How about a 'period' classics pictures thread
Discussion
My first car: December 1975 Hillman Imp Caledonian. The run-out model with all the "trimmings" such as go-faster stripe, fog lamps, push-button Medium Wave radio (with 1 speaker) and over-riders, as well as period aftermarket Wolf-Race copy slot alloys. I added the Peco big-bore exhaust and twin carbs. The photos were taken ca. 1987 at about 22,000 miles, so you can see that it had had a sheltered life. It's still out there somewhere.
. God bless the 1970's.Some more;
HTE senior worked at Cammell Laird in the sixties on Polaris; he got sent to Lockheeds in the states to learn all about it and took these while he was there.
They have a better class of hire car in the US; a bit of a step up from a beetle.
Downtown manhattan.
HTE senior and grandparents go camping in the Singer Vogue.
HTE senior worked at Cammell Laird in the sixties on Polaris; he got sent to Lockheeds in the states to learn all about it and took these while he was there.
They have a better class of hire car in the US; a bit of a step up from a beetle.
Downtown manhattan.
HTE senior and grandparents go camping in the Singer Vogue.
Edited by hidetheelephants on Monday 10th October 20:57
I came to this Forum/website from a recommendation by a fellow Vintage Sports Car Club Member who was impressed by the many period pictures. It will take some time to do but I have lots of images from the 1930's onwards..not masses but some I hope viewers would like.
April 11th 1956 Near Priddy on the Mendip Hills, North Somerset. My Dad's 1946 Volkswagen Sedan bought the previous day for £255 from Messrs. Coventry and Jeffs of Clifton, Bristol. Originally built by the British Army personnel in Wolfsburg as they restarted the factory, it was bought by a UK Army Colonel who brought it back home to Luton in Bedfordshire in September 1947 when it was first UK registered. It was Dark Blue and had been given "Castle Earth" side panels..a mid green/grey colour...with grey vinyl seat upholstery rather than the standard cloth. It also had been fitted with a new 1192cc engine in 1953 and then sold to a Mr Knapman of Saltford near Bristol.
This was the first car that my Dad kept..he had previously bought an Austin 7 Ruby which was so dreadful it went after a month and Austin Big 6 which lasted just a day! We kept "Volks" until April 30th 1962 and during that year we did effectively a total restoration of everything but also did do "upgrades" which now of course we would think dreadful..the full VW chrome set, carpets, luggage cover, new bumpers, painted the seats with "Nuagain" blue paint because the original vinyl made your clothes go black!! and worst of all, cut the dashboard to fit a loudspeaker for the 1950 HMV radio set. I still have the cut out piece of steel..argh! Sadly..we sold it for £125 as a trade in for a 1954 Morris Oxford Series II (SHY 214) which was a bad move as it done 255,000 miles and the side cills turned out to be marked "Vono"...(Bedstead Manufacturers for you young ones!)
It's a long story but our VW links began in 1950 and continued in various ways until 1994 so split window VW's and 1954 Microbus's were a big part of my early motoring experience. There are dozens of stories but for now, I hope you like the picture..I'll post more soon.
April 11th 1956 Near Priddy on the Mendip Hills, North Somerset. My Dad's 1946 Volkswagen Sedan bought the previous day for £255 from Messrs. Coventry and Jeffs of Clifton, Bristol. Originally built by the British Army personnel in Wolfsburg as they restarted the factory, it was bought by a UK Army Colonel who brought it back home to Luton in Bedfordshire in September 1947 when it was first UK registered. It was Dark Blue and had been given "Castle Earth" side panels..a mid green/grey colour...with grey vinyl seat upholstery rather than the standard cloth. It also had been fitted with a new 1192cc engine in 1953 and then sold to a Mr Knapman of Saltford near Bristol.
This was the first car that my Dad kept..he had previously bought an Austin 7 Ruby which was so dreadful it went after a month and Austin Big 6 which lasted just a day! We kept "Volks" until April 30th 1962 and during that year we did effectively a total restoration of everything but also did do "upgrades" which now of course we would think dreadful..the full VW chrome set, carpets, luggage cover, new bumpers, painted the seats with "Nuagain" blue paint because the original vinyl made your clothes go black!! and worst of all, cut the dashboard to fit a loudspeaker for the 1950 HMV radio set. I still have the cut out piece of steel..argh! Sadly..we sold it for £125 as a trade in for a 1954 Morris Oxford Series II (SHY 214) which was a bad move as it done 255,000 miles and the side cills turned out to be marked "Vono"...(Bedstead Manufacturers for you young ones!)
