Sign in

Grand Thrift Auto

@grandthriftauto.bsky.social
267 followers 212 following 1.2K posts

Formerly Grand Thrift Auto on YouTube, but closed indefinitely on there. My name’s still Martin though, and I’ve still got too many scabby old cars.

PostsRepliesMedia
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Why I killed my YouTube channel. Of course there are some positive comments too, at first. But this relentless tide of hate is not something I want in my life.
An unfiltered series of negative comments on a YouTube videoAn unfiltered series of negative comments from YouTube
12220
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Lottie 🚙 @lottiedrivescars.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I cannot begin to describe the insane sound that came out from my mouth as I spotted this yesterday morning. Fresh out the tube at 8am, Human League playing (excellent timing) and boom… an Saab. #weirdcarbs #saab99turbo
77210
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
JD Burgess @blacktopmagazine.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Silly details from Rustival (sorry, I don't really take pictures while I'm there).
3407
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Oh man, this Mazda 6e interior is really tickling my boat.
3130
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Russ Wallis @russwallis.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
It’s Throwback Thursday! Todays collections, 3/4 and side profile throwbacks are: #Britishclassiccars #AlfaRomeo164 #R4 Find all of these artworks and loads more apparel: t-shirts, mugs hoodies ect, on my website www.rjwcreativedesign.co.uk Link in bio 1/3
151
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Bob P. DJ @bob-p-dj.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I've always thought it's a Mk1 Granada (longer door handles)👍 Volvo's agency had previous form with Ford comparisons😆 But after a few years I think you'd appreciate the engineering of smooth-riding Ford Granadas equipped with their independent rear axles & double wishbone front axles since the 70s 😎
121
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Awesome. I have briefly driven an UMM, round a yard. It managed to feel both indestructible and yet like it was about to shake itself to pieces at the same time. I do hope they start making them again.
170
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I remember being so impressed with this Suzuki SJ ad back in the day that I went straight out and bought……an airbrush
180
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I’ve always thought the car on the left is a Granada, but I’d love to know for sure. Anyone from 80s-era Abbot Mead Vickers in da house? Fantastic campaigns, by the way, if so.
192
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Simon Craven @simoncraven.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
This is ROARING ahead on views, biggest opening couple of hours we have had for ages! Check it out, before YouTube runs out of electrons
022
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Bob P. DJ @bob-p-dj.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Don't miss Rory's always brilliant 'Weird Car Meet: East Anglia' at The Heron on Sunday 11th October from 4pm 🚗 Put the date in your calendars now, and see you there 😎 Lame excuses for not being there, are not acceptable 😀 #CarBluesky #WeirdCarBS
132
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I love this.
150
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Really good post here. It’s been a few years since I rode a motorbike regularly, but I can’t think of anything more divorced from the ethos of bikes than paying a subscription fee for software. This shite has to stop
150
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
miniphernalia.co.uk @miniphernalia.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
NEW!! Repro Austin-Rover Tax Disc Parking Permit Holder - www.miniphernalia.co.uk/tax-disc-hol...
NEW!! Repro Austin-Rover Tax Disc Parking Permit Holder - https://www.miniphernalia.co.uk/tax-disc-holders/2313-repro-austin-rover-tax-disc-parking-permit-holder.html
153
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Chloe Phillips @vhschloe.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
A wild Renault Mégane Fidji 1.6 16V appears! Been in the previous owner's family from new in 2002! They moved on, and viewed us as the perfect place. Totally original and surviving well at 93k miles. Needs some stuff, but was £0 so that's easy to justify! Runs and drives with no rust! #WeirdCarBS
2002 Renault Megane 1.6 16V 'Fidji' viewed from the front left.2002 Renault Megane 1.6 16V 'Fidji' viewed from the rear right.2002 Renault Megane 1.6 16V 'Fidji' interior viewed from the right.2002 Renault Megane 1.6 16V 'Fidji' badge!
5485
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
I had stop/start in my 1984 VW Polo FormelE. It worked just fine, though it did have a rocker switch to turn it off in cold weather. If you’d told me back then that US politicians would one day consider stop/start a hate crime, I’d have looked at you very strangely indeed.
