Classic Car Lab

25/05/2026

NEW PODCAST EPISODE 🎙️

The TRUTH about Aston Martin ownership…

From the iconic DB2 to the modern DBS, I’m sharing my real-world experiences of owning, driving, restoring and living with Aston Martins over the years — the dream, the investment potential, the hidden costs and the nightmares nobody talks about.

People see the glamour, the style and the James Bond image… but what’s the REALITY of owning one of the world’s most desirable British sports cars?

In this episode of Under the Bonnet with Dino, I talk honestly about:
✅ The emotional side of Aston Martin ownership
✅ Classic vs modern Aston Martins
✅ Are Aston Martins actually good investments?
✅ The repair bills and hidden surprises
✅ Why we still fall in love with them despite the problems
✅ DB2, DB5, DB9, DBS and V8 Vantage ownership experiences
✅ The truth behind prestige classic cars

This isn’t a scripted review — it’s genuine experience from years of living and working with these incredible machines at Classic Car Lab.

Whether you love classic cars, modern classics, Aston Martin, luxury performance cars or automotive stories, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

🎧 Listen now and let me know:
Dream car… or expensive nightmare

Listen here:

https://youtu.be/NWwBZo3CTs4?si=cgHnNjNQ8QTSom2A

21/05/2026

🚗 UPGRADE YOUR CLASSIC DRIVE 🚗

Tired of heavy steering in your classic car?

At Classic Car Lab, we specialise in discreet Power Assist Steering upgrades that retain the original character of your vehicle whilst making it far more enjoyable to drive on modern roads.

From MGs starting from just £1,795 + VAT, through to Triumphs, Jaguars, Austin Healeys and many other classic and modern classic cars, we can custom-build systems to suit your vehicle and the way you drive.

Whether you’re looking for easier parking, more confidence on long journeys, or simply a smoother driving experience, our expertly installed systems are designed to blend modern comfort with classic charm.

✔ Power Assist Steering Systems
✔ Custom Built Solutions
✔ Yorkshire Classic Car Specialists
✔ Classic & Modern Classics Welcome
✔ Discreet & Reversible Installations
✔ Improved Driving Comfort & Control

And whilst your car is with us, don’t forget — we also supply and fit tyres, from classic crossplies to modern performance tyres.

Have a chat with Wade or one of the team — they’ll be happy to help you find the best setup for your car.

📍 Classic Car Lab – Heritage to Modern
📞 Trusted by drivers across Otley, Yorkshire and surrounding areas.

21/05/2026

A very busy workshop

18/05/2026

🎬📺 Another brilliant (and slightly eventful 😅) day filming with the team today for another series of Bangers & Cash: Restoring Classic Cars alongside the fantastic crew from Air TV.

We’re incredibly honoured that this is now several restorations we’ve carried out with Bangers & Cash, and it’s always a pleasure welcoming the team back into the workshop. ❤️🚗

Now… every filming day needs a little drama apparently 😂

As one of the cars was coming off the trailer, it very gently decided to slide towards our beautiful workshop sign… 😳

Thankfully Amanda was there to quite literally help catch the car! I kid you not 😅👏 Safe to say everyone’s heart rate increased for a few seconds!

Apart from that near “Hollywood stunt moment” 🎥, it was a fantastic day with the whole team involved, plenty of laughs, plenty of hard work and some very special cars passing through the workshop.

And don’t worry… if you bring your vehicle to us for paintwork, SMART repairs or accident damage, you do NOT have to appear on television 😂📸

Whether it’s a cherished classic, modern performance car, campervan, 4x4 or daily runaround, we’re here to help with:

🔧 Paint & bodywork
✨ SMART repairs
💥 Accident damage repair
🛞 Tyres, MOT work & diagnostics
🚘 Restorations & recommissioning
🧰 Modern vehicle servicing & repairs

Trusted across Otley, Yorkshire and surrounding areas, Classic Car Lab continues to blend traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques — Heritage to Modern.

🌐 Classic Car Lab

15/05/2026

🚗📈 WHAT WILL BE THE NEXT MODERN CLASSIC CAR BOOM?

The latest episode of Under The Bonnet with Dino is now live — and this time we’re diving deep into the cars that could become the next big investment winners.

