A 'period' classics pictures thread (Mk III)
Discussion
P5BNij said:
Some more bits and bobs - this one is giving Mrs.P5B nightmares, her Dad had two Allegros as company cars in the '70s which were terminally unreliable and badly put together, I know BL knocking is a tiresome cliche but in some cases it was true enough...
Love that! Green 'DEMON TWEEKS RACING' sunstrip ...on an Allegro!
I had one of those (sunstrips), never stuck it on. Shell Sport ones were much, much more 'cool'.
Re BL knocking.
My dad started work at Cowley (Pressed Steel Company) in 1940 - (like many at that point in time, he went for the money) he gave up his first job in accountancy (bloody fool) just prior to his being called up to the RAF. He was fantastic with figures, unlike me (unless it's curvaceous ones!).
I may have repeated some of this in the last 22+ yrs I've been on here, but my age excuses me if I have.
Dad spent 38yrs at Cowley, ending as an inspector on the lines from 1970, constantly stopping it and getting into hot water with management.
Wielding his large home-made (in the factory) chisel he would cheerfully 'pop' the many piss-poor spot welds etc. He'd tell me over the dinner table about how 'half of 'em couldn't weld if they tried' - the old no protection, and 'look away' as they welded. Re the Princess he said: 'They called me in and told me to just let them go out' (thumping the table) he carried on 'bloody unbelievable - one fast corner and the door pillars and seams will probably part.' (or words to that effect!)
I've no idea if it ever happened, they probably rotted before the welds popped. I still have his trusty chisel somewhere. And his Smith's Astral gold watch given to him in 1965 after 25 yrs service.
He collapsed and died just as he was entering 'A' building, the morning after we'd celebrated his 56th birthday in 1978. He'd driven 3 other workmates that morning, like he did every day, the 31 miles round trip from home in his 1750 Maxi. One of his pals (a Polish RAF mate) who had walked in with him tried his utmost to save dad, but sadly all in vain. The 3 workmates could all count themselves extremely lucky in a way that it didn't happen while he was driving them there.
I am a bit of a believer in fate (others call it coincidence).
25 years later our car-mad son (think I'm partly to blame for that!) had finished his schooling and secured a place at Coventry Uni, automotive course. We'd gone up and looked around at everything, including the crap bedsit etc. We (that's me and his mum) now had clear visions of the bank of mum and dad emptying. We'd all returned home, sat down chatting when I put the local radio on. Almost the first thing mentioned was that BMW (Mini) Cowley were urgently seeking some new automotive apprentices. Son looked actually interested. We almost prayed: 'Please apply!' He did.
He then came and gave us the news that there were over 1,000 applicants ... but for just 6 apprenticeships.
Long story shorter. He succeeded in getting one of them!
On his first day I told him to drive carefully, and to let me or his mum know when he got there.
I got the call and his words were:
'Hi dad, I'm here, arrived safely, I'm just walking in now through 'A' Building.'
Late dad's Smiths Astral
Edited by dandarez on Sunday 8th January 22:20
While I was typing that last post, I've been looking through tons of the stuff I've accumulated over many years. Just noted a small box with some slides in. Blimey! I'd forgotten totally about these trannies. Kodachrome, but tiddly ones (pics). Think it was 110 size? I seem to recall buying film rolls of 110 too. Wonder where they are, and what's on them?
Pick up one of the small trannies. What's on this I thought, dated 1981?
So small it's hard to see, so put one up against a light bulb and hey ho, all comes rushing back. I'd just bought my Ginetta G11 a few weeks earlier and decided to take it along to one of the local Ginetta meetings (about 30 miles away), taking our newborn daughter - if I recall in her cot (christ knows how we got that in the car!). Different times but great memories.
I need to get them done properly now. And check what's on the rest.
I just showed the slide (a pic of it taken on my iphone) to my wife who quick as a flash informs me that our daughter at this point was 5 months old. And yes, she says, the cot was on the back shelf. Bloody hell!
She just added: 'There, that's me to the left holding our little bundle of joy... while I was being chatted up.'
Pics of the slides taken on my mobile to show. (what's that white car in the background? MG?)
Pick up one of the small trannies. What's on this I thought, dated 1981?
So small it's hard to see, so put one up against a light bulb and hey ho, all comes rushing back. I'd just bought my Ginetta G11 a few weeks earlier and decided to take it along to one of the local Ginetta meetings (about 30 miles away), taking our newborn daughter - if I recall in her cot (christ knows how we got that in the car!). Different times but great memories.
I need to get them done properly now. And check what's on the rest.
I just showed the slide (a pic of it taken on my iphone) to my wife who quick as a flash informs me that our daughter at this point was 5 months old. And yes, she says, the cot was on the back shelf. Bloody hell!
