Grand Thrift Auto
@grandthriftauto.bsky.social
My name’s Martin and I’ve got too many scabby old cars.
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@grandthriftauto
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@grandthriftauto
Hey, that’s my car.
I’d agree with CAR’s verdict on the mk1 Espace except they’re no longer pricey.
I’d agree with CAR’s verdict on the mk1 Espace except they’re no longer pricey.
December 1, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Hey, that’s my car.
I’d agree with CAR’s verdict on the mk1 Espace except they’re no longer pricey.
I’d agree with CAR’s verdict on the mk1 Espace except they’re no longer pricey.
Its twin lives in Cardiff.
November 28, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Its twin lives in Cardiff.
In London today for a meeting.
Mayfair spot, complete with fixed penalty notice.
Mayfair spot, complete with fixed penalty notice.
November 26, 2025 at 9:07 PM
In London today for a meeting.
Mayfair spot, complete with fixed penalty notice.
Mayfair spot, complete with fixed penalty notice.
If I remember correctly this was the Lada Samara that famously had an upturned beer crate for a driver’s seat. (Sadly I don’t have an interior pic to confirm.)
Looking at the Whizzkid seats, I can start to imagine why.
Looking at the Whizzkid seats, I can start to imagine why.
November 18, 2025 at 12:10 PM
If I remember correctly this was the Lada Samara that famously had an upturned beer crate for a driver’s seat. (Sadly I don’t have an interior pic to confirm.)
Looking at the Whizzkid seats, I can start to imagine why.
Looking at the Whizzkid seats, I can start to imagine why.
Posting this photo I took in 2021, just because it popped up on my phone and I like it.
November 17, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Posting this photo I took in 2021, just because it popped up on my phone and I like it.
There are so many great orange cars at the #NECClassic that I think they could have their own show.
November 8, 2025 at 10:43 PM
There are so many great orange cars at the #NECClassic that I think they could have their own show.
Swansea Bay was turning on the charm this evening.
November 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Swansea Bay was turning on the charm this evening.
I don’t have any footage of my first car and nobody sells a 3D model of a facelift Metro.
So now I’ve fallen down a mahoosive rabbithole.
It’s been good to think about something else for a couple of days though. It’s like doing jigsaws. Soothing.
Still a work in progress, obvs.
So now I’ve fallen down a mahoosive rabbithole.
It’s been good to think about something else for a couple of days though. It’s like doing jigsaws. Soothing.
Still a work in progress, obvs.
October 26, 2025 at 9:40 AM
I don’t have any footage of my first car and nobody sells a 3D model of a facelift Metro.
So now I’ve fallen down a mahoosive rabbithole.
It’s been good to think about something else for a couple of days though. It’s like doing jigsaws. Soothing.
Still a work in progress, obvs.
So now I’ve fallen down a mahoosive rabbithole.
It’s been good to think about something else for a couple of days though. It’s like doing jigsaws. Soothing.
Still a work in progress, obvs.
Last Panda Italia 90 I saw was at FOTU in 2022 — complete with THOSE wheeltrims.
It seems it’s currently off the road but I hope that’s just temporary. It looked to be in lovely order.
It seems it’s currently off the road but I hope that’s just temporary. It looked to be in lovely order.
October 18, 2025 at 9:46 AM
Last Panda Italia 90 I saw was at FOTU in 2022 — complete with THOSE wheeltrims.
It seems it’s currently off the road but I hope that’s just temporary. It looked to be in lovely order.
It seems it’s currently off the road but I hope that’s just temporary. It looked to be in lovely order.
My favourite SD1 colour — but I’m biased.
Mine (shown) has those same factory option alloys but they’ve been painted a darker grey and had the rims polished. Not by me, but I rather like the look.
Mine (shown) has those same factory option alloys but they’ve been painted a darker grey and had the rims polished. Not by me, but I rather like the look.
October 17, 2025 at 9:02 PM
My favourite SD1 colour — but I’m biased.
Mine (shown) has those same factory option alloys but they’ve been painted a darker grey and had the rims polished. Not by me, but I rather like the look.
Mine (shown) has those same factory option alloys but they’ve been painted a darker grey and had the rims polished. Not by me, but I rather like the look.
I did manage to resolve this by cutting a slot in the pointy end of the bolt with the grinder, so we know have a firm, clean earth connection.
The nut and bolt are zinc plated. I’ll add a layer of vaseline as well.
The car still won’t turn over though, obviously.
The nut and bolt are zinc plated. I’ll add a layer of vaseline as well.
The car still won’t turn over though, obviously.
October 17, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I did manage to resolve this by cutting a slot in the pointy end of the bolt with the grinder, so we know have a firm, clean earth connection.
The nut and bolt are zinc plated. I’ll add a layer of vaseline as well.
The car still won’t turn over though, obviously.
The nut and bolt are zinc plated. I’ll add a layer of vaseline as well.
The car still won’t turn over though, obviously.
I’m still battling with Espace electrics. I suspect the main earth strap from the block to the chassis - feels loose.
