A 'period' classics pictures thread (Mk II)

[Loose_Cannon]

P5BNij said:

So was it a "thing" for old grey haired instructors to hypnotize nervous female learner driversback in the 60s?

A job for Operation Yewtree there I think

[dandarez]

Loose_Cannon said:

P5BNij said:

So was it a "thing" for old grey haired instructors to hypnotize nervous female learner driversback in the 60s?

A job for Operation Yewtree there I think

Not quite.
The instructor was hypnotist, Henry Blythe who lived in Torquay - the girl learning to drive by his side was no less than his daughter, 17 yr old Sally Blythe, whom Henry had hypnotised. I believe she passed her test too!
Blythe later claimed to have aided nearly 50 other learner drivers through hypnotism.

[MikeT66]

Mk3 Cortinas were always a favourite car when I was a kid. Looking at the two recent models posted by P5BNij and RicksAlfas...





... were the square headlamps a trim level option, or was it a result of a 'facelift' version (if they even did such things back then)?

TYIA

Edited by MikeT66 on Tuesday 23 February 08:12

[Escort3500]

I think the rectangular headlights were part of a facelift package for certain versions mid-way through the Mk lll’s lifetime (1970-1976). I preferred the twin headlights of the previous version (GT, GXL etc).

[aeropilot]

Escort3500 said:

I think the rectangular headlights were part of a facelift package for certain versions mid-way through the Mk lll’s lifetime (1970-1976). I preferred the twin headlights of the previous version (GT, GXL etc).

Yep, rectangular headlamps were XL, 2000E and GT when they did the mid life facelift and interior changes in late '73(?)
The base models and L kept the two circular lights though...IIRC.

[MikeT66]

aeropilot said:

Escort3500 said:

I think the rectangular headlights were part of a facelift package for certain versions mid-way through the Mk lll’s lifetime (1970-1976). I preferred the twin headlights of the previous version (GT, GXL etc).

Yep, rectangular headlamps were XL, 2000E and GT when they did the mid life facelift and interior changes in late '73(?)
The base models and L kept the two circular lights though...IIRC.

Thanks chaps. And twin (round) headlamps were the best looking, I'd agree.

[P5BNij]

[RicksAlfas]

P5BNij said:

I hope he's got some sort of self-levelling on that!

[P5BNij]

P5BNij said:

1974....

I know it's bad form to quote your own posts but I've just found this - it's probably the same S1 XJ6 at Silverstone, briefly caught in the background in an episode of 'The New Avengers' from 1976....

[MikeT66]

P5BNij said:

P5BNij said:

1974....

I know it's bad form to quote your own posts but I've just found this - it's probably the same S1 XJ6 at Silverstone, briefly caught in the background in an episode of 'The New Avengers' from 1976....

If that's the clip where Steed overtakes a GP car, I remember it very well. Sadly not so much for the glorious modified XJ6 but the young 'timekeeper' in her somewhat scanty yellow outfit.

[aeropilot]

P5BNij said:

That's the way to treat a scabby old Mk.3 Cortina (that was actually probably not more than a couple of years old at the time)
Love the fact that he's running magnessium Minilites on the Cortina service barge as well......handy way of carrying extra spares for the rally car, being standard Ford fitment

[P5BNij]

Thrapston, Northamptonshire, c.1966....

[TarquinMX5]

P5BNij said:

What's with the blacked-out upper part of the headlights, an early form of anti-dazzle

[TarquinMX5]

aeropilot said:

Escort3500 said:

I think the rectangular headlights were part of a facelift package for certain versions mid-way through the Mk lll’s lifetime (1970-1976). I preferred the twin headlights of the previous version (GT, GXL etc).

Yep, rectangular headlamps were XL, 2000E and GT when they did the mid life facelift and interior changes in late '73(?)
The base models and L kept the two circular lights though...IIRC.

Correct (1974 model year, so late '73). I also preferred the twin set-up (ie 4)

[hidetheelephants]

TarquinMX5 said:

P5BNij said:

What's with the blacked-out upper part of the headlights, an early form of anti-dazzle

He's going(or has been) somewhere furrin where they drive on the WRONG side of the road and have their dipped headlamps pointing in the other direction, so furrin dibble may feel your collar if you don't correct this.

[TarquinMX5]

I saw the masking for driving on the WRONG side of the road (whoever came up with that idea " ooh, let's drive on the WRONG side, what a larf"), it was the additional masking across the top of the glass that was unusual. Not much actual lens left clear for the old sealed-beams to illuminate the sky (sorry, road) but at least there's a pair of auxilliary lamps (oh, wait a minute)

[TarquinMX5]

Is the Sofico Escort (/Cortina) Chris Schlater?

[RichB]

TarquinMX5 said:

P5BNij said:

What's with the blacked-out upper part of the headlights, an early form of anti-dazzle

I guess it's because the poor old Cortina i so far down on it's rear suspension that the headlamps are pointing at the stars. This saves dazzling pilots of airliners passing overhead!

[Lily the Pink]

P5BNij said:

What's the story behind Steed's XJC not having a vinyl roof. I'm sure I've heard the reaon, and could doubtless use a search engine if only such a thing existed, but for the edification of the wider audience ... ?

[Halmyre]

Lily the Pink said:

P5BNij said:

What's the story behind Steed's XJC not having a vinyl roof. I'm sure I've heard the reaon, and could doubtless use a search engine if only such a thing existed, but for the edification of the wider audience ... ?

It's an urban myth that the vinyl roof hid welds and filler and such; it was because the paint cracked as the roof flexed. So with decent paint you didn't need it - and the Broadspeed coupes didn't have vinyl roofs.