Wheels & Deals with The Old Car Lady

Tim Ashworth | Inside the Metro Barn: VP500, Opaline S, Press Car HLS & the Van That Never Was

The Old Car Lady heads to Tim Ashworth of Stockley Classics for a barn tour. Six Metros, all rare, all significant, all in various states of readiness. Tim walks Sam through each one: what it is, why it matters and whether the maths will ever add up.A one-of-six VP500 with the certificate and the champagne long since drunk. A reimported opaline S with its original 1982 invoice. The 200th GJW press car in vermilion. A Kawasaki green go-kart with Type R seats and a bored-out engine. And the Metro van BL should have built but never did.Featured StoriesThe VP500: One of Six Left: Built to celebrate the 500,000th Metro. All black, gold stripe, pepperpots, full leather and a bottle of champagne on delivery. Five hundred built. Six remain. Tim has the certificate and plans to restore it next. Sold with a fresh bottle.The Opaline S: A Left-to-Right Reimport: Bought new in Belgium in 1982, converted to right-hand drive and sold back into the UK by an official importer. One owner from new. Original purchase invoice: £3,996. Steel sunroof, beige cloth instead of the standard strobe upholstery, 40-odd thousand miles, garaged all its life. A true garage find.GJW 200: The 200th Press Car: W-reg, vermilion, number 200 of the 200 GJW press cars. Tim is appealing for anyone with BL archive material from the early 80s to get in touch.Kermit: The Kawasaki Green Go-Kart: Started as a 998cc Metro L, bought on eBay, collected down the M6 on a jerry can. Now running a bored-out engine, Type R seats, no rear seats, carbon bonnet and a side exhaust. Sam has asked for a track day at Oulton Park. They are doing it.The Van That Never Was: Ex-Midlands Electricity Board 998cc Metro van, now running an MG Metro turbo engine, MG body kit, turbo alloys, pearl white with full colour coding. Tim’s version of the MG Metro van Austin Rover never built. It always gets attention at shows. It will start first time.A Nod ToTim Ashworth at stockleyclassics.com. Appeal for BL press archive photos of GJW cars. Red MG Metro turbo Mark 2 coming to Stockley Classics soon. Oulton Park track day in Kermit: stay tuned.📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎦 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady👍 The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook🔔 Subscribe: @Theoldcarlady on YouTubeThis has been a Worth A Listen Production.

S1E43 Jul 20, 2026 30 min 81 annotations

Martin Buckley | The Aga Khan’s Maserati Quattroporte & the Gold Lancia He Should Never Have Sold (Part 2)

The Old Car Lady is back with motoring writer Martin Buckley for Part 2 of the photo archaeology sessions. This time Martin goes bigger: the Aga Khan’s one-of-two Maserati Quattroporte, bought in LA in 2015, thrashed round America and sold for considerably more than he paid. One of only two ever built. The other went to the King of Spain.There is also Harold Wilson’s Humber Imperial with its bomb-proof floor and its original HW1 plate, a bomb-proof Silver Spur delivered to a nervous young Mexican in a Madrid hotel, a Crayford conversion nobody knew was a Crayford, and the gold Lancia Flavia 2000 Coupe Martin found in Loot that he will regret selling for the rest of his life.Featured StoriesThe Aga Khan’s Maserati Quattroporte: One of two Frua-bodied Quattroportes built on a stretched Indy platform. The Aga Khan had one, the King of Spain had the other. Martin bought his in LA, thrashed it round California, shipped it back, had a stalk repaired with glue rather than pay £600 for a proper fix, tried to sell it through JD Classics in Mayfair and eventually sold it privately. Now worth half a million. He is glad he had it. He is glad it is someone else’s problem.Harold Wilson’s Humber Imperial: HW1 on the plate, bomb-proof floor, massive air conditioning unit on the front. Martin’s dad had it, his dad did some daft things with it and it ended up getting scrapped. A C-reg AMC Ambassador parked permanently in Ashton stood nearby and never moved. Neither story ends well.The Bomb-Proof Spur to Madrid: Martin’s father sold a bomb-proof Silver Spur to a young Mexican businessman, delivered to a Madrid hotel, keys left with the concierge in the safe. The buyer said he’d collect it at some point. Windows so heavy they went up and down slowly. Doors you could feel the weight of from ten feet away.The Gold Lancia Flavia He Found in Loot: Gold with green carpets and black plastic seats, bought from a journalist who’d found it with no brakes. Reliable, smooth, beautiful to drive, took the family on holiday. The faster it went the smoother it got. Martin sold it, suspects it got scrapped and has never found another one he liked as much.A Nod ToMartin Buckley, motoring writer and author. Sam’s photos from the session are on Instagram at @the_old_car_lady. The Car Time Team field trip to Stockport is being planned. And next week: a barn full of Metros that have been sitting untouched for years. Do not miss it.Toyota MR2 raffle: two free entries with code MR2POD at Raffall. 51,000 miles, 11-month MOT. Proceeds to Dogs Trust - just google ‘Raffall the old car lady’ or search on www.raffall.com and use code MR2POD for 2 free tickets - the raffle will be drawn on July 18th.📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎦 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady👍 The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook🔔 Subscribe: @Theoldcarlady on YouTubeThis has been a Worth A Listen Production.

S1E42 Jul 13, 2026 19 min

Anthony Kearsley | Applejack Rolls-Royces, Richard Harris’ Phantom V & a £550k Bentley Drophead

The Old Car Lady heads to the RREC National Rally to meet Anthony Kearsley, classic car collector, Auto Couture owner and star of Channel 4’s Handcuffed. Anthony walks Sam through some of the most extraordinary cars at the event, including a £1,000,000 one-off Bentley S3 Drophead, a 1933 Silver Wraith Landaulet with an Edwardian coachbuilt body, and Richard Harris’ Phantom V…the only car he ever owned.A Rolls-Royce Spirit in Applejack reunited with the Vanden Plas 1500 it was built to match, the Rolls-Royce Silver Wraith Sedanca built for an oil baron & a Bentley R-Type with no roof and another restoration story.Featured StoriesThe Applejack Spirit and the Vanden Plas 1500: A Spirit stripped and restored in Applejack to match a surviving Vanden Plas 1500. The husband who wanted the same colour on a Spirit died before he could order it. Anthony completed what he never lived to commission. £50,000, six years. The two cars met for the first time at this rally.The £550,000 Bentley S3 Drophead: No Rolls-Royce or Bentley drophead existed in the 60s if you wanted one, you had it coachbuilt. Anthony commissioned this one to Mulliner blueprints: acrylic white, St James red, electric red mohair roof. Over £550,000 and multiple failed delivery dates later, PNA have quoted a million pounds to build one today. He says never again.Richard Harris’ Phantom V: The only car Richard Harris ever owned, gifted reputedly by Princess Margaret, used by Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton for their Wales tour, left in a New York car park for 25 years and retrieved with £100,000 in parking fees. Anthony first saw it at Jack Barclay’s in the 1990s. It is midnight blue and it is for sale.The Withnail and I Sedanca: A Silver Wraith Hooper Sedanca built for Calouste Gulbenkian, the Armenian oil baron who earned 5% of every barrel sold. Lizard skin interior, a speedo in the back to monitor the chauffeur, and a starring role as Uncle Monty’s car in Withnail and I. Sold for £95,000. Worth considerably more to the right person.The Bentley R-Type With No Roof: Converted from a four-door saloon to a convertible at a cost of a quarter of a million pounds, then discovered it would cost another fifty grand to fit a proper hood. It went to auction. Highest bid was £58,500. The lady of the house has decreed it is not coming back.What You’ll LearnWhy buying a fully restored classic is almost always better value than restoring one yourself. Why the pre-war Rolls-Royce market is losing its custodians faster than it is gaining new ones. Why the chauffeur always got the leather seat and the owner got the fabric. What MacArthur Park has to do with a Phantom V. And why a car restored to a quarter of a million pounds can fail to reach £60,000 at auction.Key QuestionsIs it ever worth commissioning a one-off coachbuilt Rolls-Royce or Bentley today? Anthony says probably not twice. The £550,000 Bentley would cost a million to build now. The heartache and failed delivery dates are real. Buy the best restored car someone else has already suffered through.Are pre-war Rolls-Royces undervalued? Anthony bought a 1933 Silver Wraith Landaulet with over £200,000 of restoration for £26,500 at auction. The previous owner had Alzheimer’s. The people who restore these cars are leaving the scene faster than new buyers are arriving.What makes a car genuinely special beyond its condition? Every car Anthony walks Sam past has a human story: a husband’s unfulfilled wish, a hellraising actor’s only possession, a billionaire’s bespoke commission. Anthony’s view is that the story is inseparable from the car and always will be.A Nod ToAnthony Kearsley and Auto Couture, who offer chauffeur hire from £1,500. The film The Ghost of Richard Harris on Sky Arts, featuring Anthony, Jared Harris and the Phantom V. The RRC National Rally. And Hooper, Mulliner and the great coachbuilders whose work still commands rooms full of people who cannot quite believe what they are looking at.https://autocoutureltd.com/ 📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎦 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady👍 The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook🔔 Subscribe: @Theoldcarlady on YouTubeThis has been a Worth A Listen Production.