She just added: 'There, that's me to the left holding our little bundle of joy... while I was being chatted up.'
Pics of the slides taken on my mobile to show. (what's that white car in the background? MG?)
Blimey, that's a challenge. At first I thought BGT, but the rear arch is the wrong shape.
Likewise I think the grille and headlights.
So now I'm doubtful.
ETA: fantastic reminiscences of your Dad by the way. It must have been a terrible shock when he suddenly went out like that.
Likewise I think the grille and headlights.
So now I'm doubtful.
ETA: fantastic reminiscences of your Dad by the way. It must have been a terrible shock when he suddenly went out like that.
Edited by Error_404_Username_not_found on Sunday 8th January 23:36
On the BL/BMC knocking theme I think there might be an anomalous exception with the MG Midget/AH Sprite sisters.
Granted they were of rather different construction, with a very sturdy three dimensional tub but there are an astonishing number of survivors.
A quick check of "How many left? " suggests there are currently around 11 thousand licenced which is extraordinary, considering the great majority were exported.
Mine is one of the last produced (1978) but has virtually no rust.
The happy knock on effect is that they are the cheapest way into classic British sportscar ownership. They always were - even when new.
They have their weaknesses for sure. They're a bit prone to stress cracking at the antiroll bar mounts for example, but they're generally easy to fix and maintain.
Granted they were of rather different construction, with a very sturdy three dimensional tub but there are an astonishing number of survivors.
A quick check of "How many left? " suggests there are currently around 11 thousand licenced which is extraordinary, considering the great majority were exported.
Mine is one of the last produced (1978) but has virtually no rust.
The happy knock on effect is that they are the cheapest way into classic British sportscar ownership. They always were - even when new.
They have their weaknesses for sure. They're a bit prone to stress cracking at the antiroll bar mounts for example, but they're generally easy to fix and maintain.
I dunno about singling BL out, I was in the motor trade in the early eighties and there was a lot of mid-late seventies stuff of all makes on the used car pitch. It was pretty much all garbage from the big three, Ford, Vauxhall, BL. Non starters and rot being the main things, especially on the Fords, A three year old Granada 2.0GL in white which I sold failed it's first MOT on rotten sills. Tbf, so did a R5 too.
Milkyway said:
I met a chap with an immaculate restored Thames Trader flatbed. Capable of cruising at 60mph, on dual carriageways he took great delight in overtaking all the modern trucks stuck against their 56mph speed limiters 
With their unaerodynamic box bodies, doubt whether these "Foster's" Traders could go that fast...
dandarez said:
While I was typing that last post, I've been looking through tons of the stuff I've accumulated over many years. Just noted a small box with some slides in. Blimey! I'd forgotten totally about these trannies. Kodachrome, but tiddly ones (pics). Think it was 110 size? I seem to recall buying film rolls of 110 too. Wonder where they are, and what's on them?
Pick up one of the small trannies. What's on this I thought, dated 1981?
So small it's hard to see, so put one up against a light bulb and hey ho, all comes rushing back. I'd just bought my Ginetta G11 a few weeks earlier and decided to take it along to one of the local Ginetta meetings (about 30 miles away), taking our newborn daughter - if I recall in her cot (christ knows how we got that in the car!). Different times but great memories.
I need to get them done properly now. And check what's on the rest.
I just showed the slide (a pic of it taken on my iphone) to my wife who quick as a flash informs me that our daughter at this point was 5 months old. And yes, she says, the cot was on the back shelf. Bloody hell!
She just added: 'There, that's me to the left holding our little bundle of joy... while I was being chatted up.'
Pics of the slides taken on my mobile to show. (what's that white car in the background? MG?)
The white car is an MGBGT just like the one I had at about the same time. It was a 71 on a J Reg had the black recessed grille. My brother had a yellow G15 like the black one in the middle. You wouldn't get a cot in that! Pick up one of the small trannies. What's on this I thought, dated 1981?
So small it's hard to see, so put one up against a light bulb and hey ho, all comes rushing back. I'd just bought my Ginetta G11 a few weeks earlier and decided to take it along to one of the local Ginetta meetings (about 30 miles away), taking our newborn daughter - if I recall in her cot (christ knows how we got that in the car!). Different times but great memories.
I need to get them done properly now. And check what's on the rest.
I just showed the slide (a pic of it taken on my iphone) to my wife who quick as a flash informs me that our daughter at this point was 5 months old. And yes, she says, the cot was on the back shelf. Bloody hell!
She just added: 'There, that's me to the left holding our little bundle of joy... while I was being chatted up.'
Pics of the slides taken on my mobile to show. (what's that white car in the background? MG?)
dandarez said:
While I was typing that last post, I've been looking through tons of the stuff I've accumulated over many years. Just noted a small box with some slides in. Blimey! I'd forgotten totally about these trannies. Kodachrome, but tiddly ones (pics). Think it was 110 size? I seem to recall buying film rolls of 110 too. Wonder where they are, and what's on them?
