Great Automotive Lives – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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Great Automotive Lives

Andrew Classic Car Guy

Leisure

Frequency: 1 episode/9d. Total Eps: 12

Great Automotive Lives aims to to bring you the stories behind some of the great characters from all eras, nooks and corners of the automotive firmament. With subjects chosen, frankly, quite randomly some may be well known and others fairly obscure. With great lives distilled to less than an hour there will be omissions a plenty, but hopefully some encouragement will linger to continue your own onward journey of discovery. Weekly episodes are the initial aim, with Friday looking likely as new episode day. Enjoy and thanks for listening.

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Apple Podcasts

🇬🇧 Great Britain - automotive
06/04/2026
#81
🇬🇧 Great Britain - automotive
05/04/2026
#70
🇬🇧 Great Britain - automotive
04/04/2026
#50
🇫🇷 France - automotive
10/09/2025
#96
🇫🇷 France - automotive
08/09/2025
#90
🇫🇷 France - automotive
07/09/2025
#100
🇫🇷 France - automotive
06/09/2025
#86
🇬🇧 Great Britain - automotive
31/07/2025
#97
🇬🇧 Great Britain - automotive
30/07/2025
#86
🇬🇧 Great Britain - automotive
29/07/2025
#74

Spotify

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Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/news/lord-austins-office-finds-a-new-home
4 shares
https://greatbritishcarjourney.com
4 shares
https://nationalmotormuseum.org.uk
4 shares

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Trinity_Church
2 shares
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Hoffman_House
1 share

RSS feed quality and score

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 63%

Publication history

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Latest published episodes

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Henry Royce

Season 1 · Episode 12

Monday, April 28, 2025 • Duration 39:35

You will probably certainly know the name of Henry Royce, but how much do you know about his life? He suffered a terribly deprived childhood and numerous early setbacks in his career.

Despite this and his terribly frail health he went on to forge a legacy like few, if any, others in the automotive world. This inaugural season of Great Automotive Lives started with Charles Rolls and so it should, and does, end with the great Henry Royce.

The following links relate to the Royce Landmarks as referred to in the "......footsteps" section of the pod. You're welcome:

Details of Royce’s long term home Elmstead and the annualpilgrimage made by Rolls-Royce enthusiasts to mark the death of this toweringfigure:

https://www.press.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/rolls-royce-motor-cars-pressclub/article/detail/T0382913EN/elmstead:-a-place-of-pilgrimage?language=en

Royce’s winter home – Villa Mimosa:

https://www.vrbo.com/en-gb/p483394

Claude Johnson’s neighbouring winter home – Villa Jaune:

https://www.vrbo.com/en-gb/p1789031a

The Henry Royce Memorial Window – Westminster Abbey:

https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/commemorations/sir-henry-royce

The final resting place of Royce’s ashes in the church atAlwalton:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9716454/frederick_henry-royce

The Henry Royce Foundation and archive:

www.henryroyce.org.uk.

Henry Royce statue in Derby:

https://batch.artuk.org/discover/artworks/sir-frederick-henry-royce-18631933-304719

Henry Royce blue plaque, Quarndon, Derby:

https://www.quarndon-pc.gov.uk/gallery/1206556

Great Automotive Lives is researched, written, presented, edited and produced by Andrew, the Classic Car Guy. I even make the tea, walk the dogs and clean the windows.

You can contact the podcast with your thoughts and comments at:

podcast@classiccarguy.co.uk

Enjoy! Come back soon.

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David Brown - In Brief - from tractors to Aston Martins

Season 1 · Episode 11

Tuesday, April 15, 2025 • Duration 14:25

Welcome to the second Great Automotive Lives - In Brief episode. Sir David Brown was a suave, impeccably turned out business man but he knew a thing or two about cars.

After the Second World War he answered a mysterious advert in the Times and here would start his Aston Martin adventure. Join me in a brief trot through the Great Automotive Life - In Brief which is David Brown.

This podcast is researched, written, presented, edited and produced by Andrew, the Classic Car Guy.

If you would like to share your thoughts, comments or racing tips with the podcast please email:

podcast@classiccarguy.co.uk

Enjoy!

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Donald Healey

Season 1 · Episode 2

Saturday, January 18, 2025 • Duration 40:06

Donald Healey was a proud Cornishman, pilot, racer and ultimately worldwide automotive icon. From humble origins Healey lived a long, eventful and celebrated life.

Join me to find out what made the man tick and about some of the key business milestones that peppered his life.

The following links are referenced in the "Footsteps....." section of the podcast. Enjoy!

