bus – WrAnTz

Shannon’s Classic Car Show

Shannons are an insurance company, in Australia, providing Car Insurance, Motorcycle Insurance, and Home Insurance products for motoring enthusiasts who drive imported, modified, classic, veteran or vintage cars.

Each year they host a classic car show. Somehow, despite numerous visits to Perth over the years, I have failed to hear anything about the show. Until now, that is.

Which is how I came to spend around three and a half hours of this past Sunday, being totally surrounded by some of the most amazing classic, veteran and vintage vehicles.

Well OK, I did take a break during that time. One does have to keep body and soul together and a fabulous Brisket Burger, courtesy of “Up In Smoke”, helped with that task.

The show presented a vast array of vehicles. As soon as I had paid my $10 entry fee I found myself surrounded by several Lamborghinis

…. I still think the Miura P400 is the best looking Lambo. No sign of one at this show.

But who wants to waste time looking at high tech super cars …

… when there are classic Volvos. Who remembers The Saint, starring Roger Moore as Simon Templar in his white P1800.

… or Fiats … My wife and I used to own a dark blue Fiat 128. It took us, with two daughters, all the way from Portsmouth in the UK, down to Port Grimaud in the south of France where we toured around Cannes, Nice, St Tropez and Frejus. A glorious two weeks.

… and VWs … Note the strange protuberance on the side of the Herbie lookalike. It’s not a rocket booster but a retro-fit air conditioner. Working in much the same way as the evaporative air conditioners used on many Australian homes.

… no Classic Car Show would be complete without Citroen, responsible for some of the most innovative, technologically advanced cars. And, at the same time producing some of the, mechanically, simplistic vehicles that became iconic in their own right.

… 3 Wheelers like the Messerschmitt, with its aircraft cockpit bubble and even an aircraft style yoke to steer by. The Isetta could be driven in the UK on a motorcycle license, because it was classified as a three wheel motorcycle. I did note the absence of Rodney and Del Boys vehicle of choice, the Reliant. I guess WA is a little too far from Peckham for Trotters Independent Trading Co.

… a few Rileys with their gorgeous curves.

… a few fabulous Austin Healeys. As a school boy I used to lust after a 3000 that I would see regularly in Battle High Street. It was aubergine in colour and had a roll cage, wide wheels and leather straps to hold the bonnet down. The typical “Frog Eye” Sprite was a bit girly by comparison.

… there were a few Fords … what is there to say. Cars for every man. Although not everyman wanted to have the same as everyone else. Hence the many uprated, sporty customisations. I have to say I never thought I would see a Mustang towing a trailer. Especially not a trailer made out of another Mustang. Sacrilege !!!

… Chrysler were well represented by the R & S series Valliants

Never too old to learn something new. I was informed, by a very friendly fella, that the Slant 6 Engine is really a thing. Until Sunday, I had never heard of such a thing. Apparently the Slant 6 enabled the cars designers to achieve a lover profile for the bodywork.

… There was a strong showing from the Holden camp. Many examples especially given the recent news that Holden are ceasing production . My favourite is shown below.

… no show is complete without a Cobra or two ….

Of course it is hard to tell an original, from a replica licensed as a Shelby authorised continuation of the original AC-built Cobra series. Whatever they may be, they are fabulous looking cars.

Of course I could go on throwing up image after image of classic cars but that isn’t all that was available here.

There were trucks …

… Busses … apparently the City Clipper used to offer free rides around Perth city. Interesting that Luxembourg has just announced free public transport in a bid to alleviate traffic congestion. It remains to be seen if the scheme works. Nice to know that Perth was such an innovator, back in the day.

I’ve already shown you a VW camper of sorts. Here are a couple of other campers.

And finally, something most unexpected …. Perambulators ….. Prams !!!. I remember my sisters being pushed around in something similar. No collapsible buggies back then. Definitely not car friendly.

I have many more photos. If you are interested they are available on my Flickr Photostream

Classic Car Sunday – Goodwood

Last Sunday, the Goodwood Motor Racing Circuit held the latest episode of their popular Breakfast Club series. These meets, as mentioned in a previous post, are held on the first Sunday of every month. And best of all, entry is ticketed, but free.

Once again, thanks to the prolonged dry spell that the UK is experiencing, the weather was perfect. Blue cloudless skies allowing the bright sunshine to show of the varied paint finishes and, in some cases, the imperfections.

Here are just some of the photos I captured. First up a selection of vehicles, presented by the Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre.

A Pair of Leyland Titan Buses – On the left and example from 1965, the one on the right is one from 1964

Bedford – 1936

Southdown Motor Services ran bus and coach services throughout East and West Sussex. The company was formed in 1915.

I guess there may be a slight delay while the “great British workman” has a tea break.

1969 Morris Mini Van – In the livery of Yarty Cordials

Austin A4 – In rally trim.

If my memory serves me right, the Austin A40 was the first British hatchback.

One of the most iconic of British marques is the Aston Martin. To be honest, there were so many Astons on display, I became a little blasé so I chose to post just this example, because of the fabulous colour.

1966 Aston Martin DB6 Vantage

The same was to become true for the number Jaguar E-types. Don’t get me wrong, I love to see them and I am really pleased to see so many classic cars being lovingly looked after.

But ever onwards, so much more to see and not all high end or high performance. For example…

1955 Ford Thunderbird

1950 Cadillac 61 Series – DW Racing Livery

1955 Ford Thunderbird

1986 Citroen 2CV

Austin Gypsy

1950 Cadillac 61 Series – DW Racing Livery

1958 Fiat Abarth 750

1966 Unipower

1955 Lotus Six

BMV 3.0 CSL

1955 Ford Thunderbird

1950 Cadillac “Le Monstre” Tribute

1955 Ford Thunderbird

1958 Fiat Abarth 750

As I said above, not all of the vehicles on display are of the performance variety. Many, like the Ford Anglia “danglebox” below, were the cars that youngsters of my era started out in. And just like the young of today, we were not averse to “pimping” our rides. Fat tyres, lowered suspension, flared wheel arches etc. etc.

1987 Ford GT40

1968 Triumph TR5

2016 Superformance GT40

1961 Ford Anglia

1959 Austin Metropolitan

1967 Austin Healey 3000 Mk III

1959 Austin Metropolitan

The Austin Healy 3000, was my favourite “sports car” of all time. As a teenager, living in Battle, back in the mid-sixties, I used to see an aubergine 3000 with fat tyres, roll bars and bonnet straps. I really thought it was the business. And it has stuck with me right thru to my mid-sixties.

Sometimes, when the mood, light, atmosphere is just right a car will grab you. This, for me was the car of the day although the folks that were judging todays entries thought otherwise. What do they know ?

Bentley 4.25 litre Tourer

1938 62 Bentley 4.25 litre Tourer

This car has presence, poise, curves, is simply put, just beautiful.

1965 Gordon Keeble

1973 Jensen Healey

1948 Land Rover

1929 Ford Model A ?

1966 MG Magnette

1965 Gordon Keeble

1973 Lotus Elan plus 2

1962 Sunbeam Rapier

1966 MG Magnette

2016 Superformance GT40

Who remembers Barracuda by Heart , well here is the car. And, yes, I know it is also a fish with very sharp teeth. Looking under the “hood” I’m pretty sure this car has the automotive equivalent of teeth.

1970 Plymouth Baracuda

We had arrived at around 07:30 and the number of display cars kept on growing. From a photo stand point we aren’t even half way round. It’s interesting as we stroll along, how often we are saying stuff like “my Dad had one of those” or “that was my first car” or “we had one of those in blue” etc. etc. etc. A real nostalgia trip.

1959 Porsche 356

1957 Austin A35 – Somewhat modified !!

1969 VW Karmann Ghia

1924 Bugatti Type 35 – A Veyron prototype ?

1969 Ford Cortina Mk2

1967 Fiat 500

1969 VW Karmann Ghia

I should point out that Goodwood is an active airfield, so an unexpected bonus was a number of planes flying in and out. Including these …

But, hey, this post is about automobiles, so back to the main event …

2003 DAX Cobra

1935 Bentley

1965 Austin Westminster Mk II

1970 Morris Minor – Far from original with a Rover 3.5L fitted

1974 Citroen DS

1972 Jaguar E-Type

1947 Bentley

1950 Bentley

1974 Citroen DS

1970 Morris Minor – Far from original with a Rover 3.5L fitted

1968 Jaguar E-Type

1952 Citroen Traction Avant

1939 Oldsmobile

1964 Austin A40 & 1957 Austin A35

1965 VW Camper

Alvis

1965 Ford Mustang

2003 DAX Cobra

1939 Alvis Speed 25 ?

1958 Austin Healey Sprite

1965 Austin Westminster Mk II

1935 Bentley

1968 Porsche 911

1967 Chevrolet Corvette

1953 Riley RM

1935 Bentley

As you can see from the photos, the variety of vehicles on display was vast. The selection that I am posting here is just a fraction of the shots I took and is really only a taster of the caliber of this event.

1958 MG Magnette

1974 Morris Marina TC

1965 Alfa Romeo Giulia

1954 Jaguar XK120

1955 Triumph TR2

1970 Dodge Coronet

1965 Pontiac Bonneville

An Ageing Moddy Boy

1965 Pontiac Bonneville

1962 Lancia Flaminia Sport

1963 Alfa Romeo Giulia

Ford Capri

1949 Dodge Pickup

1969 Triumph Herald 13/60

1973 Hillman Imp – Heavily modified

And that is it folks. I hope I haven’t bored you with number of images. I am just amazed and the quality of the vehicles on display. The condition and finish is just a surface visual indication of the love that their owners lavish on them. We musn’t forget the mechanics underneath that classic bodywork.

I thank the owners for bringing their pride and joy along for my pleasure and I also thank the folks that organise these breakfast meets.

The next breakfast meet is Japanese Sunday, on October 7th. I hope to be there, let’s hope the weather is kind again.

Amberly Museum

On Sunday we visited Amberley Museum & Heritage Centre and took a trip down memory lane. The weather was kind unlike the previous Saturday and the following Monday. Here are a few photo’s to give you a feel for this venue if you have never visited before.

One of numerous Swallows that have taken up residence in and around the Amberley buildings.

Aveling-Barford Road Roller 758, “Gisela” Built in 1946. How many of you, like me, remember these fabulous beasts rumbling down the road and the smell of fresh, hot, tarmac being laid ?

Being a Sussex lad, I have ridden on many busses bearing the distinctive Southdown livery.

During my pre-teens our local garage, in Westfield, was very much like this.

Tickets Please

Exclusive: Bus is just the ticket for traffic cops | AOL Cars UK.

It seems that all’s “fare” in the war on the UKs motorists. Earlier in the year we had HGVs being used to catch delinquent truck drivers. Now Hampshire police are using a bus to give them a height advantage to see what motorists are up to.

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