Pick up one of the small trannies. What's on this I thought, dated 1981?
So small it's hard to see, so put one up against a light bulb and hey ho, all comes rushing back. I'd just bought my Ginetta G11 a few weeks earlier and decided to take it along to one of the local Ginetta meetings (about 30 miles away), taking our newborn daughter - if I recall in her cot (christ knows how we got that in the car!). Different times but great memories.
I need to get them done properly now. And check what's on the rest.
I just showed the slide (a pic of it taken on my iphone) to my wife who quick as a flash informs me that our daughter at this point was 5 months old. And yes, she says, the cot was on the back shelf. Bloody hell!
She just added: 'There, that's me to the left holding our little bundle of joy... while I was being chatted up.'
Pics of the slides taken on my mobile to show. (what's that white car in the background? MG?)
I could happily read about this stuff all day, ditto your Dad's story above it Pick up one of the small trannies. What's on this I thought, dated 1981?
So small it's hard to see, so put one up against a light bulb and hey ho, all comes rushing back. I'd just bought my Ginetta G11 a few weeks earlier and decided to take it along to one of the local Ginetta meetings (about 30 miles away), taking our newborn daughter - if I recall in her cot (christ knows how we got that in the car!). Different times but great memories.
I need to get them done properly now. And check what's on the rest.
I just showed the slide (a pic of it taken on my iphone) to my wife who quick as a flash informs me that our daughter at this point was 5 months old. And yes, she says, the cot was on the back shelf. Bloody hell!
She just added: 'There, that's me to the left holding our little bundle of joy... while I was being chatted up.'
Pics of the slides taken on my mobile to show. (what's that white car in the background? MG?)
On the BL thing, they were generally no worse than any other make really, by the mid to late '70s most of my teachers had started dabbling with French, Italian and Japanese stuff and they rusted away just the same as the home grown cars. I do like a lot of BL's output though, I've had far too many Minis over the years and six Rovers but still fancy a Stag, an MGB / C, or a Dolly Sprint some day. My Dad's boss had a run of V8 P6s and Triumph 2000s / 2500s right through the '70s and they all had 'something' about them. Various aunts, uncles and older cousins had BL, Ford and the odd Vauxhall product, some of the Fords were quick and handled quite well, but rotted just as quickly too. My Uncle Mac died in his brand new Mk1 3 litre Granada when a cement lorry ran through a red light at speed and cut his car in half. One of my aunts had three Granadas - two saloons and a Coupe, the latter looked the business whenever she pulled up outside our house in it.
BL's plant at Burlington, Canada i n1972...
21st Century Man said:
I dunno about singling BL out, I was in the motor trade in the early eighties and there was a lot of mid-late seventies stuff of all makes on the used car pitch. It was pretty much all garbage from the big three, Ford, Vauxhall, BL. Non starters and rot being the main things, especially on the Fords, A three year old Granada 2.0GL in white which I sold failed it's first MOT on rotten sills. Tbf, so did a R5 too.
A friend of mine (now departed) used to PDI new Fords in the late seventies: He said that German built cars such as the Mark 2 Granada, Mark 3 Capri and Cortinas built there when Dagenham were on strike were good and needed next to nothing doing. According to him Mark 3 Cortinas were generally crap - panel fit, paint runs, tracking, headlight aim and instruments just not working. He needed about three hours to get one up to a decent standard. Before that he was at a Rootes Chrysler dealer and Avengers, Hunters etc were just as bad.
I-am-the-reverend said:
A friend of mine (now departed) used to PDI new Fords in the late seventies: He said that German built cars such as the Mark 2 Granada, Mark 3 Capri and Cortinas built there when Dagenham were on strike were good and needed next to nothing doing.
According to him Mark 3 Cortinas were generally crap - panel fit, paint runs, tracking, headlight aim and instruments just not working. He needed about three hours to get one up to a decent standard. Before that he was at a Rootes Chrysler dealer and Avengers, Hunters etc were just as bad.
I worked at a Ford dealer from 1984 until 1995. The above is 100% true, any Ford product made in the UK was very shoddy with lots of warranty claims for paint rectifications and mechanical's before the vehicles were even registered i.e., at PDI. According to him Mark 3 Cortinas were generally crap - panel fit, paint runs, tracking, headlight aim and instruments just not working. He needed about three hours to get one up to a decent standard. Before that he was at a Rootes Chrysler dealer and Avengers, Hunters etc were just as bad.
As employees at the Dealership the first thing we ever did when we were buying any new or used cars was to open the bonnet and see where it was built. I remember owning and selling many Fords and complete bargains would be 'overlooked' if made at Dagenham/Liverpool.
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