COOL CLASSIC CAR SPOTTERS POST!!! Vol 2

[benters]

mikey77 said:

I know not everbody likes the look of a rubber bumper MGB but I don't think I would actually have been sick on the floor...

good one

[Schmeeky]

Spied this beauty the other day, in the car park of a local comprehensive of all places!

[McAndy]

I followed a lovely Bristol 401 saloon in Chippenham on Monday and passed what looked like an Allard K1 on my commute this morning.

[Roy C]

McAndy said:

I followed a lovely Bristol 401 saloon in Chippenham on Monday and passed what looked like an Allard K1 on my commute this morning.

The 401 may have been at the large gathering of Bristol cars at the Castle Combe Autumn Classic on Sunday.

[Blown2CV]

Schmeeky said:

Spied this beauty the other day, in the car park of a local comprehensive of all places!

it's probably one of those lazy, overpaid teachers some people think are everywhere.

[Dapster]

'80 LE on the mean streets of Hampstead this morning. Looked in great nick, save for the comedy BL panel gap on the door (or isn't it shut properly?)....

[garyfrogeye]

Dapster said:

'80 LE on the mean streets of Hampstead this morning. Looked in great nick, save for the comedy BL panel gap on the door (or isn't it shut properly?)....

That's usually parked in Gloucester Crescent NW1, Various celebrities live in (or have lived in) this road, Daniel Craig/Rachel Weiss, Alan Bennet, Dr Jonathan Miller, Max Mosley's brother (can't remember his name). Ronny Wood's ex wife Jo Wood, Naneh Cherry. And probably others that I'm not aware of.

[McAndy]

Roy C said:

That light green saloon looks about right. From what little I can see the plate seems to match. Did you take any photos of that car?

[Roy C]

McAndy said:

Roy C said:

That light green saloon looks about right. From what little I can see the plate seems to match. Did you take any photos of that car?

No. There must have been at least sixty Bristols present, there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their 2-litre class 1-2-3 at the fateful 1955 Le Mans 24 Hours. The surviving 1955 Le Mans 450 was also there:

[McAndy]

Oh wow! Gutted that I didn't know that it was taking place.

[DickyC]

Roy C said:

No. There must have been at least sixty Bristols present, there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their 2-litre class 1-2-3 at the fateful 1955 Le Mans 24 Hours. The surviving 1955 Le Mans 450 was also there:

In the twilight of his autumn I got to know Jack Fairman, one of the works drivers of the 1-2-3 Bristol Class win, and he maintained he saw a Bristol V8 being run on the bench at the factory around that time. He was visiting unannounced and the engine was turned off and covered up when he was spotted.

[Ex Boy Racer]

droopsnoot said:

Is that front tyre up on the kerb?

[tog]

DickyC said:

In the twilight of his autumn I got to know Jack Fairman, one of the works drivers of the 1-2-3 Bristol Class win, and he maintained he saw a Bristol V8 being run on the bench at the factory around that time. He was visiting unannounced and the engine was turned off and covered up when he was spotted.

There was a new 3-litre straight six under development at the time, destined for the Bristol Type 220 car. Both were cancelled in the late fifties. I've never heard of a Bristol V8 development. There's quite a bit about the stillborn 220 and its Alex Moulton-designed rubber suspension (long before the Mini) in Christopher Balfour's book relating the history of Bristol Cars.

[gforceg]

Ex Boy Racer said:

Is that front tyre up on the kerb?

Yep. Not to mention the double yellows.

[DickyC]

tog said:

DickyC said:

In the twilight of his autumn I got to know Jack Fairman, one of the works drivers of the 1-2-3 Bristol Class win, and he maintained he saw a Bristol V8 being run on the bench at the factory around that time. He was visiting unannounced and the engine was turned off and covered up when he was spotted.

There was a new 3-litre straight six under development at the time, destined for the Bristol Type 220 car. Both were cancelled in the late fifties. I've never heard of a Bristol V8 development. There's quite a bit about the stillborn 220 and its Alex Moulton-designed rubber suspension (long before the Mini) in Christopher Balfour's book relating the history of Bristol Cars.

Jack loved to tell stories of the old days and many of them were embellished as time went by. I wonder if the secret engine he saw was the straight six that magically became a V8 in the retelling.

[v15ben]

It's getting very quiet on this thread recently.
A sign that winter is coming?

A couple of 80s ones from me, the Rover was very loud!

[richard300]

tali1 said:

Cliftonite said:

E reg are last of the starfish alloys

Agreed.... 88-90 Model year XJ-S's should be on 15" Lattice wheels and have red over pewter coachlines - except for the XJR-S and Le-Mans

The car pictured, looks like one that was offered to me recently, but i didn't go to view because it wasn't on the right wheels, didn't have the coach-lines and only had half leather (and tweed) seats. Oh and it was a manual transmission car, which i personally think is desirable on a V12 but not on a 3.6

[dbdb]

richard300 said:

tali1 said:

Cliftonite said:

E reg are last of the starfish alloys

Agreed.... 88-90 Model year XJ-S's should be on 15" Lattice wheels and have red over pewter coachlines - except for the XJR-S and Le-Mans

The car pictured, looks like one that was offered to me recently, but i didn't go to view because it wasn't on the right wheels, didn't have the coach-lines and only had half leather (and tweed) seats. Oh and it was a manual transmission car, which i personally think is desirable on a V12 but not on a 3.6

The Starfish alloys were still available on the V12 XJ-S as a no-cost option in '88.

[Cliftonite]

Front view.

[e46acs]

I've seen this a few times over the last few months in Newcastle, but have never managed to get a photo. Until yesterday lunchtime in Grey Street. Lovely, lovely thing. A real credit to its owner.