PatB Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Malta. Now you know why the country earned the George Cross - it was for surviving its own public transport. I guess if you survived the buses, flying a radial engined biplane against Mussolini's air force would have been quite relaxing . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatB Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 (edited) Either Triumph would be more than welcome to grace my driveway, especially the 2000 estate. I always look at the 2000/2.5 cars and think that Mr Michelotti just got them staggeringly right. That gracefully curved, straight through wing line, the elegant, slim-pillared greenhouse and the perfectly proportioned nose and tail are, IMHO, an underappreciated classic of automotive styling. Edited September 30, 2015 by PatB Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Another small collection. Don't know if the Merc qualifies. IMG_4694rmw.jpg IMG_4693rmw.jpg IMG_4692rmw.jpg IMG_4691rmw.jpg IMG_4690rmw.jpg IMG_4689rmw.jpg Would love to know where the owner of that fine looking Vitesse got his / her number plates from, they're a very particular type which you don't see very often, with the rounded beading round the edge and raised plastic digits... would love a set like that on my Cooper S. It must be my age, but I've developed an alrming fetish for details like this with my cars, I'm constantly on the look out for period bits 'n' bobs, it drives the missus mad sometimes! The S now has a correct period 'Stewart & Ardern' dealer sticker in the back window which replaced a wrongly designed repro version, and yesterday I ordered a nice 'Henlys' one for the Jag... Going back to the Mk1 Escort talk earlier - I found this advert in the September '71 issue of 'Motorsport' magazine last night (what else is a boy to do on a boring ballast job except wade through a bundle of old car mags... ), '' Escort 1600 GT : (originally 1300 GT), Broadspeed Stage II conversion, total mileage of car from new 22,000, 9,000 miles since new 1600 GT engine and new 3:9 axle fitted. Undersealed, many extras, beautifully red-silver-gold paint finish, new 165x13 SP Sports tyres, taxed to Feb' 1972, used only as wife's shopping car, no competition use. Only reason for sale, large dog necessitates estate car. £775. Tel : Gerrards Cross 85776 after September 7th'' 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judge Dread Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 (edited) Malta. Now you know why the country earned the George Cross - it was for surviving its own public transport. I can remember reading an account written by a pilot in the RAF in Malta during WW2 and his comment on the bus driver's of those days was that they thought they were flying Spitfires! I did get into conversation with a couple of bus drivers when I visited Malta G.C. in 2000 and they could not believe there was such a vehicle as a "double decker" bus! Edited September 30, 2015 by Judge Dread Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 When I bought a new car (only once) I insisted that no sticker was to be put in the window, We agreed that their name etc would appear on the number plates (I believe that is compulsory now) but that I wouldn't pay for them! I did allow them to put a sticker on the tail-gate which said "Vindis" in a very attractive script and I thought people would think it was Latin and I was really clever. Ed 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 .....I did allow them to put a sticker on the tail-gate which said "Vindis" in a very attractive script and I thought people would think it was Latin and I was really clever That explains quite a number of cars running around with this name on the back..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danemouth Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 When I bought a new car (only once) I insisted that no sticker was to be put in the window, We agreed that their name etc would appear on the number plates (I believe that is compulsory now) but that I wouldn't pay for them! I did allow them to put a sticker on the tail-gate which said "Vindis" in a very attractive script and I thought people would think it was Latin and I was really clever. Ed I always removed the sticker. Both my daughter and I have recently changed our cars and neither had the sticker in the rear window. Looking at other new cars that seems to be a trend. Regards, Dave. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BG John Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 '' Escort 1600 GT : (originally 1300 GT), Broadspeed Stage II conversion, total mileage of car from new 22,000, 9,000 miles since new 1600 GT engine and new 3:9 axle fitted. Undersealed, many extras, beautifully red-silver-gold paint finish, new 165x13 SP Sports tyres, taxed to Feb' 1972, used only as wife's shopping car, no competition use. Only reason for sale, large dog necessitates estate car. £775. Tel : Gerrards Cross 85776 after September 7th'' My 1993 Escort wasn't much bigger, and my German Shepherd was happy with the front or the back seat! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 When I bought a new car (only once) I insisted that no sticker was to be put in the window, We agreed that their name etc would appear on the number plates (I believe that is compulsory now) but that I wouldn't pay for them! I did allow them to put a sticker on the tail-gate which said "Vindis" in a very attractive script and I thought people would think it was Latin and I was really clever. Ed Hmmm... 