The connection is concealed under an engine mount.
Instead of just fitting it to that nice accessible bolt, it has its own hidden one under the mount.
Engine out for access. FML
The connection is concealed under an engine mount.
Instead of just fitting it to that nice accessible bolt, it has its own hidden one under the mount.
Engine out for access. FML
October 17, 2025 at 11:59 AM
I’m still battling with Espace electrics. I suspect the main earth strap from the block to the chassis - feels loose.
The connection is concealed under an engine mount.
Instead of just fitting it to that nice accessible bolt, it has its own hidden one under the mount.
Engine out for access. FML
The connection is concealed under an engine mount.
Instead of just fitting it to that nice accessible bolt, it has its own hidden one under the mount.
Engine out for access. FML
They liked the Galant, which made it into Interesting in the GBU, but I think that was the exception rather than the rule.
October 16, 2025 at 10:53 AM
They liked the Galant, which made it into Interesting in the GBU, but I think that was the exception rather than the rule.
I do - this is mine. Currently it only starts when it hasn’t rained for a couple of days, so next week I’m dismantling it until I find the bad earth.
Great cars though. Handsome, madly practical, enjoyable to drive.
Great cars though. Handsome, madly practical, enjoyable to drive.
October 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
I do - this is mine. Currently it only starts when it hasn’t rained for a couple of days, so next week I’m dismantling it until I find the bad earth.
Great cars though. Handsome, madly practical, enjoyable to drive.
Great cars though. Handsome, madly practical, enjoyable to drive.
Exactly like! Although with more hammers.
October 11, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Exactly like! Although with more hammers.
Back on the tools today.
Gradually knitting myself a new Rancho
Gradually knitting myself a new Rancho
October 11, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Back on the tools today.
Gradually knitting myself a new Rancho
Gradually knitting myself a new Rancho
It’s 100% an Isuzu Gemini.
October 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
It’s 100% an Isuzu Gemini.
I had a brief drive in this Midas Gold Rover V8-S last week, gold wheels an’ all.
A rare privilege. I’m a big fan of SD1s.
A rare privilege. I’m a big fan of SD1s.
October 8, 2025 at 6:21 AM
I had a brief drive in this Midas Gold Rover V8-S last week, gold wheels an’ all.
A rare privilege. I’m a big fan of SD1s.
A rare privilege. I’m a big fan of SD1s.
Am I the only one reading this as
BLACK POWER! (Steering needs repairing)?
BLACK POWER! (Steering needs repairing)?
October 2, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Am I the only one reading this as
BLACK POWER! (Steering needs repairing)?
BLACK POWER! (Steering needs repairing)?
What happens when you can’t choose between the two.
October 1, 2025 at 5:28 PM
What happens when you can’t choose between the two.
Everybody in the 70s: sex sells
Triumph: …
Triumph: …
September 21, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Everybody in the 70s: sex sells
Triumph: …
Triumph: …
I specced one of these with an Ocean Blue interior back in 2006 when I was a thrusting exec. Admittedly it wasn’t Cocoa, but *everything* was blue…do I get a runner-up prize?
Loved that car.
Loved that car.
September 16, 2025 at 4:55 PM
I specced one of these with an Ocean Blue interior back in 2006 when I was a thrusting exec. Admittedly it wasn’t Cocoa, but *everything* was blue…do I get a runner-up prize?
Loved that car.
Loved that car.
Mine wouldn’t go any further than Regent’s Park, and now it won’t start at all.
They’re still gorgeous cars though.
They’re still gorgeous cars though.
September 16, 2025 at 9:13 AM
Mine wouldn’t go any further than Regent’s Park, and now it won’t start at all.
They’re still gorgeous cars though.
They’re still gorgeous cars though.
I can supply this photo of one, spotted in Germany a few years ago…
I drove an early Previa back in the 90s and liked it. From memory it was similar to the Espace in that it handled rather better than you’d expect.
I drove an early Previa back in the 90s and liked it. From memory it was similar to the Espace in that it handled rather better than you’d expect.
September 13, 2025 at 10:53 AM
I can supply this photo of one, spotted in Germany a few years ago…
I drove an early Previa back in the 90s and liked it. From memory it was similar to the Espace in that it handled rather better than you’d expect.
I drove an early Previa back in the 90s and liked it. From memory it was similar to the Espace in that it handled rather better than you’d expect.
Check out this absolute unit of a garden spider.
I’m currently training her to use a ratchet spanner and contact cleaner because she’s got a lot more chance of reaching the Espace’s earthing points than I have.
I’m currently training her to use a ratchet spanner and contact cleaner because she’s got a lot more chance of reaching the Espace’s earthing points than I have.
September 12, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Check out this absolute unit of a garden spider.
I’m currently training her to use a ratchet spanner and contact cleaner because she’s got a lot more chance of reaching the Espace’s earthing points than I have.
I’m currently training her to use a ratchet spanner and contact cleaner because she’s got a lot more chance of reaching the Espace’s earthing points than I have.