Wheels & Deals with Sam Grange-Bailey

This week on Wheels & Deals, I'm joined by the legendary Mike Smith, from managing and driving cars for the Bond films to co-authoring the official Bond car book, Mike is a true Aston Martin aficionado who was even approached to present Top Gear. But his story starts long before Hollywood, with a childhood obsession that saw him racing stock cars at just 10 years old and throwing rubber plants across showrooms by 17.Pitstops:• Racing stock car Minis at 10 years old and nearly winning his first final before the petrol tank gave out• Playing "Herbie" and spotting red, white, and blue Minis inspired by The Italian Job on family drives• Getting secretly trained as a general manager at 16 while racing Audi Quattros • How he took a rubber plant as a deposit on a car deal (and why he felt entitled to hurl it across the showroom)• From BMW dealer to Bond insider: how knowing obscure car specs got him onto 007 film setsA Nod to:• The Saint's Volvo P1800 (and later Aston Martin)• Corgi Toys with working steering wheels• The Italian Job• Ralph Renton's Renault dealership• Manchester City FC• Lionel Smith's dealership• Roger Moore, George Lazenby, and the Bond legacyIf we've mentioned you but missed you here, drop me a line at [email protected] 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, 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 [email protected] 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 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 • Key GarageIf we've mentioned you but missed you here, drop me a line at [email protected] 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 subscribe, like, rate, and review wherever you get your podcasts!

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 MoodyIf we've mentioned you but missed you here, drop me a line at [email protected] 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 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 AuctioneersIf we've mentioned you but missed you here, drop me a line at [email protected] 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!