S1E41 Jul 06, 2026 20 min

Martin Buckley | Fiat 130s in Pub Car Parks, Bristol 406s & a Ferrari in Bredbury

The Old Car Lady sits down with motoring writer Martin Buckley to go through a box of photographs taken on the streets of Manchester and Stockport in the late 70s and 80s. Martin was a teenager with a camera and an eye for anything interesting, and he found plenty.A Fiat 130 abandoned in a pub car park in Audenshaw. A Bristol 406 with no plates and no engine photographed on a night out in Stockport. A Lamborghini Urraco outside a mate’s garage in Ashton. A Ferrari 275 GTS spotted outside an auto electrician in Bredbury. A 300 SL Roadster in a mill car park. This is what was out there if you knew where to look.Featured StoriesThe Fiat 130 at The Blue Pig: S reg, right-hand drive, badge nicked off the back, sitting in the car park of a pub in Audenshaw for months. Martin went in and asked about it. The landlord said no. He went back twice. It was always there.Espadas on Slip Roads and a Vinyl Roof: A dodgy classic car dealer in the early 80s who promised Martin an E type for Christmas and never delivered. He had two Lamborghini Espadas, took Martin out in one flat out on a motorway slip road doing well over 100. The other one had a vinyl roof. Covering the rust.The Bristol 406 on a Night Out: No plates, possibly no engine, photographed twice: once in colour and once in Martin’s black and white artistic period. He insisted on dragging his mates past it on the way to a club in Stockport. They thought he was weird. He does not disagree.Parking the Bristol in Pall Mall: Martin bought a Bristol 407 cheap, drove it from Stroud to London late at night at 100 miles an hour and parked it in Pall Mall. Found a space immediately. He says there was no Bristol moment that was ever going to top that.The Ferrari 275 GTS in Bredbury: Spotted outside an auto electrician in Bredbury. Worth millions now. Martin followed it in off the street. He has since owned a Ferrari 400 automatic and a 412 manual. His dad had a genuinely lovely 400i that Ferrari UK found nothing wrong with when they got their hands on it.What You’ll LearnWhy pub car parks were long-term storage for interesting cars all over Greater Manchester. Why the Bristol 406 six-cylinder is now both Martin’s and Sam’s favourite. Why the Espada is a grenade waiting to go off and why Martin is still not cured of them. Why auto electricians who don’t make things worse are harder to find now than a Ferrari 275 GTS in Bredbury. And why the A6 through Stockport was the place to go car shopping before the internet.Key QuestionsIs the Lamborghini Espada worth owning today? Martin’s view: only if you have the equivalent of the car’s new price sitting in the bank as a just-in-case fund. You also need a specialist who will actually work on one. He has owned one and is not cured.Bristol 406 or 407: which is the one to have? Both Martin and Sam come down on the 406 with the six-cylinder engine as peak Bristol. Better proportioned, better balanced, nicer to drive. The V8s are faster but the engine is heavier and the handling suffers.Did growing up surrounded by interesting cars make you a better judge of them? Martin’s dad had P5Bs, a Lotus Elite, Lancias and Ferraris. Martin had access to an Opel Senator 3 litre as a teenager and thought nothing of it. He now thinks that background makes you harder to impress and slower to buy badly.A Nod ToMartin Buckley, motoring writer and author, whose archive of 35mm photos from the streets of Greater Manchester is exactly the kind of thing nobody else kept. Part 2 is coming. Barry Moran’s garage in Ashton, where the Lamborghini Urraco was a regular visitor. And the auto electricians of Leyland, Preston, who are still doing it properly.📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎦 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady👍 The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook🔔 Subscribe: @Theoldcarlady on YouTubeThis has been a Worth A Listen Production.

S1E40 Jun 29, 2026 49 min

Andy from My Dad’s Car, E-Types, 944s and the Car Stories That Made Us

The Old Car Lady is joined by Andy from My Dad’s Car, the podcast that asks a very simple question with a very big answer: what car started it all?They talk dads, workshops, car magazines, childhood passenger-seat memories, lockdown podcasting, Porsche side profiles, Halfords friendships, and why the car bug is so often passed down through people rather than horsepower figures. Andy shares the story of his dad’s trim shop, the cars that came and went, and the primrose yellow E-Type that still sits in the memory, even if not in the garage.Featured StoriesThe Podcast That Started In Lockdown: Andy explains how My Dad’s Car grew out of lockdown, Clubhouse, Instagram Lives, working from home, and the loss of his dad. What began as an idea became a place for people to talk about the parents, memories and cars that shaped them.The Trim Shop Childhood: Andy’s dad was a car trimmer, with a flat above the shop and a workshop full of interesting cars. Visits often meant one question: “What cars have you got in?” Sometimes there was even a quick trip round the block.The Primrose Yellow E-Type: One of the big memories is a 1967 Series 1½ Jaguar E-Type roadster, taken in as payment, restored, and later sold before classic prices went wild. A proper childhood hero car, even if owning one now is another matter entirely.The Cars People Go Back For: Sam and Andy talk about the emotional pull of the cars we grew up with. The Beetles, Escorts, Sunbeams, Sierras, Minis, Golfs and family cars that were ordinary once, but become precious because of who was driving them.The Last Of The Analogue Cars: MX-5s, MR2s, early Golfs, Polos, Saxos, Civics and Boxsters all get a mention as Sam and Andy wonder whether the 1990s and early 2000s cars could become the next big classic scene.EVs, Range Anxiety And The Future Of Car Love: From Teslas on the school run to smart motorways, scrappage schemes and driver aids, the conversation turns to what today’s children will remember. Will they fall for a neighbour’s EV, or will classic car meets, social media and real driving experiences keep the old-car bug alive?A Nod ToMy Dad’s Car podcastAndy and John, who have now recorded more than 100 episodes about the cars, parents and stories that got people into motoring.Toyota MR2 raffle at Raffall: two free entries with code MR2POD. 51,000 miles, 11-month MOT. Proceeds to Dogs Trust.https://raffall.com/bring_your_trailer_classics📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎦 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady👍 The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook🔔 Subscribe: @Theoldcarlady on YouTubeThis has been a Worth A Listen Production.

S1E39 Jun 22, 2026 33 min

Tim Ashworth | Austin Metro Launch Archive, Applejack Paint & the Cassette Nobody Has Played

The Old Car Lady is back with Tim Ashworth of Stockley Classics, and this time Tim has brought the archive: the original 1980 Austin Metro dealer launch pack, brochures, mechanic notes, a Metro Plus brochure even Tim had forgotten he had, and a cassette unplayed for 45 years.They go through it all page by page. The Union Jack campaign, the 9X prototype that never was, the Applejack and Peridot colours that almost nobody ordered, the asymmetric rear seat brochure with its pop-up pages, and British Leyland’s claim that the Metro does 83 miles per gallon at a steady 30. Tim calls that one.Featured StoriesThe Dealer Pack That Survived: One pack per dealer, not for customers, sent in October 1980 to prepare the showrooms for launch night. Launch schedule, marketing order forms, mechanic guidance notes, Union Jack tease materials and a cassette. Tim’s is intact. The cassette has never been played.The 9X That Never Was: Issigonis designed a Mini successor in 1968 with a hatchback and advanced engine. BL killed it. Ten years later the Metro arrived instead, redesigned after customer clinics rejected the original styling mule.Applejack, Peridot and the Colours Nobody Ordered: Applejack, Snapdragon, Peridot, Cinnabar, Vermillion. Strobe seats colour-coded to match. Almost none were ordered in significant numbers. The Metros that survive are mostly red, white and blue.Metro Plus: The Brochure Tim Forgot He Had: Bucket seats, short shift, spot lamps, Ronal wheels: a separate package on top of a standard Metro, almost a homage to the Cooper S. Tim found it mid-conversation and had forgotten he had it.83 Miles Per Gallon at a Steady 30: The launch brochure claims 83 mpg at a steady 30. Sam asks Tim whether he is having that. He is not.A Nod ToStockley Classics at stockleyclassics.comRover 100, Ford Street Ka, 18,000-mile Vauxhall Corsa B and a Rover Mini RSP. Find Tim on Facebook. YouTube channel incoming.Toyota MR2 raffle at Raffall: two free entries with code MR2POD. 51,000 miles, 11-month MOT. Proceeds to Dogs Trusthttps://raffall.com/bring_your_trailer_classics 📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎦 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady👍 The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook🔔 Subscribe: @Theoldcarlady on YouTubeThis has been a Worth A Listen Production.

