Talking Classics With DadCars

Ben Marshall is the man behind DadCars. Ben has been doing a fantastic job of highlighting that becoming a parent doesn’t mean you have to give up your dream car.

We loved talking to Ben about his love of cars, how his DB9 copes with family life, and what he is doing with DadCars.

Tell us about DadCars – what’s it all about?

When you become a Dad, the consensus is you need to get a sensible, practical car and put your car dreams on hold until they grow up… I reject this notion and encourage others to do the same. Get the most exciting thing you can comfortably afford and start making memories with your children. 

The DadCars Youtube channel releases a new video review each week, featuring an exciting potential Dadcar. I see if baby and child seats fit in the car, talk about running costs and take it out for a drive with my children on board to see if it’s a suitable Dadcar. I have already featured several Aston Martins, Maseratis, Porsches and more. I’ve even managed to review a Quattroporte with all four of my children on board.

My mission is to test every exciting car for its usability with children, creating a comprehensive back catalogue of content so Dads around the world can see what cars could work for family life. When you hear the phrase “DadCar”, if a Passat or a Qashqai springs to mind, then I’ve still got work to do.

What made you start DadCars in the first place?

Can you fit child seats in the back of a DB9?… Before my first DadB9 youtube video it was a question asked every few months on Aston Martin groups and forums. I myself googled it, checked youtube, searched forums and there was no definitive answer. So when I first pulled up at home in my 2009 DB9 I genuinely didn’t know if I had purchased a chocolate teapot. After a few child seats failed to fit, I found a solution that worked really well. So I made the first DadCars video on the DadB9 to answer that question for anyone going forward. I then had a kind person reach out and offer his 3200GT to review, following that I’ve had a constant stream of kind car enthusiasts offering me their cars to film for the channel. 

Where did your interest in cars come from?

Playing with diecast models of Ferraris are my earliest memories. When I was a child, a chap on my road got an Elise S1 and I was captivated by it. Shortly after that, the original Gran Turismo game (on PlayStation) came out, me, my brother and friends were hooked. When my older brother picked up his mk2 MR2, he took me along and the drive home is a core memory for me, I couldn’t believe we had a mid engine 2 seater from Gran Turismo… if I close my eyes I can almost smell the 90s JDM interior. 

Do your children enjoy getting driven around in the cars you get to test out?

They genuinely argue about who’s getting to come along and do a DadCars filming day. I make the days as fun as possible for them, it’s basically one on one time with Dad and I’ve had some wonderful conversations with them during the long round trip days in the DadB9. Growing up in a family of 4 myself, I always really appreciated that one on one time.

I think they see the enthusiasm I have for these cars and how excited I get when they take an interest as well. I love that they will always have these DadCars videos to look back on.

How do you find your DB9 copes with family life?

Honestly with the 2,4 and 5 year old it’s a doddle, they can climb into their seats themselves and the car is so compact, tightening the harnesses is easy as everyone is within arms reach. Rear facing baby seats is a different story, it’s technically doable but not practical. The boot is bigger than people say, I am 5’11 and I can fit in the boot.

While out driving they ask me to make it loud and go fast, so this gives me the perfect excuse to leave it in 2nd gear around town and make the V12 sing. If anyone complains, I say the kids wanted me to. Children give you full justification to act like a child yourself. Then when you pull up at the shops, you park up in parent and child parking with no fear of car park dents… it’s genuinely a brilliant Dadcar and the more you use it, the more reliable it is, these cars like to be driven! 

Of all the cars you’ve driven so far, which has surprised you the most in its capability to suit Dad life?

I’ve been searching for a Dadcar that I can fit all four of my children in. So I need something with a flat rear (no transmission tunnel) seat to accommodate a 3 across multimac with the eldest on the passenger side. Having recently featured a lotus Evora on the channel, that currently sits top of the list to replace the Aston. A mid engine car with rear seats, a good level of refinement that handles and feels like a true lotus. The Evora is a special car.

What’s the main thing you look for when deciding if a car can be a good match for family use?

With young children, it comes down to what child seats fit. You’d be surprised how much this varies with 2+2s. I have to carry around a load of different style car seats to test with each car I film. 

If like me, your other half drives, then their car can be the main family wagon. Leaving things fairly open for you… the DB9 rear seats are probably the most compact that I’ve tested and I’ve taken my eldest 3 out for the day in it countless times. It frustrates me when I see driveways with two great hulking SUVs on the drive, unless that’s truly what floats your boat, it’s simply not required.

Taking practicality out of the equation, Is there a car that you’d love to own regardless of whether it would suit family life or not?

In my early 20s I made a promise to myself that I would own a V12 Lamborghini one day. However the manual models just keep rising in value, as they didnt make them in huge numbers like they do today, so that may no longer be realistic. Another car that’s always appealed to me is a Lotus Esprit. One on one time in a two seater would be very special. 

What’s next for you?

I will continue to put out a new DadCars review each and every week on the DadCars Youtube channel. This is now a long term commitment I have made to myself and I have the support of my wife and children with this. I have some very exciting classic cars penciled in to feature when the weather brightens up this year. As well as running some DadCars meets – exciting cars with a bouncy castle and activities for children. Cars, coffee and kids!

Where can people find out more about DadCars?

Head over to the DadCars Youtube channel and if you enjoy the content, subscribe! Instagram DadCars88 and Facebook DadCars. We also have a DadCars Facebook group and have Dads around the world posting pictures of their cars with child seats. I am always looking for more interesting cars to feature so please reach out, my email address is dadcars.ben@gmail.com.

Enjoyed Talking Classics With DadCars?

Take a look at the entire Talking Classics series for more interviews with other influential people.

Talking Classics With Simon Bennett

Simon Bennett has been a huge car enthusiast from a very young age. He is now the founder and CEO of Vint-tro. He also has an E-type with a very interesting story too!

We were fortunate enough to sit down and have a conversation with Simon about his business, his love of cars, and the history of his E-type.

For those who don’t know, what is Vint-tro?  

Vint-tro is a lifestyle brand for car enthusiasts.

Where does your love of cars originate from?

As a very little boy, my father was always tinkering around with his Ford Cortina MK2 1600E and I was always by his side watching him apply all that P38 body filler! In 1975 my father left home and 3 years later my mother met an incredible American guy called Charles. Charles was a US fighter pilot stationed here in Bentwaters, Suffolk. I’ll never forget the very first time he came round to visit mum and I in his 1973 purple Triumph TR6. I was absolutely mesmerised by that car. Charles was a major influence on my love of cars, he took me and mum everywhere until the day came when he had to go back to the US. He asked mum to marry him and take us both to California, she unfortunately declined and wouldn’t leave the UK. That is where my love of cars comes from.

When did you discover classic cars?

It was around 1987, I passed my driving test when I was just 17, my first car was a Cortina, but just 4 months later I started to get involved in Ford Escorts. Being an apprentice panel beater at the time I started doing up RS2000s and Mexico’s and my love of classic cars really started from there.

Your Jaguar E-type comes with an incredible story. For those who haven’t heard it, can you tell us what happened?

Sure, I built a Le Mans tribute E-type racer but unfortunately I had a terrible fire at my home and lost the car in the fire. Then in August 2015 I was at Helmingham Hall sports and classic festival and this guy came up to me and said you’re the chap who had the fire and lost your E type (it was in the local press), I said yes that was me. He said “are you going to build another one?” I replied of course when I could find the right car.

This guy then said he knows a chap in Surrey who has a 1961 Series 1 flat floor for sale as a restoration project. The car was believed to be a very early hand-built car, one of the first 200 E types, and it was left under a tree for over 30-35 years. At first I didn’t believe him but I said give me his number and I’ll make contact which he kindly did.

Anyway, about two weeks later I called this guy called Edward Eggers and he confirmed he was dealing with an estate of the man who had just died and was clearing the house before putting it up for sale and the E type was sitting under a tree. I said would you mind sending me photos of the chassis plate, engine number, body tag and H frame number. He did this and the car turned out to be 860123, a genuine factory-built RHD E type.

After I explored the numbers, I then got confirmation from Jaguar Heritage that this was a full matching number car and a certificate was issued. As I was trying to get a deal over the line I found out I was not the only person Edward Eggers was talking to, and I found myself up against a very well-known Jaguar restoration company and the money started to get a bit ridiculous.

To cut a long story short I paid £42,000 for the car and as you can see below, you could pretty much sweep it up and put it in a bucket but, to my delight and my wife’s very surprised eyes I got the car and started the restoration project.

I then started to research the car’s history and then this bought up a very interesting story. The car was never registered for the road. It was purchased by two UK Criminals called Sidney Miller & John Bellord, who immediately stripped the car and raced it as part of their race team. The full story can be heard here.

What’s the current state of your E-type? Is there any more work planned?

It’s now 85% complete, just the Interior re-trim to go. It will be completely finished by March 2023

How do you see the automotive industry changing in the future? 

I believe driverless cars are coming sooner than we think, I’m sure we’ll be ordering a google bubble (taxi) from an app within 15-20 years. This bubble will take you to your destination completely driverless and charged to your google account. I believe it will be a major part of our transport infrastructure in the future. This will also have a major impact on insurers as I have already seen Volvo has said once they have a driverless vehicle they will take all the liability when this time comes. Interesting times for sure. 

Do you think there is a place for classic cars in your predicted future?

Yes, absolutely! Classic cars are heritage, but heritage is not just cars but houses, fashion, trains, and planes where these are all a form of creative engineering and design. Our education for the future has to be taught by understanding and learning from the past, and although I recognise that classic cars are not considered environmentally friendly, it’s important to understand history, which will always be studied and enjoyed by millions of people worldwide and classic cars are no exception to this.

Vint-tro has built a large community of car enthusiasts. Why did you feel this was important to do?

It’s very important because our community is at the heart of our business strategy. Without our community, we will not be able to support them, our business partners and enjoy the things we want to do in the future.

What’s next for Vint-tro?

To continue to build the brand and keep focused on our business strategy. We have just one more service addition to add to our already service lines, this new project is underway and we’re hoping for release in May 2023. This development is a major integral part of our insurance scheme, Vint-tro Cover. 

How can people find out more about Vint-tro and your E-type?

Please see our website www.vint-tro.com  We are also on all the socials. Instagram – @vint_tro Twitter – @Vint_tro Facebook – Vint-tro Community and LinkedIn

Enjoyed Talking Classics With Simon Bennett?

Take a look at the entire Talking Classics series for more interviews with other influential people.