Great british cars-nostalgia

[Whitespirit66]

Austin Cambridge/Morris oxford, Humber Hawk and Super Snipe, Triumph Herald/ Vitesse, Ford Corsair, they were proper cars. In those days you only had to see one small part of the car and you knew what it was, now they all look the same.

Yes, all boring Euroboxes now. There are few cars that I find interesting that were made after the 80s.

On the subject of recognising cars, it wasn't just the looks that were distinctive, but the sound of them too. Examples that were easy to reconise were Moggie Minors with the distinctive exhaust noise, Triumph Heralds had a certain noise, Minis - different noise again. You could tell a Mk4 Cortina miles off, from the racket made by the worn cam.

 

[ICTRich]

Was this a Austin 1100 Countryman?

 

[Corgigrouch]

My pall is a serious Humber nut... He has a mixed bag of Humber Imperials and super Snipes... Even had a couple of very rare V8s, one with air con... He's recently bought one thats in Greece and has asked If I fancy flying out with him to pick it up and drive it back to blighty..

When running the Imperials more usual straight six is quieter and smoother than the Rolls Royce of the day and came with some quite good comforts such as a seperate heater for the rear passengers, blown rear window demister and selectable ride control that stiffened up the dampers from a switch on the dash... Not bad for a car older than I am

 

[Whitespirit66]

Always liked the series 3 Super Snipes (60s model with twin headlights). Good alternative to the Rover P5, except they didn't have that V8 engine.

 

[Corgigrouch]

These are the models that he collects.... There were plans for a V8 Imperial and he actually owned a Prototype that had been lord Rootes own vehicle and a pre production model. Each had a different American V8 but I can't remember which engines...But the one that he still has can still light up it's tyres and leave some pretty sporty modern cars behind on the straight. He also explains to me the differences between the Imperial and the Snipe but he starts to get a little too anorakie for me... I think it was the Imperial with twin headlamps and better interior

 

[Whitespirit66]

They used to put a 4.3 Yank Ford V8 in the Sunbeam Tiger (the hairy chested version of the hairdressers Alpine), so maybe this is what they put in the Imperial. Snipe had twin headlights too. The Imperial had vinyl roof, pas and electronically adjustable rear shocks.

Confirmed anorak.

 

[Diane2]

They used to put a 4.3 Yank Ford V8 in the Sunbeam Tiger (the hairy chested version of the hairdressers Alpine), so maybe this is what they put in the Imperial. Snipe had twin headlights too. The Imperial had vinyl roof, pas and electronically adjustable rear shocks.

Confirmed anorak.

how on earth do u remember all this stuff?

 

[sooey]

I was wondering that too.

 

[ICTRich]

Its called Google

 

[Whitespirit66]

how on earth do u remember all this stuff?

Mis-spent youth, lying under old cars, restoring them - ie. trying to weld new steel to rust. Had several classic cars, last one was a 1960 Rover P4, which I sold a couple of years ago. Also got an almost mint '86 Carlton (old original square shaped) 2.2 CDi in the garage gathering dust, low miles one previous owner - probably not a classic though. Always liked large British saloons - Rover, Jag, Humber, Vaux, Daimler, Triumph, etc, etc Don't seem to get the time these days, but never say never re. getting another old tank. Still a member of Rover car club and Vauxhall Opel Drivers Club.

With the Humber Imperial V8, it was lateral thinking. Mate restored a Tiger, so assumed they used the same engine in the Imperial. May be wrong.

Yes, anorak: guilty as charged.

(Also keeping this thread going as long as poss to annoy Pred. He couldn't believe how long it was going on, with people droning on about long-forgotten old relics. Only joking Preddy - us Bristol boys got to stick together. )

 

[pred]

Good one WS66, so a mis spent youth welding rust to steel, HA you try welding the exhaust on an 81 Fiat, you would have more success using blue tack or this "new" hot plastic welding gun, thinking of which, why did i not try silicon.

 

[ladylola]

HA you try welding the exhaust on an 81 Fiat, you would have more success using blue tack

The exhaust snapped in two once on my Bedford HA van when I was on holiday , so I repaired it with a guiness can I found in a ditch and some wire. It managed to last the rest of the week until I got home and did a proper repair. Can't remember if I welded it that time but I definately did weld the exhaust at some time in its's life.

 

[Whitespirit66]

Good one WS66, so a mis spent youth welding rust to steel, HA you try welding the exhaust on an 81 Fiat, you would have more success using blue tack or this "new" hot plastic welding gun, thinking of which, why did i not try silicon.

81 Fiat. Why did you do that to yourself?

Can relate to the life-saving surgery on knackered exhausts. The MOT inspector once commented on my artistic abilities, having 'sculpted' half a silencer out of exhaust repair putty. Passed it too.

 

[pred]

Sorry why did i do what to myself?

 

[Whitespirit66]

Buy a Fix It Again Tomorrow. (Fiat)

I can't speak, have a Scudo van.