For those interested in old cars.

[The Stationmaster]

Great stuff Nidge.  The interesting bit to me is really how much more affordable cars like these were back - in 1971 I was promoted, job in London so with London Allowance my basic salary was just over £1,000 p.a. - so in effect a year's money (before tax) could have bought me several desirable but expensive to run motors instead of my third-hand Triumph Herald convertible (which was succeeded by a Vitesse).  Roll forward a few years and cars the like of those you list were in the 2-3 years' salary league if not already topping that and some have of course gone on to be many times a year's money (even before I went onto a pension).

 

Oddly at the mass produced end of the scale things have stayed relatively static with many 'average' (but pretty good in themselves) motors available at well under an average year's earnings for a good chunk of the population and in fact my most recent new car, allowing for the trade-in and a very good reduction by the garage, cost me well under a year's pension.  Odd old world isn't it.

 

PS Passed a rather nice AC Cobra yesterday - sounded like it had the big V8.

[great central]

 

PS Passed a rather nice AC Cobra yesterday - sounded like it had the big V8.

 

One of our neighbours has one, makes the windows rattle and sets off car alarms when he goes past in it, and that's just idling as we live on an unmade road!

[Rugd1022]

I found an old car mag in my dentists waiting room in London. It reviewed the “Dino” - new price 2,250 quid.

 

“Villain” was a very cool movie. IIRC made by EMI at the height of it’s powers?

 

Best, Pete.

 

'Villain', yes Pete, a very good period piece and often overlooked compared to 'Get Carter' which was shot at the same time - both were filmed in the Summer of 1970 and both were released in 1971. The cars used in Villain would happily sit somewhere in this thread, the Rover P5B Coupe used by Richard Burton and his chums being a prime choice, while T.P. McKenna's character had a Series 1 XJ6 (in lilac!). Throw in the usual Police S-Types and Rover P6s, a Mk1 Escort driven by Colin Welland, a Mk1 Capri driven by Ian McShane, a Mk1 Triumph 2000 driven by Joss Ackland and a Ford Zephyr MkIV used (and abused) as a getaway car and you have nice mix period of period motors, some of them almost brand new at the time. Even a Mk2 Cooper S with full Wood & Pickett 'poshed up' conversion gets a look in at the start of the film, which I've recently found out still exists.

Edited September 28, 2014 by Rugd1022

[Fat Controller]

Great stuff Nidge.  The interesting bit to me is really how much more affordable cars like these were back - in 1971 I was promoted, job in London so with London Allowance my basic salary was just over £1,000 p.a. - so in effect a year's money (before tax) could have bought me several desirable but expensive to run motors instead of my third-hand Triumph Herald convertible (which was succeeded by a Vitesse).  Roll forward a few years and cars the like of those you list were in the 2-3 years' salary league if not already topping that and some have of course gone on to be many times a year's money (even before I went onto a pension).

 

Oddly at the mass produced end of the scale things have stayed relatively static with many 'average' (but pretty good in themselves) motors available at well under an average year's earnings for a good chunk of the population and in fact my most recent new car, allowing for the trade-in and a very good reduction by the garage, cost me well under a year's pension.  Odd old world isn't it.

 

PS Passed a rather nice AC Cobra yesterday - sounded like it had the big V8.

Within a couple of years of Nigel's list, some of these cars might well have been even cheaper, due to the 1973 Arab- Israeli war, and consequent fuel price rises. A fellow student picked up several Jaguars and Rovers for a hundred pounds or less, and just ran them into the ground. 

[Horsetan]

One of our neighbours has one, makes the windows rattle and sets off car alarms when he goes past in it, and that's just idling as we live on an unmade road!

I managed much the same effects just by fitting a stainless steel exhaust to my old BMW. 1500rpm was enough.

[trisonic]

'Villain', yes Pete, a very good period piece and often overlooked compared to 'Get Carter' which was shot at the same time - both were filmed in the Summer of 1970 and both were released in 1971. The cars used in Villain would happily sit somewhere in this thread, the Rover P5B Coupe used by Richard Burton and his chums being a prime choice, while T.P. McKenna's character had a Series 1 XJ6 (in lilac!). Throw in the usual Police S-Types and Rover P6s, a Mk1 Escort driven by Colin Welland, a Mk1 Capri driven by Ian McShane, a Mk1 Triumph 2000 driven by Joss Ackland and a Ford Zephyr MkIV used (and abused) as a getaway car and you have nice mix period of period motors, some of them almost brand new at the time. Even a Mk2 Cooper S with full Wood & Pickett 'poshed up' conversion gets a look in at the start of the film, which I've recently found out still exists.

When was the original “The Long Good Friday” with Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren made? OK 1979. Another brilliant film in the genre.

 

Best, Pete.

[Rugd1022]

When was the original “The Long Good Friday” with Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren made? OK 1979. Another brilliant film in the genre.

 

Best, Pete.

Shot in '79 Pete but not released until '80 because the studio bosses thought it was too violent at the time, they held it back until George Harrision's company stepped in to release it under the 'Handmade Films' banner.

 

Every time I watch it I get the urge to have a Series 2 XJ6 or MkIV Cortina...!

[trisonic]

Ford were very clever with the Cortina marques. They managed somehow to persuade everyone (including me) that the last mark was dated and outmoded, each time.

