoyce's,ringingthem,andresellingthem.
ButIwasn't.
Sodidyougetyourcolourfuloverthat?
Nearly.
Theywaswhattheywaswatchingme.
Theydidn'tcomedownandnickmeoranythinglikethat.
TheywaswatchingmeformonthstoseewhatIwasdoing.
Andthenallofasudden,thisguycalledDaveClinian,he'sachiefinspectornow,butIthinkhe'slefttheforce,comedown,andheliterallyapologisedtome,andhesaid,Wegottherawimpressionaboutyou,Mr.
Dixon.
You'renotasbadaseveryone'stryingtomakeout.
Andhesaid,I'llshakeyourhand.
Youcan'tsaycareofthat.
No,youcan't,becauseeverybody.
Ifyousayyou'reanestateagent,peoplego,Oh,God.
Butmotordealers,everybodyhatesamotordealer.
Idon'tknowwhy.
Everybody'sdrivingaboutinacar.
ButifItellyounow,ifIwasputintoacarsales,anewcarfranchisesale,I'dsellanymotoratethat.
Noproblem.
Thestrengthofmybow,don'tsellthecar,sellyourselffirst.
Becauseonceyou'vesoldyourselfandtheyboughtyouasapersonandtheylikeyou,andyou'vegotthemtotrustyou,thenyoucantakethemintheofficeandthey'reyours.
Peoplebuyfrompeopletheylike.
Exactly.
Yeah,peoplebuyfrompeopletheylike,alwayshavedone.
Bigchangenowintoday'sgame,John,isthatalotofpeopledon'tactuallybuytheircar.
It'sjustaboutamonthlypayment.
Yeah,theysoldandallthat,andpeopledon'trealisehowmuchthey'repayingthroughthenose.
Iain'tdoingthat.
Thesamepersonwillgoandreleasethecarandpay£200aweek.
Andattheendofthatterm,yeah,I'llgetthecarback.
That'sthedifference.
Thereain'tnodifference.
It'salluphereinthemind.
John,what'syourhappiestmemoriesofbeingatrader?
Earningadosh,earningabitofdos,puttingadonethatonthetable.
Haha!
I'veneverbeenfilthyrich?
No.
I'mthepoorestmultivenueinking.
I'lltellyouthatnow,mate.
I'mtoohonestformyowngood.
I'dratherhavenothingandsleepovernightthanhave100millionpoundsandnotsleep,becauseIlikemysleep.
Saysitall,doesn'tit?
Yeah,prettymuch.
Butifyoucouldgetifyoucouldgobacktoonepointintime,whenwasyourfavouritetimetobeatrader?
Myfriend'sBeaverwouldnightclubininSickup,WestwoodandGeorgieGreenwayandallthat,theywonaRolls-Royceintheraffle.
Nowtheythoughtitwasmewomandidn'tup.
TheythoughtI'dsetthewholethingupjusttogettothem.
Sowhentheywonit,theywentandgotit,andtheycomestraight,theycomestraightdowntomeandsaid,goon,John,here'syourRollsRoyceback,weknowyoujoked.
AndIhadnothingtodowithhim.
Ishouldhavetakenit,shouldn'tI?
Isaid,Yeah,thatwasme.
Thekeysoffthem.
WhenIwasinthecarsales,Ihadanightclubaswell.
AndwhenIusedtosellacar,I'dgotothepeople,look,it'safreetickettomyclub.
Eat,drink,dowhatyouwant,asmuchasyouwant,onme.
Now,they'dalwaystakeafriendwiththem,soI'dnickthemoneyoutofthem,andthey'dalwaysnowwhenIsaygoget,Isaideatanddrink,butpeoplecanonlydrinksomuch.
IfIsentsomebodyinaclubdrinkingtoit,theyain'tgonnadrinkabottleofvodka.
Abottleofvodkainhimdoesonlycostaboutfivepounds.
I'dliketomeetthemanthatcoulddrinkthatbottleofvodkaandwalkoutofthatclub.
Heain'tgonna,don'tmatterwhathedoes.
Doyougetme?
Sowhenyousayeatanddrinkasmuchasyouwant.
Whatwasthewhatwasyourclubcalled?
Johnny'sinBeringRome.
WeusedtousetheAstaClubinVauxhall,roundtheway.
Andallthemotordealersusedtogothere,andIusedtogo,God,allthesemotordealersspendingfortunes.
SowhatIdid,IopenedupmynightclubbecauseIknewallthemotorandthey'dallcometome.
Itwaslikeandspendwithme.
Anditwasgrade.
Andthatwasinthe80s,andIpulledthatinabout85.
IIhaditforaboutsix,sevenyears.
Itwasagoodday.
There'sabigcrossoverinManchesterwiththemotortradeclubsandboxingpromoters.
It'salmosttherewasalwaysabigcrossoverthere.
Butjusttofinishoff,howwouldyoudescribebeingatraderinthe70s?
Ifyouhadtosumitupinonego,howwouldyoudescribeit?
Iwouldn'tchangeitforallthemoneyintheworld.
Ilovedit,Ilovedeverydayofit,Ilovedtheexcitementofit,I'dhavetheexcitementofsellingcars,I'dhavetheexcitementoflosingmoneybutinaniceway,becauseI'dmakeitupinanotherwayinthemotorgame.
I'dearnagrandonsomething,andthenI'dlose500onanotherone,thenI'dmakeitontheotherone.
Attheendoftheday,alwayscomeout.
Properdealing.
Properdealer,mate.
Andourclassmyselfisoneoftheoldschoolmotordealers,andthereain'tmanyofusleft.
AndIamapropermotordealer.
Andallmymatesalwaysusedtosaytome,John,youarethebestmotordealerinSoutheastLondon.
AndIIwasproudofthat.
HonestJohn.
HonestJohn.
IreallyhopeyouenjoyedthatasmuchasIdid.
AndhugethanksonceagaintoJohnandhisson,Chris,forgettingintouch.
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