How about a 'period' classics pictures thread
Discussion
V8 TVR said:
P.S. What car is in the garage in the photo of the 5GT Turbo and Raider?
That would be this ...
Despite the fact it has still only 18,000 miles since new I decided that the rubber bumpers and orange seats might put a few PHers off.
On the other hand to complete the Renault theme, this was my last one, complete with Pott jr some 15 years ago now
snotrag said:
You got your money's worth with that plate! How common were private plates back then (late 80s?)
Indeed - it's been on a few cars over the years. I seem to recall that back in the 70s it was quite uncommon and the hassle of changing plates was considerably worse than it is now. Fortunately as my dad was in the motor trade, he was used to the rather tedious requirements of DVLA (or whatever they were called back then) when changing over number plates.As you may have gathered it is currently on my TVR Cerbera now (and has been for the last 14 or so years), but surprisingly as I was driving up through Park Lane in London a few years ago the former owner of the plate pulled up alongside me to ask me where I bought it from - it seems as though my father actually got hold of it from him. Small world as they say.
Edited by pottman on Wednesday 25th February 22:34
Wacky Racer said:
Sorry to be pedantic, but that's not a TRITON, it's a NORBSA, the engine is out of a 500cc BSA Gold star.
Your Villiers engine was 197cc.....
Very nice photos btw.....
On the other hand, at least I didn't call the Singer Chamois a Hillman Imp! And I did actually know that the Villiers was 197cc but believe me, 3cc either way would have made sod all difference to its performance! Happy to be corrected on the BSA engine - it was still the definitive performance machine in my time at school. Most kids who had transport were running Lambrettas which didn't really compare. As the contemporary saying was, with that big single it was reckoned to fire about once per lamp post. Happy(ish) days!Your Villiers engine was 197cc.....
Very nice photos btw.....
pottman said:
I apologise for those of you who aren't Renault fans, but for those that are, here's a few more that my Dad owned (slightly less "period" I'm afraid) ...
Great selection there, and good to see some other period stuff in the background too. Looks like there's a Minor in the showroom behind the Fuego?About the Clio, I'd say it's definitely not in my home area of Norfolk/Suffolk....
pottman said:
As I have just wasted most of my weekend reading all 227 pages of this thread I thought it only fair to add a few more pictures.
Starting with my Dad's first Mini
Another Mini. I'm sure the PH cognoscenti will advise whether it was a 998, 1071 or 1275
And on to something a little bigger but in the theme of this thread perhaps.
By now I was also on the scene, so Mum had a car too
This was Dad's next car, he was working in the motor trade, so you can see the connection
He then had this (amongst others as they seemed to come and go quite quickly at this time)
And this (which at the age of 6/7 I squeezed into the back seat all the way down to Italy)
Which was then swapped for an Orange MGB GT (no pics), which made way for this (one of my favourites)
I think the Triumph was the last BL car my Dad owned as the dealership switched over to Renault. If anyone is interested I'll post the Renaults separately.
Almost to come full circle, this was my first car. PH geeks amongst you may care that the grille was not the original one - I managed to "fix" it when I ran into the back of an Opel Manta. Fortunately the fog lights took the damage.
Well 2 of those reg plates are south east london prefixes Starting with my Dad's first Mini
Another Mini. I'm sure the PH cognoscenti will advise whether it was a 998, 1071 or 1275
And on to something a little bigger but in the theme of this thread perhaps.
By now I was also on the scene, so Mum had a car too
This was Dad's next car, he was working in the motor trade, so you can see the connection
He then had this (amongst others as they seemed to come and go quite quickly at this time)
And this (which at the age of 6/7 I squeezed into the back seat all the way down to Italy)
Which was then swapped for an Orange MGB GT (no pics), which made way for this (one of my favourites)
I think the Triumph was the last BL car my Dad owned as the dealership switched over to Renault. If anyone is interested I'll post the Renaults separately.
Almost to come full circle, this was my first car. PH geeks amongst you may care that the grille was not the original one - I managed to "fix" it when I ran into the back of an Opel Manta. Fortunately the fog lights took the damage.