 

I say me but I still think the Mark 1 Lotus was the best of all.

 

My cousin Andy worked at Ford and I well remember a hair-raising drive in his Lotus Cortina down the old A11 from Epping to Woodford. The A11 was one of those most dangerous roads which had three lanes (remember them?). Because we were late for another cousin’s wedding he drove practically the whole distance in the centre lane.....

 

Best, Pete.

[DaveF]

I saw these two over the weekend.

 

The Austin Healey was in Cheshire.  I've removed the registration number as I've no idea who's car it is, it was a snapshot while watching a steam roller go by on the road.

 

The Ford Corsair is at the top of Hartside pass between Alston and Penrith in Cumbria.

 

Edited as I still can't spell.

David

Edited October 1, 2014 by DaveF

[69843]

Seeing as we're still on old Fords, I had nearly forgotten about this Mk1 Granada in Blur's Parklife:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIEsmGzo2UE

[PhilJ W]

Mk 1 Granada coupes are now extremely rare. They were all made in Germany but the'British' spec ones had engines made in the UK, that made them very expensive compared to the saloons and they just bombed. For the German market there was also a 2 door version.

[peanuts]

Mk 1 Granada coupes are now extremely rare. They were all made in Germany but the'British' spec ones had engines made in the UK, that made them very expensive compared to the saloons and they just bombed. For the German market there was also a 2 door version.

WASNT THE TWO DOOR VERSION KNOWN AS THE CONSUL ?

[PhilJ W]

WASNT THE TWO DOOR VERSION KNOWN AS THE CONSUL ?

No, apart from the coupe only the four door was available in the UK. The Consul was the base model with a lower trim level. It was however available with a highly tuned 3 litre V6 as the Consul GT, this was intended as a police patrol car.

[40 058]

Mk1 Granada's in general are rare now! Mainly due to rust and being the banger racers weapon of choice for decades, with the mk2 following close behind!

There are actually two variations of mk1 coupe. One has a 'coke bottle' style rear quarter, the other has just a flat line following the front door top line.

Then, there's a coupe limo aswell, these are very rare!

[RANGERS]

I saw these two over the weekend.

 

The Austin Healey was in Cheshire.  I've removed the registration number as I've no idea who's car it is, it was a snapshot while watching a steam roller go by on the road.

DSC_4243.jpg

 

The Ford Corsair is at the top of Hartside pass between Alston and Penrith in Cumbria.

DSC_4507.jpg

 

If that Corsair is a V4, it can only have been pushed up that hill, it would never have made it under its own steam without running a big end!

 

 

Edited as I still can't spell.

David

[Londontram]

The daily is in for an MOT and me and the misses had to go to the doctors so thought I'd get the old girl out for a little run out, Here she is in the doctors carpark, trouble is once I get her out I never want to put her away again. Steve

Edit - sorry its a poor photo but took it on the phone

Edited October 22, 2014 by Londontram

[69843]

Here she is in the doctors carpark, trouble is once I get her out I never want to put her away again. Steve

And the problem with that is?

[Catweasel]

Lovely old bus. Bought one years ago,before they became a classic. She had a duff engine, so I fitted a Rover 110 lump with overdrive gearbox to it. Went well and was relatively economical. Sold for a tidy profit some while later. Wonder if it has survived.

[peter220950]

Lovely old bus. Bought one years ago,before they became a classic. She had a duff engine, so I fitted a Rover 110 lump with overdrive gearbox to it. Went well and was relatively economical. Sold for a tidy profit some while later. Wonder if it has survived.

 

It might be worth trying to pop the registration number into the DVLA database and it should indicate when it was last taxed and if it's MOT'd. I found a couple of my old Austin 7's still around and also my old Omega Estate that was written off about 10 years ago, (I suspect a Cat D as it was only light bonnet and lights damage but the old girl had done 200k)

 

https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/

[Judge Dread]

One of our neighbours has one, makes the windows rattle and sets off car alarms when he goes past in it, and that's just idling as we live on an unmade road!

My 1968 Morris Minor Traveller would "Rasp" as only they could as I traversed our street between speed bumps and set off several car alarms doing so. Simple pleasures etc etc.     

Edited October 22, 2014 by Judge Dread

[69843]

I think this more than deserves to be in here, as it's based off an '89....Bat:

 

For more on the car, the website and Facebook is here:

http://www.batmobileaustralia.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/1989-Batmobile-for-hire/165657110180755

[shortliner]

Pete (trisonic) - knowing byou like bikes - link to this from the one above http://www.batmobileaustralia.com/scottys-choppers-aka-scotty-cox/

Edited October 26, 2014 by shortliner

[Rugd1022]

A few shots from the restoration show at Stoneleigh today...

 

Rare Maserati engined Citroen SM...

 

Lovely old Mk2 Jag, a 3.4 litre job which I couldn't take my eyes off, just the sort of thing I want to replace the P5B coupe if it sells...

 

 

Mk3 Cortina 2000 GXL, a real gem...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[steve1]

Any guesses?

 

 

Seen at a car show in Leven earlier this year.

 

steve

[edcayton]

Any guesses?

 

IMG_1802.jpg

 

Seen at a car show in Leven earlier this year.

 

steve

 

Easy-it's a Midget. Oh, you mean the blue one? Looks like a Capri that has been left under the ugly tree.

 

Ed