For those interested in old cars.

[Horsetan]

Latest Practical Classics magazine has some CX content, including encouraging news about average CX values now (allegedly on the rise across the board by as much as 40%, they claim). Whilst that sounds nice in theory, I do wonder where they get these figures from? Do they take an average from auction sales statistics, or just pluck a figure out of thin air?

 

LHD cars seem to have more extortionate asking prices (many in five figures now) than RHD.

[PatB]

Latest Practical Classics magazine has some CX content, including encouraging news about average CX values now (allegedly on the rise across the board by as much as 40%, they claim). Whilst that sounds nice in theory, I do wonder where they get these figures from? Do they take an average from auction sales statistics, or just pluck a figure out of thin air?

 

LHD cars seem to have more extortionate asking prices (many in five figures now) than RHD.

I suppose LHD cars are in greater demand in non-UK markets so there's a bigger pool of potential buyers. In general, though, I've always been a bit sceptical of PC's price guides. For many cars I doubt if there's a big enough sample size to quote any meaningful average.

[BernardTPM]

A rather nice publicity shot for 'Adam Adamant Lives!' taken in 1966, I'm not sure which studio backlot it is but theres a 'Tardis' Police Box visible in the open doorway in the background (did the BBC have a separate studio away from TV Centre in Shepard's Bush back then..?)...

I reckon it might be the back of Lime Grove Studios which is where earlier episodes of Dr.Who were made.

[Horsetan]

Today's spot:

 

 

 

[Rugd1022]

Holy mother of God that is a rare beast and no mistake! Luciano Pavarotti had one for a while, it was probably the only maser he could fit in.

[Sidecar Racer]

I saw this sell while watching on You Tube .

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-44826858

 

 Also a Mk 1 Lotus Cortina with a lot of Jim Clark history went for £190.000 .

 

 Here is the full sale ,

 

[Horsetan]

Holy mother of God that is a rare beast and no mistake! Luciano Pavarotti had one for a while, it was probably the only maser he could fit in.

Just over the road from where I live. I was so surprised to see it, I almost drove into the side of a parked car....

[Rugd1022]

Just over the road from where I live. I was so surprised to see it, I almost drove into the side of a parked car....

 

Only 2,141 QP IIIs built over an eleven year period, very few survive worldwide, never mind here in dear old Blighty. Spot of the week!

[Horsetan]

From the sublime to the ridiculous at Stowe House's Festival Of The Unexceptional:

 

 

[alastairq]

Scottish three-wheeler.....? 

[Horsetan]

Scottish three-wheeler.....? 

 

This is what the disabled were given before Motability came along. 

[alastairq]

Yes, I know..remember them well...talk about discrimination?

 

Invacar?

 

[A development of the AC Petite? [Peetite?]

[Metr0Land]

This is what the disabled were given before Motability came along. 

 

The ultimate in cars designed by a committee.  Made the Trabbi look reliable

[Horsetan]

The ultimate in cars designed by a committee. 

 

Ever wondered where the electric G-swiz got its styling* cues from?

 

Edited July 14, 2018 by Horsetan

[RANGERS]

The ultimate in cars designed by a committee.  Made the Trabbi look reliable

Reliability was never a major issue with the F reg model our neighbour had, it was still giving sterling service when he substituted it for a Metro in about 1982. It did have a lot in common with the Trabant though, steel chassis, plastic body, air cooled engine and very strange handling.

 

They had much more in common with motorcycles and when viewed in that context, offered no significant disadvantages and let’s not forget, they provided mobility to those for whom there was no other option. No accessible buses or taxis, very few accessible trains, cars which were expensive and unless you could afford even more expensive modifications, of only limited use. Undoubtedly Motability was a big step forward but you can’t ignore what the options were without Invacar and its brethren.

[royaloak]

From the sublime to the ridiculous at Stowe House's Festival Of The Unexceptional:

 

DSCF3598.JPG

 

DSCF3612.JPG

That is TWUC owned by Ian Seabrook a  car magazine writer and editor, he has his own youtube channel Hubnut-

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfxlBQnvNXX6o-2KbCMszWQ

 

which is about him, his fleet of cars (not as impressive as it sounds) and his attempts to restore and maintain them, he is quite entertaining with his attempts at maintenance.

 

I am glad to see he made it to the show.

 

No connection other than a subscriber to his youtube channel.

Edited July 15, 2018 by royaloak

[peanuts]

Yes, I know..remember them well...talk about discrimination?

 

Invacar?

 

[A development of the AC Petite? [Peetite?]

used to see a row of them along the touchline at boundarypark on matchday then suddenly no more 

[Rugd1022]

Bit of good news on the Jap Mini front, I've found another Mini guru in Market Harborough who might be able to solve the gearbox problem, he also does restoration work and custom / bespoke interiors which is handy to know. Without realising it I've already seen some of his work at various Mini shows which looked spot on.

 

Onwards!

[Fat Controller]

Reliability was never a major issue with the F reg model our neighbour had, it was still giving sterling service when he substituted it for a Metro in about 1982. It did have a lot in common with the Trabant though, steel chassis, plastic body, air cooled engine and very strange handling.

 

They had much more in common with motorcycles and when viewed in that context, offered no significant disadvantages and let’s not forget, they provided mobility to those for whom there was no other option. No accessible buses or taxis, very few accessible trains, cars which were expensive and unless you could afford even more expensive modifications, of only limited use. Undoubtedly Motability was a big step forward but you can’t ignore what the options were without Invacar and its brethren.

A lot were issued to disabled former services personnel, and would be seen, loaded on Lowfit wagons, heading for sites like Marchington. Because the glass-fibre body wasn't particularly strong, hessian bags filled with straw were place beneath the ropes securing the vehicle to the wagon. There's a photo in one of David Larkin's books illustrating this.

[Owd Bob]

A quick Sunday morning visit to the Cheshire Steam Show at Daresbury near Warrington, one problem with visiting the local shows is you get the same classics vehicles turning up at the shows, but i did spot these which are new sightings for me. More of those Minilites again.

 

 

 

[The Stationmaster]

Right chaps - for delectation, amusement, enjoyment or whatever - a selection from yesterday at the Woodcote rally.  iI go mainly for the steam stuff (and no Stanley's present this year alas) but i thought of you lot so expended some pixels on various infernal combustion propelled devices.  aA couple have already been posted elsewhere.  Click the pics to enlarge them of course.

 

First a proper Citroen - rebuilt from a wreck 35 years back and still with the same owner

 

 

And now a 'that takes me back' motor although this is the Wolseley variant and the one drove (a mere 53 years and 3 months ago) was the Riley badged version which was quite a nippy machine -

 

 

Sunbeam Alpine

 

 

A 2 litre Vitesse.  I hate to think how it handles as it appears to be on its original wheels and my long since sold on (to a welder!) 1600 version ran on 4.5J steels rims with Cinturatos to suit which did the handling a power of good and made cornering less a triumph of hope over expectation even with no suspension mods -

 

 

1964 Spridget - the last time I drove one of those was a hire car in Guernsey in the long hot summer of 1976;  the day we got the Spridget was the day the rain came -

 

 

And a move to the quality (as long as the floor didn't drop out in the case of these Daimler SP250s) -

 

 

And you already knew what would be next of course

 

 

More Triumph - with the Stag

 

 

One for Nidge - alas not in the nest of nick to be honest

 

 

And finally for this lot a truly delectable 'real' sports car in the shape of a 100/6 in beautiful condition

 

Edited July 15, 2018 by The Stationmaster

[Southern Steve]

Here's a weird one, a Porshe 928 Cabriolet!

 

 

 

Apparently 2 were created by a company in the west country in the 80's. This is based on a 1985 928S2 but has had S4 bumpers and lights fitted at some stage.

 

 

Has been off the road for over 20 years and is now getting fettled to live again.

 

 

Has had the odd electrical issue, surprise, surprise, which how I got involved!

 

 

[Horsetan]

Here's a weird one, a Porshe 928 Cabriolet!

 

Apparently 2 were created by a company in the west country in the 80's. ...

They weren't the only ones to try, either.

[alastairq]

I may be wrong here, but........the Sunbeam Alpine, seems to be on genuine Minilites...compared to the Damliar SP250?

 

The fake minilites are possibly so popular for a couple of reasons? [a] they are a very British design, in appearance..and are actually quite cheap to buy [compared to others?]

 

Where, oh where, are the Wolfies and the Revolutions?

 

I like the Squire..I once had the Escort version.....quite a practical motorcar, went well enough, once warmed up, and handled better than the equivalent saloons [Prefect/Anglia/Pop]......probably due to having less rear overhang? This , to me, made the Escort/Squire better looking, and better balanced motors.

Edited July 15, 2018 by alastairq

[Owd Bob]

I like the Squires, Escorts and the van versions to, my Dad had a bog standard 100E saloon but he once drove an ex' AA van for a firm called Uni-Hygea in Wigan, the vans were left in the Yellow and Black 'AA' livery and just the side panels were painted and sign written over, i always loved the winged Aeroplane mascot thingy on the bonnet. I was Wolfrace wheel mad in the '70's but looking back now at some old custom mags and pics' i don't know what all the fuss was about and i now prefer the Minilite style wheels but only when and if they look right when fitted to the right vehicle, i'm just wondering if i should see what they would look like on my little Rascal Camper 'Sooty' van   i love the big two-tone Humber behind the Red Alpine in Stationmasters pics' it looks like it has wide rims and flared arches as well! 

Edited July 15, 2018 by Owd Bob