It's a long story but our VW links began in 1950 and continued in various ways until 1994 so split window VW's and 1954 Microbus's were a big part of my early motoring experience. There are dozens of stories but for now, I hope you like the picture..I'll post more soon.
HQB said:
I came to this Forum/website from a recommendation by a fellow Vintage Sports Car Club Member who was impressed by the many period pictures. It will take some time to do but I have lots of images from the 1930's onwards..not masses but some I hope viewers would like.
April 11th 1956 Near Priddy on the Mendip Hills, North Somerset. My Dad's 1946 Volkswagen Sedan bought the previous day for £255 from Messrs. Coventry and Jeffs of Clifton, Bristol. Originally built by the British Army personnel in Wolfsburg as they restarted the factory, it was bought by a UK Army Colonel who brought it back home to Luton in Bedfordshire in September 1947 when it was first UK registered. It was Dark Blue and had been given "Castle Earth" side panels..a mid green/grey colour...with grey vinyl seat upholstery rather than the standard cloth. It also had been fitted with a new 1192cc engine in 1953 and then sold to a Mr Knapman of Saltford near Bristol.
This was the first car that my Dad kept..he had previously bought an Austin 7 Ruby which was so dreadful it went after a month and Austin Big 6 which lasted just a day! We kept "Volks" until April 30th 1962 and during that year we did effectively a total restoration of everything but also did do "upgrades" which now of course we would think dreadful..the full VW chrome set, carpets, luggage cover, new bumpers, painted the seats with "Nuagain" blue paint because the original vinyl made your clothes go black!! and worst of all, cut the dashboard to fit a loudspeaker for the 1950 HMV radio set. I still have the cut out piece of steel..argh! Sadly..we sold it for £125 as a trade in for a 1954 Morris Oxford Series II (SHY 214) which was a bad move as it done 255,000 miles and the side cills turned out to be marked "Vono"...(Bedstead Manufacturers for you young ones!)
It's a long story but our VW links began in 1950 and continued in various ways until 1994 so split window VW's and 1954 Microbus's were a big part of my early motoring experience. There are dozens of stories but for now, I hope you like the picture..I'll post more soon.
That brought back memories of my 1947 VW ( 20 RMP ) was in an almost metalic dark blue complete with the German dealers decal on the scuttle , amazing cloth upholstery and sadly a bent drive shaft which used to leak a bit of oil and made an intermittant whinning noise , I bought it like that from a friend for about £25 , drove it for a year or 2 and then sold it to another friend for £30 who did get the shaft replaced drove it for years after . I used to like drifting it around roundabouts in the wet whilst lighting a fag !!April 11th 1956 Near Priddy on the Mendip Hills, North Somerset. My Dad's 1946 Volkswagen Sedan bought the previous day for £255 from Messrs. Coventry and Jeffs of Clifton, Bristol. Originally built by the British Army personnel in Wolfsburg as they restarted the factory, it was bought by a UK Army Colonel who brought it back home to Luton in Bedfordshire in September 1947 when it was first UK registered. It was Dark Blue and had been given "Castle Earth" side panels..a mid green/grey colour...with grey vinyl seat upholstery rather than the standard cloth. It also had been fitted with a new 1192cc engine in 1953 and then sold to a Mr Knapman of Saltford near Bristol.
This was the first car that my Dad kept..he had previously bought an Austin 7 Ruby which was so dreadful it went after a month and Austin Big 6 which lasted just a day! We kept "Volks" until April 30th 1962 and during that year we did effectively a total restoration of everything but also did do "upgrades" which now of course we would think dreadful..the full VW chrome set, carpets, luggage cover, new bumpers, painted the seats with "Nuagain" blue paint because the original vinyl made your clothes go black!! and worst of all, cut the dashboard to fit a loudspeaker for the 1950 HMV radio set. I still have the cut out piece of steel..argh! Sadly..we sold it for £125 as a trade in for a 1954 Morris Oxford Series II (SHY 214) which was a bad move as it done 255,000 miles and the side cills turned out to be marked "Vono"...(Bedstead Manufacturers for you young ones!)
