Lewis Kingston
@roadsidetypist.bsky.social
Award-winning freelance motoring journalist, writer and author. Big fan of lightweight cars and forced induction. Often found trawling eBay for automotive oddities. Based in the UK.
Pinned
*flicks switch*
This thing on? Hello! My name's Lewis and I'm a freelance motoring journalist, writer, and author, from the UK.
I'm primarily into classic and modified cars – well, anything that moves under its power, to be honest – and I'm often found at auctions, on eBay, or in the garage.
1/2
This thing on? Hello! My name's Lewis and I'm a freelance motoring journalist, writer, and author, from the UK.
I'm primarily into classic and modified cars – well, anything that moves under its power, to be honest – and I'm often found at auctions, on eBay, or in the garage.
1/2
Sending out a few review copies today. 😎👍
#History #Cars #Engineering #CarCulture #Books #BookRecommendations #NonFiction
#History #Cars #Engineering #CarCulture #Books #BookRecommendations #NonFiction
December 19, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Sending out a few review copies today. 😎👍
#History #Cars #Engineering #CarCulture #Books #BookRecommendations #NonFiction
#History #Cars #Engineering #CarCulture #Books #BookRecommendations #NonFiction
I've been thinking about these again recently, too. Several in my various watch lists. I'd probably go with a Pontiac, though, for a change – not another Chevrolet. A smart '89 Trans Am, something like that...
December 19, 2025 at 11:29 AM
I've been thinking about these again recently, too. Several in my various watch lists. I'd probably go with a Pontiac, though, for a change – not another Chevrolet. A smart '89 Trans Am, something like that...
Did you know that, in 1900, almost 40% of the cars made in America were electric? You'll find more surprising facts like that in my new book, 'Cars: 10 Things You Should Know'.
Hardback, audiobook, and eBook versions are out now:
amzn.eu/d/4OTXvSH
#Cars #Books #BookRecommendations #Nonfiction
Hardback, audiobook, and eBook versions are out now:
amzn.eu/d/4OTXvSH
#Cars #Books #BookRecommendations #Nonfiction
December 18, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Did you know that, in 1900, almost 40% of the cars made in America were electric? You'll find more surprising facts like that in my new book, 'Cars: 10 Things You Should Know'.
Hardback, audiobook, and eBook versions are out now:
amzn.eu/d/4OTXvSH
#Cars #Books #BookRecommendations #Nonfiction
Hardback, audiobook, and eBook versions are out now:
amzn.eu/d/4OTXvSH
#Cars #Books #BookRecommendations #Nonfiction
I still need to own one of these...
If I had the cash, this delicious machine would be sitting on my driveway right now. An absolute pleasure to write up.
www.pistonheads.com/buy/auction/...
www.pistonheads.com/buy/auction/...
2005 Renaultsport Clio 182 Full Fat for sale by auction
Check out this 2005 Renaultsport Clio 182 Full Fat auction on PistonHeads. Stop dreaming and start driving.
www.pistonheads.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:37 PM
I still need to own one of these...
I really like this. Absolutely no fuss to apply and it leaves a great finish.
December 18, 2025 at 9:50 AM
I really like this. Absolutely no fuss to apply and it leaves a great finish.
Reposted by Lewis Kingston
The full build (and, buried in there somewhere, the answer to your challenge question) is on Paul Bacon’s grossly underrated YouTube channel.
Here’s an early episode of that series: youtu.be/7ZUVwWt3_tk?...
Here’s an early episode of that series: youtu.be/7ZUVwWt3_tk?...
The Custom 60's Truck with many secrets!
YouTube video by Paul Bacon Kustom Works
youtu.be
December 17, 2025 at 8:23 PM
The full build (and, buried in there somewhere, the answer to your challenge question) is on Paul Bacon’s grossly underrated YouTube channel.
Here’s an early episode of that series: youtu.be/7ZUVwWt3_tk?...
Here’s an early episode of that series: youtu.be/7ZUVwWt3_tk?...
