This week on Wheels & Deals, I'm joined by Fraser Pemberton from Classic Automotive, Knutsford. Whilst I grew up with a dad who was a prolific buyer, Fraser was surrounded by a constant stream of incredible metal throughout the 70s and 80s.

We reminisce about some legendary dealers like Ron Stratton, a man known for his flash showrooms and fiery temper. From buying a Model T hot rod at the Tatton Park car show to keep a young Fraser out of trouble, to the teenage antics of "borrowing" his stepmum's Honda CRX, this episode is a fantastic look at life on the other side of the trade.

Pitstops:

• Growing up surrounded by Porsches, Ferraris, and Rolls-Royces
• The world of “over-list” cars — and how Fraser’s dad had a new Porsche 930 Turbo every six months
• Teenage tales of “borrowing” a Jaguar XJS and a Honda CRX (and getting busted by his uncle)
• How the rowdy owner-operator dealers of the past have been replaced by today’s corporate showrooms
• Fraser’s own car history — from a Mini Clubman and a Suzuki Jeep to his early days buying and selling VW Beetles
• Fraser’s Porsche 928 love affair
• Hero to zero: why early Ferraris disappointed, but a 512 TR impressed
Zero to hero: how a Porsche Cayenne surprised him — and why TVRs aren’t as scary as expected

A Nod to:

• Ron Stratton

• Culver’s of Manchester

• Tatton Park Car Shows

• Basil Burton (Roscoe Roundabout)

• Classic Automotive, Knutsford

If we've mentioned you but missed you here, drop me a line at grangebaileys@gmail.com.

Come Along for the Ride with Me at:

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_old_car_lady/
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💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554 — share your memories, stories, thoughts, and questions with us by sending a message or voice note.

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This week on Wheels & Deals, I’m joined by a very special guest Pat Grange - My Mum! She was the woman behind the man, the dealer's wife who saw it all. From a respectable job in a bank to being told she was dating a "horse thief," her life was turned upside down by the charismatic car dealer Ian Grange.

We drive back to the hilarious and sometimes hair-raising stories of their life together. We talk about the glamour of driving Facel Vegas and the grit of having to clean 40 cars on a Saturday morning. From disastrous first dates in leaky Corvettes to crashing a Bentley Continental on Christmas Eve, my mum shares what it was really like to be married to the motor trade. It was a world of mink coats and midnight deliveries, where cash flow was king and you never knew what the next day would bring.

Pitstops:

• From banking to Bentley Continentals: Mum’s journey into the motor trade.
• The infamous Christmas Eve incident involving a Bentley, a brand-new garage door, and half a bottle of whiskey.
• The art of the deal: How a crashed Bentley was legally transformed into a Rolls-Royce Cloud III Continental Chinese Eye.
• The reality behind the glamour: Juggling cash flow, raising kids, and driving across the country to make mortgage payments.
• A dealer's wife's duties: The endless cycle of cleaning cars with T-Cut, doing the books, and being on call 24/7.
• Star-studded Christmas parties with Matt Monro, Bernard Manning, and scandalous strippers.
• Celebrity cars and dodgy deals: Stories of Rod Stewart’s Lamborghini Miura, King Hussein of Jordan’s bulletproof Lincoln, and questionable bodywork repairs.

A Nod to:

• Frank Dale & Stepsons
• Red Line Autos (Cheadle)
• The Piccadilly Hotel & The Midland Hotel (Manchester)

If we've mentioned you but missed you here, drop me a line at grangebaileys@gmail.com

Come Along for the Ride

Instagram: @the_old_car_lady

Facebook, Tik Tok & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

WhatsApp on 07405 813554: Share your memories, stories, thoughts, and questions with us by sending a message or voice note.

Don't forget to like, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts

Join us for a quickfire round with Jason Hall, driving into everything from cash trades and manual gearboxes to those infamous ‘walks of shame’ to the petrol station. This episode is packed with memories, all served up with plenty of laughs.

Pitstops :

• How Glenmarch helps get the true auction prices on classic cars.
• Fond memories of manual gearboxes and classic modifications.
• Locked fuel caps, wire coat hangers for aerials, and those trusty carrier bag seat covers.
• Stranded on the hard shoulder?
• Jason’s ultimate dream car…..

A Nod To

• Bramhall Classics and the classic car trade heritage
• Resources like Glenmarch for real-world car price data

If we missed anyone or anything, please reach out at grangebaileys@gmail.com

Stick with us for road trips, behind-the-scenes moments, and the cars that make your heart race.

• Instagram: @the_old_car_lady
• YouTube: The Old Car Lady
• Get Involved: Share your stories via WhatsApp on 07405 813554

Don't forget to like, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts!

This week on Wheels & Deals, I’m joined by Jason Hall from Bramhall Classics, who’s got tales to tell from the gritty heart of the motor trade. From scrapping around in a ’66 Mini with a push-button starter, to working in grease-soaked garages Jason spills the beans on dodgy deals, and the outright sabotage (pee in petrol tank?) in the motor trade.

