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Jonny Smith Carpervert Presenter, journalist and TV and video presenter Jonny Smith's official Facebook fan page.

This is my MASSIVE  dump. Haven't had time to do social media much this last week - it's been chocka block with filming ...
15/07/2025

This is my MASSIVE dump. Haven't had time to do social media much this last week - it's been chocka block with filming and driving.

Goodwood was its usual enormous church of vehicular worship, and it's always good fun making content with for the YT channel. Head there to watch our duo trying to present.

The sun was very solar, the dust made itself noticed (see what my poor detailed bargain Boxster looked like after day 1 by swiping to the end pics) and it's always humbling to be asked for so many selfies and signatures. Thank you.

Sorry to all my industry friends who I rarely get chance to hang out with. Working at this show sucks all your energy. But, soooo rewarding.

There's something really special coming to that debuted at FOS. Can you guess what?

In case you missed it, yesterday on  was a   episode. Actually, it was a double barnfind, as we had to move another clas...
07/07/2025

In case you missed it, yesterday on was a episode. Actually, it was a double barnfind, as we had to move another classic to access the E21 BMW we'd come to film. The Ford we had to move is, ironically, probably worth more today.

As we filmed the genuine barnfinds I did have a hunch that the Ford Combi estate might garner more attention from the classic Ford crew.

Hope you enjoyed this one. Lots of comments about leaving cars to rot and not caring for them, but do try to remember the circumstances and moments in time. These were put away when they were worthless. They had already done a fair amount of rotting before going into the barn!

The  bargain Boxster project update video comments prove that I've accidently influenced quite few people to become 'Box...
05/07/2025

The bargain Boxster project update video comments prove that I've accidently influenced quite few people to become 'Boxster Guyz'. These early cars are so addictive, affordable and the 90s styling has really aged well.

I was at the Earls Court motors how in 1996 (?) when this was unveiled next to a 550 Spyder

Big thanks to for sponsoring this ep. Don't forget to check the video description for the discount codes and bundle links.

Time for a     to a car I owned back in the late 90s - and the story of a strange celeb sale.The car:  A 1958 Heinkel bu...
26/06/2025

Time for a to a car I owned back in the late 90s - and the story of a strange celeb sale.

The car: A 1958 Heinkel bubble car
The man: Michael Barrymore.
The scenario: I'd swapped the car with a gold Mk1 Ford Granada 3.0 and enjoyed it for a while, but needed to earn some cash to supplement my poorly paid mag journalism job. I used to buy a car every few weeks to tidy up and flog.

The car going for sale coincided with me relocating from Chester to London. I advertised it in the London Loot yellow paper - remember that?

A man called me to ask about the bubble car for sale, and his voice sounded familiar. It transpired to be Michael Barrymore. At the time he was in the news a lot, due to the death of a man in his swimming pool.

Michael wanted to buy the car and asked if I could deliver it. I did, towed by my first 1964 Chevy Impala (4dr hardtop). Upon arriving at his manager's house the cash was given and Michael turned up in a big S Class S500 with his friend (pictured).

He was ever so enthusiastic, and told me about about his Dodge Royale, WW2 BMW bike and all sorted. He wanted to drive it, but I told him it hadn't been MoT'd. He drove it up and down the drive and nearly crashed it.

How did I get the photos? I asked if I could get a shot. Now to the part I regret. I came back from this 'celeb' sale and a work colleague told me I should sell the photos to the press for big money. I wasn't sure, but I did need the money. In the end I contacted The Sun and they bought them for what I sold the car for. The funds got me out of debt and Michael B back into the tabloids. Little did I realise it was his mum's funeral a few weeks later.

I would love to meet him again to first apologise, and secondly to have a look at what cars/machines he's got these days.

This must have been 25yrs ago.

Proper pinch me barnfind moment.Over 100k views in 5 hours!Thank you everyone.Thanks Magnus for the tip-off and thanks M...
23/06/2025

Proper pinch me barnfind moment.
Over 100k views in 5 hours!
Thank you everyone.
Thanks Magnus for the tip-off and thanks Maz for trusting us with your car.

    to June a decade ago. We had just started the first season of racing in the freshly completed Flux Capacitor EV drag...
19/06/2025

to June a decade ago. We had just started the first season of racing in the freshly completed Flux Capacitor EV drag car at under (cars with threaded tyres that have to be MOTd and perform a mandatory street cruise as part of the qualifying process).

My close pal Nick Farrow was with me every inch of the way as a crew chief and level head. Olly at was our crucial tech advisor and instrumental in wiring the car and setting it up.

