Latest news with #ShiftingMetal
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Beloved car garage with 100k YouTube subscribers forced to CLOSE after nearly 6 years as owner blames ‘rising costs'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BELOVED car garage with hundreds of thousands of fans has been forced to close its doors. The garage is shutting down after nearly six years, after its famous owner battled with 'rising costs'. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 An iconic garage is sadly closing its doors after six years Credit: facebook/BerrowMotors 3 Joe Betty runs the popular Shifting Motors YouTube channel Credit: instagram/shifting_metal Joe Betty first set up his famous garage Berrow Motors in 2020, in the sleepy town of Burnham-on-Sea. During that time, he slowly built up his customer base and started posting videos about motors online - quickly racking up millions of views. His YouTube channel Shifting Metal takes viewers behind the scenes of his high-flying lifestyle, as he buys and trades luxury vehicles including Porsches, BMWs and Jaguars. However, after becoming one of the most famous motor influencers in Britain, Joe has been forced to close the garage which helped launch his career. The petrolhead and influencer says that rising costs are to blame for the sudden closure of Berrow Motors. He said: 'We've had nearly six fantastic years here. 'We've won awards, gained over 100,000 YouTube subscribers and raised over £30,000 for local causes — but have decided now is the time to move on.' 'The cost of running a business is constantly rising and has certainly played a part in my decision, but I also wish to focus more time on fundraising and other business ventures.' He added: 'I want to thank all of our wonderful customers for their business over the last few years and of course the team members who made Berrow Motors what it was. 'I really hope another motor trader takes over the site and makes a success of it – you couldn't ask for better landlords than the Welland family.' Rolls-Royce garage find Fans flooded the comments section on Shifting Metal's social media, as Joe broke the news. One wrote: 'sorry to hear that the business is closing down. I wish you and your family all the very best for the future' Others said they would miss Joe's hilarious challenges that he would set himself on YouTube. In one video, he flipped a coin to set the price of a luxury land rover and, in another, he bought and sold a Mercedes C63 for an eyewatering £35,000. After letting go of the garage, Joe says that he is going to be focusing on producing even more 'car-centric' content online. The news comes as even major car brands struggle to stay afloat. Nissan has been forced to accelerate the closure of two of its factories in Mexico, as it slashes its number of global factories from 17 to 10. The crisis-hit brand has been battling rising debt, which it is hoping to remedy through its Re:Nissan plan. The UK government even threw the manufacturer a lifeline, by allowing UK Export Finance to underwrite a £1 billion loan for Nissan. It is hoped that the move will keep the Sunderland factory - Nissan's only site in the UK - open.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Sun
Beloved car garage with 100k YouTube subscribers forced to CLOSE after nearly 6 years as owner blames ‘rising costs'
A BELOVED car garage with hundreds of thousands of fans has been forced to close its doors. The garage is shutting down after nearly six years, after its famous owner battled with 'rising costs'. 3 3 Joe Betty first set up his famous garage Berrow Motors in 2020, in the sleepy town of Burnham-on-Sea. During that time, he slowly built up his customer base and started posting videos about motors online - quickly racking up millions of views. His YouTube channel Shifting Metal takes viewers behind the scenes of his high-flying lifestyle, as he buys and trades luxury vehicles including Porsches, BMWs and Jaguars. However, after becoming one of the most famous motor influencers in Britain, Joe has been forced to close the garage which helped launch his career. The petrolhead and influencer says that rising costs are to blame for the sudden closure of Berrow Motors. He said: 'We've had nearly six fantastic years here. 'We've won awards, gained over 100,000 YouTube subscribers and raised over £30,000 for local causes — but have decided now is the time to move on.' 'The cost of running a business is constantly rising and has certainly played a part in my decision, but I also wish to focus more time on fundraising and other business ventures.' He added: 'I want to thank all of our wonderful customers for their business over the last few years and of course the team members who made Berrow Motors what it was. 