S1E38 Jun 15, 2026 22 min

Honest John Dixon | Jaguars, Gangsters & the Shotgun Behind the Desk (Part 2)

The Old Car Lady is back with Honest John Dixon for Part 2, going deeper into the South London motor trade of the 60s and 70s: the characters, the criminal crossover and the stories that didn’t make it into Part 1.John bought an XJ6 in decorating overalls with a suitcase of cash, kept a shotgun behind his desk and knew the fraud squad detective who investigated him personally. This is what the motor trade actually looked like.Featured StoriesNever Judge a Book by Its Cover: John walked into a Hendon showroom in his decorating overalls with a suitcase containing 50 grand. The salesman told him he couldn’t afford the XJ6 in the window. John counted out three grand in tenners and fives on the desk. He drove it home that afternoon and slept with his bed by the window to keep an eye on it.The Shotgun Behind the Desk: Four men turned up at John’s Bury Road pitch looking to rob him. He put the shotgun on the desk and told them he only had one cartridge but one of them was staying. He has never seen three men run so fast. The gun was empty.Going Straight in the Motor Trade: John did his stints inside, used the time to read and learn chess, then went straight into the trade. His view: you could earn more as a straight motor dealer than doing anything else.The Fraud Squad, the Rolls-Royce and the Apology: A mis-typed chassis number brought the fraud squad down convinced John was ringing cars. When they realised it was a DVLA error the detective sergeant bought his wife flowers to apologise. He is now a chief inspector.Rating Girls on Cars and Reading the Room: In the pub John and his mates rated women by which car they reminded them of. On the forecourt he switched accents and approaches mid-conversation depending on who he was talking to.What You’ll LearnWhy the man in the Rolls is probably less wealthy than the man in the Cortina. Why zeroing a clock is less dishonest than knocking miles off it. Why the motor trade was the cleanest route from a shady past to a legitimate fortune. And why the Long Good Friday is about 80% accurate.Key QuestionsWas the motor trade genuinely intertwined with London’s criminal world? John says yes, but frames it as history. The motor trade offered a clean route to legitimate earnings for people who’d been operating in the grey. Most of them took it.Could you really tell who someone was by what they drove? John’s answer is no and yes. Never judge a book by its cover, but you could read the room. The man who owned his Cortina outright was often worth more than the man sweating over the Roller payments.What made South London’s motor trade different from Manchester’s? The characters were different but the mechanics were the same. Cash, trust, the ability to sell a teacup without a handle. John and Sam both agree the camaraderie that existed between dealers across the country is gone.A Nod ToPart 1 of Sam’s conversation with Honest John Dixon, S1E35, which covers how John got into the trade, the Sid James Rolls-Royce and James Hunt’s car on the forecourt. R. Clarke Motors, still trading today with John’s son Chris. And Dave Ackrinian, now a chief inspector, who John says is one of the good ones.Watch on YouTube: Part 2 Video 1 and Part 2 Video 2📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎦 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady👍 The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook🔔 Subscribe: @Theoldcarlady on YouTubeThis has been a Worth A Listen Production.

S1E37 Jun 08, 2026 31 min

Auction Special | Jensen Interceptor Vignale, Rover P6 Panoramic Roof & the Cars You Should Be Watching

The Old Car Lady is joined by motoring journalist Richy Barnett for the May Auction Special, picking through the Manor Park Classic Sale on Saturday 23rd May.They go through Richy’s picks, decide where they think they land against the estimates and then in Part 2 compare their predictions with the results - so stay tuned! ……..Jensen Interceptor Vignale, Rover P6 with factory panoramic roof, Vanden Plas 4 Litre R, Renault Fuego Turbo, Ford Probe with 24,000 warranted miles and a Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution, Sam is at the sale in person, with a Live feed on Facebook.Featured Rover P6 3500 V8 with Factory Panoramic Glass Roof: A Rover Triplex collaboration that almost nobody has seen in the metal. Two former keepers, the first owned it for over 40 years. 65,800 miles, no reserve, chrome grille, white, completely unmolested. Sam says she’s bidding if it stutters.Jensen Interceptor Vignale Mark I: Coach-built in Turin, fewer than 1,500 made, most rotted away. Three owners, 80,000 miles, recent cylinder head and brake work. Guided at 18 to 20. Sam is doing a walk-around on the day.Vanden Plas Princess 4 Litre R: The only non-Rolls-Royce car ever powered by a Rolls-Royce engine. 81,500 miles, near-new interior, stunning colour and a badge bar. Richy says he’d rather have this than a Shadow at 14 grand & Sam wouldn’t!Ford Probe 2.0 16v with 24,000 Warranted Miles: Original, correct colour, glass sunroof, MOT to April 2027. The best 2.0 16v either of them has seen come to market. Guided at five to six, both think it could go over.Renault Fuego Turbo 1984: Best-selling coupe in Europe 1980 to 82, now almost forgotten. Richie has the brochures. Sam wants it. 93,000 miles, spreadsheet history, yellow fog lamps. Guided four and a half to five and a half.Key QuestionsAre Interceptor prices finding their floor? Both think yes. A Series 3 with 22 grand of bills at 38 to 42 tells the story. The Vignale at 18 to 20 looks remarkable value.Is the P6 panoramic roof car genuinely rare? Richie has only ever seen the Corgi Toys version. Factory Triplex glass roof, almost nobody knows it existed. No reserve.Will the bank holiday hurt the sale? It might thin the room. Online and commission bidding should protect the best lots. Richie is going regardless.Stella’s Rover Rehome Stella’s 1996 Rover 214 Si project car for just 50p.Enter on Raffall by searching “Bring Your Trailer Classics or The Old Car Lady”.https://raffall.com/422199/enter-raffle-to-win-1996-rover-214-si-project-hosted-by-bringyourtrailerclassicsA Nod ToRichy Barnett at @classiccarweekly and @thespecialsite on Instagram. Manor Park Classic Car Auctions, sale Saturday 23rd May. 📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎦 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady👍 The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel @TheoldcarladyThis has been a Worth A Listen Production.

S1E36 Jun 01, 2026 49 min

Tim Ashworth | Turbos, Barn Finds & Why Only 30 Are Left |

The MG Metro still sits in the top 10 best-selling British cars of all time. Over two million were made. And yet only around 30 to 40 MG Metro Turbos survive today.This week Sam goes to see fellow dealer and Metro enthusiast Tim Ashworth of Stockley Classics, who walks her through three of his personal collection: an MG Metro 1275, a Mark 1 Turbo, and a Mark 2 Turbo. They cover the full story — from the Austin Metro’s launch in October 1980 as British Leyland’s “World Beater,” through the MG and Turbo variants, the K-Series Rover Metros, and the controversial NCAP crash test that killed the Rover 100 in 1998.Along the way: Hydragas suspension and why topping it up with fluid destroys it, gearboxes that couldn’t handle 93bhp, the overhead turbo gauge that caused accidents, why foam-filled panels were a terrible idea, and how to spot a fake turbo before you hand over your money.What you’ll learn:The difference between Austin, MG, and Turbo Metros (and what you’re actually paying for)What a decent MG Metro costs today (£6–7K) vs a Turbo (£10–12K)The parts situation: what’s still available and what’s getting impossible to findWhy the Metro was designed to replace the Mini — and why the Mini eventually replaced itTim’s tips on buying, running, and the things that will catch you outTimestamps:01:00 The Austin Metro story — designed to replace the Mini05:30 Hydragas suspension — what goes wrong and why07:00 The Turbo — 93bhp pocket rocket and why the gearboxes blew up10:00 The overhead turbo gauge that caused accidents18:00 Prices — what MGs, Turbos, and Rovers are fetching today25:00 The NCAP crash test and the end of the Metro30:00 WIN a one-owner Rover 416 for 50p — Dogs Trust raffleGuest: Tim Ashworth — classic car dealer and MG Metro collectorMentioned in this episode: Metro Owners Club · Dodo Juice car care (code SAM10 for 10% off) · Raffall.com — search “The Old Car Lady” for the Rover 416 raffle (proceeds to Dogs Trust) and use code ROVERRESCUE for free tickets.Connect:🌐 theoldcarlady.com📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎬 YouTube, TikTok & Facebook: The Old Car Lady💬 Join The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook📧 [email protected]

S1E35 May 25, 2026 31 min

Honest John Dixon | Ford Capris, Fraud Squad Rolls-Royces & 40 Years in the Motor Trade

The Old Car Lady is joined by John Dixon, known as Honest John. He started cleaning cars at ten, bought his first banger at fourteen with no licence, and spent 40 years dealing from pitches and showrooms across South London and Kent.This is a time capsule of the 70s and 80s motor trade: the tricks, the characters, James Hunt’s car on the forecourt, Sid James’ Rolls-Royce, the traffic warden and the bucket of water, and the fraud squad who watched him for months over a mis-typed chassis number.Featured StoriesCleaning Cars at Ten, Dealing at Fourteen: Too small to see over a bonnet when he turned up asking for work. By fourteen he was buying bangers from Exchange & Mart with no licence and selling them outside his house.The Bug Under the Seat: John wired a listening device under the seats of his showroom cars. He heard exactly what customers said about price and part exchange, then used it against them before they even got to the office.The Traffic Warden and the Bucket: A traffic warden outside the Dante Motor Company in Plumstead pushed John too far. He borrowed his car cleaner’s bucket and threw the whole lot over her. The street had a whip-round to pay his fine. He sold 50 cars that week.James Hunt, Sid James and the Forecourt: John put James Hunt’s personal car on his forecourt to draw the crowds. He also bought and sold Sid James’ Rolls-Royce. Both photos are pinned on Sam’s Instagram.The Fraud Squad and the Rolls-Royce: A mis-typed chassis number on a Rolls-Royce logbook had Scotland Yard convinced John was ringing cars. They watched him for months. The chief inspector eventually came down, shook his hand What You’ll LearnWhy you should always let an Exchange & Mart seller stew for two weeks before you call. How to clear a cheque in the same day and why that kills the buyer’s get-out. Why hiding the car after the deal stops the buyer’s mates talking them out of it. Why selling yourself before the car is the only philosophy that lasts 40 years. And why John was the poorest honest dealer in Kent and slept better for it.A Nod ToJohn’s son Chris, who now runs the family business, for getting in touch with Sam. Peter Jarvis of Peter Jarvis Cars in Dartford, who John educated in the motor trade early on. And the Giles Book of Cartoons, which apparently featured a motor dealer on a wall waiting for a tractor after the traffic warden incident. Vintage and Classic Car Competitions: use code SAM15 for 15% off. Dodo Juice: use code SAM10 for 10% off.📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎦 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady👍 The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel @TheoldcarladyThis has been a Worth A Listen Production.

S1E35 May 14, 2026 35 min

Max | E Types, Silver Shadows & the Queen of the hard shoulders with The Tyre Kickers (Part 2)

The Old Car Lady is back with Max from The Tyre Kickers for Part 2. This time it’s about the cars they love now: E types, XJS, Silver Shadows and a Porsche 928 that kept catching the eye.They go through the quick fire round, get deep on E types and XJS’s, debate original paint versus respray, and end with Sam’s dad’s 1984 stock book, with the day to day trade deals like a Merc 280 SE bought for £2,375 and sold for £2,800. Two Porsche 928s in the corner. And a spin in the Mercedes SL R107 to finish.Featured StoriesHow The Tyre Kickers Was Born: Max and Matt have known each other 30 years from Radio One Newsbeat. During Covid they were on Autotrader six hours a day. Matt said why not make a podcast. Episode 53 was recorded the week of this conversation.The Silver Shadow Research Period: A year and a half of research, club membership and chassis number study. He very nearly bought one the week before recording. Sam is entirely encouraging this.The Quick Fire Round: Cash or banking? Auction or private sale? Original paint or respray? Manual or auto? Barn find or concours? Short answers, strong opinions.Dad’s Stock Book: January 1984. A 280 SE bought for £2,375, sold for £2,800. Cars that would be collectible today changing hands at prices that seem impossible now. Every registration number still traceable and Sam I’d planning a YouTube series around it.Antiques on Wheels: Online banks wouldn’t take car traders so Sam opened one as an antique dealer. Technically accurate. Old stuff, easy to move. She stands by it.What You’ll LearnWhy the series two E type 4.2 manual is the one to drive. Why a fresh respray on a classic is always a risk. How the CAP and Glasses Guides worked against each other but well together. Why building a history file from scratch can sometimes be as satisfying as inheriting one. And why the RREC build sheet is worth every penny.Key QuestionsIs original paint always worth more than a respray? Max and Sam both say yes, partly for the story and partly because a fresh respray hides as much as it reveals. You never quite know what it will look like in six months and it’s only original once!Should you buy from a dealer or a private seller? Both come down firmly on the side of dealers and auction houses. The biggest crooks Max has bought from were private sellers. At least with a dealer there is a process and proper mediation if something goes wrong.Is a car that’s been raced or modified still worth having? Max wants factory spec. Sam allows for safety upgrades where the case is clear. Both agree the story of the car is what you are really buying.A Nod ToThe Tyre Kickers podcast with Max and Matt on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all platforms. Find them at @thetyrekickersuk. The RREC, whose original build sheets are available for a small fee and are absolutely worth it. And Sam’s dad’s stock book and book collection which is going to be a YouTube series.Vintage and Classic Car Competitions: use code SAM15 for 15% off. Dodo Juice: use code SAM10 for 10% off.📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎦 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady👍 The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel @TheoldcarladyThis has been a Worth A Listen Production.

S1E34 May 08, 2026 44 min

Max | SD1s, E Types & Growing Up on the Forecourt with The Tyre Kickers (Part 1)

The Old Car Lady is joined by Max, co-host of The Tyre Kickers, for the first of two conversations built around a shared childhood. Both grew up as car dealers’ kids: SD1s borrowed off the forecourt for family holidays, E types coming through by the hundred, and dads who were never really off duty. This is Part 1.They cover the golden era of the trade: part exchanges valued at nine years old, the Sunday phone rota, the mortgage run to Glasgow and back, and every trick that kept a 70s and 80s forecourt moving. Max brought photographs, pinned on Sam’s Instagram and Facebook.Featured StoriesTwo Dealers’ Kids on the Same Forecourt: Max’s dad spent 25 years at an Austin main dealer before going it alone from home, supplying smaller dealers trade to trade with cars that had to move fast before the book knocked money off them. Sam’s world was the same. A conversation that starts with instant recognition and never runs dry.Valuing Part Exchanges at Nine Years Old: Max would be sent round the back of the porter cabin to crawl over the stock while his dad smoked and chatted. No book, just brochure knowledge, rust points and instinct. He’d come back with a number and his dad would say 500 quid. It was 500 quid.SD1s, E Types and Rubber Bumper MGBs: SD1s borrowed off the lot with 50 miles, returned two weeks later with 2,500 and sand in the boot. His dad had hundreds of E types coming through at the time. They were cheap. Nobody knew then.The Sunday Phone Rota: Friday adverts, one home phone number and a family rota to cover the weekend in their best telephone voice. Teenagers blocking the line. Customers trying to get through. Considerable Sunday tension.The Mortgage Run to Glasgow: One week the mortgage was due on Friday and the money wasn’t there. Max’s dad drove to Glasgow with a car, did a deal and came back. His mum went south to Frank Dale, did another deal there. They got back to the house just in time to go to the bank the next morning.What You’ll LearnWhy trade to trade was a cleaner business than dealing with the public. How a nine-year-old learned to value a car by spec and rust points alone. What the glasses guide was for and how dealers played it against each other. Why an SD1 with 50 miles was the perfect family holiday car. Why there were always queues for SD1s in the 70s even when people said British cars weren’t selling. And what the Zabar sticker, the National Trust sticker and the Right Reverend log book entry all had in common.A Nod ToThe Tyre Kickers podcast with Max and Matt, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and all platforms. 55,000 downloads, Independent Podcast Awards finalist. Find them at @thetyrekickersuk. Part 2 next week.Vintage and Classic Car Competitions: use code SAM15 for 15% off. Dodo Juice: use code SAM10 for 10% off.📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎦 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady👍 The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel @TheoldcarladyThis has been a Worth A Listen Production.

S1E33 May 01, 2026 46 min

Becca Treston | Daily Drivers, Accidental Owners & Why the Future of Classic Cars Needs All of Us

The Old Car Lady is joined by Becca Treston, host of the Passenger Seat Podcast, young members coordinator for the Morris Minor Owners Club and a key figure in the Women Driver Social Club.Becca daily drives Peggy, her 1968 Morris Minor, and has covered 45,000 miles in six years. This episode looks at the future of classic cars through the people coming into the scene today.From accidental owners who inherit a car and don’t know where to start, to young drivers facing rising insurance costs, this conversation explores the real barriers to entry and what needs to change to keep the hobby alive.Featured Stories Meet Peggy: a 1968 Morris Minor, fully restored and driven daily, with 45,000 miles in six years. The Accidental Owner: inheriting a car and not knowing where to begin, and how community changes that. The Insurance Wall: why under 25s face some of the biggest barriers to classic car ownership.What You’ll Learn Why daily driving a classic car can keep it in better condition. Why 45,000 miles on a well-maintained Morris Minor can be less risky than low mileage neglect. How young members groups support new drivers and why the 25–35 age group is key to the future of the scene. Why rising insurance costs are a major barrier for younger owners. What the Women Driver Social Club actually does and why it matters beyond the people in it.A Nod To Passenger Seat Podcast, Morris Minor Owners Club Young Members (MMOCYM), Women Driver Social Club, Evoke ClassicsFor 15% off all competitons at Vintage & Classic Competitions use SAM15https://competitions.vintageandclassiccarhire.com/—————————————————————-For 10% off Dodo Juice car care products use SAM10www.dodojuice.net📧 [email protected] 📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady 🎦 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady 👍 The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook 🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel @TheoldcarladyThis has been a Worth A Listen Production.