Edited by pottman on Sunday 22 February 17:16
coincidence b chance? great nostalgia pics 
pottman said:
about 12 years ago I could have bought a Williams one with a popped motor for about £500 quid, too my shame I decided that I couldn't be bothered with the hassle of rebuilding it.
its one I have regretted ever since
After browsing through this thread I've come to realise that cars I thought of as just "cars (often knackered cars) that I've owned in the past" are now regarded by others as classics! That being the case, here are some more from the archives. I posted a shot of my first car, an Austin A30, a couple of days ago but that was a static shot. Here is a very rare thing: a photo of an A30 power sliding! The hall of residence car park had an incredibly greasy road surface so even 803cc of A series muscle could induce cross ply remoulds to break traction!
My next car was a Morris Minor van with the 1098cc engine which, after the A30, felt like a real performance machine. I fitted wider wheels to the back and added an anti roll bar from a Riley 1.5 and it really handled very well. This tatty photo was taken on an Autotest, for which I put the wide tyres on the front and removed the back doors for visibility. Skidtastic! The dent in the front wing was from when I learned the lesson that if caught out by a tightening bend on a muddy country lane, don't attempt to steer and brake simultaneously...
I then moved on to my first Mini,a 1959 Austin 7 shell fitted with a 998cc engine with a few modifications. This was a great student car but sadly the only photo I can trace is this collage which includes a shot of my then GF's Triumph GT6, bought new for her 21st birthday!
Post Uni I moved on (via a 2CV) to a Midget in which I did some road rallies. This photo was taken in Oxfordshire on a night when rain turned to ice. The Mk1 Escort has overshot the junction and we nipped inside, which felt good until I half spun just after the photo was taken!
A couple more of the Midget:
Finally, I moved on to a 1293 Cooper S fitted with a fairly extreme Downton engine and Salisbury LSD. Unfortunately the engine was pretty well knackered and also needed 5 star petrol for its 12.6:1 compression, which was becoming very difficult to find. Even so, it was huge fun. This rather grainy shot shows the front Dunlop working hard:
While this one was on a daylight stage rally and shows a recent disagreement with a Cotswold stone wall!
Sorry if that all seems a bit self indulgent but it gave me a fantastic trip down memory lane. I'll go away now!
My next car was a Morris Minor van with the 1098cc engine which, after the A30, felt like a real performance machine. I fitted wider wheels to the back and added an anti roll bar from a Riley 1.5 and it really handled very well. This tatty photo was taken on an Autotest, for which I put the wide tyres on the front and removed the back doors for visibility. Skidtastic! The dent in the front wing was from when I learned the lesson that if caught out by a tightening bend on a muddy country lane, don't attempt to steer and brake simultaneously...
I then moved on to my first Mini,a 1959 Austin 7 shell fitted with a 998cc engine with a few modifications. This was a great student car but sadly the only photo I can trace is this collage which includes a shot of my then GF's Triumph GT6, bought new for her 21st birthday!
Post Uni I moved on (via a 2CV) to a Midget in which I did some road rallies. This photo was taken in Oxfordshire on a night when rain turned to ice. The Mk1 Escort has overshot the junction and we nipped inside, which felt good until I half spun just after the photo was taken!
A couple more of the Midget:
Finally, I moved on to a 1293 Cooper S fitted with a fairly extreme Downton engine and Salisbury LSD. Unfortunately the engine was pretty well knackered and also needed 5 star petrol for its 12.6:1 compression, which was becoming very difficult to find. Even so, it was huge fun. This rather grainy shot shows the front Dunlop working hard:
While this one was on a daylight stage rally and shows a recent disagreement with a Cotswold stone wall!
Sorry if that all seems a bit self indulgent but it gave me a fantastic trip down memory lane. I'll go away now!
Fantastic period pics on here the past few days.
Yesterday I discovered an interesting series of period 60s short films with lots of motoring related content and footage of mid 60s traffic.
The series is called Look At Life.
This link is to one called Down In The Dumps, (check out 4mins 40).
Further links available from there, including a period BL vid on the design of the body of the Rover SD1 (check out the use of period 70s computers).
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-P-f1mssUeI
Yesterday I discovered an interesting series of period 60s short films with lots of motoring related content and footage of mid 60s traffic.
The series is called Look At Life.
This link is to one called Down In The Dumps, (check out 4mins 40).
Further links available from there, including a period BL vid on the design of the body of the Rover SD1 (check out the use of period 70s computers).
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-P-f1mssUeI
[quote=pottman]I apologise for those of you who aren't Renault fans, but for those that are, here's a few more that my Dad owned (slightly less "period" I'm afraid) ...
The last two were mine
I take it that you w ere changing from one to the other at the time, rather than using both on the road at the same time.
Had a friend with Renault 5 Gordini, the rear window side used to fall out.
My best friend had a black Renault 5 Turbo, which was a complete hoot, till the turbo broke and then it was just a very underpowered 1.4. I seem to remember that it also ate clutches, but that's more likely down to his (lack of) driving skills.
The last two were mine
I take it that you w ere changing from one to the other at the time, rather than using both on the road at the same time.
Had a friend with Renault 5 Gordini, the rear window side used to fall out.
My best friend had a black Renault 5 Turbo, which was a complete hoot, till the turbo broke and then it was just a very underpowered 1.4. I seem to remember that it also ate clutches, but that's more likely down to his (lack of) driving skills.
Thanks for the comments everyone.
Given the feedback here's a few more Renaults - a bit more mundane though ...
The TSE was my first Renault and served me well for a few years.
Fortunately Dad also let me use this
This was in the early days of R5GTs and despite the fact it had some big "Turbo" stickers on the rear quarter, many a car was surprised by its performance.
I also spent some time with this
Whilst my father had this ..
And I eventually ended up with this as my first company car, to replace my dearly beloved Williams.
And that is the end of my Renaults (as I don't think a "period" picture of SWMBOs R5 Campus would be appropriate!)
garyfrogeye said:
I take it that you were changing from one to the other at the time, rather than using both on the road at the same time.
That's right, it was the day I changed them over.sardonicus said:
Well 2 of those reg plates are south east london prefixes coincidence b chance? great nostalgia pics
Coincidence I'm afraid, not my part of London. coincidence b chance? great nostalgia pics Given the feedback here's a few more Renaults - a bit more mundane though ...
The TSE was my first Renault and served me well for a few years.
Fortunately Dad also let me use this
This was in the early days of R5GTs and despite the fact it had some big "Turbo" stickers on the rear quarter, many a car was surprised by its performance.
I also spent some time with this
Whilst my father had this ..
And I eventually ended up with this as my first company car, to replace my dearly beloved Williams.
And that is the end of my Renaults (as I don't think a "period" picture of SWMBOs R5 Campus would be appropriate!)
2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:
I liked the weird little Cherry coupe that (I seem to remember) had reverse where first was in every other car.
Like this one?
1979 Datsun Cherry 1.2 Coupe (N10) c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on FlickrI had the normal 3dr hatchback version of one of these /\ as my first car back in 1988/89.
1975 Mazda 1000 YBV307R c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on FlickrThese never seemed to be as common as Datsun 100A/120Y, Toyota Corolla etc. Some company signage in the background which might help give the location?
1978 Colt Sapporo LHG377T c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on FlickrI suspect they won't be to everyone's taste on here, but I do rather like these. The Escort Mk2 estate crops up in at least one other shot, possibly belonging to the photographer? Again, another company name in the background - does anyone know where Wilcock's was?
1972 Mercedes 280SE PTD562K c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr
1972 Mercedes 280SE PTD698K c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on FlickrInteresting that there should be two photos of Mercedes from the same batch of registrations, especially as both would have been a few years old. Of all the cars in these photos I've acquired, these might stand the best chance of survival but DVLA says neither are still around, 562 lasting until 1991 and 698 being untaxed since 1985.
Inveraray, Scotland, c. 1984 by Spottedlaurel, on FlickrThis one unconnected with the B&W photos - I got passed it by my mum as anything in the family photo stash showing old cars gets sent my way. I'm sure the scenery was the point of this shot back then, but happily a good bit of the car park was caught as well. What's interesting is the contrast between the Sierra and the cars in the background which are only a few years older; car design and detailing really moved on at that point. Still, who wouldn't be swayed by the charms of a brown Princess with transverse six-pot engine as the one seen here had?....