We ran a 10.24 by the end of the season, which meant it was Europe's quickest EV. I even exchanged emails with some guy called as I wanted to feature his E30 BMW EV and exchange notes about EV muscle. Wonder where he went?

The little 1974 Enfield 8000 is now in a museum but that forgotten electric city car from Isle of Wight turned out to be perfectly shaped to run hard on the track, despite its hilarious wheelbase (12" shorter wheelbase than a Morris Mini).

It felt pioneering and trend bucking. Formula E, Taycan and Plaid Teslas weren't a thing yet...

My face on the last pic said it all really. Disbelief. How could a hoarder who died in squalor manage to keep only one t...
09/06/2025

My face on the last pic said it all really. Disbelief. How could a hoarder who died in squalor manage to keep only one thing totally free from dirt, rot, rodents and the tests of time?

The latest MG Metro Turbo episode on (complete with plot twist ending) seems to have had double the views of any recent barnfind I've uncovered.

Is it the nostalgia? Is it the time warp condition? Is it just that everyone secretly loves Mini Metros?

I wish I knew, as I'd get millions of views every time! But the bottom line is, these cars come with stories - sometimes emotional, sometimes sensitive, sometimes funny - and the older I get the more I warm to the stories before the cars.

As some have said, this car is museum quality. Maybe, but it will see sparing use, and you will see it on the channel again!

Thanks for all the comments and support. If you find a Barnfknd car in a real barn, lean-to, driveway, garage or field, you know where to email us....

It's not as hard as Where's Wally, but I'm in there (like a pig in plop) because yesterday we filmed our  auction previe...
31/05/2025

It's not as hard as Where's Wally, but I'm in there (like a pig in plop) because yesterday we filmed our auction preview for the sale taking place on Sunday at as part of Wheeler Dealers Live.

Viewing day is today and tmr first thing, and you can bid in the room or register remotely and watch the whole thing being livestreamed at www.iconicauctioneers.com

Hope you enjoy the video. Please note there will not be another Late Brake vid this weekend.

The symbol of this channel is the '68 Dodge Charger, which I personally imported from San Diego in 2008. I've never mana...
27/05/2025

The symbol of this channel is the '68 Dodge Charger, which I personally imported from San Diego in 2008. I've never managed to fully track its history, but know it came originally from San Fran (where it did the rotting). I've kept its black plate for posterity, and am hopefully finding more backstory out soon - as well as making something interesting with the plate for the office thanks to .uk

Despite it being the mascot of TLBS the Charger rarely appears on episodes. That is entirely my fault. Last year I didn't use it for boring reasons, but this year it's already out, serviced and in an episode of coming soon we will be power tuning the original #'s matching 6.3 big block on the dyno for the first time.

In truth it's way overdue, as it's had an annoying flatspot for several years, but I want to really refine the driving experience for 2025 without modernising it. This is no restomod - it's an authentic 1968 Mopar driving experience, and that's how it'll stay.

Many of you guessed correctly as to what the latest Barnfind vehicle was - the first mass produced 16-valve engined car....
20/05/2025

Many of you guessed correctly as to what the latest Barnfind vehicle was - the first mass produced 16-valve engined car. The Triumph Dolomite Sprint is a car we now see racing in the packs at but for years it's lived in the shadows of fast rwd Escorts, hot hatches and marques with a badge that still exists.

This car is now for sale, so please email if you're serious. It's better than it looks.

Most of the time I attend car events for work, or for myself. But last Sunday my son really wanted to try and get to  fo...
12/05/2025

Most of the time I attend car events for work, or for myself. But last Sunday my son really wanted to try and get to for the J*p show. He loves J*panese machinery, and it is no secret that I'm partial (see last pic), so we headed over.

Relaxed atmos, amazing weather (Pod Face is real) and it was a real joy to see him influenced by so many people's project cars.

I'm lucky that my hobby is also my business. It isn't always easy, but the passion is never faked. There are always interesting cars to see and even more interesting people to meet.

The bagged Jonny Cab Tokyo Taxi continues to be probably my most reliable, consistently smooth and easy going project car. But it's time for rims...

I love a factory, and car factories never cease to fascinate. The latest  video captures a whistle stop tour of the tech...
04/05/2025

I love a factory, and car factories never cease to fascinate. The latest video captures a whistle stop tour of the technologically advanced eco facility of where the new R5 is made (alongside their other EV models).

Same factory as where the original Renault 5 was made, but a very different set up from the 70s.

Hope you enjoy following my visit, and the smattering of retro French motors I street spotted on the scenic drive back home via Le Chunnel.

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