S1E32 Apr 24, 2026 59 min

Tim Grigsby | Veteran Cars, Classic Raffles & a Life Lived at Full Throttle

Use code SAM15 for 15% off your chance to win a classic car with Vintage and Classic Car Competitions: https://competitions.vintageandclassiccarhire.com/Sam Grange-Bailey (The Old Car Lady) sits down with Tim Grigsby of Vintage and Classic Car Competitions for a conversation that goes well beyond the prize draw business. Tim grew up surrounded by veteran cars and larger-than-life characters, raced everything from karts to single seaters, and has built one of the longest-running classic car raffle businesses in the UK.They get into the real story behind classic car prize draws, why five years in has been the hardest thing Tim has ever done, and why integrity is the only thing that keeps it working. There is also a 1904 Cadillac, a brake rod welded in a French barn, a Ferrari 308 with 26,000 miles he cannot bring himself to drive, and a mum who swapped a Morris Eight for a Rolls Royce 20hp and has never looked back.Featured StoriesBorn Into It: Tim’s dad wrote the technical bible on pre-war Rolls Royce engines. His mum was a BBC makeup girl who may or may not have written off Jim Clark’s car near Tower Bridge. Tim never really stood a chance.The Brighton Run and the Cars That Should Be Driven: Tim has been doing the London to Brighton since 1971, when he was six, in his dad’s 1904 Cadillac. He still does it today in Annabel, the same car. His view on veteran cars sitting in bank vaults is not a diplomatic one.The Raffle Business: What It Actually Takes: Tim was one of the first to run classic car prize draws and is honest it has been the hardest business he has ever built. Facebook spend alone ran to £750,000 this year. The margins are not what people with calculators think they are.The Roadside Repair That Lasted 10 Years: On a rally in France, Tim fixed a broken brake rod in a stranger’s barn using a welder and some thread. A decade later he spotted the same car on the Brighton run. The repair was still there.A Fleet Worth Talking About: A 1904 Cadillac. A 1914 Sunbeam. A 1923 Rolls Royce 20hp called Daphne. A 69 Morgan Four Four that one lady drove as her only car for 50 years. A Ferrari 308 GTS with 26,000 miles. And a 1977 Lola that takes Copse flat out.What You’ll LearnWhy running a classic car prize draw is nothing like it looks from the outside. How the British sports car market differs from the supercar lottery crowd. Why paying proper money always gets you the repeat call. What it costs to race a gearbox kart when you are built like a rugby player. And why smart motorways are, in Tim’s words, extremely stupid.Key QuestionsIs the classic car prize draw model as easy as it looks? Tim is emphatic that it is not. Five years in, three world-class businesses behind him, and this has been the hardest. The people getting rich are mostly Mark Zuckerberg.Who actually wins these cars? Tim’s database is built on proper enthusiasts, not lottery hopefuls. A woman with a blown-up VW Polo bought one ticket and won an MGB. Those are the stories that keep him going.Should classic cars be used or preserved? Tim’s answer is unambiguous. He has driven his 1914 Sunbeam all over Europe and thinks cars sitting in bank vaults are a waste of what they are.A Nod ToVintage and Classic Car Competitions, Tim’s prize draw business. Search online and on social media. Use code SAM15 for 15% off your chance to win a classic car. Links in the show notes or follow this link:https://competitions.vintageandclassiccarhire.com/Tim is racing his 1977 Lola at the Oulton Park Gold Cup this year and Sam will be there for a pit lane visit and Part 2. Watch this space.📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎦 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady👍 The

S1E31 Apr 17, 2026 59 min

Tim Ashworth | Minis, Metros & the Lost Art of Loving Your Car

Sam Grange Bailey (The Old Car Lady) sits down with Tim Ashworth of Stockley Classics for a proper trip down memory lane and an honest look at where the classic car market stands today. Tim is a Mini and Metro specialist with decades in the trade, and he doesn’t hold back.They cover growing up with cars in the 70s, building a top five iconic cars of the decade, why colour and trim levels defined you socially in ways that just don’t exist anymore, and why the generation that leases their car on a monthly payment may never fall in love with it the way we did. Plus Tim gives his straight-talking take on the state of the classic car market and what he’s got on the forecourt right now.Featured StoriesMinis, Metros and the Family Car Route: Tim’s mum ran Minis through the 60s and 70s. His dad did a full engine change on the driveway the night before Monday morning work. A conversation about the cars families actually drove and what keeping them going really looked like.The Lost Art of Loving Your Car: When you saved up for your first car to the penny you looked after it, washed it and made it yours. Sam and Tim on why leasing and monthly payments have quietly killed that attachment.Top Five Cars of the 70s: The VW Golf. The Rover SD1. The Citroen CX. The BMW E21. The Range Rover. Sam and Tim build their list, defend every entry and argue about the ones that didn’t make it.Colour, Trim and the Peacocking Rep: Pageant Blue. Citron Yellow. Russet Brown. Your trim level told people exactly where you stood. Tim and Sam on why 70s colour and spec still matter enormously when you’re buying and selling.The Market Right Now: Too many cars, too few buyers, and some prices that still need to come down. Tim is straight about the challenges but genuinely optimistic, especially about the sub-£20k end of the market and the club scene that underpins it.What You’ll LearnWhy Mini restorations now cost £20-25k and why that maths rarely works as a business. How to know when to stop spending on a project car and why ‘used and improved’ often sells better than a full restoration. Why 70s cars are far more colour and trim sensitive than their modern counterparts. What makes the classic car club scene the market’s biggest long-term asset. Why the Ford Street Ka is worth putting on your radar right now. And why the generation that financed their cars on monthly payments may never develop the same emotional relationship with them that we did.Key QuestionsIs the classic car restoration business a viable one? Tim’s view is clear. If you’re spending £20k to get £20k back, you’ve wasted your time. The maths only works if you’re doing it for love or if you know exactly when to stop.Has the next generation lost its connection to cars? Both Tim and Sam think so and worry about what that means for the classic car market in 20 years. The buyers who’ll hanker after a 90s hot hatch when they’re 50 may be fewer than the trade hopes.What does the classic car market actually need right now? Tim’s answer is realistic pricing, credible ethical trading, and a recognition that the accessible end of the market, fuelled by the club scene, is where the real resilience lives.A Nod ToStockley Classics. Tim’s dealership specialising in Minis, Metros, and accessible British classics. Find him at stockleyclassics.com. If this conversation has got you thinking, go have a look at what he’s got.📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎦 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady👍 The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel @TheoldcarladyThis has been a Worth A Listen Production.

S1E30 Apr 10, 2026 58 min

James Harding (Chops Garage) | The VAT Raffle Loophole, The Cars That Made Us & More (Pt 2)

Join Sam Grange Bailey (The Old Car Lady) for Part 2 of her conversation with James Harding from Chop's Garage. If Part 1 was about how James got into the trade, this one is about what it's actually like to live in it.James explains why he puts his full margin on show, what he paid, what he spent on prep, what's left in his pocket, and why that transparency has made him more trusted, not less. They get into consumer law, warranty claims on cars with 30,000 post-sale miles on them, and why the next generation of classic car buyers might be the trade's biggest headache yet.He also lifts the lid on car raffles: no VAT, no Consumer Rights Act liability, and the potential to make four times the retail margin. He's raised over £30k for charity doing it. He thinks the window is closing.Plus a proper nostalgia detour via Talbot Samba’s, bump starts, and the lost art of caring about your key ring.Featured StoriesThe Transparent Dealer: James tells customers exactly what he paid, what prep cost and what he's pocketed. Some dealers hate it. His subscribers love it.Consumer Law and the Classic Car Problem: A six-month implied warranty on a 40-year-old car is a recipe for misery. Sam and James ask whether the next generation of buyers will ever get why the rules need to be different.The Raffle Loophole: No VAT, no Consumer Rights Act, four times the retail margin. James has raised over £30k for charity doing it and he's pretty sure it won't last.First Cars and the Bump Start: A Talbot Samba’s with a brick for a handbrake. A Midget nursed along with a plank and a mallet. Two people who learned to drive in cars that genuinely hurt when they went wrong.Mileage, Markets and the E-Type Question: James would put his money in a V10 BMW M5. Sam wonders who's queuing up for a £500k Cosworth when the people who wanted them are done with them.What You'll LearnWhy showing your margins online can make customers trust you more, not less. How VAT on the gross works and why it still shocks people. Why a six-month consumer rights claim on a classic car is a completely different beast to the same claim on a nearly new hatchback. How car raffles work, why they're currently tax and liability free, and why that's probably on borrowed time. Why a motorway-mile 120,000-miler might be in better shape than a Devon-lanes 60,000-miler. And why the classic car market's generational problem is more urgent than most people in the trade want to admit.Key QuestionsDoes showing your margins actually help you sell cars? James says yes, unequivocally. Subscribers who've watched him buy, prep and price a car come back and buy it precisely because they trust him.Should a classic car buyer expect the same rights as someone buying a new TV? Legally they have them. In practice both Sam and James think applying modern consumer expectations to a 40-year-old car is a disaster for everyone.Is the car raffle model sustainable? James doubts it. Right now it's VAT-free and exempt from the Consumer Rights Act because it's legally a gift. He thinks that won't last, but for now the numbers are compelling.A Nod ToChop's Garage on YouTube, where James documents the full reality of life as a car dealer. CG Car Sales, James's retail forecourt in Devon. Next week Tim Ashworth from Stockley Classics joins Sam to talk Metros and the state of the classic trade.📧 [email protected] 💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554 📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady 🎬 TikTok, Facebook and YouTube: The Old Car Lady 👍 The Old Car Lady Classic Car Community on Facebook🔔 Subscribe to our YouTube channel @Theoldcarlady This has been a Worth A Listen Production.