Spottedlaurel said:
Like this one?
1979 Datsun Cherry 1.2 Coupe (N10) c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr
I had the normal 3dr hatchback version of one of these /\ as my first car back in 1988/89.
1975 Mazda 1000 YBV307R c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr
These never seemed to be as common as Datsun 100A/120Y, Toyota Corolla etc. Some company signage in the background which might help give the location?
1978 Colt Sapporo LHG377T c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr
I suspect they won't be to everyone's taste on here, but I do rather like these. The Escort Mk2 estate crops up in at least one other shot, possibly belonging to the photographer? Again, another company name in the background - does anyone know where Wilcock's was?
1972 Mercedes 280SE PTD562K c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr
1972 Mercedes 280SE PTD698K c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr
Interesting that there should be two photos of Mercedes from the same batch of registrations, especially as both would have been a few years old. Of all the cars in these photos I've acquired, these might stand the best chance of survival but DVLA says neither are still around, 562 lasting until 1991 and 698 being untaxed since 1985.
Inveraray, Scotland, c. 1984 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr
This one unconnected with the B&W photos - I got passed it by my mum as anything in the family photo stash showing old cars gets sent my way. I'm sure the scenery was the point of this shot back then, but happily a good bit of the car park was caught as well. What's interesting is the contrast between the Sierra and the cars in the background which are only a few years older; car design and detailing really moved on at that point. Still, who wouldn't be swayed by the charms of a brown Princess with transverse six-pot engine as the one seen here had?....
1979 Datsun Cherry 1.2 Coupe (N10) c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on FlickrI had the normal 3dr hatchback version of one of these /\ as my first car back in 1988/89.
1975 Mazda 1000 YBV307R c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on FlickrThese never seemed to be as common as Datsun 100A/120Y, Toyota Corolla etc. Some company signage in the background which might help give the location?
1978 Colt Sapporo LHG377T c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on FlickrI suspect they won't be to everyone's taste on here, but I do rather like these. The Escort Mk2 estate crops up in at least one other shot, possibly belonging to the photographer? Again, another company name in the background - does anyone know where Wilcock's was?
1972 Mercedes 280SE PTD562K c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr1972 Mercedes 280SE PTD698K c.1980 by Spottedlaurel, on FlickrInteresting that there should be two photos of Mercedes from the same batch of registrations, especially as both would have been a few years old. Of all the cars in these photos I've acquired, these might stand the best chance of survival but DVLA says neither are still around, 562 lasting until 1991 and 698 being untaxed since 1985.
Inveraray, Scotland, c. 1984 by Spottedlaurel, on FlickrThis one unconnected with the B&W photos - I got passed it by my mum as anything in the family photo stash showing old cars gets sent my way. I'm sure the scenery was the point of this shot back then, but happily a good bit of the car park was caught as well. What's interesting is the contrast between the Sierra and the cars in the background which are only a few years older; car design and detailing really moved on at that point. Still, who wouldn't be swayed by the charms of a brown Princess with transverse six-pot engine as the one seen here had?....
Spottedlaurel said:
That second car in from the left looks like a Fiesta 1100S - I bought one brand new in 1980, in that colour too.I bet the 3 old people were on their way to the toilets
Not really a classic I think, but here's my old Fiesta 1100S anyway (Renault 5 in the background)....
Edited by DarkMatter on Friday 27th February 20:50
Spottedlaurel said:
Inveraray, Scotland, c. 1984 by Spottedlaurel, on FlickrThis one unconnected with the B&W photos - I got passed it by my mum as anything in the family photo stash showing old cars gets sent my way. I'm sure the scenery was the point of this shot back then, but happily a good bit of the car park was caught as well. What's interesting is the contrast between the Sierra and the cars in the background which are only a few years older; car design and detailing really moved on at that point. Still, who wouldn't be swayed by the charms of a brown Princess with transverse six-pot engine as the one seen here had?....
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff