This week on Wheels & Deals, I'm joined by the legendary Mike Smith, from managing and driving cars for the Bond films to co-authoring the official Bond car book, Mike is a true Aston Martin aficionado who was even approached to present Top Gear. But his story starts long before Hollywood, with a childhood obsession that saw him racing stock cars at just 10 years old and throwing rubber plants across showrooms by 17.

Pitstops:

• Racing stock car Minis at 10 years old and nearly winning his first final before the petrol tank gave out

• Playing "Herbie" and spotting red, white, and blue Minis inspired by The Italian Job on family drives

• Getting secretly trained as a general manager at 16 while racing Audi Quattros

• How he took a rubber plant as a deposit on a car deal (and why he felt entitled to hurl it across the showroom)

• From BMW dealer to Bond insider: how knowing obscure car specs got him onto 007 film sets

A Nod to:

• The Saint's Volvo P1800 (and later Aston Martin)

• Corgi Toys with working steering wheels

• The Italian Job

• Ralph Renton's Renault dealership

• Manchester City FC

• Lionel Smith's dealership

• Roger Moore, George Lazenby, and the Bond legacy

If we've mentioned you but missed you here, drop me a line at grangebaileys@gmail.com.

Come Along for the Ride with Me at:

📸 Instagram: @the_old_car_lady

🎬 TikTok, Facebook & YouTube: The Old Car Lady

💬 WhatsApp: 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!