Join Sam Grange Bailey (The Old Car Lady) for a special auction episode recorded on Friday 13th February 2026, predicting results for Manor Park Classics' sale the following day.

Sam goes through her shortlist from a dealer's perspective, estimating hammer prices, then reveals actual results with insights from Jim Gregory (Sales Director at Manor Park Classics) and Richy Barnett (Markets Editor for Classic Car Weekly).

This episode explores where the classic car market is heading in 2026. From a £5,750 Rover P6 V8 to a £10,350 Jaguar XJS that smashed estimates, Sam analyses what sold, what didn't, and why. We discuss the death of E-Type values, the rise of modern classics (1980s-2000s), and whether XK8s will leapfrog XJS as the affordable Jaguar.

Featured Cars & Results

• Rover P6 3500 V8 (1972) - Mexico brown, single family ownership, sold £5,750
• Triumph TR7 Drophead (1981) - 30k miles, hammered £6,400
• TVR S2 (1989) - British Racing Green, sold £6,900
• Bentley Arnage Red Label (2000) - 146k miles, £31k service history, bargain at £8,280
• Jaguar XJS 4.0 (1995) - Guided £5.5-6.5k, smashed estimate at £10,350
• Mercedes 560 SEC (1989) - Sold £20,460
• BMW 328i Sport (1998) - Sold £7,590
• Alfa Romeo 156 - Sold £8,500, having a moment

What You'll Learn

• Why service history matters with higher mileage cars and why high mileage cars can be a better bet than low mileage.
• How to spot auction bargains (Bentley Arnage at £8,280)
• Why E-Types have fallen and won't bounce back
• The sweet spot: £7-25k for monthly sales, £50-100k struggling
• Why 1980s-2000s modern classics are the hot decade
• How finance deals put exotic cars everywhere
• Why leggy but maintained cars beat garage queens
• The importance of MOTs even on exempt cars

Key Questions

What's hot and what's not in 2026?

Hot: Modern classics (1980s-2000s BMWs, Japanese cars), Porsche Boxsters/Caymans, XJS straight-sixes, TR7s, Alfa 156s. Not: Pre-war to 1950s British cars, E-Types fallen and won't recover, £50-100k cars struggling. The market shifted from cash buyers to finance deals making exotics accessible to everyone.

Are XJS values finally rising?

Yes! The £10,350 XJS (guided £5.5-6.5k) proves the market is waking up. Jim Gregory and Richie Barnett agree they're having a moment. Question: will XK8s leapfrog them as the affordable Jaguar, or will XJS become the E-Type successor?

What makes a good auction buy?

Single-family ownership, full service history, current MOT (even if exempt), regular use, original spec, right colors. Avoid: cars needing recommissioning, anecdotal mileage, wrong colors (beige Mercedes 190E didn't sell despite being perfect), high estimates leaving no trade margin.

A Nod to

Manor Park Classics Runcorn Cheshire

Jim Gregory and Richy Barnett.

Get in Touch

📧 grangebaileys@gmail.com

💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554

📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady

🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

#AuctionSpecial #ManorParkClassics #ClassicCarAuction #JaguarXJS #BentleyArnage #RoverP6 #TriumphTR7 #Mercedes560SEC #ClassicCarMarket #2026Market #ModernClassics #TheOldCarLady

Produced By Worth A Listen Productions

Join Sam Grange Bailey (The Old Car Lady) for a conversation with Martin Buckley, motoring journalist and classic car author whose first book was published when he was just 19. Martin has written over 20 car books including the acclaimed Facel Vega volume, and his passion stems from his parents' collection of rusty BMWs, Lancias, and Jaguars.

This episode explores how car books shaped Martin's career. From his first books about BMW E9s to writing the Facel Vega history (dealing with sniffy French owners' clubs), Martin shares stories about swapping price tags in Manchester bookshops and why sometimes it's better to have the brochure than the car. We discuss Italian design versus German engineering, why the BMW CS is the perfect shape, and why exotic cars are everywhere now.

Featured Books

BMW The Bavarian Motor Works by Michael Frostick - Martin's first proper car book

The MG File - Martin's first published book at age 19

Facel Vega (Palawan Press) - Martin's masterpiece, £750 when published

British Leyland The Truth About the Cars by Jeff Daniels (1980) - Brilliant BL decline account

Jaguar by Paul Skilleter - Where Martin learned Jaguar history

The Controversial Corvair - Ralph Nader's "unsafe at any speed" story

What You'll Learn

• How Martin published his first book at 19 years old
• Why BMW E9 CS is the perfect shape - part Italian, part German, masculine and feminine
• The story behind the Facel Vega book and hostile French owners' clubs
• Why Italian designers beat German ones (they made suits of armour first)
• How Martin's parents' rusty exotic cars shaped his career
• Why it's better to have the brochure than the car sometimes
• Why exotic cars are everywhere now (finance deals, not cash buyers)

Key Questions

Should an author's opinion come through in car books?