Healey’s childhood home and now swanky looking holiday cottage:

https://www.woodbinecottageperranporth.com

Site of Donald Healey memorial stained glass window:

https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/2686/

Imagery of said stained glass window:

https://www.cornishstainedglass.org.uk/mgsdb/window.xhtml?churchid=168&locid=17

Church, home to Healey’s grave:

https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/2426/

Cornish home to Healey and his wife Ivy for around 10 years from 1963. Now open as show gardens:

https://www.trebahgarden.co.uk/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA-aK8BhCDARIsAL_-H9nyzDyPTzcd1IC5Puav-YGyazuW41tPp6swGLoJ4AO2pL1-POsOrGgaAqvsEALw_wcB

The company that now occupies the Healey Motor Company’s Warwickshire premises:

https://www.jmehealeys.co.uk/our-company

Charles Rolls

Season 1 · Episode 1

Thursday, January 16, 2025 • Duration 40:10

A delve into the remarkable life of Charles Rolls of enduring Rolls-Royce fame.

From far from humble beginnings to a sadly premature end as a pioneer of a nascent mode of transport, revisiting the life of Rolls is a great way to launch a fledgling podcast.

Contact can be made with suggestions for future episodes, derision over pronunciation missteps or kind words of encouragement.

podcast@classiccarguy.co.uk

Here follow the promised links as covered in the "......Footsteps" section of the podcast:

Formerly the Hendre, Rolls's family home in Monmouthshire and now a golf club:

https://www.therollsgolfclub.co.uk/

The church that is home to Rolls's grave and memorial plaque in the chancel:

https://friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/church/st-cadocs-llangattock-vibon-avel-monmouthshire/

Information about the Charles Rolls statue in Monmouth:

https://www.visitdeanwye.co.uk/explore/famous-people/charles-rolls

Memorials around the site of Rolls's death near Bournemouth:

https://crht1910.org.uk/

The Blue Plaque in London outside the former Rolls-Royce offices and showrooms:

William Lyons - Mr Jaguar

Season 1 · Episode 10

Tuesday, April 15, 2025 • Duration 46:23

William Lyons is a towering automotive figure and, seemingly, an eminently decent fellow to boot. From modest beginnings, this Blackpool lad forged a legacy that few can claim to match.

What was his secret? God knows, but, this podcast may provide a few clues as to how this reticent, even somewhat shy, northerner transformed himself from Bill Lyons to Mr Jaguar. It's well worth a listen.......but I am quite biased.

The following links relate to the Lyons Landmarks as referred to in the "......footsteps" section of the pod. You're welcome:

Fancy a peek inside William Lyons beautiful Wappenbury Hall? Sadly, sold now before you go hunting for your cheque book (……..ask a pensioner):

https://media.onthemarket.com/properties/2839277/doc_0_2.pdf

The last resting place of Sir William and Lady Greta:

https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/13130/

One of my favourite places, and coincidently awash withLyons stuff and the home of the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust:

https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/

….and here is the Trust themselves:

https://www.jaguarheritage.com/

The Coventry Transport Museum, again a trove of Jaguar /Lyons treasure:

https://www.transport-museum.com/

Fancy a peek inside the Lyons’ family home beforeWappenbury? Sadly, also now sold:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/details/england-41078936-92948049?s=6c5fed9fa7f2293cdac1e310b984f92b0bf5597328107f34db0643a7bfb8a544

Malcolm Sayer - In Brief - creator of the E Type

Season 1 · Episode 9

Tuesday, March 18, 2025 • Duration 12:14

Welcome to the first of my condensed Great Automotive Lives - In Brief.

These are potted versions of great automotive lives for, likely, no other reason than the scarcity of reliable research material. Despite this, a truncated form like this, still allows me to share the lives of some lesser written about automotive heroes of mine.

There is no better inaugural subject than Malcolm Sayer, in my opinion. Most will know him, if at all, from his design of the Jaguar E Type. There's a lot more to the man than that, however.

Probably one of the most overlooked British automotive geniuses in the post-war period, this podcast - although condensed - aims to put that right a little. Enjoy!

If you have any comments, observations or even salacious gossip you can contact me at podcast@classiccarguy.co.uk

This podcast is researched, written, presented, edited, and produced by Andrew, the Classic Car Guy. If there is anything wrong with it, it's undeniably my fault. I preemptively apologise - I'm British - that's what we do.

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Max Hoffman - a founding father of the US post-war auto industry

Season 1 · Episode 8

Saturday, March 15, 2025 • Duration 51:02

Max Hoffman was the world's first, and probably last, of the great automotive importers, bringing at least 21 European marques to the vast North American post-war car market.

