Also in my garage: Jed Potts & the Hillman Hunters

Despite the name, Jed confesses he knows little about cars: the title was the brainchild of drummer Jonny.

The initial idea stemmed from the name of tuning firm Holbay, which made modifications for Rootes engines in the 1960s and ’70s.

“We thought that was quite an interesting thing, but no one was going to know what we were talking about,” says Jonny.

“So, we picked the name Hillman Hunters – everybody’s dad remembers those.”

The Car Cave in Bonnyrigg, Scotland, provided the perfect backdrop for a live session with a twist

“It’s also fairly cool,” he adds. “Had it been the Austin Allegros or Talbot Solaras then I doubt it would have worked quite so well.”

Jonny’s Volvo is his current daily driver, but he’s owned a string of classics: “I also had a 1979 244 GLE and a 240 estate.

“They’re easy to work on and just keep going.

“My first car was a 1985 Vauxhall Nova 1.2, probably the newest car I’ve ever owned.”

Jonny’s Volvo 740 serves as the ‘tour bus’

“I’ve had a couple of Mk2 Astras, but one got pinched from outside my house,” continues Jonny. “It was Britain’s most stealable car back then.”

His love for unexceptional classics is clear when asked about his dream drive.

“I’ve never been a sports car fan or interested in going fast,” he explains.

“Instead of a Ferrari, I’d have a Morris Minor convertible with the top down – that’s my idea of proper motoring.”

The trusty Volvo serves as reliable transportation to gigs in Scotland and the north of England

The automotive theme doesn’t stop with the band’s name.

As the UK began emerging from lockdown in 2020, Jed was looking for a unique venue to record some tracks, which led him to The Car Cave in Bonnyrigg.

Owned by Jed’s cousin, Alan Potts, the company specialises in importing British classics from South Africa.

In an alternative take on home concerts, the band recorded several songs during a live session at Alan’s garage in August 2020.

Lead singer Jed (middle) and drummer Jonny (right) met at college in 2008

“It was quite distracting to be playing the drums sitting between a Ford Capri RS 3100 and an Escort RS 2000,” admits Jonny.

“We enjoy playing in unconventional venues,” adds Jed.

“We did a gig for the Dundee jazz and blues festival in a converted Chinese restaurant.

“We also played on a boat on the Firth of Forth on a wet and windy evening, and did some shows at the Shetland Blues Festival.”

Following the release of the 2022 album Swashbucklin’, the band is keen to get back on the road

The band embraced the classic car theme for its 2022 album, Swashbucklin’.

The artwork features a Hillman Hunter with the band’s logo on the grille, while the CD is a pastiche of a ’90s tax disc.

“A lot of blues albums have a Cadillac or old Chevy on the cover, but we wanted to get away from that,” says Jonny.

“We’re UK-based, and the Hillman is as British as it comes.”

Following the release of Swashbucklin’, the band is keen to get back on the road and explore new places.

“Sometimes the journeys are just as fun as the playing,” Jonny enthuses.

Images: Allan Ferguson

Enjoy more of the world’s best classic car content every month when you subscribe to C&SC – get our latest deals here

READ MORE

1948’s game changers: Morris Minor

Keeping up appearances: Ford vs Vauxhall vs Hillman vs Singer vs Humber vs Riley

Also in my garage: TV’s Fuzz Townshend

Also in my garage: modern classic cars and ancient fossils