From affordable future classics UNDER £50,000…
to iconic collector cars OVER £50,000…

…which cars are genuinely set to rise in value over the next few years? 👀

In this episode, Dino from Classic Car Lab Yorkshire talks real-world market trends, hidden gems, modern classics, investment potential, buying mistakes, and the cars enthusiasts should be paying attention to NOW — before prices climb even further.

We discuss:
✅ Modern classic investment cars
✅ Future collectible cars under £50k
✅ Performance cars with rising values
✅ BMW, Japanese performance icons & overlooked gems
✅ Which modern classics are worth buying now
✅ UK classic car market trends
✅ Cars that could become tomorrow’s investment legends

No hype.
No nonsense.
Just honest experience from decades in the classic car world.

Whether you love classic cars, modern performance cars, restoring vehicles, buying and selling, or simply enjoy following the changing UK car market — this episode is for you.

🎙️ Under The Bonnet with Dino
📺 Watch now on YouTube
🔗 https://youtu.be/TwQ8Q94hBzM?si=BIR1CH63sBxnuS9K

👇 What do YOU think will be the next big modern classic investment?
E46 M3? Supra? Porsche? AMG? Something Japanese? Something completely overlooked? Let’s hear your picks!

14/05/2026

❤️ More Than Just a Citroën Saxo ❤️

Not every restoration is about investment potential, rarity, or prestige.

Sometimes… It’s about nostalgia.

This Citroën Saxo may appear to be a simple little car to many people, but to its owner, it means the world. It belonged to his late brother, and restoring it was never simply about repairing a vehicle — it was about preserving memories, emotion, and a connection to someone deeply loved.

Over the course of the project, we got to know the owner really well, and he is genuinely one of the nicest, most charming gentlemen you could meet. You could feel just how much emotion was attached to every single detail of this car.

The original window sticker had to stay.
The seats had to be exactly right.
Everything had to feel just as it did when his brother was alive.

And that’s what made this project so special to all of us at Classic Car Lab.

People often think classic cars are all about money, values, investments, or prestige marques like Aston Martins, Jaguars, Skylines or Imprezas. But the truth is, for most people, cars are about nostalgia. They remind us of people, places, moments in life, our youth, our first adventures, our families… and sometimes those memories are priceless.

The Saxo arrived severely rusted and in many pieces, making it difficult to save. But seeing it carefully brought back to life — and seeing what it means to its owner — reminds us exactly why we love doing what we do.

At Classic Car Lab, it has never really been about the car.
It’s always about the person behind it.

More of this lovely story will be shared soon on our website.

A true Yorkshire classic car restoration.
https://classiccarlab.com/

09/05/2026

🔧 ENGINEERING YOU CAN TRUST — FROM HERITAGE TO MODERN 🔧

From complete engine rebuilds 💥 to simple servicing, timing, tuning and diagnostics… engineering is at the very heart of what we do at Classic Car Lab.

If your classic car has been stood for some time, isn’t running quite right, or simply deserves some expert attention before summer driving begins ☀️🚗 — bring it down to the team.

Our mechanical department is led by Peter, whose knowledge and experience with classic and modern vehicles is second to none. Whether it’s servicing, tuning, diagnostics or major mechanical work, Pete is always approachable and happy to help.

And yes… many customers say our head mechanic looks remarkably like Paul Newman… so you can even pop in and shake hands with “Hollywood” while discussing your carburettors! 😄🎬

Working alongside Pete is a fantastic team:
🔹 Bob — helping keep everything running smoothly
🔹 Wade — your man for tyres in Otley 🛞, aftermarket power steering upgrades, servicing and mechanical support
🔹 Lee — handling everything from welding repairs 🔥 to full structural rebuilds

🚗 WE NOW OFFER:
✅ Engine rebuilds
✅ Servicing & maintenance
✅ Timing & tuning
✅ Diagnostics
✅ MOT repairs & preparation
✅ Welding & fabrication
✅ Tyres in Otley 🛞
✅ Wheel balancing & tyre fitting
✅ Power steering upgrades
✅ Classic & modern vehicles welcome

💥 Need tyres in Otley?
We are extremely competitive on tyre pricing and can often beat like-for-like quotes. From modern daily drivers to classics and 4x4s — we’ve got you covered.

Everything is carried out under one roof in our clean, professional workshop with transparency every step of the way.

