Ben Hooper
@popup-breakdown.bsky.social
That youth who managed to blag a column for @classicretromodern.bsky.social magazine. Defender of the Tat, 47 since 2005, owner of 0 sensible cars. #WeirdCarTwitter Exile
Reposted by Ben Hooper
I just had a read through the budget to search for changes in VED for cars and there is no change regarding the 40 year rolling exemption for classic vehicles.
A lot of debate and consequent division was sparked by a rumour by an MP and some Youtubers seized on it.
Shame on you!
A lot of debate and consequent division was sparked by a rumour by an MP and some Youtubers seized on it.
Shame on you!
November 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM
I just had a read through the budget to search for changes in VED for cars and there is no change regarding the 40 year rolling exemption for classic vehicles.
A lot of debate and consequent division was sparked by a rumour by an MP and some Youtubers seized on it.
Shame on you!
A lot of debate and consequent division was sparked by a rumour by an MP and some Youtubers seized on it.
Shame on you!
If we are going to do this whole Lancia's that should have made it thing then I have to bring this to the table. The Fulvia 1600HF Competitzione
November 25, 2025 at 9:31 PM
If we are going to do this whole Lancia's that should have made it thing then I have to bring this to the table. The Fulvia 1600HF Competitzione
Reposted by Ben Hooper
What do we need on these dark autumnal nights? A video looking through brightly coloured (and mostly orange) cars of the NEC Classic Car Show courtesy of @grandthriftauto.bsky.social
youtu.be/E7fgtRSAEps?...
#WeirdCarBS
youtu.be/E7fgtRSAEps?...
#WeirdCarBS
What's the HOTTEST ORANGE car at the NEC Classic 2025?
YouTube video by Grand Thrift Auto
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 6:28 PM
What do we need on these dark autumnal nights? A video looking through brightly coloured (and mostly orange) cars of the NEC Classic Car Show courtesy of @grandthriftauto.bsky.social
youtu.be/E7fgtRSAEps?...
#WeirdCarBS
youtu.be/E7fgtRSAEps?...
#WeirdCarBS
2nd Exasperation of the Evening:
My friend texted me to say that her Vauxhall Adam refused to open the fuel filler flap. As I knew cars I was supposed to know what to do.
She came round and I discovered to my disdain that the fuel flap was a "push-to-open" job, which now didn't open when pushed
My friend texted me to say that her Vauxhall Adam refused to open the fuel filler flap. As I knew cars I was supposed to know what to do.
She came round and I discovered to my disdain that the fuel flap was a "push-to-open" job, which now didn't open when pushed
November 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
2nd Exasperation of the Evening:
My friend texted me to say that her Vauxhall Adam refused to open the fuel filler flap. As I knew cars I was supposed to know what to do.
She came round and I discovered to my disdain that the fuel flap was a "push-to-open" job, which now didn't open when pushed
My friend texted me to say that her Vauxhall Adam refused to open the fuel filler flap. As I knew cars I was supposed to know what to do.
She came round and I discovered to my disdain that the fuel flap was a "push-to-open" job, which now didn't open when pushed
Seriously how hard is it to find a decent protective phone case that doesn't pretentiously advertise that I have an iPhone, and is made decently and isn't made of cheap plastic.
Have settled on this Aztec pattern "wood" case, which is very 1988. Will see if it can last...
Have settled on this Aztec pattern "wood" case, which is very 1988. Will see if it can last...
November 25, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Seriously how hard is it to find a decent protective phone case that doesn't pretentiously advertise that I have an iPhone, and is made decently and isn't made of cheap plastic.
Have settled on this Aztec pattern "wood" case, which is very 1988. Will see if it can last...
Have settled on this Aztec pattern "wood" case, which is very 1988. Will see if it can last...
Reposted by Ben Hooper
Not only is this an excellent film, it features mine and @popup-breakdown.bsky.social cars. Go see it.
November 25, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Not only is this an excellent film, it features mine and @popup-breakdown.bsky.social cars. Go see it.
Matched only by the Artz Quattro Saloon
November 25, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Matched only by the Artz Quattro Saloon
Might revisit once I have a career
November 23, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Might revisit once I have a career
You know, I am really not in the mood this week for obstinate French engined Dutch built Volvos, especially at 60mph on the A36
November 17, 2025 at 7:03 PM
You know, I am really not in the mood this week for obstinate French engined Dutch built Volvos, especially at 60mph on the A36
Reposted by Ben Hooper
WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED OF THIS BEFORE
October 21, 2025 at 10:44 AM
WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED OF THIS BEFORE
Exactly this. It was simply a rumour started by the Shadow Transport Secretary who just might have a vested interest in making us all panic. Yes, it is a risk, but I have seen nothing to suggest it is at any more risk of happening now than in the past 10 years.
I see a few car YouTubers doing videos about the supposed end of the classic car VED exemption. I searched for info about this, but nothing concrete to support this rumour. We won't know until the budget announcement on 26/11, but the comments section on those videos is lit.