'I really hope another motor trader takes over the site and makes a success of it – you couldn't ask for better landlords than the Welland family.' Rolls-Royce garage find Fans flooded the comments section on Shifting Metal's social media, as Joe broke the news. One wrote: 'sorry to hear that the business is closing down. I wish you and your family all the very best for the future' Others said they would miss Joe's hilarious challenges that he would set himself on YouTube. In one video, he flipped a coin to set the price of a luxury land rover and, in another, he bought and sold a Mercedes C63 for an eyewatering £35,000. After letting go of the garage, Joe says that he is going to be focusing on producing even more 'car-centric' content online. The news comes as even major car brands struggle to stay afloat. Nissan has been forced to accelerate the closure of two of its factories in Mexico, as it slashes its number of global factories from 17 to 10. The crisis-hit brand has been battling rising debt, which it is hoping to remedy through its Re:Nissan plan. The UK government even threw the manufacturer a lifeline, by allowing UK Export Finance to underwrite a £1 billion loan for Nissan. It is hoped that the move will keep the Sunderland factory - Nissan's only site in the UK - open. 3
The Sun
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
YouTube star has £30k Porsche stolen by crooks who used it as battering ram in brazen petrol station raid
A LUXURY Porsche was used as a battering ram by crooks in a brazen raid on a petrol station - just minutes after it was stolen from an MOT centre. The SUV, which belongs to used car dealer Joe Betty - known for his YouTube channel Shifting Metal - was stolen from a site in Highbridge, Somerset, and then used in a ram raid on a nearby Asda. 3 3 3 According to Car Dealer Mag, a group of men broke into the garage and took off with the Cayenne, as well as a Ford S-Max. Both cars were then driven to an Asda petrol station, where they were used as battering rams in an attempt to get inside. The Porsche, a high-end, V8 S Tiptronic S model from 2015 that's typically priced between £15,000 to £30,000, was purchased by Betty just days before the incident. He'd even lined up a buyer for it and had taken a deposit when he'd sent it for an MOT test. He said: 'I bought it from an auction on the Monday, we drove it back on the same day and incredibly it was one of those rare occasions in the motor trade where we'd taken a deposit and it was ready to go out when it was stolen on the Thursday night. 'We phoned the customer that morning, just letting them know. 'They are still trying to buy another car from us but it's finding the right car for them now, because it was a very nice spec model and had all the right things they wanted. 'I haven't seen it as it's currently at a recovery yard and I'm waiting to see what happens with the MOT centre and insurance. 'From what I could see [at the petrol station], it looked like it had lost engine oil. "Some rumours I'd heard from a couple of different places was that it was left running. Watch moment car thief boy, 9, sneaks into uninsured £135k PORSCHE to go on daring joyride - but it doesn't end well 'If that's the case then the engine will be no good anymore. 'The back end of the car I haven't seen unfortunately, because the last time I saw it had an Asda Express parked on it but I can't imagine it's great. 'I think it would probably be salvageable if it weren't for the engine. It would certainly be thousands of pounds of work, I would guess.' The damage occurred when the crooks reversed the Porsche into the main entrance of the store, before seemingly getting it stuck on a metal pillar. Meanwhile, the Ford was smashed into a smaller unit outside the store. The group later escaped the scene in a getaway vehicle which was on false plates. According to Betty, police took DNA evidence at the scene, but he doubts the gang will be found. He added: 'I think in the motor trade you kind of just get used to these weird and wonderful problems that you have. 'I'm quite nonchalant about it at the moment but I imagine, as it drags on and is just trickling in the background, it get more upsetting. 'It has made us think about our own security, I guess. 'We've had someone try to steal a car from the forecourt before. They smashed the window of a Fiesta ST, but set the alarm off and ran away but that's about it, really. 'We've been quite lucky up until now, in a sense but this has definitely tipped the scale. 'The police are working on it, but other than perhaps getting some DNA, which they've taken swabs from the scene, I don't think they've got much to go on, because everyone was wearing masks and the getaway car was on cloned plates. 'The footage that we had of them cutting into the MOT centre, they were so nonchalant about it that I think this is not their first rodeo. 'They've done it before and I don't think there's much hope of conviction coming to be honest.' A spokesperson for Somerset and Avon Police said: ''At 3.44am on Friday 23 May we received a report of a group of men trying to force entry to a building off the A371 in Locking. 'Officers arrived five minutes later and found the group had left the area after damaging the building. 'Officers carried out a search of the area, supported by a specialist dog team, but no one was located. 'A black Porsche Cayenne and a grey Ford S-Max were found damaged at the scene. Both vehicles are believed to have been stolen during a burglary in Commerce Way, Highbridge earlier in the night. 'The group of men are believed to have left the area in a blue Audi Q5. They were wearing black clothing and balaclavas. 'Anyone with information is asked to call 101, using the reference number 5225143650.'
