This week on Wheels & Deals, for our Christmas special, I’m joined by Martin Buckley from his Classic Car Barn to talk about one very special vehicle, a Range Rover with the registration RAY 606W, was it associated with Charles and Diana??

Martin also shares the fascinating story behind a photograph of a BMC Pininfarina 1800, a car that went on to influence both the Lancia Gamma and the Citroën CX. We then delve into the dramatic history of the 1955 Le Mans disaster, including a personal connection to one of the drivers, Lance Macklin, through his wife Sheila.

Pitstops:

• The story of how a one-off BMC prototype influenced the design of two of the most iconic European saloons of the 70s.

• The tragic tale of the 1955 Le Mans disaster and the surprising connections to Winston Churchill’s private secretary.

• A look at some of the other incredible cars in Martin’s collection, including a Maserati Ghibli and a Monteverdi 375/4.

• The story of how Martin acquired his three-door Range Rover for just £6,000 and its potential connection to the royal family.

• A discussion on the timeless appeal of the classic Range Rover and its classless image.

A Nod to:

• BMC (British Motor Corporation)

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: @the_old_car_lady

🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

💬 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 Dan O'Grady, a very special guest all the way from Australia, who shares some incredible stories about his family’s adventures in the car trade. From his father’s early days as a young entrepreneur in Adelaide, painting Matchbox cars and selling them at school, to his audacious trips to the UK in the 70s to buy and export classic British luxury cars back to Australia, this is a tale of incredible deals, high-stakes risks, and a passion for cars that spans generations.

Pitstops:

• The story of how he, with a bit of skill and a lot of nerve, built a successful car import/export business in the 70s.

• The genius of the classic car leasing scheme launched in the 80s, and the tax loophole that made it all possible.

• The challenges of running a classic car warranty business

• His earliest memories of cars, playing with Matchbox toys on the carpet and learning the art of the car dealership from his dad.

A Nod to:

• The Sunday Times

• Blackbushe Market

• Key Garage

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: @the_old_car_lady

🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

💬 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 man who has been a huge part of my family’s life in the motor trade, the one and only Barry Moran. Barry’s story is a fantastic journey through the golden era of British motoring, from working on aircraft to becoming one of the go-to guys for American muscle and classic British sports cars in the North West and a great friend of Bernard Manning.

Pitstops:

• The story of a 1962 Le Mans lightweight E-Type, bought for £15,000 and sold for a £5,000 profit – a car that’s now worth millions!

• Racing a full-house Boss Mustang with a 427 Holman and Moody engine, and the constant battle to keep it on the road.

• How a £500 E-Type, bought from a scrapyard, became a successful racing car in the hands of Malcolm Hamilton.

• The truth about the disastrous GM diesel engines of the 70s and the graveyard of broken V8s in Fort Lauderdale.

• The story of Barry’s dad swapping a brand new MG for an Oldsmobile, and how that sparked a family love affair with American cars.

A Nod to:

• De Tomaso • Val Martin (Stadium Garage, Ashton)

• Malcolm Hamilton • Upper Yard Spares (Leeds)

• Holman and Moody

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: @the_old_car_lady

🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

💬 WhatsApp: 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!

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This week on Wheels & Deals, I’m thrilled to be joined by the one and only Brown Car Guy, Shahzad Sheikh! After a chance meeting at the NEC Classic Motor Show (thanks to our mutual friend Peter Cavallo), we jumped online to talk about the show, the state of the classic car market, and the fascinating shifts we’re seeing in the hobby.

Shahzad and I discuss the changing buying patterns, with more enthusiasts doing their research at the show and their buying in the weeks that follow. We also explore the most significant trend in the classic car world: the arrival of a new, younger generation of owners who love the visceral experience of driving a classic but don’t necessarily want to get their hands dirty fixing it.

Pitstops:

• The story of Shahzad’s friend who just bought a 1972 MGB GT for a bargain £5,000.

• Our great debate on the Porsche 928 – is it an undervalued GT hero or a potential maintenance money pit?

• Why modern classics from the 80s and 90s, like the BMW E30, are the perfect gateway for new classic car enthusiasts.

• The lost art of pre-journey checks – do you still check your oil and tyres before a long trip? • How learning to get a car into a skid is the best way to learn how to get out of one.

A Nod to:

• The Brown Car Guy (Shahzad Sheikh)

• The Classic Motor Show, Birmingham

• Peter Cavallo (Classic American Sales)

• Iconic Auctioneers

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: @the_old_car_lady

🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

💬 WhatsApp: 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!