S1E29 Apr 03, 2026 36 min 1 annotation

NEC Classic Car & Restoration Show | Predictions, Jensen Healeys & the SD1 That Stops Traffic

Sam heads to the NEC in Birmingham for the Classic Car & Restoration Show, joining forces with Richy Barnett — Market Editor at Classic Car Weekly — to walk the Iconic Auctioneers sale floor and put their money where their mouths are on six cars that caught their eye. From a rare lilac Morris Minor Million to a first-gen Firebird and a gorgeously sinister Daimler Sovereign, they predict the hammer prices — then go back to find out how close they got. Along the way, Sam catches up with Frank from Pegasus Classics, who's fitting a Rover V8 into a Jensen Healey live on the show stand, and bumps into returning podcast guest Anthony Kersley for a passionate case in favour of the criminally underrated Rover SD1.FEATURED The Morris Minor 1 Million — One of only around 100 made to mark the millionth Morris Minor — lilac, white leather, and deeply specialist. Sam wins her bet when it sells for £12,600.The '69 Pontiac Firebird — A first-generation Pontiac with a full photographic restoration file on a known shunt. Big V8 energy, but it narrowly misses its guide at £19,125.The Daimler Sovereign 4.2 — A Juniper Green Series II coupé dripping in atmosphere — but a tough market means it comes in under estimate at £17,437.Frank's Jensen Healey Restomod — Frank from Pegasus Classics built his Jensen Healey from two wrecks and found a Rover V8 on a sheep farm for £350. He's fitting the cylinder head live at the show — but wisely trailering it home.Anthony Kersley on the Rover SD1 — Returning guest and Channel 4 Handcuffed star Anthony Kersley makes the passionate case that the Rover SD1 is a world-beater undone by industrial politics — and still extraordinary value today.WHAT YOU'LL LEARNWhy the Morris Minor 1 Million is a deeply specialist buy — and who's actually likely to be biddingHow declared saleroom notices work and why auction house transparency protects everyoneWhy the Rover SD1 is one of Britain's most underrated classics — and exactly what to look for when buying oneHow to build a Jensen Healey restomod on a genuine shoestring (£350 Rover V8 optional but recommended)Why the classic car demographic shift is quietly changing which cars are considered cool againThere is no such thing as a cheap Rolls-Royce — but an SZ Series Spirit at £10–15k might be the last great bargain in prestige classicsKEY QUESTIONSCan you predict auction hammer prices with any real accuracy?Sometimes — Sam and Richie get a few right and call a few badly wrong. The market for specialist cars like the Morris Minor 1 Million is particularly hard to read because buyer pools are small, emotionally driven, and often invisible until the gavel falls.Should a saleroom notice put you off bidding?Not necessarily — but it will move the price. Transparency at auction is a positive for everyone. A declared fault protects both buyer and seller from post-sale disputes, as seen with both the Hillman Hunter Restomod and the Lancia Beta Montecarlo Spider, both of which stalled under estimate because of declared gearbox issues.Is the Rover SD1 finally having its moment?Anthony Kersley thinks it absolutely should be. The very best examples are touching £35k but cost £50–70k to restore properly — and most serious owners simply won't sell. A presentable driver can still be found for around £15k, representing genuine value for a car that was genuinely ahead of its time.A NOD TORichie Barnett — Market Editor, Classic Car WeeklyFrank, Pegasus Classics — Jensen Owners Club stand, NECAnthony Kersley — Auto Couture / star of Channel 4 Handcuffed (Episode 1 available now; Part 2 coming soon)Iconic Auctioneers — Classic car auction at the NECThe NEC Classic Car & Restora

S1E28 Mar 27, 2026 32 min

James Harding (Chops Garage) | From Suits to Spanners & Selling £4k Forecourt Cars (Part 1)

Join Sam Grange Bailey (The Old Car Lady) for Part 1 of her conversation with James Harding from Chops Garage, a modern car dealer with a classic car soul. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's ever dreamed of jacking in the corporate 9-to-5 to follow their passion. James tells the story of how, at 38, he walked away from a career as a national sales manager to start fixing and selling Fiat 500s from a rented garage bay.James gives a brutally honest insight into the realities of being a modern car dealer, from the public's "Del Boy" perception to the nightmare of consumer law. He explains why he'd rather sell a simple £4,000 Hyundai i10 than a complex modern car with a razor-thin margin and huge potential repair bills. It's a fascinating look at the pressures and pitfalls of the modern motor trade.Featured StoriesThe Corporate Burnout - How zoning out in board meetings thinking about welding an MGB made him realise he had to quit his sales manager job.The Leap of Faith - With a £12k payout and his wife's encouragement, he swapped his suit for a boiler suit and started his own car business.The Fiat 500 Years - Started by buying crash-damaged Fiat 500s from Copart and doing them up himself.The Silver Shadow Saga - Recounts the story of selling a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow to a buyer who spent an entire day inspecting it in a boiler suit, only to then demand an independent inspection.What You'll LearnHow a childhood memory of a Citroën CX 25 GTI in France sparked a lifelong obsession with cars.Why he believes the public's perception of car dealers is completely at odds with the reality of consumer law.How the VAT margin scheme can leave dealers with a huge tax bill even if they make no real profit on a car.Why he refuses to do distance sales after getting badly burned.Why he thinks simpler, older-tech modern cars (like the Hyundai i10) are a safer bet for dealers than complex, feature-laden new models.Key QuestionsIs it possible to make a living selling cheap cars?James argues that while the margins are smaller, the risk is far lower. He focuses on simple cars that are built like older models (cable clutch, timing chain) which are cheap and easy to fix, avoiding the huge repair bills associated with modern complex cars.How has consumer law affected the motor trade?James and Sam discuss how the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which applies the same rules to a 60-year-old classic as a new TV, puts immense pressure on dealers. The 30-day right to reject and the assumption of a fault being present at the point of sale for up to six months makes selling used cars, especially older ones, a minefield.A Nod toChops Garage on YouTube - Where James documents his life as a car dealer.Mad Mike from Wales - A classic car dealer who pre-filters customers by telling them his cars were "shit when they were new".Get in touch📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady#ChopsGarage #CarDealer #MotorTrade #ConsumerLaw #ClassicCars #ModernClassics #TheOldCarLady #WheelsAndDeals #CarSalesProduced By Worth A Listen Productions

S1E27 Mar 20, 2026 54 min

Anthony Kearsley | Bill Gates' Audi, £50k Rolls-Royce Cushions & a Taxi for the Lama!

Join Sam Grange Bailey (The Old Car Lady) for her conversation with Anthony Kearsley, a well-known classic car collector, star of Channel 4's 'Handcuffed', and owner of Auto Couture. This episode charts Anthony's incredible journey from selling Austin Maestros in the Lake District to dealing with the rich and famous at Jack Barclay in London.Anthony shares hilarious and often unbelievable stories from his early days, including blowing up a customer's Metro, accidentally selling a Fiat X1/9 to a 17-year-old with no finance checks, and getting sacked for being "no good" at the job. We hear how his grandmother saved the day, landing him a new job at a BMW dealership and setting him on a path that would eventually lead to Seattle, where he famously sold Bill Gates an Audi instead of a Porsche 911! Featured StoriesThe Austin Maestro Launch - Started his career on the launch night of the Maestro in 1983.The Blown-Up Metro - Mistook a customer's car for a demonstrator and thrashed it to Preston and back, blowing the engine.The £3.5m Handshake - Shook on a deal to buy a Honda dealership for £3.5m with only £100k in the bank.The £50k Rolls-Royce Cushions - A famous client complained her new Rolls-Royce Seraph seats were too hard. After two attempts and £50,000 spent on softer stuffing, Anthony finally told her what "hard" really was.What You'll LearnHow a childhood spent selling imaginary cars in his uncle's Citroën dealership set the stage for a life in the motor trade.Why having assets doesn't mean you have cash.What it was like working in the US motor trade in the 90s (pure Pendle system).How he turned down the Starbucks franchise for the UK in 1989.Why he was ostracised by colleagues when he joined the Rolls-Royce division.Key QuestionsWhat was it like selling cars in the 1980s? It was a different world. Strict sales territories meant you couldn't sell to someone outside your area without permission. Cars were going up in value, and the launch of a new model like the Austin Maestro was a huge event. There was a real ceremony to the August 1st registration change.Who were some of your most memorable customers at Jack Barclay? Shirley Bassey, Cilla Black (hard work!), Princess Margaret (horrendous), the Dalai Lama (who asked for a taxi), and Julio Iglesias. Anthony learned that with very powerful people, you must stand up to them and not be starstruck.A Nod toPilkington's of Bolton - His family's BL, Peugeot & Citroën dealership.Rayrigg Motors - His first job selling Austin Rover.Bateman BMW Windermere - His second job, where he fell in love with BMWs.Jack Barclay, London - Where his Rolls-Royce & Bentley career took off.Auto Couture - His current business: autocouture.co.uk.Get in Touch📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady#AnthonyKearsley #AutoCouture #JackBarclay #RollsRoyce #Bentley #ClassicCars #CarStories #TheOldCarLady #WheelsAndDeals #MotorTradeProduced By Worth A Listen Productions

S1E26 Mar 13, 2026 40 min

Simon Hope | The £10m RNLI Ferrari Story, Hope Classics & Historic Racing (Part 2)