Here's the answer: this is what lurks beneath – a Carbodies Fairway Taxi. Yup.
Quite the transformation, no?
Quite the transformation, no?
December 17, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Here's the answer: this is what lurks beneath – a Carbodies Fairway Taxi. Yup.
Quite the transformation, no?
Quite the transformation, no?
December 17, 2025 at 6:54 PM
One from this year's NSRA Wheels Day show. Pretty wild.
Ten points if you can guess what it's based on (assuming you don't already know)...
#Cars #CustomCars #HotRods #HotRodding #ClassicCars
Ten points if you can guess what it's based on (assuming you don't already know)...
#Cars #CustomCars #HotRods #HotRodding #ClassicCars
December 17, 2025 at 3:56 PM
One from this year's NSRA Wheels Day show. Pretty wild.
Ten points if you can guess what it's based on (assuming you don't already know)...
#Cars #CustomCars #HotRods #HotRodding #ClassicCars
Ten points if you can guess what it's based on (assuming you don't already know)...
#Cars #CustomCars #HotRods #HotRodding #ClassicCars
Time to buy a lottery ticket. This is one of only a few Callaway C4s that I've seen fitted with the 100+ package.
Claimed 525bhp+/650lb ft.
One of the few TH400-equipped automatic cars, too.
(Standard C4s from that era used the lighter-duty 700R4.)
www.ebay.com/itm/11692881...
#Corvette
Claimed 525bhp+/650lb ft.
One of the few TH400-equipped automatic cars, too.
(Standard C4s from that era used the lighter-duty 700R4.)
www.ebay.com/itm/11692881...
#Corvette
December 16, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Time to buy a lottery ticket. This is one of only a few Callaway C4s that I've seen fitted with the 100+ package.
Claimed 525bhp+/650lb ft.
One of the few TH400-equipped automatic cars, too.
(Standard C4s from that era used the lighter-duty 700R4.)
www.ebay.com/itm/11692881...
#Corvette
Claimed 525bhp+/650lb ft.
One of the few TH400-equipped automatic cars, too.
(Standard C4s from that era used the lighter-duty 700R4.)
www.ebay.com/itm/11692881...
#Corvette
Pictured: one of my favourite improvements and, if possible, usually among the first I make to any car.
(Please ignore the slapdash sound deadening – I was just using up some odds and sods I had scattered around. It's something I need to revisit in earnest in January.)
#Suzuki #Vitara
(Please ignore the slapdash sound deadening – I was just using up some odds and sods I had scattered around. It's something I need to revisit in earnest in January.)
#Suzuki #Vitara
December 16, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Double Trouble.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/26751085...
(Yeah, they're both slightly borked V10s. 😁)
At £460, for the pair, at the time of posting. Several days to go, mind.
#Volkswagen #Cars #V10 #Phaeton #TDI
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/26751085...
(Yeah, they're both slightly borked V10s. 😁)
At £460, for the pair, at the time of posting. Several days to go, mind.
#Volkswagen #Cars #V10 #Phaeton #TDI
December 15, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Double Trouble.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/26751085...
(Yeah, they're both slightly borked V10s. 😁)
At £460, for the pair, at the time of posting. Several days to go, mind.
#Volkswagen #Cars #V10 #Phaeton #TDI
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/26751085...
(Yeah, they're both slightly borked V10s. 😁)
At £460, for the pair, at the time of posting. Several days to go, mind.
#Volkswagen #Cars #V10 #Phaeton #TDI
Reposted by Lewis Kingston
What's it like to drive the world's cheapest car? Thanks to @thealso.bsky.social and @sionhudson.bsky.social, I've been able to write about it www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/dri...
Driving the Tata Nano: once the world's cheapest car | Hagerty UK
In 2008, the Tata Nano arrived as the world's cheapest car. But at what expense? Find out what it's like to drive and what it's worth today.
www.hagerty.co.uk
December 15, 2025 at 1:03 PM
What's it like to drive the world's cheapest car? Thanks to @thealso.bsky.social and @sionhudson.bsky.social, I've been able to write about it www.hagerty.co.uk/articles/dri...
