alastairq Posted December 28, 2023 Share Posted December 28, 2023 On 27/12/2023 at 10:44, RANGERS said: The 1302 distinguished the biggest technical development the Beetle ever saw with the introduction of McPherson strut front suspension on what was known as the ‘big Beetle’. The standard cars had torsion bars front and rear, this both pre-dated and outlasted the strut set up with the Mexican and Brazilian built cars that saw Beetle production into the 2000s having the traditional platform. The 1302 range (flat screen/ strut suspension) only lasted three model years before being replaced by the 1303 (curved screen/ strut suspension) in late 1972. Both versions came in standard 1300cc form (1302 & 1303) or 1600cc (1302S/ 1303S) but the 1300 versions were rare in the UK, the extra cost of about £150 probably put buyers off when they could have a 1300 torsion bar car with the same performance at less money. I acquired [devious means...] a 1303 beetle many years ago [curved screen, maccy struts]...It was a LHD, sold , I discovered, as a 'base' model, with 1200cc engine.... a German market version only, I believe? My item had been originally purchased, used, in Germany by a member of the UK armed forces....and had been 'tarted' up with a lurid green paint job. Subsequently brought to the UK, still on UK armed forces German plates.....and abandoned on a military establishment. [Borden?] Acquired by not very official means when the order to remove' was given, and a scrappy contracted to do the deed, by a 'senior' military personage, and subsequently passed onto me[for free].....with the potential to adapt for trialling [UK sport, based upon daftness of competitor]... It was incredibly rusty underneath the glossy paint job, and I struggled to do anything with it...[torsion bar suspension being much stronger for off road usage]..So I trailered it down to an acquaintance who specialized in VW preparation for trials.....who might have been able to use the pre-1972 chassis number..... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobby Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 This came up on my FB page, I note they were an Aussy variation, ever seen one @monkeysarefun? https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fyyi2oxah49c41.jpg 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeysarefun Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 (edited) 1 hour ago, Hobby said: This came up on my FB page, I note they were an Aussy variation, ever seen one @monkeysarefun? https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fyyi2oxah49c41.jpg I can't say I've seen one of those! - though the standard A40 ute was pretty common here. In fact, there is an old ute that I'm thinking might be an Austin (going by nothing more than the bottom of the grill looks Austin A40 like) at the top of the Razorback Range near here that has a gum tree growing out of the engine bay - https://www.google.com/maps/@-34.1446952,150.6917011,3a,15y,151.16h,89.04t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdr1DJUBaBn3ycklev9uzaA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu There are a few UK car-derived utes here, including the Austin 1800 one and a Mini moke ute built by Leyland Australia. Edited January 2 by monkeysarefun 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alastairq Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 1 hour ago, Hobby said: This came up on my FB page, I note they were an Aussy variation, ever seen one @monkeysarefun? https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2Fyyi2oxah49c41.jpg I thought at first sight, it was a modification of one of those Austin pedal cars... :) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold SHMD Posted January 2 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 2 22 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said: I can't say I've seen one of those! - though the standard A40 ute was pretty common here. In fact, there is an old ute that I'm thinking might be an Austin (going by nothing more than the bottom of the grill looks Austin A40 like) at the top of the Razorback Range near here that has a gum tree growing out of the engine bay - https://www.google.com/maps/@-34.1446952,150.6917011,3a,15y,151.16h,89.04t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdr1DJUBaBn3ycklev9uzaA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu That's a pretty good "security" feature! Kev. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Trainshed Terry Posted January 2 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 2 30 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said: I can't say I've seen one of those! - though the standard A40 ute was pretty common here. In fact, there is an old ute that I'm thinking might be an Austin (going by nothing more than the bottom of the grill looks Austin A40 like) at the top of the Razorback Range near here that has a gum tree growing out of the engine bay - https://www.google.com/maps/@-34.1446952,150.6917011,3a,15y,151.16h,89.04t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdr1DJUBaBn3ycklev9uzaA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu There are a few UK car-derived utes here, including the Austin 1800 one and a Mini moke ute built by Leyland Australia. I love it. Was it a one off construction. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted January 2 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 2 5 minutes ago, Trainshed Terry said: I love it. Was it a one off construction. Quite a few were made. The body style was known as a roadster ute. A similar body was built on the Ford Prefect. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeysarefun Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 (edited) 10 minutes ago, Trainshed Terry said: I love it. Was it a one off construction. The moke? No, Leyland Australia produced it - its tray was about 1.5m square with drop-sides. If you want one-off moke utes though, the Aussie moke owners forums are full of them: Edited January 2 by monkeysarefun 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobby Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 1 hour ago, alastairq said: I thought at first sight, it was a modification of one of those Austin pedal cars... :) So did I! But surprisingly it's a genuine model, there are some still around if you do a web search! Only for dry climates though!! ;) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted January 2 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 2 1 hour ago, monkeysarefun said: I can't say I've seen one of those! - though the standard A40 ute was pretty common here. In fact, there is an old ute that I'm thinking might be an Austin (going by nothing more than the bottom of the grill looks Austin A40 like) at the top of the Razorback Range near here that has a gum tree growing out of the engine bay - https://www.google.com/maps/@-34.1446952,150.6917011,3a,15y,151.16h,89.04t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdr1DJUBaBn3ycklev9uzaA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu Looking at the size of the tree, it's been there quite a while.... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeysarefun Posted January 2 Share Posted January 2 (edited) 21 minutes ago, Dunsignalling said: Looking at the size of the tree, it's been there quite a while.... For as long as I can remember driving past it. Similarly there used to be a Matilda Tank sitting in a paddock down towards Bowral until about 10 years ago. As far as paddock bashers go though, this in the middle of a paddock near Forbes takes the cake I'd reckon. Edited January 2 by monkeysarefun 10 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted January 7 Share Posted January 7 A nice mixed bag at Long Itchington diner this morning... 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted January 21 Share Posted January 21 From the archive of the Birmingham Post & Mail, a locally registered Rover P5B Saloon in Perry Barr in the early '70s... 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 Bits 'n' bobs... 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERS Posted January 28 Share Posted January 28 2 hours ago, Rugd1022 said: Bits 'n' bobs... Fishers are still trading in Wigston, though Ford dealers nowadays. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted January 28 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 28 (edited) 4 hours ago, Rugd1022 said: Is that Peter Warr in the hat? Edited January 28 by Oldddudders 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanuts Posted January 30 Share Posted January 30 This popped up on my socials nice take on a DS or sacralidge? 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold russ p Posted January 30 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 30 2 hours ago, peanuts said: This popped up on my socials nice take on a DS or sacralidge? If its electric then definitely sacrilege If anyone remembers a comic strip presents episode called Mr jolly lives next door One of the characters mr lovebucket drives a ds I can't imagine him messing about with a bloody cable before going to field on a morning to check a member staffs finger off 😃 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted January 30 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 30 3 hours ago, peanuts said: This popped up on my socials nice take on a DS or sacralidge? Shows what a brilliant design the DS was. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted January 31 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 31 11 hours ago, peanuts said: This popped up on my socials nice take on a DS or sacralidge? The new look remains instantly recognisable and the basic shape still looks futuristic. It should be powered with the technology that comes after batteries, though.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanuts Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 24 minutes ago, Dunsignalling said: The new look remains instantly recognisable and the basic shape still looks futuristic. It should be powered with the technology that comes after batteries, though.... Hydrogen ? Flux capicitor dilithium crystals ?😉 Agree anything but batteries 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monkeysarefun Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dunsignalling Posted January 31 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 31 42 minutes ago, monkeysarefun said: Literally Deux Chevaux...😃 2 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peanuts Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 12 hours ago, monkeysarefun said: is that on sark where they are not allowed motor cars but a film crew used a towed 2cv for a documentrey ? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rugd1022 Posted February 1 Share Posted February 1 Jag nostalgia... 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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