'Vindis'... sounds like the made up name of something Alec Issigonis would have dreampt up in the '60s while he was doodling on a tablecloth waiting for his gin and tonic to arrive! I can picture it now, the Mk1 Austin Vindis 5000 Super Deluxe, an eight wheel drive family runabout with outboard motors at both ends, a half track drive system in the middle and drinks trays between the rear seats ; £100 including purchase tax and number plates, but a heater, carpets and draught excluders come as optional extras. Where do I sign Guv...? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 I thought Vindis was a name you might find adorning a wine bar somewhere.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Nice Mk1 2 Litre Vitesse there. I had a Mk ll 2 Litre Saloon, white, black interior, for over 6 years. Bought for £500 and sold it for 600. Problem was I spent hundreds in between! GF bonnet, overdrive gearbox, rear shockers replacements (Spax adjustables in place of dodgy lever arms), white multi-spoke steel wheels and a rebuilt offside rear suspension due to a broken trunnion. All the work for the trunnion replacement was done in the road outside my house. Flattening the rear transverse spring which was needed to fit the assembly involved a round steel bar and several bike lock chains to attach it to the Spring. Then a hefty mate to provide muscle power for the lift! Lovely car to drive. Smooth six pot engine and very nimble handling. OK the heater was feeble and it did rust bit but a properly restored one in top condition would be nice car to own. The Mkll is the best model. It's just a shame the never did a production coupe. Mind you, given the platform is basically a big Meccano set, it wouldn't difficult to build one. Could even take the bigger 2.5 mill too... steve 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium New Haven Neil Posted September 30, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 30, 2015 (edited) A pal has a MKII convertible with a 2,5Pi lump, very special car indeed, but he got all American and drives around in a 7 litre (455) Oldsmobile convertible now! He still has the Vitesse though, and it is in first class condition and laid up properly. One day he'll get back to it. Edited September 30, 2015 by New Haven Neil 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
APOLLO Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 Didn't Moses come down the mountain in his Triumph !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I always fancied either a yellow Triumph Stag open top (boss at work had one when I was an apprentice) or a Triumph 2000. Lad at work ages ago had a Triumph 2500 PI (Petrol injection) - went like sh1t off a shovel but the injection tackle was a bitt "iffy" (Lucas if I remember correctly), liked a drink as well (18 mpg on a good day). In my early North Western Gas Board apprenticeship days I was luckily assigned to a gas fitter with a car (instead of walking / bus riding, carrying a huge bag of tools and a coil of lead pipe as we young uns did back then). He had a Triumph 1500 saloon, the heater didn't work, and on a cold January morning it was my job to hold the burning propane gas blowlamp between my legs in the passenger seat, of course the air got warm but the bottle got cold and froze my nuts !!!!!!!!!!. He once asked me to check the oil and fill it up - so I did, right to the top of the oil filler !!! - shake of head, spanner out and drain a bit out behind Wigan No 2 gas holder !! Early 70's - Wonderful days. Brit15 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweasel Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 I can't drive the Herald family of cars due to the driving position. Pedals off to the right and column going left. With a back problem it didn't work for me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr2 Posted September 30, 2015 Share Posted September 30, 2015 When I bought a new car (only once) I insisted that no sticker was to be put in the window, We agreed that their name etc would appear on the number plates (I believe that is compulsory now) but that I wouldn't pay for them! I did allow them to put a sticker on the tail-gate which said "Vindis" in a very attractive script and I thought people would think it was Latin and I was really clever. Ed I've only ever been able to buy two cars from new, a Fiesta XR2 & an Astra GTE. I told both dealers that if they put stickers on the rear (or any other!) window, or their name on the number plates, that I'd deem it as sponsorship & they'd have to pay me for carrying them. Funnily enough neither of them had their names anywhere on my cars....!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted September 30, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted September 30, 2015 I learnt to drive in a 105E Anglia, the driving instructor had a sticker in the back window that said IIRC 'This car is fitted with HE-MAN dual control pedals.' When it came to reversing around a corner the instructor told me to line up the H in HE-MAN with the tail fin of the car and the kerb and I should complete the manoeuvre perfectly every time, and I did. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MJI Posted October 1, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 1, 2015 Didn't Moses come down the mountain in his Triumph !