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 Cars

1968 Volkswagen Beetle 1500 - Albert's first legal car, written off on Cross Ply’s in the snow

1986 Porsche 911 Super Sport Targa - Bought for £11,750 in 2000, sold for £16,000

2CV - Red one-owner example bought from Ian Anthony's for £1,200

Mercedes-Benz W124 estate in Red - Albert's favourite Mercedes, "the fire engine"

Citroën SM - Fastest front-wheel-drive production car of its time

Lotus Elise - Albert's speciality, ran his own Lotus repair business

What You'll Learn

Why the 1980s were the heyday of the independent motor trade

How Ian Anthony's operated waiting lists over a year for new Porsches

The truth about pre-purchase inspections and spotting cut-and-shut cars

Why customers who "need to check with the wife" never come back

How Martin Inghams’s Autotrader adverts became legendary

The art of "borrowing" stock cars for classic car shows

Key Questions

What 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 to

Ian 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

📧 grangebaileys@gmail.com

💬 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 #ClassicCarDealer

Produced By Worth A Listen Production

Join Sam Grange-Bailey (The Old Car Lady) as she takes an exclusive tour of Martin Buckley's personal classic car collection. Martin is a leading motoring journalist, monthly contributor to Classic and Sports Car Magazine, and author of over 20 books.

His classic car collection spans the 1950s-70s, including a rare 1971 Oldsmobile Toronado (America's first mass-produced front-wheel-drive car), a 1971 Renault 16 TS (the first true hatchback), an NSU Ro80 with revolutionary semi-automatic gearbox, and a one-of-a-kind 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II extensively modified with a Spirit four-speed gearbox (£20,000 conversion), Land Rover Discovery disc brakes, and electronic ignition.

Originally owned by R100 airship engineer Denton Burney, Martin's modified Rolls-Royce demonstrates how thoughtful classic car modifications enhance usability without destroying authenticity. We also discuss his 1956 Riley Pathfinder (nicknamed the "ditch finder"), Range Rover, and exotic Lancia Flaminia.

Featured Cars

1971 Oldsmobile Toronado - First mass-produced front-wheel-drive American car. Martin's childhood dream, imported from Finland. £20-25k

1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II (Modified) - Spirit gearbox, Discovery brakes, electronic ignition. Owned by R100 airship engineer Denton Burney. Martin's favourite.

1971 Renault 16 TS - First true hatchback. "Almost as good a ride as a Citroën DS."

1972 NSU Ro80 - Advanced semi-automatic gearbox. "Something magical about it."

1956 Riley Pathfinder - "Ditch finder" nicknamed from it’s wonky wooden chassis jigs.

Lancia Flaminia - Italian exotic with aluminium V6 and transaxle.

What You'll Learn

Why the Oldsmobile Toronado revolutionised American engineering

How a Spirit gearbox conversion transforms a Rolls-Royce (£20,000 cost

When classic car modifications improve usability without destroying value

Why American classic cars are more practical than their reputation

Martin's philosophy: "Just use them, don't abuse them"

The R100 airship engineering connection to Rolls-Royce ownership

How Discovery disc brakes upgrade classic Rolls-Royce stopping power

Key Questions

Can you modify a classic Rolls-Royce?

Martin's Cloud proves thoughtful modifications enhance usability. Spirit gearbox, Discovery brakes, and electronic ignition make it genuinely usable. Keep original parts for reversal.

Should classics have modern upgrades?

Martin advocates modifications that improve reliability - electronic ignition, disc brakes, modern gearboxes - without altering character. "Just use them, don't abuse them."

Are American classics practical in the UK?

"More usable than people think. Never feel that big when driving. The faster you go, the steadier it feels." Left-hand drive: "Use mirrors, kerb on one side, white lines on the other."

A Nod to

Denton Burney - R100 airship engineer, Burney Streamline creator

Classic and Sports Car Magazine

Manor Park Classics

Get in Touch

📧 grangebaileys@gmail.com

💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554

📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

#MartinBuckley #ClassicCarCollection #OldsmobileToronado #RollsRoyceCloud #NSURo80 #Renault16 #RileyPathfinder #LanciaFlaminia #ModifiedClassics #TheOldCarLady #ClassicCars #ClassicCarRestoration #SpiritGearbox #DentonBurney #BritishClassicCars #AmericanClassicCars #ClassicCarInvestment

Produced By Worth A Listen Productions

This week on Wheels & Deals, it's a listener special! I'm sharing some of the fantastic stories and comments you've sent in, answering your questions, and even launching a special appeal to track down the history of a very rare car.

We drive into the "dark arts" of the motor trade, explaining exactly why a dealer in the 70's might put sawdust in a gearbox or an egg in a radiator. We also share memories of the short-lived self-serve petrol pumps that took £5 notes, and the ingenious ways people found to get free fuel.

I'm launching a worldwide appeal to help a listener in Mexico, Angel Rivera, uncover the history of his very rare 1960 Mazda R360 Kei car. We have the chassis number and a few clues, but we need your help to piece together its story. And finally, we discuss the future of the motor trade and whether the classic car world is the last bastion of the "good old days."

Pitstops:

• Can you really fix a noisy gearbox with sawdust?

• Did you ever scam a self-serve petrol pump in the 70's?

• Is it sacrilege to put modern upgrades like electronic ignition on a classic car?

• A special appeal to help find the history of a rare Mazda R360 Kei car (Chassis/Engine: 70776).

• What does the future hold for the independent car dealer?

• Do TV appearances give classic cars like the Jaguar XJS a boost in the market?

A Nod to:

• Jason Hall

• Mike Smith

• Martin Buckley

• Angel Rivera

• And all the listeners who sent in messages and comments!

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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