The Irish Sun
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
YouTube star has £30k Porsche stolen by crooks who used it as battering ram in brazen petrol station raid
A LUXURY Porsche was used as a battering ram by crooks in a brazen raid on a petrol station - just minutes after it was stolen from an MOT centre. The SUV, which belongs to used car dealer Joe Betty - known for his YouTube channel 3 YouTube star Joe Betty, known for his channel Shifting Metal, had his Porsche Cayenne stolen from an MOT centre Credit: YouTube 3 The luxury SUV was used by crooks as a battering ram in a raid on a petrol station Credit: YouTube 3 A gang of men were filmed on CCTV breaking into a garage and taking off with the Cayenne Credit: YouTube According to Both cars were then driven to an Asda petrol station, where they were used as battering rams in an attempt to get inside. The Porsche, a high-end, V8 S Tiptronic S model from 2015 that's typically priced between £15,000 to £30,000, was purchased by Betty just days before the incident. He'd even lined up a buyer for it and had taken a deposit when he'd sent it for an MOT test. Read more Motors News He said: 'I bought it from an auction on the Monday, we drove it back on the same day and incredibly it was one of those rare occasions in the motor trade where we'd taken a deposit and it was ready to go out when it was stolen on the Thursday night. 'We phoned the customer that morning, just letting them know. 'They are still trying to buy another car from us but it's finding the right car for them now, because it was a very nice spec model and had all the right things they wanted. 'I haven't seen it as it's currently at a recovery yard and I'm waiting to see what happens with the MOT centre and insurance. Most read in Motors 'From what I could see [at the petrol station], it looked like it had lost engine oil. "Some rumours I'd heard from a couple of different places was that it was left running. Watch moment car thief boy, 9, sneaks into uninsured £135k PORSCHE to go on daring joyride - but it doesn't end well 'If that's the case then the engine will be no good anymore. 'The back end of the car I haven't seen unfortunately, because the last time I saw it had an Asda Express parked on it but I can't imagine it's great. 'I think it would probably be salvageable if it weren't for the engine. It would certainly be thousands of pounds of work, I would guess.' The damage occurred when the crooks reversed the Porsche into the main entrance of the store, before seemingly getting it stuck on a metal pillar. Meanwhile, the Ford was smashed into a smaller unit outside the store. The group later escaped the scene in a getaway vehicle which was on false plates. According to Betty, police took DNA evidence at the scene, but he doubts the gang will be found. He added: 'I think in the motor trade you kind of just get used to these weird and wonderful problems that you have. 'I'm quite nonchalant about it at the moment but I imagine, as it drags on and is just trickling in the background, it get more upsetting. 'It has made us think about our own security, I guess. 'We've had someone try to steal a car from the forecourt before. They smashed the window of a Fiesta ST, but set the alarm off and ran away but that's about it, really. 'We've been quite lucky up until now, in a sense but this has definitely tipped the scale. 'The police are working on it, but other than perhaps getting some DNA, which they've taken swabs from the scene, I don't think they've got much to go on, because everyone was wearing masks and the getaway car was on cloned plates. 'The footage that we had of them cutting into the MOT centre, they were so nonchalant about it that I think this is not their first rodeo. 'They've done it before and I don't think there's much hope of conviction coming to be honest.' A spokesperson for Somerset and Avon Police said: ''At 3.44am on Friday 23 May we received a report of a group of men trying to force entry to a building off the A371 in Locking. 'Officers arrived five minutes later and found the group had left the area after damaging the building. 'Officers carried out a search of the area, supported by a specialist dog team, but no one was located. 'A black Porsche Cayenne and a grey Ford S-Max were found damaged at the scene. Both vehicles are believed to have been stolen during a burglary in Commerce Way, Highbridge earlier in the night. 'The group of men are believed to have left the area in a blue Audi Q5. They were wearing black clothing and balaclavas. 'Our investigation to identify them is ongoing. 'Anyone with information is asked to call 101, using the reference number 5225143650.'