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I always fancied either a yellow Triumph Stag open top (boss at work had one when I was an apprentice) or a Triumph 2000. Lad at work ages ago had a Triumph 2500 PI (Petrol injection) - went like sh1t off a shovel but the injection tackle was a bitt "iffy" (Lucas if I remember correctly), liked a drink as well (18 mpg on a good day). In my early North Western Gas Board apprenticeship days I was luckily assigned to a gas fitter with a car (instead of walking / bus riding, carrying a huge bag of tools and a coil of lead pipe as we young uns did back then). He had a Triumph 1500 saloon, the heater didn't work, and on a cold January morning it was my job to hold the burning propane gas blowlamp between my legs in the passenger seat, of course the air got warm but the bottle got cold and froze my nuts !!!!!!!!!!. He once asked me to check the oil and fill it up - so I did, right to the top of the oil filler !!! - shake of head, spanner out and drain a bit out behind Wigan No 2 gas holder !! Early 70's - Wonderful days. Brit15 I have wondered for ages if the 16v Sprint heads would fit on the V8 and also convert to same bore & stroke. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
edcayton Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 Vindis. The web site says it was started by Frank Vindis, a Czech Spitfire pilot. Certainly two of the top men are still Vindises (Vindii?). Ed Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Rugd1022 Posted October 2, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted October 2, 2015 A mate of mine emailed these photos to me some ago which I've been meaning to post here, all taken on various London streets in the '60s and early '70s - some rare beauties amongst them... Bentley S3 Continental Flying Spur... Gorgeous Toyota 2000GT... Aston Martin DBS... An extremely rare Montiverdi Coupe... Lamborghini Urraco... Gordon Keeble GT, one of only a hundred ever built (ninetynine production cars and another one built from parts later on)... Marcos 1800GT... Aston Martin DB4... Volvo P1800, just like The Saint's... Aston Martin DB6... Road going Ford GT40... 21 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted October 2, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 2, 2015 Smashing pics there, Nidge, TVM. The road-going Ford GT 40 really did exist - it wasn't just a spare racer fitted with trim. There was a news announcement about it, I think 50 years ago this month, with a list price of £6500. My parents had recently bought a detached 3-bedroom house in a private road in Surrey for a similar amount. Not every Ford dealer could order them, though. I certainly saw two or three on the road in subsequent months. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Horsetan Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 The Toyota 2000GT is stratospheric value nowadays. They only built one (possibly two) convertible version, I think, which appeared in "You Only Live Twice" 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Smashing pics there, Nidge, TVM. The road-going Ford GT 40 really did exist - it wasn't just a spare racer fitted with trim. There was a news announcement about it, I think 50 years ago this month, with a list price of £6500. My parents had recently bought a detached 3-bedroom house in a private road in Surrey for a similar amount. Not every Ford dealer could order them, though. I certainly saw two or three on the road in subsequent months. My pleasure chief, might as well share the burden, eh There were a few more GT40s which were modified for road use in '70 after the four successive Le Mans wins, I have an advert for one somewhere which was offered by a dealer in Manchester, it's described as being resprayed in a metallic champaine gold colour with the interior retrimmed by Wood & Pickett in white leather, in the same advert there is a road going Lola T70 for sale too...! Period tax disc now installed in the old Jag... 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted October 2, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 2, 2015 Smashing pics there, Nidge, TVM. The road-going Ford GT 40 really did exist - it wasn't just a spare racer fitted with trim. There was a news announcement about it, I think 50 years ago this month, with a list price of £6500. My parents had recently bought a detached 3-bedroom house in a private road in Surrey for a similar amount. Not every Ford dealer could order them, though. I certainly saw two or three on the road in subsequent months. A chap locally had one - very nice interior trim too but although my mate blagged a ride in it I missed out. Apparently on a well know hill out of the town it hit 120mph going up the hill (quite legal back then); that stretch of road hasn't changed at all since then but for some cock-eyed reason now has a 40mph limit on it 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37114 Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 A mate of mine emailed these photos to me some ago which I've been meaning to post here, all taken on various London streets in the '60s and early '70s - some rare beauties amongst them... Bentley S3 Continental Flying Spur... Thanks for posting this Nigel, the photo with the parking meter is helpful as I want to make a couple for my layout, 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium uax6 Posted October 3, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 3, 2015 I got a set of plates made up yonks ago for a trailer to be pulled by my then moggy. They had the rasied plastic numbers (just like that heraldy thing), but I can't remember if the edge was rasied. The local motor factors did them and they still have the lettering on their we make these plates up display. Try googleing AT Johnson Downham Market, and see if they still do them..... Andy G Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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