October 17, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Exactly this. It was simply a rumour started by the Shadow Transport Secretary who just might have a vested interest in making us all panic. Yes, it is a risk, but I have seen nothing to suggest it is at any more risk of happening now than in the past 10 years.
This was after I had discovered someone at my uni daily drives a 2015 Daihatsu Copen
October 12, 2025 at 2:21 PM
This was after I had discovered someone at my uni daily drives a 2015 Daihatsu Copen
Legendary spots I happened across in Winchester yesterday!
October 12, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Legendary spots I happened across in Winchester yesterday!
Heroic efforts by @vhschloe.bsky.social today trying to get my Panasonic VZ200 to kick into life ahead of fitment to the Starion. We tried but could not get the cassette mechanism to work nor any sound.. Still, it looks like the car in question needs a new slave cyl now, so bigger fish it would seem
October 3, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Heroic efforts by @vhschloe.bsky.social today trying to get my Panasonic VZ200 to kick into life ahead of fitment to the Starion. We tried but could not get the cassette mechanism to work nor any sound.. Still, it looks like the car in question needs a new slave cyl now, so bigger fish it would seem
www.ebay.com/itm/26730120...
Oh hello...
Oh hello...
Pardon Our Interruption...
www.ebay.com
October 3, 2025 at 6:40 PM
www.ebay.com/itm/26730120...
Oh hello...
Oh hello...
One of the only French cars I actually like enough to want to own, these just look so incredibly right. I know I should be all over French cars, but weirdly I have always struggled to out and out adore them, and I just don't know why tbh
Venturi (originally founded as MVS: Manufacture de Voitures de Sport) tried hard to establish itself as a French luxury GT maker. This English-language brochure from the early '90s features the mid-engined 210hp and 260hp models, including a Spider version. #weirdcarbs
October 1, 2025 at 6:42 PM
One of the only French cars I actually like enough to want to own, these just look so incredibly right. I know I should be all over French cars, but weirdly I have always struggled to out and out adore them, and I just don't know why tbh
Reposted by Ben Hooper
Hartge of Darkness
Ok it is not a car and its not phonetically the same but just go with me, it is easier for everyone 😉
Ok it is not a car and its not phonetically the same but just go with me, it is easier for everyone 😉
September 26, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Hartge of Darkness
Ok it is not a car and its not phonetically the same but just go with me, it is easier for everyone 😉
Ok it is not a car and its not phonetically the same but just go with me, it is easier for everyone 😉
I so would for just £30k.
I am a student though so getting £30k feels like trying to sustain nuclear fusion
I am a student though so getting £30k feels like trying to sustain nuclear fusion
in the coveted “absurdly rare and somehow also period modified” category tonight
www.carandclassic.com/la/C1942318
www.carandclassic.com/la/C1942318
September 25, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I so would for just £30k.
I am a student though so getting £30k feels like trying to sustain nuclear fusion
I am a student though so getting £30k feels like trying to sustain nuclear fusion
Rally car innit
September 13, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Rally car innit
Reposted by Ben Hooper
We are all sharing in the jealousy! Only @grandthriftauto.bsky.social knows the real pain behind owning/restoring one. As you can see in this video. 🤣
youtu.be/X87GB4fT6uM?...
youtu.be/X87GB4fT6uM?...
Matra Rancho: how am I going to repair THIS?
YouTube video by Grand Thrift Auto
youtu.be
September 8, 2025 at 9:06 AM
We are all sharing in the jealousy! Only @grandthriftauto.bsky.social knows the real pain behind owning/restoring one. As you can see in this video. 🤣
youtu.be/X87GB4fT6uM?...
youtu.be/X87GB4fT6uM?...
Right, I think I ought to have a brief catch up, so that people who have lost contact with me since the Great Twitter Collapse are up to speed on my antics over the past year or so. This thread will be Part 1, August 2024-Jan '25, I will do another one when I have more energy.
September 6, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Right, I think I ought to have a brief catch up, so that people who have lost contact with me since the Great Twitter Collapse are up to speed on my antics over the past year or so. This thread will be Part 1, August 2024-Jan '25, I will do another one when I have more energy.
Interesting Lidl spot tonight, next time someone makes a joke about Lancias rusting...
September 6, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Interesting Lidl spot tonight, next time someone makes a joke about Lancias rusting...
Well well guess I finally decided to get my arse into gear and start tracking down the old network. Was lovely to see the old #WeirdCarTwitter bunch at Rustival, so hoping I can re-establish contact with everyone. Do I need another distraction? Probably not, but life could do with a spruce up...
August 31, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Well well guess I finally decided to get my arse into gear and start tracking down the old network. Was lovely to see the old #WeirdCarTwitter bunch at Rustival, so hoping I can re-establish contact with everyone. Do I need another distraction? Probably not, but life could do with a spruce up...