Yes - readers want new information, not regurgitated facts. The best books interview people who were actually there. Martin wants books with soul, like Jeff Daniels' British Leyland book capturing the tumbleweed moment when they unveiled the Austin 3-litre disaster.

Why are Italian designers better than Germans?

Italians were good at making suits of armour and bashing metal over stumps for centuries. They have design houses like Bertone and Pininfarina. Germans prioritise practicality over beauty. Even pretty Mercedes were designed by Italians. The BMW E9 CS was probably designed by Gandini - too good to be German.

Did your parents' cars shape your career?

Absolutely. Martin's dad bought rusty exotic cars for £1,500 in the 1970s - BMW 2800 CS, Lancia Flavia, Jaguar S-Type, Fiat 130. They were symbols of a way out, cars that shouldn't have been on their road. Martin says "I wanted to get in these cars and fuck off."

A Nod to

Palawan Press - Published Facel Vega bookSt John Square Manchester - Where Martin swapped price tagsChaters Bookshop Manchester - Specialist car book shopJeff Daniels - Autocar journalist, British Leyland book authorPaul Skilleter - Started Practical Classics

Get in Touch

📧 grangebaileys@gmail.com

💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554

📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady

🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

#MartinBuckley #CarBooks #FacelVega #BMWE9 #PalavanPress #ItalianDesign #ClassicCarAuthor #MotoringJournalist #BritishLeyland #TheOldCarLady #RustyExoticCars

Produced By Worth A Listen Productions

Join Sam Grange Bailey (The Old Car Lady) for a conversation with Richy Barnett, classic car enthusiast, book collector, and Markets Editor for Classic Car Weekly. Richy’s career started at Chaters Car Bookshop, and he now curates what must be one of the most impressive car book collections in the country with a whole room fitted with bespoke bookcases.

This episode explores the golden age of car books when they were treasured birthday presents and the only way to learn about exotic cars. We discuss rare editions, 1960s car book illustrations, and whether we're the last generation to value physical books. From Ian Rimmer's Rolls-Royce Experimental Cars masterpiece to Simon Kidston's limited-edition Lamborghini Miura book (now worth £3,500), Richy shares his favourites and explains why Italian styling with American engines creates the perfect car.

Featured Books

Rolls-Royce and Bentley Experimental Cars by Ian Rimmer (1986) - Masterpiece with beautiful writing

The Complete Book of Lamborghini by Pete Lyons - Bought from Chaters in 1989 for £17.20

Lamborghini Miura by Simon Kidston - Limited edition, one per chassis number, now £3,500

A-Z of British Coachbuilders 1919-1960 - Gurney Nutting speciality

Facel Vega by Martin Buckley (Palawan Press) - £750 when published

What You'll Learn

Why 1960s car books featured beautiful illustrations instead of photographs

How the likes of Chaters Car Bookshop shaped a generation of enthusiasts

Why Italian styling with American engines creates the perfect hybrid (AC 428)

The DNA of Audi from Auto Union and Nazi connections to modern cars

Why physical books are more trustworthy than Google for research

How Simon Kidston's Miura book went from cover price to £3,500

Key Questions

Are we the last generation to value car books?

Richie believes younger enthusiasts will still seek out books, but the ritual of saving pocket money and treasuring them as birthday presents is probably gone. Quality publishers like Palawan Press prove demand exists for beautifully researched car books.

What makes a great car book?

The best books tell stories about people behind the cars. Quality writing, beautiful illustrations, thoughtful typeface design, and proper binding all matter. Books like Ian Rimmer's Rolls-Royce experimental cars are written "with soul and love" not just facts.

Why are some car books worth thousands?

Limited editions like Simon Kidston's Miura book or Martin Buckley's Facel Vega become collectible because they're beautifully produced and cover desirable subjects. The right book on the right subject always finds buyers.

A Nod to

Chaters Car Bookshop - Where Richy’s career started Classic Car Weekly - Richy’s Markets Editor Palawan Press - High-quality motoring book publishers Simon Kidston - Limited-edition Miura book author Ian Rimmer - Rolls-Royce experimental cars author Martin Buckley - Facel Vega book author

Get in Touch

📧 grangebaileys@gmail.com

💬 WhatsApp: 07405 813554

📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady

🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

#RichieBarnett #ClassicCarBooks #ChatersBookshop #ClassicCarWeekly #CarBookCollector #AC428 #FacelVega #LamborghiniMiura #RollsRoyceExperimental #PalavanPress #SimonKidston #MartinBuckley #TheOldCarLady #MotoringSBooks #CarBookIllustrations #booktok #classiccars

Produced By Worth A Listen Productions