Reposted by Lewis Kingston
I tend to post cars that are on the more affordable side, but making an exception for eighty grand's worth of 1931 Riley Sprite, because it looks absolutely fantastic www.carandclassic.com/car/C1959864
December 15, 2025 at 4:10 PM
I tend to post cars that are on the more affordable side, but making an exception for eighty grand's worth of 1931 Riley Sprite, because it looks absolutely fantastic www.carandclassic.com/car/C1959864
December 15, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Reposted by Lewis Kingston
This made me do a double take. The fitment looks quite good, from a few angles at least...
(I'd have to ditch some of the other aftermarket bits, though, like those headlight covers. Each to their own, of course, but yuck.)
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35801116...
#Porsche #Boxster #eBay
(I'd have to ditch some of the other aftermarket bits, though, like those headlight covers. Each to their own, of course, but yuck.)
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35801116...
#Porsche #Boxster #eBay
December 14, 2025 at 5:33 PM
This made me do a double take. The fitment looks quite good, from a few angles at least...
(I'd have to ditch some of the other aftermarket bits, though, like those headlight covers. Each to their own, of course, but yuck.)
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35801116...
#Porsche #Boxster #eBay
(I'd have to ditch some of the other aftermarket bits, though, like those headlight covers. Each to their own, of course, but yuck.)
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/35801116...
#Porsche #Boxster #eBay
A few suggestions from an old article of mine. World-first technologies, early adopters, and the like, are always fascinating to me.
I think my favourites from this piece are probably the #Toyota RAV4 EV, the #GM EV1 (of course) and the #Audi Duo. Let me know which intrigues you the most...
I think my favourites from this piece are probably the #Toyota RAV4 EV, the #GM EV1 (of course) and the #Audi Duo. Let me know which intrigues you the most...
December 14, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I dig it. I think these early ones are less prone to snapping their cranks, too, although the rest of the costs/reliability issues can still be pretty terrifying.
I'd have mine with an automatic, though. It's the way to go in these, IMO, although it's still cool to see a manual one. How about you?
I'd have mine with an automatic, though. It's the way to go in these, IMO, although it's still cool to see a manual one. How about you?
Enjoying the spec of this Disco 3. Silver over beige cloth, manual, and on what are presumably modern Defender steelies www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13643928...
December 14, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I dig it. I think these early ones are less prone to snapping their cranks, too, although the rest of the costs/reliability issues can still be pretty terrifying.
I'd have mine with an automatic, though. It's the way to go in these, IMO, although it's still cool to see a manual one. How about you?
I'd have mine with an automatic, though. It's the way to go in these, IMO, although it's still cool to see a manual one. How about you?
I wanted to love this car, and I wanted to own it. But every time I looked at it, another £1,000 of costs appeared on my mental list. Too many red flags, too many question marks.
It sold for £18,144. Too much, in my opinion, especially for such an unknown quantity.
Next!
#NissanSkyline #GTST #R33
It sold for £18,144. Too much, in my opinion, especially for such an unknown quantity.
Next!
#NissanSkyline #GTST #R33
December 13, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I wanted to love this car, and I wanted to own it. But every time I looked at it, another £1,000 of costs appeared on my mental list. Too many red flags, too many question marks.
It sold for £18,144. Too much, in my opinion, especially for such an unknown quantity.
Next!
#NissanSkyline #GTST #R33
It sold for £18,144. Too much, in my opinion, especially for such an unknown quantity.
Next!
#NissanSkyline #GTST #R33
Here's a car I considered earier this year: a #Lotus Eclat V8 Spyder Donington (a conversion offered by Spydersport).
Was at a small auction. Rover V8, five-speed Toyota 'box, Jaguar IRS, Esprit panels, etc.
Needed everything. Went for £1,600.
Was at a small auction. Rover V8, five-speed Toyota 'box, Jaguar IRS, Esprit panels, etc.
Needed everything. Went for £1,600.