Join Sam Grange Bailey (The Old Car Lady) for Part 2 of her conversation with Simon Hope, co-founder of H&H Classic Auctions. This episode centres on one of the most interesting stories in recent classic car auction history: the sale of Richard Colton's Ferrari 250 GT SWB and 275 GTB with proceeds to the RNLI, raising £10 million in a single sale for the charity. Simon also shares his thoughts on auction transparency, how to buy at auction like a dealer, and his exciting new venture Hope Classics.Simon explains how he won the Ferrari pitch against Bonhams, why he waived his commission, and how the sale transformed the Ferrari short wheelbase market overnight. We also discuss historic racing, why the people you race with matter more than the car, and how to get into single seater racing without getting a bum steer.Featured StoriesThe RNLI Ferrari Sale - Ferrari 250 GT SWB sold for £6.6m, 275 GTB for £1.9m, nearly £10m to the RNLILotus 49 at Buxton - Valued at £250k when rivals said £50-100k, sold for £367,000The Man Who Bought Blind - NCA dealer who stood with his back to the car and bid with one handThe Jacket That Lost the Job - Simon wore a flamboyant striped jacket to a pitch and lost the consignmentWhat You'll LearnHow Simon pitched against Bonhams and won the RNLI Ferrari consignmentWhy he waived commission on £10m worth of carsHow the Ferrari SWB sale changed the market overnight for comparable carsWhy auction records are useful but dangerous if used as the only referenceHow to buy at auction with three prices in mindWhy a car's file and history can be 50% of its valueHow to get into historic racing without being taken advantage ofWhat Hope Classics offers and how Simon can help buyers and sellersKey QuestionsHow do you value a classic car for auction?History and file are as important as the car itself. Sam works with three prices: the best she can get with the wind behind him, what she'd be happy with, and the minimum she needs to get out. Always factor in buyer's premium before bidding. Never rely solely on auction records as a price guide because condition, color, and provenance can swing values dramatically.What is Hope Classics?Simon's new venture at hopeclassics.co.uk offers free advice on which auction house to use for your particular car. He can also help buyers find specific cars, especially rare single seaters and historic race cars. His time is chargeable for more detailed consultancy, but the initial guidance is free.What's the secret to getting into historic racing?Choose the people you race with carefully. The team looking after your car should be the best available regardless of whether you like them. But the people you spend the day with, share the dinners and drinks with, and experience the whole event with, they need to be the right fit. Networking into the right circles first is essential.A Nod toRichard Colton - Owner of the RNLI Ferrari collectionRNLI - Received nearly £10m, the largest single donation in their historyDK Engineering - Sold a comparable Ferrari the same day the Colton car hammeredAdam Singer - Bought the Bentley 3-litre at Buxton, did the Peking to Paris with SimonHope Classics - hopeclassics.co.ukGet in Touch📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady#SimonHope #HHClassics #Ferrari250GT #RNLI #HopeClassics #HistoricRacing #ClassicCarAuctions #PekingToParis #Lotus49 #TheOldCarLady #ClassicCarMarketProduced By Worth A Listen Productions

S1E25 Mar 06, 2026 29 min

Simon Hope | 40 Years of Auctioneering, Setting Up H&H & The £6.6m Ferrari (Part 1)

Join Sam Grange Bailey (The Old Car Lady) for Part 1 of an in-depth conversation with Simon Hope, one of the Hs behind H&H Classic Auctions. With over 40 years in the auction world, Simon shares stories from his auctioneering career that started in the late 1980s, including setting up H&H with Mark Hamilton in 1993 and hammering a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB for £6.6 million in 2015 (still a world record for a steel short wheelbase).This episode explores how Simon went from buying antiques at 12 years old to running one of the UK's most respected classic car auction houses. We discuss consumer protection laws for classic cars, MOT exemptions, auction fees, and why you want an ascending or descending market but never a plateau. Simon explains why dealers are essential to auction houses, the importance of lot order, and his philosophy: "People buy from people."What You'll LearnHow Simon started auctioneering at 12 buying antique job lotsWhy he walked into car auctions after running salvage auctionsSetting up Hampsons first classic car auction in November 1989The 1989 market crash and Japanese buyers committing harikariWhy H&H started with flat buyer and seller fees (revolutionary at the time)Finding Buxton Pavilion Gardens for £800 for four daysWhy auction houses prefer ascending or descending markets, never plateausThe importance of 80% sell-through rates vs industry standard 40%Why consumer protection laws don't work for 60-year-old classicsShould classic cars have mandatory safety checks?Key QuestionsShould classic cars be exempt from MOTs?Simon believes most classic car owners are responsible and check their cars regularly. The people who'd abuse the system aren't following the law anyway. Sam MOTs her Rolls-Royce Silver Shadows every 2-3 years for structural integrity checks because her kids ride in them, but it doesn't need to be an official MOT certificate.Do consumer protection laws work for classic cars?"Total bloody nonsense & bollocks." Treating a 60-year-old Cadillac the same as a Currys fridge freezer doesn't work. The laws protect buyers from bad sellers, but bad sellers will be bad anyway. Good sellers get caught in the crossfire. Classic cars need ring-fenced consumer protection that protects both buyer and seller.Why do auction houses prefer moving markets?"Earn on the turn." Whether prices go up or down, auctions facilitate transactions. If a car's worth £20k, you can't get £22k plus premium if five dealers have one at £20k. Descending markets bring more cars (people offloading) but lower commissions. Ascending markets are numerically better, but both work better than stagnationA Nod toH&H Classic Auctions National Car Auctions Get in Touch📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady#SimonHope #HHClassics #ClassicCarAuctions #Ferrari250GT #AuctioneeringStories #BuxtonPavilion #MarkHamilton #ClassicCarMarket #ConsumerLaw #MOTExemption #TheOldCarLady #40YearsAuctioneeringProduced By Worth A Listen Productions

S1E24 Feb 27, 2026 46 min

Auction Special | Manor Park Classics | What Sold, What Didn't & Why!

Join Sam Grange Bailey (The Old Car Lady) for a special auction episode recorded on Friday 13th February 2026, predicting results for Manor Park Classics' sale the following day. Sam goes through her shortlist from a dealer's perspective, estimating hammer prices, then reveals actual results with insights from Jim Gregory (Sales Director at Manor Park Classics) and Richy Barnett (Markets Editor for Classic Car Weekly).This episode explores where the classic car market is heading in 2026. From a £5,750 Rover P6 V8 to a £10,350 Jaguar XJS that smashed estimates, Sam analyses what sold, what didn't, and why. We discuss the death of E-Type values, the rise of modern classics (1980s-2000s), and whether XK8s will leapfrog XJS as the affordable Jaguar.Featured Cars & ResultsRover P6 3500 V8 (1972) - Mexico brown, single family ownership, sold £5,750Triumph TR7 Drophead (1981) - 30k miles, hammered £6,400TVR S2 (1989) - British Racing Green, sold £6,900Bentley Arnage Red Label (2000) - 146k miles, £31k service history, bargain at £8,280Jaguar XJS 4.0 (1995) - Guided £5.5-6.5k, smashed estimate at £10,350Mercedes 560 SEC (1989) - Sold £20,460BMW 328i Sport (1998) - Sold £7,590Alfa Romeo 156 - Sold £8,500, having a momentWhat You'll LearnWhy service history matters with higher mileage cars and why high mileage cars can be a better bet than low mileage.How to spot auction bargains (Bentley Arnage at £8,280)Why E-Types have fallen and won't bounce backThe sweet spot: £7-25k for monthly sales, £50-100k strugglingWhy 1980s-2000s modern classics are the hot decadeHow finance deals put exotic cars everywhereWhy leggy but maintained cars beat garage queensThe importance of MOTs even on exempt carsKey QuestionsWhat's hot and what's not in 2026?Hot: Modern classics (1980s-2000s BMWs, Japanese cars), Porsche Boxsters/Caymans, XJS straight-sixes, TR7s, Alfa 156s. Not: Pre-war to 1950s British cars, E-Types fallen and won't recover, £50-100k cars struggling. The market shifted from cash buyers to finance deals making exotics accessible to everyone.Are XJS values finally rising?Yes! The £10,350 XJS (guided £5.5-6.5k) proves the market is waking up. Jim Gregory and Richie Barnett agree they're having a moment. Question: will XK8s leapfrog them as the affordable Jaguar, or will XJS become the E-Type successor?What makes a good auction buy?Single-family ownership, full service history, current MOT (even if exempt), regular use, original spec, right colors. Avoid: cars needing recommissioning, anecdotal mileage, wrong colors (beige Mercedes 190E didn't sell despite being perfect), high estimates leaving no trade margin.A Nod toManor Park Classics Runcorn Cheshire Jim Gregory and Richy Barnett.Get in Touch📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady#AuctionSpecial #ManorParkClassics #ClassicCarAuction #JaguarXJS #BentleyArnage #RoverP6 #TriumphTR7 #Mercedes560SEC #ClassicCarMarket #2026Market #ModernClassics #TheOldCarLadyProduced By Worth A Listen Productions

S1E23 Feb 20, 2026 53 min

Martin Buckley | Teenage Author, Facel Vega & Why a Brochure Might Be the Wiser Choice

