Friday 8th July 2011

'Fancy That Shopping Trip Up To Town, Darling?'

Come on PHers, it's time to show the OH that you care...

---

You know you how the OH says you take 'em for granted? Well, you do, and it's time you were big enough to admit it.

So next time they sniff a bit about turning the spare room into an archive for your collection of old Custom Car mags, or grumble about that amphibious 'Stolly' 6x6 you're returning to concours condition on the kitchen table, why not try to give a little back for once?

We suggest a trip 'Up West' to Knightsbridge, where PH OHs can fill their boots with umpteen floors of fashion and frivolity at 'top people's' stores like Horrids or Harvey's Nick-Nacks.

Better still, tell 'em they can bring a friend, so while they're cooing in the fitting rooms of London's top retail outlets they won't even notice you've slipped away...

You'll be making a beeline for the Berkeley Hotel, of course, where HR Owen has just opened (with the help of Felipe Massa), this rather eye-catching new showroom.

They don't call it that, for some reason - instead it's an 'Atelier', with a dedicated 'personalisation room' no less, modelled on a similar one at the Ferrari factory in Maranello.

Currently displayed are a Ferrari 458 Italia, a Ferrari California, and a very special 1970 Ferrari 512S which was driven by Mario Andretti and Chris Amon at Daytona and Sebring before being driven by Derek Bell in the film Le Mans. Fever!

Having feasted your peepers, you can slip back to the chair outside the fitting room unnoticed - then hopefully repeat the trick at the new McLaren showroom at One Hyde Park, as your shopping party makes delighted progress down the Brompton Road.

P.S. Don't tell anyone PH sent you. Especially if you all turn up at once...

P.P.S. In case the OH hasn't realised why you need a Stalwart.

[MG511]

I did exactly that when the wife and me had a weekend in London recently. We were staying in Bayswater so nice walk through Hyde Park, a look at the McLaren showroom, then while she looked at clothes in Harrods I went to look at the watches.

[sneaky schnell]

at that clip

[Snoggledog]

I think my missus would spend more time drooling over the 512S than shopping in Harrods.

[Justayellowbadge]

MG511 said:

I did exactly that when the wife and me had a weekend in London recently. We were staying in Bayswater so nice walk through Hyde Park, a look at the McLaren showroom, then while she looked at clothes in Harrods I went to look at the watches.

If you fancy repeating the trick, the Lange display in the hotel lobby is rather pleasant.

[Brighton Speed]

Why do you assume that 'the OH' wouldn't want to 'coo' at the precious metals on display too? Was this article written in a Gene Hunt style on purpose or does somebody need telling that the fairer half of our species like luxury cars too?

Come on, it's 2011, grow up, bin the kippertie sexism and put some thought into your story angles!

[LHD]

Brighton Speed said:

Why do you assume that 'the OH' wouldn't want to 'coo' at the precious metals on display too? Was this article written in a Gene Hunt style on purpose or does somebody need telling that the fairer half of our species like luxury cars too?

Come on, it's 2011, grow up, bin the kippertie sexism and put some thought into your story angles!

Where in the story is it sexist?

Some men like shopping and aren't into cars you know.

[TVRWannabee]

Brighton Speed said:

Why do you assume that 'the OH' wouldn't want to 'coo' at the precious metals on display too? Was this article written in a Gene Hunt style on purpose or does somebody need telling that the fairer half of our species like luxury cars too?

Come on, it's 2011, grow up, bin the kippertie sexism and put some thought into your story angles!

Hello. I think you are being sexist. Where in the article does it say the OH is a woman?

[C2james]

Brighton Speed said:

Why do you assume that 'the OH' wouldn't want to 'coo' at the precious metals on display too? Was this article written in a Gene Hunt style on purpose or does somebody need telling that the fairer half of our species like luxury cars too?

Come on, it's 2011, grow up, bin the kippertie sexism and put some thought into your story angles!

yeah alright calm down, how many girls do you know that would want to stare at a 330 p4 or a 458?

[cookie1600]

Loving the Stolly in full flight!

Made me go looking for one and behold! not big money:



http://www.milweb.net/classifieds/large_image.php?...

As for shopping up West, I'll drop the Mrs off and dash around the corner to hear ta:

http://www.astonsaleskensington.com/

[Jaykaybi]

Don't forget Bob Forstner on Park Lane while you're in the neighbourhood. Currently has a 1,018 bhp Koenigsegg CCXR Edition and the last ever Zonda F Clubsport Roadster in the window.



And they just stuck a Prowler and a '57 Thunderbird in the showroom as well. Bit of a curve ball, that one.



Anywhere within half a mile of W1 is just dripping with interesting kit at the moment.

[Auburn852]

Anyone see the similarities in these two pictures?





No?

Fantastic headlights on the left hand side of both pictures.

[Crunchy Nutter]

TVRWannabee said:

Brighton Speed said:

Why do you assume that 'the OH' wouldn't want to 'coo' at the precious metals on display too? Was this article written in a Gene Hunt style on purpose or does somebody need telling that the fairer half of our species like luxury cars too?

Come on, it's 2011, grow up, bin the kippertie sexism and put some thought into your story angles!

Hello. I think you are being sexist. Where in the article does it say the OH is a woman?

Boom!

[bob1179]

cookie1600 said:

Loving the Stolly in full flight!

Made me go looking for one and behold! not big money:



http://www.milweb.net/classifieds/large_image.php?...

As for shopping up West, I'll drop the Mrs off and dash around the corner to hear ta:

http://www.astonsaleskensington.com/

Sorry to go O/T but can I drive that on my car license?

I have just realised I've always wanted a six wheel drive amphibious truck and didn't know I could actually buy one.

Forget the Fezzas and McLarens chaps, this is awesome!

[Goodfella 555]

Fantastic clip. You know when you are having a pleasant walk with the missus along the river when an oversized canoe full of soppy sods zooms past whilst someone on a bike shouting commands almost crashes into you... two birds, one very large stone...

[cookie1600]

bob1179 said:

Sorry to go O/T but can I drive that on my car license?

and sorry to continue O/T:

http://www.4wdonline.com/Mil/Alvis/Stalwart.html

Tank cap. 455 litres (91 UK gallons or around £530 to fill it)
Max. range 824 kms (515 miles)
Engine Rolls Royce straight eight B81 water cooled petrol

Around 5 MPG on land at 40/50 mph cruise and apparently you don't need an HGV licence, just deep pockets and a huge workshop.

[Pingman]

That Alvis Stowart dive bomb is awesome!

I had no idea that I needed one in my life until I saw that!

[Mr Dave]

cookie1600 said:

bob1179 said:

Sorry to go O/T but can I drive that on my car license?

and sorry to continue O/T:

http://www.4wdonline.com/Mil/Alvis/Stalwart.html

Tank cap. 455 litres (91 UK gallons or around £530 to fill it)
Max. range 824 kms (515 miles)
Engine Rolls Royce straight eight B81 water cooled petrol

Around 5 MPG on land at 40/50 mph cruise and apparently you don't need an HGV licence, just deep pockets and a huge workshop.

I know a fella has one of these, takes it to military vehicle rallys and all. They are fantastic fun, great attention grabbers and have so much road presence its unreal.

However deep pockets, patience and being really quite good with spanners is necessary. The 6 wheel drive system is a nightmare! A seriously heavy duty hoist or a forklift with some chains is needed and a degree in figuring out how the hell they thought this was a good idea is quite important. As is a oxy torch for freeing stuck things. I helped him out a few times and it wasnt fun in the slightest.

Worth it though when you drive it into a river.

[Justayellowbadge]

Chris, you must have known what was going to happen when you put that thing in the story!

[Chris-R]

Justayellowbadge said:

Chris, you must have known what was going to happen when you put that thing in the story!

Staying O/T is so not 'Friday'.

[G524]

Anyone else think you all need to grow up? A thread about Ferraris in flash hotels and all you wanna do is drive a big-green territory-taker into a pond? I mean, I do too, but you lot disgust me...