It's a long story but our VW links began in 1950 and continued in various ways until 1994 so split window VW's and 1954 Microbus's were a big part of my early motoring experience. There are dozens of stories but for now, I hope you like the picture..I'll post more soon.
Rower
Thank you for the kind comments...More VW pictures to come later but this morning, some from 1936/7 featuring motorcycles. My father was a keen motorcyclist from age 17 and had around ten bikes but only a few pictures were taken and these are some of his favourite bikes, the 1935 Vincent HRD and then his ultimate bike, the 1935 Sunbeam Model 95 L/R.
Dad lived in Totterdown, Bristol and after leaving school became an Electrical Apprentice for Messrs Rouch, Penny and Rice so needed a bike for work. The earliest picture I have is of him on his push bike but motorcycles came soon after and I know he had Royal Enfield, BSA, AJS, Matchless and Douglas machines but not a picture survives. Neither do I know much about the models but I'm guessing that they didn't impress him for some reason but then, he bought the two here this morning.
First the Vincent. CWL 512 Supplied by Kings of Oxford (I believe). Dad joined the small but wild Knowle Motorcycling Club and this group of friends travelled far and wide but most frequently to North Devon and Porlock Hill. Then to Lynmouth and a few fast runs up and down Countesbury Hill to enjoy the sound of the exhaust echoing off of the high stone walls which are still there even today. There were holidays on Exmoor, then Penzance beach opposite St. Michaels Mount, Dawlish and in 1937 the Isle of Man TT. That year took them to Castle Donnington for the Grand Prix which father recalled as being quite frightening with the German Mercedes and Auto Union Teams in attendance. However, the Vincent was an early favourite and here is a picture taken on land behind Goolden Street, Totterdown with Dad on the Vincent and his best friend Charles Morton on his xxxxx. I was looking at this picture a year ago and wondered if the bike might have survived and so did a DVLA search to find it still registered. With the help of the Vincent Owners Club, I managed to trace someone who knew the owner but was not given any details leaving the owner to call me. About a week later he did so and I am pleased to say that the bike is here, in good order and was then currently being worked on. I have an address but no more and he is going to contact me when I can go to see it. I made up a history folder with pictures but have not heard more.
My Mother in he leather riding suit somewhere up on the Mendips which is still a favourite "biker" location most Sunday mornings!
Now the Sunbeam! This was Dad's all time favourite bike without question! The full story is long but the major points are that it was built in 1935 and was used by the Sunbeam works at the Isle of Man TT in some sort of back up role but sadly I do not have any specifics to support that. There were two models, the racing but stripped "R" and the luxury "L" but the only difference I think was the engine tune and the "L" had a legal lighting set, horn and a bigger seat. AYC was an "R" but had the "L" pack added to become a rare "L/R" version. It was first sold to a man living in Charterhouse, Somerset via dealers Anderson & Wall of Bridgwater and registered on 18th April 1935. He kept it until early 1936 when my father saw it and on 24th January 1936, Dad traded in his 1931 KSS Velocette HY 798 for £17-10-0d and bought the Sunbeam for £65 plus £10 insurance!
Then started an adventure..the bike took him everywhere and despite running on an expensive methanol rich fuel, having hair spring valves that regularly broke as the fuel attacked the case hardening, a few "racing incidents" bringing a new front mudguard and bits of paintwork, he rode it through the War as he was in a "reserved occupation" as a Marine Electrician and on until 1949 when the engine needed a full rebuild. This was done by Waycott Bros at "great cost" but at the time, Dad worked for the South Western Electricity Board on service repairs so carried his full kit with a bag of glass fibre insulation material (used in 'fridge repairs). The bag was strapped to the tank and Dad didn't notice that vibration was causing strands of glass to fall out and straight into the carburettor intake. In under a 1000 miles the engine became very rough and so was stripped to find it ruined. Dad couldn't afford another rebuild so the bike was sold to a scramble mad friend called Charlie Saunders to use on rough amateur trials. After 1950 it was lost forever.