📍 Otley Mills, Otley
📞 Message or call the team today
🚘 Classic Car Lab — Heritage to Modern

30/04/2026

I’ve spent the last 12–18 months properly studying the classic car market…
Not guessing. Not following hype. Actually watching what’s happening.

And here’s the truth most people won’t tell you:

👉 Only around 8% of classic cars are genuinely going up in value.

The rest?
👉 Sitting still
👉 Or quietly dropping

So I’ve put together something different.

✔ My Top 6 cars under £50k
✔ My Top 6 cars over £50k
✔ Plus other hidden opportunities most people overlook

Alongside real data, market trends, and where I think things are heading next.

📊 I’ve shared the charts, pie data, and breakdowns here so you can see it for yourself.

🎙️ And if you want the full thinking behind it —
👉 including why these cars stand out and what to avoid…

Listen to the full podcast here:
👉 https://youtu.be/gD7cNl99IhI?si=ej6UPza9ZzkvttyM

This isn’t about buying any classic car…
👉 It’s about finding the right one.

Because right now:
👉 The smart buyers are separating themselves from the crowd.

📍 Classic Car Lab – Yorkshire
“Heritage to Modern” See the breakdown of the market here.
https://classiccarlab.com/restoration-projects/classic-car-investments-uk-2026/

27/04/2026

🚗 What’s REALLY happening in the classic car market right now?

If you watch our latest YouTube episode of Under the Bonnet with Dino, you’ll get a full breakdown of what’s actually going on behind the scenes — including why only a small percentage of cars are truly rising in value.

👉 But if you want a quick read and the key insights, head over to our website here:
https://classiccarlab.com/restoration-projects/classic-car-investments-uk-2026/

On the site you’ll find:
✔ What’s happening in the UK classic car market right now
✔ The biggest movers and shakers
✔ My Top 6 predictions under £50,000
✔ My Top 6 predictions over £50,000
✔ Plus some other cars worth considering that could quietly increase in value

At Classic Car Lab, we see this market every day through our Yorkshire classic car restorations — and the reality is, things have changed.

👉 It’s no longer “buy anything and it goes up”
👉 It’s about knowing which cars to buy — and when

If you’re thinking about buying, restoring, or investing in a classic car, this is worth a watch 👇

🎥 https://youtu.be/gD7cNl99IhI?si=vFILNfWLtWs8-dmD

💬 I’d love to know your thoughts…
Which classic car do YOU think will be the best investment over the next 5 years?

2 likes. "Only 8% of Classic Cars Are Rising… Here’s What to Buy (UK Market)"

23/04/2026

I’ve been a little quiet… and for good reason.

Firstly, an apology — I’ve been under the weather recently, so things have slowed slightly on the posting front. But I’m pleased to say we’re back, feeling stronger, and straight back into what we love most. 💪

And what a week to come back to…

The workshop right now is something special — interestingly, a sea of white cars this week, each with its own story, its own character, and its own purpose.

Here’s just a glimpse of what’s going on inside Classic Car Lab:

• A stunning Mercedes Pagoda sitting proudly in the workshop
• A beautiful AC race car in with us — we’re deep into the mechanicals, getting her back to full fighting form. A proper machine.
• A classic air-cooled Porsche 911 — timeless, unmistakable
• An Audi Quattro UR — rare, iconic, and absolutely one for the collectors
• A wonderful Jaguar E-type in undergoing some serious restoration — always special to have one of these in the building
• A number of MGs lined up on the other side
• Italian flair across the workshop — always something special about them
• A beautiful Mini adding a bit of British charm

And then there’s the graft…

Pete (somewhere under the bonnet, hands disappearing into the depths!) fitting a starter motor into an Alfa — just another day at the office.

But the real star of the show for me…

The Morris Minor.

Currently upside down, undergoing a full suspension overhaul so we can get her back on her wheels. It’s one of those projects that reminds you what this place is all about — craftsmanship, care, and bringing something back to life. Even more special when it’s for a client I’ve known for many years.

Moments like this… this is why we do it.

The workshop is absolutely bursting at the seams right now — but everything is planned, structured, and running through Connor, keeping it all moving exactly as it should.

If you’ve been thinking about:
• Paintwork
• SMART repairs
• Mechanical work
• Or something a bit more special

Now’s the time to get in touch.

And if you want to be part of the Classic Car Lab story — we’d genuinely love to have you involved.

Classic Car Lab
Heritage to Modern