170
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Who knew the M4 at Reading on a Wednesday night could be pretty? (And lest anyone start worrying, photo taken by my passenger and yes I was overtaking someone, not randomly hogging lane 3 of 4…unlike many others.)
A striking orange and blue sunset over a motorway with fairly light traffic.
181
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Rob Adcock @robadcock.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Another one of MG Rover's "could have beens" currently on display at the British Motor Museum - the #Rover 75 Coupé concept, built to celebrate the company's centenary. It now belongs to a private individual and is on loan to the museum. #WeirdCarBS
5304
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Currently in Germany. Satnav got so fed up in the traffic today that it started amusing itself by drawing willies on the screen
A screen shot of a satnav display showing a route highlighted in pink in the shape of cartoon male genitalia
150
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Am I the only one picking up faint styling echoes from the Vauxhall FB Victor estate?
Rear quarter view of a 1963 Vauxhall Victor estate with fluted styling details and a contrasting roof colour
270
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Bit more involved to set up than a DJI Osmo and a suction cup, eh? (But then I suppose they did have all the time in the world)
4110
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Ben Hooper @popup-breakdown.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Genuinely stunned by Sweden. If it wasn't the fairytale archipelagos, warm cities and lush wildernesses, it's the £1.36/litre 98 E5! So sad to only be spending 24 hours here, but I will definitely be making my return. With such vast spaces and lonely roads, I do see why US cars make sense here...
1152
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Ben Hooper @popup-breakdown.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
Sweden is already delivering for #weirdcarbs Not shown are the countless hot rods, the immaculate Volvo 145 Estate, and period modded Opel Manta B on the very chill motorway. Happy to report the Starion did Copenhagen to Stockholm on one tank, about 405 miles (out of a 75 litre tank yikes)
3288
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Yet another example of the AI slop that’s flooding #carrestoration YouTube, aided by hundreds of thousands of botfarm views. I’m going to have to unfollow @ukclassiccars.bsky.social, it posts way too much of this s***
550
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Say what you like about the Marina, it did have good door handles: aerodynamic, ergonomic, robust and even aesthetically pleasing. There, I’ve said it.
0100
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Notoriously so
1120
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
I love my Skoda but it is slightly disconcerting driving around with Roland Rat grinning up at you the whole time.
Roland Rat, superstar The steering wheel and instrument binnacle of a Skoda Kodiaq mk1
1252
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Indecisive Auto @indecisiveauto.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
New Video out - this time it's a POV Drive of my 1983 MK1 Citroen BX 16 TRS
2113
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
It’s gone weirdly dark… Last time I saw an eclipse was in Spain in 1999, driving through the Pyrenees. We projected it through a pinhole on to the bonnet of a rented Seat Ibiza mk2.
1120
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Ooh, hello!
070
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Ben Hooper @popup-breakdown.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
In the UK we don't readily associate Denmark with car culture, but what a meet that was. So much variety, summed up by seeing an ex-1976 motorshow Maserati Merak SS parked next to a 2dr Opel Ascona B. Tonnes of interesting metal, and the potential for far more on a "busy" night
1162
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
All the talk of BMW Inka Orange lately makes me applaud the bold choice someone made ordering this 2018 Lexus CT200h. Full marks for not following the herd. @gentil.bsky.social
A bright orange Lexus CT200h
6280
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
JD Burgess @blacktopmagazine.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/... This would be $4999 in the US.
autotrader.co.uk
1995 Honda Civic for sale for £499 in LEICESTER, LEICESTERSHIRE
1995 Honda Civic for sale in LEICESTER, LEICESTERSHIRE from MZD Motors Ltd - Find your perfect car today with Autotrader
3101
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 09/08/2026
“And because they’ve been so fortunate till now…nobody’s quite sure what to feel. Possibly glee. ‘When Bad Things Happen to Rich People’ hasn’t been written yet.” — Michael Lewis, The Money Culture
A link to a news article that drivers of their luxury cars are suing Mercedes-Benz over alleged burns from the AMG badges on their car seats
020
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
JD Burgess @blacktopmagazine.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
A few more 'back in the day' SVX pics before it's packed off to the garage.