Join Sam Grange Bailey (The Old Car Lady) for a conversation with Martin Buckley, motoring journalist and classic car author whose first book was published when he was just 19. Martin has written over 20 car books including the acclaimed Facel Vega volume, and his passion stems from his parents' collection of rusty BMWs, Lancias, and Jaguars.This episode explores how car books shaped Martin's career. From his first books about BMW E9s to writing the Facel Vega history (dealing with sniffy French owners' clubs), Martin shares stories about swapping price tags in Manchester bookshops and why sometimes it's better to have the brochure than the car. We discuss Italian design versus German engineering, why the BMW CS is the perfect shape, and why exotic cars are everywhere now.Featured BooksBMW The Bavarian Motor Works by Michael Frostick - Martin's first proper car bookThe MG File - Martin's first published book at age 19Facel Vega (Palawan Press) - Martin's masterpiece, £750 when publishedBritish Leyland The Truth About the Cars by Jeff Daniels (1980) - Brilliant BL decline accountJaguar by Paul Skilleter - Where Martin learned Jaguar historyThe Controversial Corvair - Ralph Nader's "unsafe at any speed" storyWhat You'll LearnHow Martin published his first book at 19 years oldWhy BMW E9 CS is the perfect shape - part Italian, part German, masculine and feminineThe story behind the Facel Vega book and hostile French owners' clubsWhy Italian designers beat German ones (they made suits of armour first)How Martin's parents' rusty exotic cars shaped his careerWhy it's better to have the brochure than the car sometimesWhy exotic cars are everywhere now (finance deals, not cash buyers)Key QuestionsShould an author's opinion come through in car books?Yes - readers want new information, not regurgitated facts. The best books interview people who were actually there. Martin wants books with soul, like Jeff Daniels' British Leyland book capturing the tumbleweed moment when they unveiled the Austin 3-litre disaster.Why are Italian designers better than Germans?Italians were good at making suits of armour and bashing metal over stumps for centuries. They have design houses like Bertone and Pininfarina. Germans prioritise practicality over beauty. Even pretty Mercedes were designed by Italians. The BMW E9 CS was probably designed by Gandini - too good to be German.Did your parents' cars shape your career?Absolutely. Martin's dad bought rusty exotic cars for £1,500 in the 1970s - BMW 2800 CS, Lancia Flavia, Jaguar S-Type, Fiat 130. They were symbols of a way out, cars that shouldn't have been on their road. Martin says "I wanted to get in these cars and fuck off."A Nod toPalawan Press - Published Facel Vega bookSt John Square Manchester - Where Martin swapped price tagsChaters Bookshop Manchester - Specialist car book shopJeff Daniels - Autocar journalist, British Leyland book authorPaul Skilleter - Started Practical ClassicsGet in Touch📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady#MartinBuckley #CarBooks #FacelVega #BMWE9 #PalavanPress #ItalianDesign #ClassicCarAuthor #MotoringJournalist #BritishLeyland #TheOldCarLady #RustyExoticCarsProduced By Worth A Listen Productions

S1E22 Feb 13, 2026 32 min

Richie Barnett | Car Books, Italian Styling, American Engines, Gangsters and Showbiz

Join Sam Grange Bailey (The Old Car Lady) for a conversation with Richy Barnett, classic car enthusiast, book collector, and Markets Editor for Classic Car Weekly. Richy’s career started at Chaters Car Bookshop, and he now curates what must be one of the most impressive car book collections in the country with a whole room fitted with bespoke bookcases.This episode explores the golden age of car books when they were treasured birthday presents and the only way to learn about exotic cars. We discuss rare editions, 1960s car book illustrations, and whether we're the last generation to value physical books. From Ian Rimmer's Rolls-Royce Experimental Cars masterpiece to Simon Kidston's limited-edition Lamborghini Miura book (now worth £3,500), Richy shares his favourites and explains why Italian styling with American engines creates the perfect car.Featured BooksRolls-Royce and Bentley Experimental Cars by Ian Rimmer (1986) - Masterpiece with beautiful writingThe Complete Book of Lamborghini by Pete Lyons - Bought from Chaters in 1989 for £17.20Lamborghini Miura by Simon Kidston - Limited edition, one per chassis number, now £3,500A-Z of British Coachbuilders 1919-1960 - Gurney Nutting specialityFacel Vega by Martin Buckley (Palawan Press) - £750 when publishedWhat You'll LearnWhy 1960s car books featured beautiful illustrations instead of photographsHow the likes of Chaters Car Bookshop shaped a generation of enthusiastsWhy Italian styling with American engines creates the perfect hybrid (AC 428)The DNA of Audi from Auto Union and Nazi connections to modern carsWhy physical books are more trustworthy than Google for researchHow Simon Kidston's Miura book went from cover price to £3,500Key QuestionsAre we the last generation to value car books?Richie believes younger enthusiasts will still seek out books, but the ritual of saving pocket money and treasuring them as birthday presents is probably gone. Quality publishers like Palawan Press prove demand exists for beautifully researched car books.What makes a great car book?The best books tell stories about people behind the cars. Quality writing, beautiful illustrations, thoughtful typeface design, and proper binding all matter. Books like Ian Rimmer's Rolls-Royce experimental cars are written "with soul and love" not just facts.Why are some car books worth thousands?Limited editions like Simon Kidston's Miura book or Martin Buckley's Facel Vega become collectible because they're beautifully produced and cover desirable subjects. The right book on the right subject always finds buyers.A Nod toChaters Car Bookshop - Where Richy’s career started Classic Car Weekly - Richy’s Markets Editor Palawan Press - High-quality motoring book publishers Simon Kidston - Limited-edition Miura book author Ian Rimmer - Rolls-Royce experimental cars author Martin Buckley - Facel Vega book authorGet in Touch📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady#RichieBarnett #ClassicCarBooks #ChatersBookshop #ClassicCarWeekly #CarBookCollector #AC428 #FacelVega #LamborghiniMiura #RollsRoyceExperimental #PalavanPress #SimonKidston #MartinBuckley #TheOldCarLady #MotoringSBooks #CarBookIllustrations #booktok #classiccarsProduced By Worth A Listen Productions

S1E21 Feb 06, 2026 40 min

Albert Walsh | 55 Years in Prestige Cars, Racing E-Types & The Motor Trade Prostitute

Join Sam Grange-Bailey (The Old Car Lady) for a conversation with Albert Walsh, a veteran of the motor trade with over 55 years' experience. Albert is a well-respected member of Porsche Club GB, regularly consulted for pre-purchase inspections, and a consultant for Manor Park Classics Auctions.This episode takes you through Albert's journey from driving at 13 in his dad's garage to working for the northwest's most prestigious dealers including Ian Anthony's Porsche Centre, Mercedes-Benz, Bauer Millet, and Bentley Ribble Valley. Albert shares stories about the glory days when customers paid in briefcases full of cash and Friday lunchtimes meant racing E-Types down the East Lancs Road.From his first car (a sit-up-and-beg Ford Pop) to his beloved 1986 Porsche 911 Super Sport Targa, Albert's collection includes British, French, and German classics. We discuss dodgy dealers, celebrity car deals gone wrong (including David Beckham's TVR Cerbera), and why the 1980s were the heyday of the independent motor trade.Featured Cars1968 Volkswagen Beetle 1500 - Albert's first legal car, written off on Cross Ply’s in the snow1986 Porsche 911 Super Sport Targa - Bought for £11,750 in 2000, sold for £16,0002CV - Red one-owner example bought from Ian Anthony's for £1,200Mercedes-Benz W124 estate in Red - Albert's favourite Mercedes, "the fire engine"Citroën SM - Fastest front-wheel-drive production car of its timeLotus Elise - Albert's speciality, ran his own Lotus repair businessWhat You'll LearnWhy the 1980s were the heyday of the independent motor tradeHow Ian Anthony's operated waiting lists over a year for new PorschesThe truth about pre-purchase inspections and spotting cut-and-shut carsWhy customers who "need to check with the wife" never come backHow Martin Inghams’s Autotrader adverts became legendaryThe art of "borrowing" stock cars for classic car showsKey QuestionsWhat makes a good pre-purchase inspection?Albert uses paint depth gauges, axle stands, and decades of experience to spot welded repairs and hidden damage. The best dealers have nothing to hide. Trust your instincts - if something feels wrong, it usually is.Who were the big characters in the northwest motor trade?Martin Ingram (legendary adverts), Lawrence Millet (gentleman dealer), Ian of Ian Anthony's fame (forward-thinking Porsche dealer), Len Taylor (threw rude customers out), and mechanics like Albert's dad who could diagnose faults by ear alone.What was the worst car you've inspected?A Porsche Boxster that had been cut-and-shut with welded inner wings, a 997 with piston slap the dealer claimed was "just a lazy tappet," and cars with missing spare wheels and keys the owners swore were "in the garage somewhere."A Nod toIan Anthony's Porsche Centre - Premier Porsche and BMW dealer Mercedes-Benz - Where Albert learned the W124 inside out. Bauer Millets - Lawrence Millet and Chris Bauer's exotic dealership. Bentley Ribble Valley - John Ashworth's Rolls-Royce, Bentley, and Lotus dealership - his son Stephen Ashworth is the founder and Chairman of Manor Park Classics. Kinsey Jones - Top Lotus dealer in Europe. Martin Ingram - Independent dealer with legendary Autotrader adverts. Porsche Club GB - Albert served as Register Director and Chairman of Motorsport.Get in Touch📧 [email protected]💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady #MotorTradeStories #PorscheClubGB #EnsorMercedes #BaronMillet #MartinHam #ClassicCarInspections #Porsche911 #LotusElise #MercedesW124 #CitroenSM #2CV #1980sMotorTrade #NorthwestDealers #TheOldCarLady #ClassicCarDealerProduced By Worth A Listen Production

S1E20 Jan 30, 2026 55 min