His influence went much deeper than that, however, successfully influencing the creation of some true landmark models. He was a controversial character, however, with ruthless methods bordering on the deeply troubling.

I'd be fascinated to learn of your views of Max Hoffman and the value, or otherwise, of his legacy.

You can contact the podcast via the following e-mail:

podcast@classiccarguy.co.uk

This podcast is researched, written, presented, edited and produced by Andrew, the Classic Car Guy.

The following links will steer you to some further information about some of the items mentioned in the podcast:

The Hoffman House:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Hoffman_House

The Hoffman Centre:

https://hoffmancenter.org/

Million Dollar Middleman book:

https://media.veloce.co.uk/2022/October/V5503/Max-Hoffman.html

Enjoy! Don't be a stranger!

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André Citroën

Season 1 · Episode 7

Tuesday, February 11, 2025 • Duration 48:59

André Citroën was a soldier, a visionary, a prolific gambler and a staunch advocate for workers rights and welfare. Possibly above all he was the father of automotive marketing and promotion, bar none. A life irrevocably interwoven with the modern history of Paris and more archetypically French than a croissant. I like him. I like him a lot. I hope you will too.

The disappointingly small number of links referred to in the "footsteps" section follow. They are disappointing.......and small......:

Parc André Citroën where the mighty Quai de Javel factory once stood. Oh......and there's a balloon ride.....:

https://www.paris.fr/lieux/parc-andre-citroen-1791

André Citroën's final resting place:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3461/andr%C3%A9-citroen

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/639007/cimeti%C3%A8re-du-montparnasse

Great Automotive Lives is researched, written, presented, edited and produced by Andrew the Classic Car Guy. I also make the tea and put out the bins.

Contact for all things podcast related can be made via podcast@classiccarguy.co.uk

We promise to read every message.......because they range in number from none to vanishingly few.

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Ivan Hirst - the man who saved Volkswagen

Season 1 · Episode 6

Monday, February 3, 2025 • Duration 49:05

Hands up those that know of Major Ivan Hirst..........

As I thought. Not that many compared to some of the household automotive names covered thus far in Great Automotive Lives.

Ivan Hirst was a bone fide war hero turned automotive saviour whose war stories could probably trump those of your average Major in the REME.

If you love your classic Volkswagens, or even if you don't, this is a story you should know. Enjoy!

Here are the links that are referred to in the "footsteps" section of the podcast:

The final resting place of Ivan Hirst:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/181895209/ivan-hirst

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2489488/st-thomas-churchyard-friarmere

The Chippenham based REME museum where Hirst’s VolkswagenBeetle model is housed:

https://www.rememuseum.org.uk/

The fancy Volkswagen themed museum in dear old Wolfsburg:

https://www.automuseum-volkswagen.de/en/

I'd, as ever, be delighted to hear from you and you can drop me an email at podcast@classiccarguy.co.uk

This podcast is written, presented, edited and produced by Andrew, the Classic Car Guy.

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William Morris

Season 1 · Episode 5

Saturday, February 1, 2025 • Duration 43:12

For episode five of Great Automotive Lives we have our first somewhat contentious subject - William Morris Viscount Nuffield.

By the end of the episode I hope you will agree about the breadth and depth of Morris's automotive legacy. What about his darker side, however? Let me know what you think.

podcast@classiccarguy.co.uk

As promised here follow the links referred to during this episode:

Morris’s long term home, Nuffield Place, now under the stewardship of the National Trust:

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/oxfordshire-buckinghamshire-berkshire/nuffield-place

The last resting place of Morris:

https://www.nuffieldparish.com/nuffield-church

Part of the Cowley plant that remains as the current Mini factory under BMW ownership:

https://www.mini.co.uk/en_GB/home/mini-news/oxford-100.html

Other Morris tributes in and around Oxford:

https://www.britainbycar.co.uk/oxford/229-w-r-m-motors-ltd?highlight=WyJ3aWxsaWFtIiwibW9ycmlzIl0=

https://www.britainbycar.co.uk/cowley/224-morris?highlight=WyJ3aWxsaWFtIiwibW9ycmlzIl0=

https://morrisoxford.co.uk/william-morris-viscount-nuffield/

Great Automotive Lives – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Great Automotive Lives – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

Other57

Wikipedia2

RSS feed quality and score

Publication history

Latest published episodes

Similar podcasts and content

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Related Shows Based on Content Similarities

Other57

Wikipedia2