Classics left to die/rotting pics
Discussion
Pat H said:
Huntsman said:
Dutton Melos?
Scorehill Magic, methinks.Mid 1980s, started life based on a Marina/MGB, iirc.
The photo is from 2008, I think the car has moved since then.
Cheers.
Lots of great pics on here, thanx to all posters.
I used to love wandering round car scrapyards and looking at the older cars, and sitting in them to get maybe a feel of what they would have been like when newer. But I don't think that's allowed any more due to H&S. It's all hard-hats and fluorescent waistcoats and easily-findable ID.
Imagine sitting in a wreck of a Triumph 2500 estate, oh my, how dangerous is that! But we have to respect HEALTH AND SAfETY. Someone could step in a puddle.
I used to love wandering round car scrapyards and looking at the older cars, and sitting in them to get maybe a feel of what they would have been like when newer. But I don't think that's allowed any more due to H&S. It's all hard-hats and fluorescent waistcoats and easily-findable ID.
Imagine sitting in a wreck of a Triumph 2500 estate, oh my, how dangerous is that! But we have to respect HEALTH AND SAfETY. Someone could step in a puddle.
Edited by quiraing on Thursday 27th December 18:01
When you think back to the kind of things we did though (or saw people doing) - I've watched people stick a propshaft vertically under a sill to hold the car up while removing a gearbox, for example, or work under cars that seem to be held up by magic. Back then, though, if we'd cut ourselves on a sharp bit we'd be asking the owner for a bit of paper towel, not the phone number of their lawyers. [/nostalgia]
I remember climbing into a car on top of 2 others, felt very unstable.
It was 25+ years ago 'when things were different' and i was younger and less sensible!.
Also remember going to another scrappy and seeing a car that had been in a big accident. The scrappy told me very matter-of-factly "don't worry the inside is very 'clean' as the driver died instantly".
He then elaborated and said he preferred such cars as blood stains [of which you get more if the accident is non-fatal] put off buyers.............. Not half as much as knowing that there had been a fatality in my opinion.
It was 25+ years ago 'when things were different' and i was younger and less sensible!.
Also remember going to another scrappy and seeing a car that had been in a big accident. The scrappy told me very matter-of-factly "don't worry the inside is very 'clean' as the driver died instantly".
He then elaborated and said he preferred such cars as blood stains [of which you get more if the accident is non-fatal] put off buyers.............. Not half as much as knowing that there had been a fatality in my opinion.
quiraing said:
Lots of great pics on here, thanx to all posters.
I used to love wandering round car scrapyards and looking at the older cars, and sitting in them to get maybe a feel of what they would have been like when newer. But I don't think that's allowed any more due to H&S. It's all hard-hats and fluorescent waistcoats and easily-findable ID.
Imagine sitting in a wreck of a Triumph 2500 estate, oh my, how dangerous is that! But we have to respect HEALTH AND SAfETY. Someone could step in a puddle.
Could not agree with you more. We used to have a massive scrap yard near my house that had everything from modern boring machinery to loads of old classics, spent many a Sunday afternoon wandering around while getting some parts.I used to love wandering round car scrapyards and looking at the older cars, and sitting in them to get maybe a feel of what they would have been like when newer. But I don't think that's allowed any more due to H&S. It's all hard-hats and fluorescent waistcoats and easily-findable ID.
Imagine sitting in a wreck of a Triumph 2500 estate, oh my, how dangerous is that! But we have to respect HEALTH AND SAfETY. Someone could step in a puddle.
Edited by quiraing on Thursday 27th December 18:01
Nobody was every killed or hurt to my knowledge.
That place shut a few years ago due to EU meddling and crazy over zealous H&S, i miss it.
Hammer67 said:
100 IAN said:
I remember climbing into a car on top of 2 others, felt very unstable.
Yup, been there ~ I once took a door glass out of a TR7 which was swaying gently 4 cars up in a pile. I used to love trawling round scrapyards which, given the heaps I drove back then was fortunate. Hooli said:
I recall yanking on a spanner to undo strut-tops on a Mk3 Escort & pulling it off the top of a three car stack. If it'd slid the other way it'd have taken my legs as it landed
And who says we need health and safety. A chap I used to work with broke an arm in exactly those circumstances. Car he was taking bits off moved and trapped him, but it was the scrap man moving the car off that did his arm.I'm all for a bit of nostalgia, but removing bits 3 cars up and wobbling was always a bit dangerous. Now if only they had them all at ground level...
eccles said:
Hooli said:
I recall yanking on a spanner to undo strut-tops on a Mk3 Escort & pulling it off the top of a three car stack. If it'd slid the other way it'd have taken my legs as it landed
And who says we need health and safety. A chap I used to work with broke an arm in exactly those circumstances. Car he was taking bits off moved and trapped him, but it was the scrap man moving the car off that did his arm.I'm all for a bit of nostalgia, but removing bits 3 cars up and wobbling was always a bit dangerous. Now if only they had them all at ground level...
Additionally, unlike in the past when you worked under a scrap car, always risky, they have fabricated large frames so again you ask and they will place the car on the frame allowing plenty of access underneath in relative safety. They did this for me recently :~
MGJohn said:
Additionally, unlike in the past when you worked under a scrap car, always risky, they have fabricated large frames so again you ask and they will place the car on the frame allowing plenty of access underneath in relative safety. They did this for me recently :~
I'd have to say that with any other car that'd be fine but with a Rover you're still taking a massive gamble that it won't collapse in the middle a crush you! (It's just a joke people! - just a joke!)
MGJohn said:
eccles said:
Hooli said:
I recall yanking on a spanner to undo strut-tops on a Mk3 Escort & pulling it off the top of a three car stack. If it'd slid the other way it'd have taken my legs as it landed
And who says we need health and safety. A chap I used to work with broke an arm in exactly those circumstances. Car he was taking bits off moved and trapped him, but it was the scrap man moving the car off that did his arm.I'm all for a bit of nostalgia, but removing bits 3 cars up and wobbling was always a bit dangerous. Now if only they had them all at ground level...
Additionally, unlike in the past when you worked under a scrap car, always risky, they have fabricated large frames so again you ask and they will place the car on the frame allowing plenty of access underneath in relative safety. They did this for me recently :~
W***LUD bora, that would have likley been an ex VW demonstrator
Dad had W661 LUD a silver tdi
Back on scrapyards for a minute, I reckon they must lose some money when they convert to "off the shelf" instead of "rummage" yards. I can't count the number of times I used to visit my local yard looking for something, then when I couldn't find it, scout around and get something I could do the job with, sometimes off a completely different car. Or just buy something that I thought might be useful at some point in the future.
Gassing Station | Classic Cars and Yesterday's Heroes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff