Another Spring, another Pride Of Longbridge Rally. ;D
I was supposed to be spending a weekend down at A52, unfortunately I've a family party to attend tonight so my plans were scuppered. Somewhat fortuitously however, the PoL takes place just a 10-minute drive from home...so, finding myself at an unexpected loose end for the day, I nipped up over The Lickeys for a few hours in the sunshine with my camera.
That's what I like to see. A sea of gleaming metal in the morning sun stretched out before me as i walked across the park.
There's something about a Mini on 10"s. Especially when it's a gennie 1275GT.
The 200 Tourer was for my money one of the best-looking estate cars ever made. This one looked superb, packing 200 Turbo power too.
A Cowley interloper. I absolutely LOVE late-30's and post-war tin like this. I'm 50 in just three years' time and I've promised myself something special to celebrate. Something like this would suit me to a tee.
Proof (if it's needed) that life 40 years ago was taken at a much slower pace. Can you imagine this being of any use catching crims in this day and age? LOL
Gorgeous unmolested MGC on steel rims, just how I like 'em.
The humble Mini Clubman has always been viewed as a poor relation. Christ knows why, I'd take one over a 'proper' round-front anytime. Especially in Bronze Yellow.
'66 registered (but built 10 years earlier) Austin Champ, with HUGE Rolls-Royce designed B40 2.8 litre four-banger under the bonnet. They had a five-speed gearbox with reverse incorporated into the rear diff. So they had a full five in reverse as well!!
You've gotta love this wife-swappertastic '71 J4 camper. Looks great just as it is, but would look even better hit with the lowering stick. I remember when these were a common sight on Birmaingham's roads, everybody and his uncle had a J4 when I was a nipper.
Dunno what was under the bonnet of this early Wolseley Hornet, but whatever it was it was packing an LCB and sounded like it could give those Yokos a good workout.
Love for the Unloved, anyone? The Austin 3-litre was a parts-bin special using the mid-section of the Austin 1800, but RWD with a massive OHV straight-six slugger up front. Produced from 1967-1971 but less than 10,000 were ever sold. A huge behemoth of a car that encapsulates everything that went wrong with the British motor industry in the 1960's. For that reason alone I'd love one.
Another Cowley interloper. Difficult to believe now that this was the No.1 best-selling car in the UK right through the 1960's. I've driven quite a few over the years, they are a delight to drive.
Now these have always been rare. The Austin A40 Sport was debuted at the Motor Show in 1949 and went into production the following year. The bodyshell was built by Jensen at West Bromwich (who designed it, too) and the shells were transported to Longbridge for assembly. Based on standard A40 mechanicals which meant a 1200cc B-Series (only with twin carbs), 4-speed manual gearbox and massive chassis. the resulting heft meant a top speed of about 75mph and a 0-60 time of just under 26 seconds. 4011 examples were bult before production ended in 1953.
Gorgeous Series 1 A40.
My neighbours made the trip over The Lickeys, too....in Jess's superb A55 Kustom. Drew many admiring glances in amongst the usual nose-thumbing from the rivet-counters. ;D
Another relative rarity (over here anyway), the Austin Metropolitan. Built by Austin exclusively for the US/Canadian markets where they were sold under the Nash banner. Almost 100,000 found homes across the Atlantic between 1953 and 1962. In addition to those, 9500 were sold in Europe as Austins between 1957-59 and 1960-61.
Nice line-up of Minis enjoying the Birmingham sunshine. It was very, very busy as you can see.
Minty-fresh pov-spec Maestro.
Here's one for MM!! Hustler drew plenty of admirers all day.
What every young driver wanted in 1982. OK maybe not, but MG Metros were fine cars.
And finally...a glimpse into the future.
Want more? Go here: www.flickr.com/photos/damaged23/sets/72157626509962066/
I was supposed to be spending a weekend down at A52, unfortunately I've a family party to attend tonight so my plans were scuppered. Somewhat fortuitously however, the PoL takes place just a 10-minute drive from home...so, finding myself at an unexpected loose end for the day, I nipped up over The Lickeys for a few hours in the sunshine with my camera.
That's what I like to see. A sea of gleaming metal in the morning sun stretched out before me as i walked across the park.
There's something about a Mini on 10"s. Especially when it's a gennie 1275GT.
The 200 Tourer was for my money one of the best-looking estate cars ever made. This one looked superb, packing 200 Turbo power too.
A Cowley interloper. I absolutely LOVE late-30's and post-war tin like this. I'm 50 in just three years' time and I've promised myself something special to celebrate. Something like this would suit me to a tee.
Proof (if it's needed) that life 40 years ago was taken at a much slower pace. Can you imagine this being of any use catching crims in this day and age? LOL
Gorgeous unmolested MGC on steel rims, just how I like 'em.
The humble Mini Clubman has always been viewed as a poor relation. Christ knows why, I'd take one over a 'proper' round-front anytime. Especially in Bronze Yellow.
'66 registered (but built 10 years earlier) Austin Champ, with HUGE Rolls-Royce designed B40 2.8 litre four-banger under the bonnet. They had a five-speed gearbox with reverse incorporated into the rear diff. So they had a full five in reverse as well!!
You've gotta love this wife-swappertastic '71 J4 camper. Looks great just as it is, but would look even better hit with the lowering stick. I remember when these were a common sight on Birmaingham's roads, everybody and his uncle had a J4 when I was a nipper.
Dunno what was under the bonnet of this early Wolseley Hornet, but whatever it was it was packing an LCB and sounded like it could give those Yokos a good workout.
Love for the Unloved, anyone? The Austin 3-litre was a parts-bin special using the mid-section of the Austin 1800, but RWD with a massive OHV straight-six slugger up front. Produced from 1967-1971 but less than 10,000 were ever sold. A huge behemoth of a car that encapsulates everything that went wrong with the British motor industry in the 1960's. For that reason alone I'd love one.
Another Cowley interloper. Difficult to believe now that this was the No.1 best-selling car in the UK right through the 1960's. I've driven quite a few over the years, they are a delight to drive.
Now these have always been rare. The Austin A40 Sport was debuted at the Motor Show in 1949 and went into production the following year. The bodyshell was built by Jensen at West Bromwich (who designed it, too) and the shells were transported to Longbridge for assembly. Based on standard A40 mechanicals which meant a 1200cc B-Series (only with twin carbs), 4-speed manual gearbox and massive chassis. the resulting heft meant a top speed of about 75mph and a 0-60 time of just under 26 seconds. 4011 examples were bult before production ended in 1953.
Gorgeous Series 1 A40.
My neighbours made the trip over The Lickeys, too....in Jess's superb A55 Kustom. Drew many admiring glances in amongst the usual nose-thumbing from the rivet-counters. ;D
Another relative rarity (over here anyway), the Austin Metropolitan. Built by Austin exclusively for the US/Canadian markets where they were sold under the Nash banner. Almost 100,000 found homes across the Atlantic between 1953 and 1962. In addition to those, 9500 were sold in Europe as Austins between 1957-59 and 1960-61.
Nice line-up of Minis enjoying the Birmingham sunshine. It was very, very busy as you can see.
Minty-fresh pov-spec Maestro.
Here's one for MM!! Hustler drew plenty of admirers all day.
What every young driver wanted in 1982. OK maybe not, but MG Metros were fine cars.
And finally...a glimpse into the future.
Want more? Go here: www.flickr.com/photos/damaged23/sets/72157626509962066/
