For those interested in old cars.

[brianusa]

But American cars of that era did not make very efficient use of space, so there may have not been much more room inside.

 

Depends on how much space you want.  Three abreast front and back seats, some Nash's seats folded down to a double bed and you could easily get in and out either side in the back without stepping on toes.  Boots (trunks) were cavernous and most engine, huge.  Always derided by those  'in the know', handling, brakes poor consumption, which didn't really matter because gas was cheap.  Most had the ability of being able to run without much attention at a time  when my Dad was changing oil every 3K or so on his Anglia, because the handbook said so.  Back then, cars in the US were lucky if the oil was changed once a year.

 

Brian

[PhilJ W]

Depends on how much space you want.  Three abreast front and back seats, some Nash's seats folded down to a double bed and you could easily get in and out either side in the back without stepping on toes.  Boots (trunks) were cavernous and most engine, huge.  Always derided by those  'in the know', handling, brakes poor consumption, which didn't really matter because gas was cheap.  Most had the ability of being able to run without much attention at a time  when my Dad was changing oil every 3K or so on his Anglia, because the handbook said so.  Back then, cars in the US were lucky if the oil was changed once a year.

 

Brian

The less frequent oil changes were possible because the large engines were not overstressed.

[28XX]

On a trip from Chicago to LA you would have to change the oil halfway back

[Kickstart]

Most had the ability of being able to run without much attention at a time  when my Dad was changing oil every 3K or so on his Anglia, because the handbook said so.  Back then, cars in the US were lucky if the oil was changed once a year.

Yet many Americans these days seem to think a 6k oil change interval is bordering on engine destroying, an 3k is about acceptable

 

All the best

 

Katy

[28XX]

On the subject of weird Citroens, a fleet of 6 wheeler CX estates was built in the 80's when the Financial Times started printing in Paris, to rush copies to Brussels in time for the financiers to buy them on their way to work. (It might have been two different capital cities, but the story generally is true)

[Horsetan]

On the subject of weird Citroens, a fleet of 6 wheeler CX estates was built in the 80's when the Financial Times started printing in Paris, to rush copies to Brussels in time for the financiers to buy them on their way to work. (It might have been two different capital cities, but the story generally is true)

Yes, those were the Loadrunners. They were never built in RHD, so some madman over here - he's a schoolteacher - paid CX-Basis in Germany to make irreversible changes to a standard Series 2 CX Safari.

[Oldddudders]

I vaguely remember the telly advert campaign for the Supermirafiori, which had the uprated saloon in a cage - the idea being to convey all that latent power (95hp or so) straining to be let loose.

One contemporary road test found the Mirafiori to be a bit of a mixture on the road. There were times, it said, when you felt that it would have trouble fighting its way out of a paper bag! The Mirafiori Sport, OTOH, was quite another matter.

[shortliner]

I seem to remember that this one was a favourite of amateur graphic artists, who used to add an additional line " ....but not with the top up!"

 

[PhilJ W]

Yes, those were the Loadrunners. They were never built in RHD, so some madman over here - he's a schoolteacher - paid CX-Basis in Germany to make irreversible changes to a standard Series 2 CX Safari.

He lives in Hornchurch, and he owns at least five CX's.

[jwealleans]

Something which may be of interest. My mother found this photograph last week. It's taken in Hedley Street, Guisborough, where my great-grandparents lived at No. 12. The lady next to the car is my Nana, Maud Ditchburn and the one in the background trying not to be in the picture is her mother, my great-grandmother.

 

 

My Nana's brother, Fred Wake, worked for MG from the 1930s and when my mother was a young girl she remembers him turning up from Abingdon at the weekend in a variety of cars, some of which had to be parked in the back alley under tarpaulins as they were still secret. We have one of my great-grandfather in what was apparently the prototype or one of the first production Frogeye Sprites. The story is that his boss, knowing he had family up north, would send for him on a Friday, give him a set of keys and tell him to "put a thousand miles on that by Monday".

 

I don't know whether anyone can tell me anything about 212MO - is that a prototype or production model and when was it built? There's no date on the photo but my Nana was born in 1919 and her mother in 1891, so sometime in the 1950s seems very plausible.

Edited July 11, 2018 by jwealleans

[stewartingram]

212MO looks like a trade plate to me, transferrable between cars as required.

 

Stewart

[shortliner]

212MO looks like a trade plate to me, transferrable between cars as required.

 

Stewart

If you look at the top of the plate there is a small square rectangle - definitely a red and white "Trade plate"

 

EDIT - if you look carefully you can see the rubber straps on each side - hooked over the "Over-riders" to make it cover up the "normal" licence plate

Edited April 12, 2017 by shortliner

[Accurascale Fran]

On the subject of weird Citroens, a fleet of 6 wheeler CX estates was built in the 80's when the Financial Times started printing in Paris, to rush copies to Brussels in time for the financiers to buy them on their way to work. (It might have been two different capital cities, but the story generally is true)

 

There was a DS loadrunner too. Always thought they looked cool. 

[uax6]

Which, if it the various vehicles were using tradeplates, meant that Fred would have been breaking the law if he took the family out on the Sunday to put miles on the clock. It was illegal at the time to carry passengers on tradeplates on a Sunday.....

 

Andy G

[jwealleans]

Now I only remember trade plates as red on a white background, so I've learned something.

 

As for taking the family.... depending when in the 1950s it was, they'd have had one or two daughters under 5, which wouldn't have been fun in an 'A'. My Aunty Paddy was not the type you'd associate with tearing round the country with the top down either, so maybe he flew solo on these weekends. She isn't in either of the photos I can bring to mind.

 

I have a customer who's been running round in his Jeep on trade plates for months.....

[Horsetan]

He lives in Hornchurch, and he owns at least five CX's.

No, not that one.

[PhilJ W]

There was a DS loadrunner too. Always thought they looked cool. 

There is a very good 1:43 scale model of one of those from a French partwork. There were also a few similar conversions of the Mk. III Escort van but they apparently are or were 'home made'.

[28XX]

I am now the proud owner of a pair of trade plates. My company only insures for the pre-booked delivery journey plus a diversion to my home address if it's a CarryOver (collect today, deliver tomorrow). No passenger insurance at all.

[HitchinLoco]

Hope you like the attempt to clean up a bit.

[jwealleans]

Now that's excellent. Thank you very much.

[Rugd1022]

Just came across this gem on the Lambo chat forum, Sandie Shaw driving a Miura, what else does a chap need of an afternoon....?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K360XbgseY#t=19

[Rugd1022]

I've been swapping wheels around between the two Minis just to see how they look on each car, the 6''x10'' Cosmics look good on the Mk2 S although there's too much tyre tread poking from the arches to be strictly legal. If they stay on the car I may have to fit some slimline Wood & Pickett arch extensions...

 

 

 

 

And how's about a burst of colour from the golden era of manly sportscar racing...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[russ p]

Looking well Nidge, I'm adding to my collection on Tuesday getting a ZR turbo diesel. Basically i don't want to run the van into the ground and both my current road legal vehicles are two seat so near something practical and economical.

Ins not the usual rubbish 40k fsh and most importantly no rust! I wanted a 420 estate but they are so rare now so when the zr came up couldn't really turn it down

The metro should be back on the road once my garage is finished and hopefully the Maestro later in the year

[BG John]

80 Historical Photos Of The Greater Manchester Police Vehicles Through The Years
http://www.vintag.es/2017/04/80-historical-photos-of-greater.html

[Sheffield]

Interesting. The Discovery I have been using for the last six years was built for the Greater Manchestet police apparently.