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• How the rowdy owner-operator dealers of the past have been replaced by today’s corporate showrooms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