Scottish Sun
29-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
YouTube star has £30k Porsche stolen by crooks who used it as battering ram in brazen petrol station raid
"It would certainly be thousands of pounds of work, I would guess" RAM RAID YouTube star has £30k Porsche stolen by crooks who used it as battering ram in brazen petrol station raid Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A LUXURY Porsche was used as a battering ram by crooks in a brazen raid on a petrol station - just minutes after it was stolen from an MOT centre. The SUV, which belongs to used car dealer Joe Betty - known for his YouTube channel Shifting Metal - was stolen from a site in Highbridge, Somerset, and then used in a ram raid on a nearby Asda. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 YouTube star Joe Betty, known for his channel Shifting Metal, had his Porsche Cayenne stolen from an MOT centre Credit: YouTube 3 The luxury SUV was used by crooks as a battering ram in a raid on a petrol station Credit: YouTube 3 A gang of men were filmed on CCTV breaking into a garage and taking off with the Cayenne Credit: YouTube According to Car Dealer Mag, a group of men broke into the garage and took off with the Cayenne, as well as a Ford S-Max. Both cars were then driven to an Asda petrol station, where they were used as battering rams in an attempt to get inside. The Porsche, a high-end, V8 S Tiptronic S model from 2015 that's typically priced between £15,000 to £30,000, was purchased by Betty just days before the incident. He'd even lined up a buyer for it and had taken a deposit when he'd sent it for an MOT test. He said: 'I bought it from an auction on the Monday, we drove it back on the same day and incredibly it was one of those rare occasions in the motor trade where we'd taken a deposit and it was ready to go out when it was stolen on the Thursday night. 'We phoned the customer that morning, just letting them know. 'They are still trying to buy another car from us but it's finding the right car for them now, because it was a very nice spec model and had all the right things they wanted. 'I haven't seen it as it's currently at a recovery yard and I'm waiting to see what happens with the MOT centre and insurance. 'From what I could see [at the petrol station], it looked like it had lost engine oil. "Some rumours I'd heard from a couple of different places was that it was left running. Watch moment car thief boy, 9, sneaks into uninsured £135k PORSCHE to go on daring joyride - but it doesn't end well 'If that's the case then the engine will be no good anymore. 'The back end of the car I haven't seen unfortunately, because the last time I saw it had an Asda Express parked on it but I can't imagine it's great. 'I think it would probably be salvageable if it weren't for the engine. It would certainly be thousands of pounds of work, I would guess.' The damage occurred when the crooks reversed the Porsche into the main entrance of the store, before seemingly getting it stuck on a metal pillar. Meanwhile, the Ford was smashed into a smaller unit outside the store. The group later escaped the scene in a getaway vehicle which was on false plates. According to Betty, police took DNA evidence at the scene, but he doubts the gang will be found. He added: 'I think in the motor trade you kind of just get used to these weird and wonderful problems that you have. 'I'm quite nonchalant about it at the moment but I imagine, as it drags on and is just trickling in the background, it get more upsetting. 'It has made us think about our own security, I guess. 'We've had someone try to steal a car from the forecourt before. They smashed the window of a Fiesta ST, but set the alarm off and ran away but that's about it, really. 'We've been quite lucky up until now, in a sense but this has definitely tipped the scale. 'The police are working on it, but other than perhaps getting some DNA, which they've taken swabs from the scene, I don't think they've got much to go on, because everyone was wearing masks and the getaway car was on cloned plates. 'The footage that we had of them cutting into the MOT centre, they were so nonchalant about it that I think this is not their first rodeo. 'They've done it before and I don't think there's much hope of conviction coming to be honest.' A spokesperson for Somerset and Avon Police said: ''At 3.44am on Friday 23 May we received a report of a group of men trying to force entry to a building off the A371 in Locking. 'Officers arrived five minutes later and found the group had left the area after damaging the building. 'Officers carried out a search of the area, supported by a specialist dog team, but no one was located. 'A black Porsche Cayenne and a grey Ford S-Max were found damaged at the scene. Both vehicles are believed to have been stolen during a burglary in Commerce Way, Highbridge earlier in the night. 'The group of men are believed to have left the area in a blue Audi Q5. They were wearing black clothing and balaclavas. 'Our investigation to identify them is ongoing. 'Anyone with information is asked to call 101, using the reference number 5225143650.'
