Horsetan Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 ...despite their world-wide Empire, the British industry never really addressed this. I suppose that’s why characters in colonial-era novels always seem to drive Fords. When you are in a position of conservative dominance, the drive to innovate isn't exactly strong. Same old, same old. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted September 1, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 1, 2018 The British motor industry did produce 'colonial' models during the 1930's, Humber, Austin, Riley and Crossley advertised colonial models as did Morris-Commercial though these were passenger cars based on light trucks. The influx of American (or more often Canadian built) cars during the war put paid to many of them and grabbed a lot of the market. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 My good wife confirms that your memory is indeed, better than mine, and the diesel Citroen would in fact have been one of its successors, a CX which she remembers as “the spaceship” or a BX (of which I have no recollection whatsoever, but I never care to dispute such statements... she is usually right... we rarely drive each other’s cars so it must have been one of hers.) My introduction to “big Citroen” came from working in North Africa in the later 1970s and early 80s, along with my life-long enthusiasm for Toyota Land Cruisers. I like big, reliable cars with no obvious bad habits, good roadholding on poor surfaces and plenty of space inside, and it always struck me as curious that despite their world-wide Empire, the British industry never really addressed this. I suppose that’s why characters in colonial-era novels always seem to drive Fords. The Empiire got what it was given and would like it . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockershovel Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 (edited) The British motor industry did produce 'colonial' models during the 1930's, Humber, Austin, Riley and Crossley advertised colonial models as did Morris-Commercial though these were passenger cars based on light trucks. The influx of American (or more often Canadian built) cars during the war put paid to many of them and grabbed a lot of the market.The LRDG made much use of Chevrolet and Ford trucks, especially Chevrolet. The European manufacturers, notably Citroen and DKW, and of course Volkswagen, made considerable progress with unibody style, mass production cars in the 1930s. I’ve driven a Traction Avant, and it’s a surprisingly advanced design for its time. The British industry didn’t embrace this until the early 1950s. The TA, VW and later Citroen 2CV were notably successful cars because their light weight and corresponding power/weight ratios, coupled with advanced transmission and suspension engineering made them so. Edited September 1, 2018 by rockershovel Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Londontram Posted September 1, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted September 1, 2018 (edited) Well the Rover and me did our good deed for the day when a young bride to be found that the man doing her wedding car booked 6 months ago let them down with only two days to go. Infact they only found out when having not heard from him rang him on Thursday to be told he had sold the car. It was a good job they rang him or the the first they would have known was when he didn't turn up on the wedding day. They put an appeal out on Facebook but not knowing them we never saw there appeal, lucky a friend of there's who I'd taught to drive saw it and knowing I had an old car passed our number on. Me and Wendy gave her an intense clean and valet which took us all Friday and we even spent a couple of hours Today before the wedding but we got her done and saved her day Edited September 1, 2018 by Londontram 23 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastairq Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 I liked the idea of the Citroen BX....plastic, plastic plastic, lovely. Although, I would rather have the base models of all these likeable motors, than the top-of-the-range soopah-doopah all-singin' all-dancin, goodie laden models. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 I liked the idea of the Citroen BX....plastic, plastic plastic, lovely. Although, I would rather have the base models of all these likeable motors.... You really must join the Autosh*te.com forum.... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
great central Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 Seen a short distance from home, while on my way from work so no picture I'm afraid. MK2 Ford Cortina, not seen one in a long time. But a convertible?? Don't think I've ever seen one of those, something of a special I presume. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted September 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 1, 2018 Seen a short distance from home, while on my way from work so no picture I'm afraid. MK2 Ford Cortina, not seen one in a long time. But a convertible?? Don't think I've ever seen one of those, something of a special I presume. The name Crayford comes to mind as specialist manufacturer of Ford cabrios. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 The name Crayford comes to mind as specialist manufacturer of Ford cabrios. They also did similar things to some Vauxhalls. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted September 1, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 1, 2018 My sister-in-law's partner had a BX GTi (?) 16v jobbie, that was quite impressive in performance, and especially cornering. Taking corners at speeds that would have many cars scraping their door handles, it was dead flat. Peed oil and suspension fluid everywhere though! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted September 1, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 1, 2018 Here's the detail, Ivan: And the Yam R1 motor in the Mini: 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 1, 2018 Share Posted September 1, 2018 Here's the detail, Ivan: 20180830_114956.jpg That is one of the two known working ones. If it's a museum exhibit, I guess it won't be driven again any time soon. Prestiges always had a higher roofline than standard CXs. I think the idea was that a chauffeur could comfortably wear a hat whilst driving. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted September 1, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 1, 2018 That is one of the two known working ones. If it's a museum exhibit, I guess it won't be driven again any time soon. Prestiges always had a higher roofline than standard CXs. I think the idea was that a chauffeur could comfortably wear a hat whilst driving. Everything in the museum that is apres-restoration or in working order is kept that way. They have no fuel if they are in the main building, but are rotated and used. These guys are car-crazy, and love their collection! 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted September 2, 2018 Share Posted September 2, 2018 Seen a short distance from home, while on my way from work so no picture I'm afraid. MK2 Ford Cortina, not seen one in a long time. But a convertible?? Don't think I've ever seen one of those, something of a special I presume. The name Crayford comes to mind as specialist manufacturer of Ford cabrios. Indeed. IIRC they also did a Corsair. Trivia point: One of their Mk2 Cortinas, in tatty condition, had a role in an episode of Only Fools and Horses. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandwich station Posted September 2, 2018 Share Posted September 2, 2018 (edited) If you google ford cortina mk2 cabriolet and then look at images, you will find several. Edit. and Corsairs. Edited September 2, 2018 by sandwich station Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted September 2, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted September 2, 2018 My sister-in-law's partner had a BX GTi (?) 16v jobbie, that was quite impressive in performance, and especially cornering. Taking corners at speeds that would have many cars scraping their door handles, it was dead flat. Peed oil and suspension fluid everywhere though! I had one new in 1990. It had the same powertrain as the Peugeot 405 Mi16, which was what I really wanted, but couldn’t quite stretch to. 160 bhp and a top speed of 130 were good numbers then. You could frighten a few boy racers! Servicing, even at main dealers, was a nightmare, with the exact torque settings on the suspension critical if it wasn’t to weep fluid. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted September 2, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 2, 2018 I had one new in 1990. It had the same powertrain as the Peugeot 405 Mi16, which was what I really wanted, but couldn’t quite stretch to. 160 bhp and a top speed of 130 were good numbers then. You could frighten a few boy racers! Servicing, even at main dealers, was a nightmare, with the exact torque settings on the suspension critical if it wasn’t to weep fluid. One thing is for sure Ian, Alex wouldn't have torqued things up with that level of care! It certainly went like stink for a car of that era, but had a thirst for suspension fluid. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Steve Posted September 2, 2018 Share Posted September 2, 2018 Often thought about getting a 16Valve Mi16 engine for my workhouse and creating a 405 Mi16 estate! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted September 2, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 2, 2018 Indeed. IIRC they also did a Corsair. Trivia point: One of their Mk2 Cortinas, in tatty condition, had a role in an episode of Only Fools and Horses. They also done a few (very few like single figure) Mk. I Capri's. Not an easy conversion due to the rear wing/quarter panels. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Steve Posted September 2, 2018 Share Posted September 2, 2018 They also done a few (very few like single figure) Mk. I Capri's. Not an easy conversion due to the rear wing/quarter panels. They also did some BMC 1100/1300's and Allegro's! And of course the famous Heinz 57 Wolseley Hornet convertibles. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastairq Posted September 2, 2018 Share Posted September 2, 2018 Excellent use of a couple of 'useless' bits of engineering? The above has been mentioned before..the image cropped up whilst I was looking up something else entirely. Clever left-field thinking? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastairq Posted September 2, 2018 Share Posted September 2, 2018 Hmmmm! I wonder if Brian Waite enterprises is still going, in some form or another? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted September 2, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 2, 2018 More from the museum. Fiat. Nice. Another to restore. Not Nice! 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted September 2, 2018 Share Posted September 2, 2018 A 40 year old de tomaso pantera in Blaenau Ffestiniog last week. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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