runs as required Posted February 9, 2017 Share Posted February 9, 2017 In Malta in the mid sixties I sometimes rode on an ex 1930s LT AEC Q to Valletta to visit Government from the office. There were many fascinating vehicles, family owned and operated (in those days with boy conductors who would descend to fold and re-erect pushchairs for young mothers). All the Gov had to do was to station policeman with whistles as 'dispatchers' at the termini and employ teenagers as "inspectors" to check the familiies were issuing tickets (for the pooled takings to be shared out between the owners - with of course a slice to the Government. Nowadays, instead of collecting their steady revenue stream, goodness knows how much it costs the Government to pay the Spanish operator who came in after the Germans.threw in the towel. Curiously Arriva re-deployed their Benz Bendy-buses threading through Malta's labrynthine Arab village cores that Boris had slung off London's streets - moreover they employed a steady stream of Arriva drivers from Leicester on 6 month 'busmens' holidays' to drive them ! dh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted February 9, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 9, 2017 In Malta in the mid sixties I sometimes rode on an ex 1930s LT AEC Q to Valletta to visit Government from the office. There were many fascinating vehicles, family owned and operated (in those days with boy conductors who would descend to fold and re-erect pushchairs for young mothers). All the Gov had to do was to station policeman with whistles as 'dispatchers' at the termini and employ teenagers as "inspectors" to check the familiies were issuing tickets (for the pooled takings to be shared out between the owners - with of course a slice to the Government. Nowadays, instead of collecting their steady revenue stream, goodness knows how much it costs the Government to pay the Spanish operator who came in after the Germans.threw in the towel. Curiously Arriva re-deployed their Benz Bendy-buses threading through Malta's labrynthine Arab village cores that Boris had slung off London's streets - moreover they employed a steady stream of Arriva drivers from Leicester on 6 month 'busmens' holidays' to drive them ! dh And the bendy buses still carried on with their habit of self immolation. Which reminded me of when I visited Malta in the early 80's an earlier generation of ex London buses had just been placed in service, the AEC Swifts which seemed to have been quite successful, more successful than they were in London. There only problem was at the time there were a lot more tight corners in the Maltese villages and I watched one having to shunt too and fro to get around a corner. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Sidecar Racer Posted February 9, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 9, 2017 I think that that shot actually confirms it is Karlsruhe. The basic layout is the same. The roofs have changed colour and the garden has been replaced with paving, but the key features - the central turret with two small flanking ones, at the end of the main building, at the back and the two wings with further turrets at each end - are there. In the top right-hand corner, at the end of the ribbon of text, there is what looks like a different, perhaps more old-fashioned, spelling of Karlsruhe, spelt with a C. Phil , my photo was to confirm that is not the place in the advert . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold phil_sutters Posted February 9, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 9, 2017 Phil , my photo was to confirm that is not the place in the advert . I have noted my error at jumping into a thread at the wrong place above, at #4318, and have promised to try not to in future - probably! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurenceb Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 Is Arriva German for 'we spoil everything!' When Arriva was launched it was claimed that it meant nothing rude in 16 languages, what it means in no 17 is not recorded! And the bendy buses still carried on with their habit of self immolation. Which reminded me of when I visited Malta in the early 80's an earlier generation of ex London buses had just been placed in service, the AEC Swifts which seemed to have been quite successful, more successful than they were in London. There only problem was at the time there were a lot more tight corners in the Maltese villages and I watched one having to shunt too and fro to get around a corner. Like there predecessors it is debatable how much of the bus shiped out was leftas they were normally rebuilt with a mid engine and manual gearbox and a rebuilt body Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 (edited) P6 Estate? Wow, didn't know there was such a thing. I always liked the Triumph 2500 estates. A fine looking example here of a 3500S Estoura in 'Tobacco Leaf' baby poo brown, note the 'H.R.Owen' dealer sticker in the rear window and on the number plate, most if not all of them were sold through this dealership... Edited February 10, 2017 by Rugd1022 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted February 10, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 10, 2017 When Arriva was launched it was claimed that it meant nothing rude in 16 languages, what it means in no 17 is not recorded! Like there predecessors it is debatable how much of the bus shiped out was leftas they were normally rebuilt with a mid engine and manual gearbox and a rebuilt body Some went to the Maltese education department and remained as built right down to the dual passenger doors. I remember one when I visited Malta in 2003 converted to mid underfloor engine with raised floor but still carrying its London fleet number transfer in the drivers cab (IIRC SMS 515). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolseley Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 A fine looking example here of a 3500S Estoura in 'Tobacco Leaf' baby poo brown, note the 'H.R.Owen' dealer sticker in the rear window and on the number plate, most if not all of them were sold through this dealership... QA 2713735652_86919d39ba_o.jpg I remember seeing one of these in Edinburgh in 1977 or 1978, but I'm pretty certain the roofline at the rear sloped downwards a bit more and the rear window wasn't so high. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr2 Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 A fine looking example here of a 3500S Estoura in 'Tobacco Leaf' baby poo brown, note the 'H.R.Owen' dealer sticker in the rear window and on the number plate, most if not all of them were sold through this dealership... QA 2713735652_86919d39ba_o.jpg Nice looking car, although the back end looks more than a little inspired by a Morris 1300 estate! Keith 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 I remember seeing one of these in Edinburgh in 1977 or 1978, but I'm pretty certain the roofline at the rear sloped downwards a bit more and the rear window wasn't so high. They were all modified by hand at Panelcraft so there are some differences in the way the conversions were done, some had internal rear hinges and some had external ones, most had vinyl covered roofs but the odd one or two were left uncovered... This was H.R.Owen's demonstrator... Grand Prix Models do a nice miniature... 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted February 10, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 10, 2017 Excellent, never seen one, or even was aware of them. Herald estate behind the brown one Rudg posted. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted February 10, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 10, 2017 I'd seen pictures of them but didn't realise there was this many. I believe there was only one SD1 estate which was apparently used by Michael Edwards On the P6 was the roof panel changed or extended? 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 I'd seen pictures of them but didn't realise there was this many. I believe there was only one SD1 estate which was apparently used by Michael Edwards On the P6 was the roof panel changed or extended? The SD1 Estate is at Gaydon Russ, and very handsome it is too, it's a pity the idea never gained any ground. A bit more info on the P6 Estouras.... the very first conversion was done by Panelcraft in the second half of 1967 when they purchased one of the Rover press fleet demonstrators directly from the factory. 'KXC 142D' was a LHD 2000TC but by the time Panelcraft had finished with it, it had become a RHD estate car. The roof panel was all new from front to back and made from aluminium, and the new tailgate was fabricated using the bottom half of the existing bootlid. The rear bulkhead part of the base unit had to be modified and a new 15gal fuel tank was fitted in the floor. In 1968 the Rover boffins gave this prototype the once over and gave Panelcraft the go ahead to do more conversions and even honoured the warranty on any donor car. In April '69 Panelcraft started converting customer's own cars and one of these (a 'Three Thousand Five' V8) appeared on the Crayford stand at the Earls Court motor show in October that year. Panelcraft and Crayford had entered an agreement to market the finished cars but soon fell out when Crayford started putting their own badges on the cars. With this agreement now in tatters Panelcraft started selling the next lot of conversions through Hurst Park Automobiles, a Surrey based Rover dealership (still a going concern now, dealing in classic Rovers and Jags), they charged £680 plus purchase tax which at the time was more than the cost of a brand new Mini 850! Along with the conversion job they offered some optional extras which the standard factory built saloons didn't have, namely a Coenan sliding sunroof, similar to the Webasto type, a purpose built interior chromed roof rack and electric windows. Alongside the Hurst Park franchise Panelcraft sold the cars through H.R.Owen who also offered customers the same optional extras. It's thought that the H.R.Owen cars also had Triplex heated rear windscreens and rear wash / wipers fitted. The highest body number found so far on a surviving car is 157 which accounts for the 160 total build estimate, but this doesn't take into account all of those sold through Crayfords. One car was definitely fitted with a higher roofline than the rest, a 3500 registered '2299 KM' and the prototype car survives although it lost it's original reg' number and now carries 'JCY 907D'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 They were all modified by hand at Panelcraft so there are some differences in the way the conversions were done, some had internal rear hinges and some had external ones, most had vinyl covered roofs but the odd one or two were left uncovered... Rover P6B Estoura _3500_station-side3.jpg ROVER P6B ESTOURA 1972_Rover_P6_Estate_Wagon_For_Sale_resize.jpg ROVER P6B Estoura Estate #2.jpg This was H.R.Owen's demonstrator... ROVER P6B Estoura Estate #3.jpg ROVER P6B Estoura Estate #4.jpg ROVER P6B Estoura Estate #5.jpg Grand Prix Models do a nice miniature... ROVER P6B Estoura GP Modles.jpg The square-ish rear hatch arrangement with the finned tail-lights reminds me of something that Hillman or Singer might themselves have designed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Sidecar Racer Posted February 10, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 10, 2017 I have noted my error at jumping into a thread at the wrong place above, at #4318, and have promised to try not to in future - probably! Much like me , ought to have read to the end before responding . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted February 10, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 10, 2017 I think I have posted this before, but it will cheer Ivan up! 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted February 10, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 10, 2017 Bloody hell a pair of DSs mating! Is this how the CX was conceived? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 I wonder how many of those were built? There was (may be still is) one at a garage between Troyes and Chatillon-sur-Seine on the old N71. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 There were a few of these DS Transporters, apparently. Something similar was done later on with the CX Breaks which were much lengthened, had an extra rear axle added, and turned into overnight newspaper delivery vans. Some madman over here decided to create his own RHD version of the CX newspaper van, God only knows why. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted February 10, 2017 Share Posted February 10, 2017 There were a few of these DS Transporters, apparently. Something similar was done later on with the CX Breaks which were much lengthened, had an extra rear axle added, and turned into overnight newspaper delivery vans. Some madman over here decided to create his own RHD version of the CX newspaper van, God only knows why. I remember the six-wheel CXs; they used to use the Tunnel in the very early days. For whatever reason, they had to use the Freight Shuttles, so there's be several in the Allocation Lanes when I'd be going in on Nights. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted February 11, 2017 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 11, 2017 There were a few of these DS Transporters, apparently. Something similar was done later on with the CX Breaks which were much lengthened, had an extra rear axle added, and turned into overnight newspaper delivery vans. Some madman over here decided to create his own RHD version of the CX newspaper van, God only knows why. The DS never had the greatest of turning circles, manouvering one of the extended ones must have been like docking a supertanker. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 I remember the six-wheel CXs; they used to use the Tunnel in the very early days. For whatever reason, they had to use the Freight Shuttles, so there's be several in the Allocation Lanes when I'd be going in on Nights. Here's the mad fella who paid to have his perfectly good CX Safari turned into the only RHD Loadrunner replica You have to wonder sometimes why people make irreversible changes like this to an already rare car, but I suppose if they're happy with it, that's all that matters. I wish him luck if he ever ends up trying to sell it, because the only person who would want one badly would have to be a Loadrunner enthusiast. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold phil_sutters Posted February 11, 2017 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 11, 2017 (edited) For no particular reason I have rounded up most of my shots of American cars - most of them photographed around here on the East Sussex coast. Edited February 11, 2017 by phil_sutters 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 For no particular reason I have rounded up most of my shots of American cars - most of them photographed around here on the East Sussex coast. 1965 CHEVROLET GMC CORVETTE CONVERTIBLE Bishopstone 23 8 2015.jpg 1969 Lincoln Continental Seaford 2 4 2014.jpg 1971 Chevrolet Corvette convertible Seaford 10 9 2015.jpg 1977 Chevrolet Corvette Denton Corner 11 07 2015.jpg Bike fest cars 03 Buick c1955 Seaford 23 8 09.jpg1957 Chevrolet BELAIR LSU 798 E Blatchington 8 4 2014 - Copy.jpg Bike fest cars 06 Mercury Montclair Seaford 24 8 09.jpg Bike fest cars 14 Seaford 23 8 09 Mustang white.jpg 1960 De Soto Adventurer E Dulwich 2views.jpg Bike fest cars 07 Seaford 24 8 09.jpg Ford Gran Torino Eastbourne 27 3 2014.jpg Ford Mustang Auto Saloon 1968 Seaford 19 3 2014.jpg Ford Pilot Hastings Pier 19 11 10.jpg SBF2011 Ford Cougar.jpg What, no Studebakers? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted February 11, 2017 Share Posted February 11, 2017 Lovely stuff Phil - is there anyway of telling externally whether the Notchback Mustangs are straight sixes or V8s...? In the '70s and '80s there used to be quite a lot of American cars round here but they all seem to have disappeared. Someone I used to work with had a yellow Boss Mustang for several years and one of the regulars at our local Sainsburys had a massive white Cadillac convertable as his daily transport, he used to park it sideways taking up four 'normal' parking spaces. One of the lads at work currently has a '71 Camaro in bright yellow with Wolfrace wheels. I've always a bit of a thing for late '60s / early '70s muscle cars but never taken the plunge, maybe one day... very partial to the old Dodge Challenger shape (as in 'Vanishing Point'). 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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