2264
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Bob P. DJ @bob-p-dj.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Agreed that the 00s PT Cruiser has more character than the 80s Audi 80 - it was designed to do so👍 However, when the Audi 80 was designed, square-edged, thirsty & rusty cars were everywhere🚗 The 80 was different then, but other brands copied its aero design✍️ It's the Vitara that's just old & filthy😆
141
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Russ Wallis @russwallis.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
It’s Throwback Thursday! Todays collections, 3/4 and side profile throwbacks are: #CitroenXantia #Mk2FordCortina #Peugeot205GTi Find all of these artworks and more apparel: t-shirts, mugs hoodies ect, on my website www.rjwcreativedesign.co.uk Link in bio 1/2
141
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
awjayramey.bsky.social @awjayramey.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
The DAF museum in Vermont has a 66 wagon I went for a spin in some years ago. Tho it might not have a sedan.
151
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Gareth Thomas @profgaretht.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
This is excellent.
097
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
That would make the Carlton a significant advance on the FE Victor it replaced. Which has its charms, but silence is not a strength, thanks to the Haybaler engine, a 4-speed box (in the case of mine) and the aerodynamic efficiency of a mid-size Gothic cathedral.
A 1975 Vauxhall FE Victor in light metallic blue parked next to a brick building.
0160
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Tamara Keel [Scary Remix] @tamslick.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
The 19,999th post on my blog, from this morning… booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2026/08/biso...
booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com
Bison Hunters
With Soviet jet bombers like the Myasishchev M-4 (NATO reporting name "Bison") able to undertake intercontinental nuclear attack missions, ...
3143
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Chloe Phillips @vhschloe.bsky.social · 31/07/2026
It's been a minute since I posted to the YouTube channel! Let's sit down and have a catchup! youtu.be/ghA_1VlHkNw #WeirdCarBS
youtu.be
Where have I been? - Let's catch up!
YouTube video by VHSChloe
4145
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
I keep getting cheery notifications from YouTube telling me that someone thinks I’m too stupid, poor, ugly, posh, old, lazy, boring, inauthentic, left-wing or generally charmless. This latest is by no means the worst, but it’s the last of many straws. 1/3
A YouTube comment saying “You have got to make your videos much shorter and focused. Not a lotgif [sic] information in veey [sic] long video”
6110
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
miniphernalia.co.uk @miniphernalia.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
#AustinRover Coffee / Tea Mug. Let the chaps at work know you insist on drinking your beverage from a propa mug! - www.miniphernalia.co.uk/austin-rover... #MiniMonday
#AustinRover Coffee / Tea Mug. Let the chaps at work know you insist on drinking your beverage from a propa mug! - https://www.miniphernalia.co.uk/austin-rover-mugs/2756-austin-rover-mug.html #MiniMonday
031
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Tamara Keel [Scary Remix] @tamslick.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
If our first date involves you secretly recording our convo an feeding it into an LLM, then our second date is probably going to involve a padlock, a tube sock, and a 911 call.
2222
Reposted by Grand Thrift Auto
Sandra @sandrawarmer.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
012
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Made a little more progress with remaking my Rancho today. First picture is from this morning, the others are how it used to be. I probably won’t post a video; people just don’t watch them.
The door post of a car, partly cut away. The metal is painted in primer and isn’t rusty.The lower corner of the windscreen aperture of a car, partly cut away where the door post, scuttle and front wing meet. Rust is extensive and there are large holes in every panel.Partial view of a car with the front door removed, exposing extensive rust and low quality patching in the door pillar.
4231
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
Either the new Jag prototype has more ground clearance than we expected, or my neighbour has zebras.
Three horses in a field wearing zebra-pattern camouflage coats…or are they?
1192
Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Went to the monthly Swansea Motor Club meet this morning to catch up with some friends. There were several really lovely cars, but I only took one photo. One. Photo. I really am useless at this social media thing. Sorry.
A 1964 Vauxhall Viva and a 1960 Austin Seven (Mini), with a horsebox trailer in the background.
3241