Wheels & Deals with Sam Grange-Bailey

The Old Car Lady
  • 5.0 (3)
  • AUTOMOTIVE

Welcome to Wheels & Deals, where we preserve the stories that shaped classic car culture. Join Sam Grange-Bailey, The Old Car Lady, as she takes you back to the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s, when car dealers were true characters, every motor had personality, and relationships meant everything. This podcast exists so that we don’t forget how wonderful this time was, so that these memories are preserved, these characters are remembered, and this remarkable period in automotive history continues to live on. So tune in, buckle up, and let’s make sure these stories never fade away.

  1. Richie Barnett | 2025 Market Review, E-Type Declines & The £382k Ford

    3D AGO

    Richie Barnett | 2025 Market Review, E-Type Declines & The £382k Ford

    This week on Wheels & Deals, I'm joined by Richie Barnett, Markets Editor for Classic Car Weekly, for a look back at the classic car market in 2025. We discuss the standout cars of the year, the surprising market trends, and what we can expect to see in 2026. We start with the incredible story of a 1933 Mercedes 380 Kompressor garage find that sold for £262,200, and debate whether it was a bargain. We also look at the sale of an ultra-rare 1990 Ford RS200 S for a staggering £382,500, and discuss why some cars continue to defy market trends. Pitstops:  • The decline of Jaguar E-Type values and whether they've had their day.  • The great debate: will the Jaguar XJS ever have its moment in the sun?  • Are Jaguar XK8s a better buy than E-Types or XJSs for a trip to the South of France?  • The rise of usable and practical 90s classics like the Golf GTI and Peugeot 205 GTI.  • Are big-engined mainstream cars from the 90s the next big thing in the classic car world? A Nod to:  • Classic Car Weekly  • Manor Park Classics  • 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! What are your predictions for the classic car market in 2026? Are there any cars you think are poised for a comeback, or any that you think will continue to decline? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

    38 min
  2. Mike Smith | Racing Minis, Dealing BMWs & 007 Bond Insider

    JAN 2

    Mike Smith | Racing Minis, Dealing BMWs & 007 Bond Insider

    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 sets A 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 legacy 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!

    58 min
  3. Christmas Special | Martin Buckley & the Range Rover [RAY 606W] Mystery

    12/19/2025

    Christmas Special | Martin Buckley & the Range Rover [RAY 606W] Mystery

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

    13 min
  4. Dan O'Grady | Australian Adventures, Cars, Swimming Pools and Chopper flyovers.

    12/12/2025

    Dan O'Grady | Australian Adventures, Cars, Swimming Pools and Chopper flyovers.

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

    51 min
  5. Barry Moran | E-Type Crashes, £500 Racing Cars & Bernard Manning

    12/05/2025

    Barry Moran | E-Type Crashes, £500 Racing Cars & Bernard Manning

    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! !

    41 min
  6. The Brown Car Guy | MGB GTs, Skid Control & Everything You Need, Nothing You Don't

    11/28/2025

    The Brown Car Guy | MGB GTs, Skid Control & Everything You Need, Nothing You Don't

    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!

    54 min
  7. NEC Classic Motor Show Special | Lamborghini Espadas, Defender Campers & Pink Floyd

    11/21/2025

    NEC Classic Motor Show Special | Lamborghini Espadas, Defender Campers & Pink Floyd

    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!

    25 min
  8. Auction Special | Ford Scorpio Fails, Toyota Pickups & Getting the Train Home 😔

    11/14/2025

    Auction Special | Ford Scorpio Fails, Toyota Pickups & Getting the Train Home 😔

    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!

    23 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to Wheels & Deals, where we preserve the stories that shaped classic car culture. Join Sam Grange-Bailey, The Old Car Lady, as she takes you back to the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s, when car dealers were true characters, every motor had personality, and relationships meant everything. This podcast exists so that we don’t forget how wonderful this time was, so that these memories are preserved, these characters are remembered, and this remarkable period in automotive history continues to live on. So tune in, buckle up, and let’s make sure these stories never fade away.

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