Get ready for a proper ride, packed with laughs, legends, and classic car stories that only Wheels & Deals can deliver.

Pitstops

• Jason’s first drive into the car world, starting at 13 with a mini 850.
• Life in the Bramhall Village garages, spattered with grease, no health and safety, but full of banter.
• Trade culture shifting from shiny suits to branded fleeces.
• Classic trade revenge stories, like the infamous ‘grass carpet.
• The ‘never meet your heroes’ moment is a Ferrari 400i.
• Warranty claims going sideways, speedometer meltdowns, and mad last-minute fixes.
• Why Jason loves driving the old way, proper clutches, gear shifts, and real road feel that modern tech just can’t match.
• Classic Minis, Daimlers, Citroëns, Aston Martins, Porsches, Lambos, Ferraris, Rolls, Bentleys, Multiple Mercedes models, and more.

A Nod To

• Bramhall Classics (Jason’s business)
• Ian Roberts, Jason’s trusted business partner
• Classic garages and petrol stations in Bramhall including the infamous prepaid pump
• Red Lion Autos and B&E Sales for their friendly approaches
• Valued trade haunts and auction houses like Hargoods (Cheadle)
• The colourful characters and legends that enlivened the trade
• Publications and resources like Glasses’ Guide for car valuations

If we’ve missed anyone mentioned in the show, please drop me a line at grangebaileys@gmail.com

Stick with us for road trips, behind-the-scenes moments, and the cars that make your heart race.

• Instagram: @the_old_car_lady
• YouTube: The Old Car Lady
• Get Involved: Share your stories via WhatsApp on 07405 813554

Don't forget to like, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts!

This week on Wheels & Deals, I’m delighted to be joined by motoring journalist Richie Barnett as we take a trip back through the motor trade's glory days. Together, we share stories, characters, and the quirky businesses that made this period so special.

We explore everything from family Triumph estates and childhood Matchbox cars, to bustling local dealers and trade-only auction houses that still echo in the memories of those who lived it. We share some proper classic tales about legendary dealers and the old-school bits and bobs we used to use to break into cars!

Pitstops:

• Richie's journey into the car world from his childhood memories to the beginnings of his passion.

• Life in Brentford's motor trade scene, the role of the Society of Motor Manufacturers, and the hustle around Eaton High Street's Ford dealership.

• Local motoring landmarks such as Cha and Scott Motoring Bookshop (Isleworth, now RS in Hook, Hampshire) and Hargoods auction house (Cheadle).

• The traders who made the scene memorable, John Ao, aka The Mad Dane in Staines, and American car importer Will Phillips.

• The transformation from print ads in Exchange and Mart or AutoTrader magazines to the digital age of car marketplaces.

• A fun quick-fire look at vintage car accessories and restoration attempts.

A Nod to:

• Society of Motor Manufacturers
• Beechams Company Cars
• Cha and Scott Motoring Bookshop (Isleworth/Hook) — chaters.co.uk
• Ford Dealership in Eaton High Street
• Hargoods Auction House (Cheadle)
• John Ao, The Mad Dane (Staines)
• American Car Importers of old like Ian Grange & Wilf Phillips
• Exchange and Mart
• AutoTrader
• Auto Classic and Car Accessory Trader magazines

If we've mentioned you but missed you here, drop me a line at grangebaileys@gmail.com

Stick with us for road trips, behind-the-scenes moments, and the cars that make your heart race.

• Instagram: @the_old_car_lady
• YouTube: The Old Car Lady
• Get Involved: Share your stories via WhatsApp on 07405 813554

Don't forget to like, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts!

This week, your host Sam Grange Bailey kicks off the Wheels & Deals Podcast with a personal journey back to the wild and wonderful Manchester Motor Trade of the 1970s and 80s. As a classic car dealer and a car dealer’s daughter, Sam shares what it was like growing up in a world of huge characters, chancy deals, and some of the most desirable cars ever made.

From a childhood spent around high-end motors in Handforth to a stint in Miami, this episode sets the stage for a series dedicated to preserving the fabulous, and sometimes grubby, memories of a golden era. Sam explains why these stories are worth saving and invites you to join her in celebrating the cars, the characters, and the deals that we may never see again.

Pitstops:

• Sam’s introduction to the car world, growing up as the daughter of legendary Manchester dealer, Ian Grange.
• A glimpse into the 70s and 80s motor trade, where "hard graft and a bit of nous" could get you a long way.
• The story of how her dad started from a humble pitch in Ancoats and the family’s move to the US to escape 83% tax rates.
• The realization that going to school in classic Ferraris and Mercedes Gullwings wasn’t exactly a normal 1975 experience.
• The mission of the podcast: to collect and record the memories of the motor trade before they are lost forever.
• An open invitation for listeners to share their own stories, memories, and questions.

Stick with us for road trips, behind-the-scenes moments, and the cars that make your heart race.

• Instagram: @the_old_car_lady
• YouTube: The Old Car Lady
• Get Involved: Share your stories via WhatsApp on 07405 813554

Don't forget to like, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts!