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• How the rowdy owner-operator dealers of the past have been replaced by today’s corporate showrooms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.

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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!