This week on Wheels & Deals, it was a family affair as I dragged my long-suffering cameraman and son, James, along for a grand day out at the Classic Motor Show at the NEC in Birmingham. We bumped into some familiar faces, kicked some tyres, and got our predictions spectacularly wrong at the auction!

Pitstops:

• I grabbed a chat with Max and Matt from the Tyre Kickers podcast to get their take on Harry Metcalfe’s Lamborghini Espada.
• Simon from the Lot 76 YouTube channel joins me to dissect the auction's biggest hits and misses.
• The incredible story of Harry Metcalfe’s modified Jaguar XJC and the jaw-dropping price it fetched.
• A seriously impressive Defender camper conversion that had us both rethinking our holiday plans.
• A heartwarming moment as a 1961 VW camper van goes under the hammer for charity.
• The great debate: is the Mercedes 190SL a beautiful classic or just a pretty face with a disappointing drive?

A Nod to:

• The Classic Motor Show, Birmingham

• The Tyre Kickers Podcast

• Lot 76 YouTube Channel

• Fraser Pemberton

• Richie Barnett

• The Brown Car Guy

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: @the_old_car_lady

🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

💬 WhatsApp: 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!

This week on Wheels & Deals, I'm joined by motoring journalist Richie Barnett for another auction special. We headed to the Classic Motor Show in Birmingham to check out the Iconic Auctioneers sale, make our predictions, and see how spectacularly wrong we could be!

Pitstops:

• The surprising flop of a low-mileage 1996 Ford Scorpio Ultima

• A rare 1987 Fiat Uno Turbo i.e. that didn't quite hit its estimate

• Two Toyota Hilux pickups - one a worker, one a showpiece

• A beautiful 1965 Volvo Amazon Estate by Ruddspeed

• The enduring appeal of the Porsche 928 S manual

• A super-low mileage 1990 Mercedes W124 260E • The rise of the Mark 3 Golf GTI as a future classic

A Nod to:

• Iconic Auctioneers

• The Classic Motor Show, Birmingham

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: @the_old_car_lady

🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

💬 WhatsApp: 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!

This week on Wheels & Deals, it's two for the price of one as I'm joined by legendary motoring journalists Martin Buckley and Richie Barnett. After their own brilliant episodes, I thought it would be fun to get them together to discuss the motor trade, motoring, and the world of motoring journalism, past and present.

We explore how they both got their start in the industry, Richie working at Chater's Motoring Bookshop before landing a job at Auto Classic, and Martin writing an article on a Lancia Flavia coupe on spec and getting it published in Classic & Sports Car. They share their thoughts on whether they'd get into the industry today, the characters they've met along the way!

Pitstops:

• The changing face of motoring journalism and the decline of print media

• The importance of genuine enthusiasm and knowledge over formal training

• The story of Nubar Gulbenkian, "Mr 10%", and his incredible custom-built cars

• How cars are a great leveller, bringing together barrow boys and aristocracy

• The eccentric characters of the motor trade and why they make the best stories

• The future of motoring journalism a

A Nod to:

• Classic & Sports Car magazine: www.classicandsportscar.com
• Auto Classic magazine
• Chater's Motoring Bookshop: www.chaters.co.uk
• Nubar Gulbenkian
• Magneto: www.magnetomagazine.com
• The Road Rat: www.theroadrat.com

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: @the_old_car_lady

🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

💬 WhatsApp: 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!

This week on Wheels & Deals, I'm joined by Martin Buckley, leading motoring journalist, senior contributor for Classic & Sports Car, and author of over 20 books about classic cars. My dad always described him as "a car dealer cleverly disguised as a journalist" - a description Martin happily accepts!

Martin shares how his father Ken sparked his passion with incredible cars when they weren't classics, just "old cars" - including an Aston Martin DB2 bought for £300 and sold for £360. But it was a BMW 2800 CS that truly ignited Martin's automotive obsession at age 12-13, describing it as "like a spaceship" with its electric windows and stunning looks. From writing his first article about BMW CS cars on the day of Live Aid to becoming one of Britain's most respected motoring journalists, Martin's journey is fascinating.

Pitstops:

• Ken Buckley's eclectic car collection including Austin Atlantics and Rover P6Bs

• The NSU Sports Prinz that the postman fell through the floor of

• Why BMW CS cars rusted worse than any British or Italian car

• Martin's teenage Jaguar 3.8 manual overdrive and the inevitable crash

• From car cleaner to motoring journalist without formal training

• The birth of classic car magazines and when "old cars" became "classics"

• Martin's unfulfilled dream of designing the Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow replacement

A Nod to:

• Classic & Sports Car magazine

• Car magazine

• Motor Sport magazine

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: @the_old_car_lady

🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

💬 WhatsApp: 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!