December 2005..by fluke a friend bought a Sunday Times with an article about tracing old registration numbers and told me about it. So, after putting 70+ numbers through the DVLA website, I tried AYC 599 and was stunned to find it still registered. It and it's owner are still here! A month of detective work brought this..Charlie did not actually destroy it but just changed the exhaust before selling it in late 1949. It then went to Edinburgh for three months before being sold to a man in Barrow in Furness who kept it six weeks! Somehow, it then turned up in Kent. Advertised in The Motorcycle, a young engineering apprentice saw it and wanted it so badly but had very little money. Needing help, he spoke to his Vicar (!!) and the local Church lent him money to buy it. He repaid them, became qualified and got a job..in Sunderland! So the Sunbeam then began a life as a long distance commuter bike! Now, 61 years later and with well past 300,000 miles on the clock it is still here with the same man! Many rebuilds, many stories, a full restoration in an upstairs bathroom, a "ride" down the stairs and another rebuild in the basement later, the gentleman still has it. I made up a full history file which is now complete although very thin for those six weeks in the Lake District, it's only unknown bit!
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The camping pictures are taken on Exmoor in 1936 and I've added them to give an idea of the sort of holidays enjoyed by the Club. The lady is called Emily and no, she is or was not my Mum! I think she had a lot of friends!
Next time..back to the cars!
Dad lived in Totterdown, Bristol and after leaving school became an Electrical Apprentice for Messrs Rouch, Penny and Rice so needed a bike for work. The earliest picture I have is of him on his push bike but motorcycles came soon after and I know he had Royal Enfield, BSA, AJS, Matchless and Douglas machines but not a picture survives. Neither do I know much about the models but I'm guessing that they didn't impress him for some reason but then, he bought the two here this morning.
First the Vincent. CWL 512 Supplied by Kings of Oxford (I believe). Dad joined the small but wild Knowle Motorcycling Club and this group of friends travelled far and wide but most frequently to North Devon and Porlock Hill. Then to Lynmouth and a few fast runs up and down Countesbury Hill to enjoy the sound of the exhaust echoing off of the high stone walls which are still there even today. There were holidays on Exmoor, then Penzance beach opposite St. Michaels Mount, Dawlish and in 1937 the Isle of Man TT. That year took them to Castle Donnington for the Grand Prix which father recalled as being quite frightening with the German Mercedes and Auto Union Teams in attendance. However, the Vincent was an early favourite and here is a picture taken on land behind Goolden Street, Totterdown with Dad on the Vincent and his best friend Charles Morton on his xxxxx. I was looking at this picture a year ago and wondered if the bike might have survived and so did a DVLA search to find it still registered. With the help of the Vincent Owners Club, I managed to trace someone who knew the owner but was not given any details leaving the owner to call me. About a week later he did so and I am pleased to say that the bike is here, in good order and was then currently being worked on. I have an address but no more and he is going to contact me when I can go to see it. I made up a history folder with pictures but have not heard more.
My Mother in he leather riding suit somewhere up on the Mendips which is still a favourite "biker" location most Sunday mornings!
Now the Sunbeam! This was Dad's all time favourite bike without question! The full story is long but the major points are that it was built in 1935 and was used by the Sunbeam works at the Isle of Man TT in some sort of back up role but sadly I do not have any specifics to support that. There were two models, the racing but stripped "R" and the luxury "L" but the only difference I think was the engine tune and the "L" had a legal lighting set, horn and a bigger seat. AYC was an "R" but had the "L" pack added to become a rare "L/R" version. It was first sold to a man living in Charterhouse, Somerset via dealers Anderson & Wall of Bridgwater and registered on 18th April 1935. He kept it until early 1936 when my father saw it and on 24th January 1936, Dad traded in his 1931 KSS Velocette HY 798 for £17-10-0d and bought the Sunbeam for £65 plus £10 insurance!
Then started an adventure..the bike took him everywhere and despite running on an expensive methanol rich fuel, having hair spring valves that regularly broke as the fuel attacked the case hardening, a few "racing incidents" bringing a new front mudguard and bits of paintwork, he rode it through the War as he was in a "reserved occupation" as a Marine Electrician and on until 1949 when the engine needed a full rebuild. This was done by Waycott Bros at "great cost" but at the time, Dad worked for the South Western Electricity Board on service repairs so carried his full kit with a bag of glass fibre insulation material (used in 'fridge repairs). The bag was strapped to the tank and Dad didn't notice that vibration was causing strands of glass to fall out and straight into the carburettor intake. In under a 1000 miles the engine became very rough and so was stripped to find it ruined. Dad couldn't afford another rebuild so the bike was sold to a scramble mad friend called Charlie Saunders to use on rough amateur trials. After 1950 it was lost forever.
