Oldham 'Auto Lass' Jody is driven by passion to save classic cars

A female auto technician and MOT tester with a passion for saving classic cars from the scrap heap and getting them back on the road is breathing new life into a 1975 MG Midget which will be raffled to raise money for Help for Heroes.

Oldhamer Jody Bevan lifts the bonnet on what it’s really like being a woman with 26 years’ experience in the motor industry on her successful YouTube channel called ‘Auto Lass’.

She is vlogging the transformation of the iconic British sports car, who’s been nicknamed ‘MG Marshall’, while using her platform to promote women in the automotive trade and support sustainable skills as she is an ambassador for the Association of Heritage Engineers.

“Some of my followers got in touch to say they had to sell their classic cars during Covid, or they always wanted a classic car but felt it was out of their reach,” said Jody, who is 44.

“I had the idea to recommission an affordable starter classic, whilst trying to encourage people to work on their own classic cars at home so hopefully the younger generation will want to have a go.”

“From two wheels to classic cars, retro, to modern day machinery and everything in between, I want to provide an insight into my world and what that entails in the industry.

"My goal is to which is to save classic cars, recommissioning them and get them back on the road,” said Jody, who started off working on cars, plant and machinery as well as carrying out inspections on HGVs and now runs two workshops - MNJ Autocare and MNJ Classics, both in Springhead.

“Saving these cars fills me with joy.

"The simplicity of them but also the wonderful craftsmanship of the day is what I am trying to preserve, as well as the childhood memories that so many of us have of these cars.

"The nostalgia reminds us of times where life was a little more certain, we appreciated what we had, and those moments can be very grounding.

"Everyone has a memory from these eras, and it makes everyone smile and be grateful.”

The MG Midget, which was donated by one of her YouTube subscribers, will be rebuilt as a one off in a military theme and honour the late Queen Elizabeth II before being raffled (for £10 per ticket) on November 11, Remembrance Day, and the keys handed over to its new owner.

Jody added: “The work we’ll be doing is extensive, we didn’t realise the sheer extent of what the car needed until we stripped it.

"Thankfully the engine is good and had a rebuild not so long ago but all the systems will be overhauled and MG Marshall will be fabulously unique.”

Last year she revived a 1981 Morris Ital 1.7HL, affectionately nicknamed Igor, to raise money for charity – he was won by Brent Burnett who is paying his good fortune forward by donating his time to help strip back and rebuild MG Marshall.

Other skilled volunteers are Brent Barton, Jody’s partner Matthew Bevan, and Ryan Simpson whose daughter, Leah, 15, is keen on cars and dreams of racing in future.

Another vital member of the Auto Lass team is Errol Atherton, aged 82, a former RAF bomb disposal expert who worked in the early days of what is now RAF Fylingdales, the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System.

His military service is one of many personal reasons Jody has for choosing Help for Heroes as this year’s chosen charity.

“My grandad, Randolph, who served in France and Germany in the Army was a father figure to me,” she said.

“He had so many memories of his service and enjoyed talking about the good times including the BSA motorcycle he rode upfront in military convoys.

“He was a wonderful man, with a leg full of shrapnel that he loved to show people.

"I have all his military paperwork and medals that I cherish.

"His wife, my grandmother, Adeline, served in the RAF and I also have her military medals and dog tags that I’m so honoured to look after.

"My father-in-law served as an engineering officer in the Navy for many years and my partner, Matthew, served as a Gunner in the RAF Regiment and carried out many operational tours of duty around the globe.”

Jody added: “I chose Help for Heroes as this year’s charity as I wanted to show my gratitude to our veterans for their sacrifice and service.”

Raffle tickets costing £10 to can be bought via PayPal - leave a name, location, email address and contact number please.

Donations to Jody’s Help for Heroes fundraising page can be made by clicking here

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