December 13, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Here's a car I considered earier this year: a #Lotus Eclat V8 Spyder Donington (a conversion offered by Spydersport).
Was at a small auction. Rover V8, five-speed Toyota 'box, Jaguar IRS, Esprit panels, etc.
Needed everything. Went for £1,600.
Was at a small auction. Rover V8, five-speed Toyota 'box, Jaguar IRS, Esprit panels, etc.
Needed everything. Went for £1,600.
Here's something I'd not considered before: what's the shelf life of a timing belt?
Probably quite long (untensioned, etc.). I only ask as I ordered this new kit and it actually looks to be about 9yrs old.
I'll be getting a new one, anyway (belt has taken a set, for one thing), for peace of mind.
Probably quite long (untensioned, etc.). I only ask as I ordered this new kit and it actually looks to be about 9yrs old.
I'll be getting a new one, anyway (belt has taken a set, for one thing), for peace of mind.
December 12, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Here's something I'd not considered before: what's the shelf life of a timing belt?
Probably quite long (untensioned, etc.). I only ask as I ordered this new kit and it actually looks to be about 9yrs old.
I'll be getting a new one, anyway (belt has taken a set, for one thing), for peace of mind.
Probably quite long (untensioned, etc.). I only ask as I ordered this new kit and it actually looks to be about 9yrs old.
I'll be getting a new one, anyway (belt has taken a set, for one thing), for peace of mind.
Here's a rarity: a #Mercedes-Benz A210 Evolution (LWB) with the Lamella sunroof.
Looks tired, but it shouldn't cost much.
ewbankauctions.co.uk/index.php?op...
1,165kg, 2.1-litre SOHC four, 138bhp, 8.7 to 60 (auto), 124mph.
22 on the road here, 29 SORN. Only 174 (all versions) on record still.
Looks tired, but it shouldn't cost much.
ewbankauctions.co.uk/index.php?op...
1,165kg, 2.1-litre SOHC four, 138bhp, 8.7 to 60 (auto), 124mph.
22 on the road here, 29 SORN. Only 174 (all versions) on record still.
December 12, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Here's a rarity: a #Mercedes-Benz A210 Evolution (LWB) with the Lamella sunroof.
Looks tired, but it shouldn't cost much.
ewbankauctions.co.uk/index.php?op...
1,165kg, 2.1-litre SOHC four, 138bhp, 8.7 to 60 (auto), 124mph.
22 on the road here, 29 SORN. Only 174 (all versions) on record still.
Looks tired, but it shouldn't cost much.
ewbankauctions.co.uk/index.php?op...
1,165kg, 2.1-litre SOHC four, 138bhp, 8.7 to 60 (auto), 124mph.
22 on the road here, 29 SORN. Only 174 (all versions) on record still.
Reposted by Lewis Kingston
Pleased to report that the individual responsible for one of my favourite screengrabs of all time is now here; please follow and make him feel welcome - well worth a follow if you're into things with wheels & motors.
![Screen grab of two Tweets; first has a picture of a red Saab car and a two-tone blue Saabo caravan in a woodland camping site, with the text "Found out today that Saab built a caravan called th Saabo from 1964 to 1968. Stumbled across this picture in a media archive. Some details here [hyperlink to wikipedias entry for Saabo]"
There's blue "Show this thread" text, then another post by the original author:
"It was also originally supposed to use the sleeve valved 14 cylinder Bristol Taurus according to Wiki."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:q63cuo6puhpxkd2bf7sand2m/bafkreihxsngyxr32iltt4bj7wsyhpqqq2wamyurlne43jdwtktycox7vgm@jpeg)
December 11, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Pleased to report that the individual responsible for one of my favourite screengrabs of all time is now here; please follow and make him feel welcome - well worth a follow if you're into things with wheels & motors.
One thing I've already noticed: this place certainly has a much more sociable vibe to it. 😊
December 12, 2025 at 10:19 AM
One thing I've already noticed: this place certainly has a much more sociable vibe to it. 😊