December 2005..by fluke a friend bought a Sunday Times with an article about tracing old registration numbers and told me about it. So, after putting 70+ numbers through the DVLA website, I tried AYC 599 and was stunned to find it still registered. It and it's owner are still here! A month of detective work brought this..Charlie did not actually destroy it but just changed the exhaust before selling it in late 1949. It then went to Edinburgh for three months before being sold to a man in Barrow in Furness who kept it six weeks! Somehow, it then turned up in Kent. Advertised in The Motorcycle, a young engineering apprentice saw it and wanted it so badly but had very little money. Needing help, he spoke to his Vicar (!!) and the local Church lent him money to buy it. He repaid them, became qualified and got a job..in Sunderland! So the Sunbeam then began a life as a long distance commuter bike! Now, 61 years later and with well past 300,000 miles on the clock it is still here with the same man! Many rebuilds, many stories, a full restoration in an upstairs bathroom, a "ride" down the stairs and another rebuild in the basement later, the gentleman still has it. I made up a full history file which is now complete although very thin for those six weeks in the Lake District, it's only unknown bit!
[url]|http://thumbsnap.com/CLLbGBDV[/url][url]|http://thumbsnap.com/3adu4WjN[/url][url]|http://thumbsnap.com/QEWDBeA8[/url][url]|http://thumbsnap.com/5EipIb90[/url][url]|http://thumbsnap.com/cPPdqmQe[/url]The camping pictures are taken on Exmoor in 1936 and I've added them to give an idea of the sort of holidays enjoyed by the Club. The lady is called Emily and no, she is or was not my Mum! I think she had a lot of friends!
Next time..back to the cars!
Sadly Thumbsnap is banned at work so I can't see your bikey pictures, but I couldn't resist having a teaser look on my phone!
It sounds like your dad had a similar stable of bikes to we have now! We've just bought a 1929 Model 9 Sunbeam - which was ordered new to 90 spec (hairpin valve springs etc) by a Northeren Irish policeman who also raced it. We also have a 1929 Velocette KTT, which was the racing version of the KSS that your Dad had! My brother's got a Vincent, but where your Dad's was a Series A, my brothers one is a later Series C Comet, but my Dad also had a Series A single in the sixties.
I'll look forward to having a proper look at the pictures when I get home. Thanks for the bikey content, and if you have any more to share or if you'd like anything identifying I'd love to see them
It sounds like your dad had a similar stable of bikes to we have now! We've just bought a 1929 Model 9 Sunbeam - which was ordered new to 90 spec (hairpin valve springs etc) by a Northeren Irish policeman who also raced it. We also have a 1929 Velocette KTT, which was the racing version of the KSS that your Dad had! My brother's got a Vincent, but where your Dad's was a Series A, my brothers one is a later Series C Comet, but my Dad also had a Series A single in the sixties.
I'll look forward to having a proper look at the pictures when I get home. Thanks for the bikey content, and if you have any more to share or if you'd like anything identifying I'd love to see them
Gentlemen..thank you for the kind comments! Srob..I'm not a motorcycle expert by any means so maybe you could identify the two bikes owned by Chares Moreton in the above pictures. The first is in the picture taken with Dad on the Vincent. Charles bike is registered in Bristol and the registration letters are BAE so dates from late 1934 to January 1935..There is little to go on but any ideas appreciated. His second bike is the one where he is sat on a grass bank behind the two bikes, the front one being Dad's Sunbeam. I would like to know what bike that was if you can identify it please. The picture has a story..just seconds after it was taken, a car (recalled as being a "big American Buick") came fast towards them and the driver for some reason lost the car and hit Charles' bike hard pinning him underneath it and badly smashing his ankle. The driver was thought to be drunk but in those days, nothing much was done. Charles had a pin put in his ankle for life and the bike was scrapped. However, the replacement was a new Brough Superior!..he was financially well placed. Sadly I don't think I have a picture..grr!
Any help or suggestions gratefully received.
Any help or suggestions gratefully received.
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