Petrolblog
  • Articles
    • All
    • 10 of the best
    • 70s cars
    • 80s cars
    • 90s cars
    • 00s cars
    • French Tat
    • New cars
    • Newsish
    • Reviews
    • Shatchbacks
    • Shednesday
    • The Barn
    • Whatever happened to?
  • Manufacturers
    • Alfa Romeo
    • Audi
    • BMW
    • Citroën
    • Dacia
    • Daewoo
    • Daihatsu
    • Fiat
    • Ford
    • Honda
    • Hyundai
    • Kia
    • Lancia
    • Land Rover
    • Matra
    • Mazda
    • Mercedes-Benz
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
    • Opel
    • Peugeot
    • Proton
    • Renault
    • Saab
    • Seat
    • Skoda
    • Subaru
    • Suzuki
    • Talbot
    • Toyota
    • Vauxhall
    • Volkswagen
    • Volvo
  • Videos
  • Garage
  • Stream
  • Shop
Join Club Petrolblog

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

Gavin is a freelance motoring writer whose words have appeared in a variety of serious automotive titles – the kind that pay actual money. He’s also the editor of Classic.Retro.Modern. magazine and has been chief waffler at this here blog since 2010.

When he’s not writing about cars, he’s usually browsing eBay for more of them – ideally from the 1980s or ’90s, preferably with velour trim, and almost certainly described as “an easy project.” He believes fun, character and a decent heater matter more than horsepower, and that some cars are so uncool they wrap back around to genius.

Approach with caution: may start talking about the Renault Safrane or Peugeot 406 Coupé without warning.

Articles

Petrolblog articles by Gavin Braithwaite-Smith

Has Top Gear wrecked a Matra Bagheera?

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Jun 12, 2019

Should I rescue a Peugeot 406 Coupe?

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Jun 08, 2019

The FFB Classic 570 is bonkers, brilliant and very beige

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Jun 06, 2019

Man, I want a Renault Twingo plushie

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Jun 05, 2019

PETROLBLOG 2019: New Year, Same Old Tat

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Jan 03, 2019

Whatever happened to the Volkswagen K70?

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Dec 21, 2018

Click and Collect is a Christmas gift for drivers

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Dec 14, 2018

Meet the only living Fiat Tempra in New York

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Dec 13, 2018

Black bumpers and steelies: we want proper base models

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Dec 05, 2018

It's time to appreciate the Mk3 Vauxhall Astra

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Dec 03, 2018

Blimey, Mazda has built a desirable Shatchback

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Nov 30, 2018

The BMW Z1 Coupe was a fantastic shooting brake concept

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Nov 28, 2018

Regrets: how I blew my chance to own a Scirocco Storm

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Nov 23, 2018

The new Suzuki Jimny is a brilliant 'restomod'

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Sep 24, 2018

I can’t stop looking at signs directing me to the airport

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Sep 20, 2018

The return of the Toyota Corolla is proof that the world isn't broken

Gavin Braithwaite-Smith Sep 07, 2018
  • ❮
  • 1
  • …
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • …
  • 67
  • ❯

The world's least influential car blog since 2010

© 2026 Petrolblog. All rights reserved.

  • About
  • Authors
  • Advertising & Sponsorship
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram