Every year for one day only my Land Rover becomes an ice cream van. I risk complicating my already rather serious hernia issues by hoofing a freezer into the back of the lorry, along with gazebos and all the other paraphernalia you need to cope with the unpredictable British summer.
I then drive down to my village green, park up and start flogging ice creams that Mrs R has assiduously been amassing over the previous weeks. All proceeds to the village hall fund of course. People don’t just turn up to buy our ice cream, oh no, there are bouncy castles and sports day races for the kids, but there are some awesome classics that really bring in the crowds.
Outside of Goodwood I would say that my village green attracts the most eclectic and impressive bunch of classics in the world. We have a military vehicle enthusiast in the village who has enough firepower in his back garden to launch a major coup. He brings in enough kit from mates to start, finish and tidy up after a retro third world war.
As well as tanks, WW2 Jeeps and Lightweight Land Rovers there is a whole bunch of properly obscure stuff like Gilberns, convertible Capris with V8 engines, Austin 7s, Armstrong Siddeleys, Reliant Robins... well Reliant Robin and a Daf.
There is the usual, E-types, MGs and Stags, but mostly it is the utterly unusual, plus motorbikes. Oh and tractors and lorries. It’s mind boggling, but sadly I am too busy being Mr Whippy to spend much time gawping. I can though see them in the distance and listen to the wonderful sounds they make.
So my point is, just what classics have you seen at a show or just down your road that has got you all excited this year?
Also I wonder just why you think that in this country we adore showing off our pieces of classic kit. Not in a flashy way, but in a sort of proud mum-and-dad fashion. Maybe you attend such events and if you do, I would love to know what your pride and joy is.
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Classic and exotic
The classics I have seen this summer include:
Ford F-150 (1960s) in immaculate black paint
Nissan Figaro in trade mark olive green
Volvo 240
Peugeot 205 GTI
Ford Sierra Cosworth
Renault 5 Turbo
VW 1. Camper Van 2. Beetle 3. Golf GTI Mk1
Exotic / future classics
Toyota MR2 - not really classic but discontinued
Audi R8 - not classic but still worth a mention
Love for Classic cars
Going back 43 years, my cousin & two brothers shared an apartment in Holland Park.
The cars owned by them and myself are all classics today:-
1. One brother owned a Gordon Keeble, then a rarity, it had a 5.3 V8 from the Corvette of the period and was a Grand Tourer in the mould of the Jensen CV8.
2. The other brother owned a silver Aston Martin DB5.
3. My cousin owned a Race prepared Lotus Elan, that clacked its way around London on account of a fixed diffential
I owned a rare AC Ace 2.6 Ruddspeed - whose claim to fame occurred in the hands of John Bolster,who put the car through a hedge whilst on a road test (Autosport 7th July 1961). The AC was quicker than an E-Type to 80mph. 0-60 in 6 seconds.
Being biased, at that time, I considered that there was nothing to touch the hand beaten aluminium body of the AC.
Let me know what do you think?
Love for Classic cars @ RPrior
...interesting comments....
about 8 years ago I was considering selling my AC 289 as I wasnt getting enough use out of it...too hot...too wet...too many people travelling together etc, etc, and I considered a Gordon Keeble for a change...in fact the actual car in your photo (chassis 25 - CLL 651B) which was based near Midhurst!
I took it for a drive but was dissapointed. Dont know if it was just too much of a change from the AC...it felt like a quick XJ12- a bit barge like, but either way it didnt live up to my expectations ( I think the owner kept it in the end, he is an active member of the owners club and a jolly nice chap). Also the Historian of the Gordon Keeble club used to come to our local pub for supper on a regular basis in his immaculate and unmolested blue example.
It was/is still a big dissapointment as I really like the look of them.
The AC is a very pretty car, and of course the 289 is very similar to the Ace...before it got all big and bloated with the 427, and is now one of the fastest risers in value. The GK has taken a very long time to gather value which is amazing considering its pedigree and rarity (only 101 built I believe). I dont know why it has failed to increase in value so slowly...maybe there is some snobbery over the plastic body, the CV8 hasnt really hit the value heights either and that had a plastic body too -also Scimitars, Marcos's and Invaders.
Actually I used to know Jim Keeble when he had his car business near Ipswich...and at that time I had no idea that he was the 'Keeble' in Gordon Keeble!!...I understand now why he didnt mention it in conversation - I believe he had a pretty rough ride within the company during its various liquidity issues which left a bitter taste.
Aston Martins....I cant get excited about these anymore, in fact the DB6 was the last real Aston for me, and I didnt like that very much...too bloated and heavy.
My Father had a DB Mark 111, then a 4 before he decided they were getting too expensive and caving into my Mother by buying a family car (BMW 2000 tilux)..in those days most people had no idea wha a BMW was!!!
I think if I buy another classic it might be a later one (I need 4 seats now) so a mid eighties BMW M635 CSI might fit the bill. I used to sell them new in the Thatcher years. Still undervalued, so you dont need a mortgage to buy one - unlike AC's these days! Fantastic Grand Tourer, understated looks, marvellous engine...similar recipe to a GK but taughter and a bit more refined,
I am gradually talking myself into one!
@289 - The prettiest Cobra
Most interesting comment. The Cobra 289 closely followed the bodywork of its "parent", and I am sure that was every bit as nimble. I very much doubt that I would drive either car with the same level of verve that was applied in 1970.
My friend's Gordon Keeble was exchanged for a new E-Type at that time for precisely the reasons that you did not conclude a purchase. The GK was strictly a Grand Tourer and lacked handling finesse.
As for alternative classic cars, the BMW M635 CSi is a great drive, and I was immediately interested to review prices of top samples. Just why, the values of this car have been slow to rise is puzzling. A 36 000 mile example is currently being advertised for just under 20K (in Sussex).
Of similar vintage and configuration but perhaps more of a barge is the Mercedes 560 SEC. A friend in Kent owned one of these and it felt extremely well put together. Interestingly, an example of similar mileage to the 635 mentioned above was on offer for very similar money.
In conclusion. there are some bargain classic cars on the market, particularly in the period during which a desirable classic car has yet to acquire heady increase in values.
My AC Ace acquisition in 1968 cost me 600 pounds & now it is valued almost 25 times this sum...............
@RPrior The prettiest Cobra
Yes, it is a shame that the GK wasnt a more exciting drive...it certainly had the straight line punch though, and I am constantly drawn to the simplicity of small block V8's as they have a delightful character without the worries of highly stressed Italian V12's.
I always thought that Ace values would have to rise given the craziness surrounding the Cobras, and the Ruddspeed Ace is as good as it gets, particularly with the Bolster connection, and surely enough the values of Aces has leapt up...Aceca's too are on the move.
Unless you want to wrap up a great deal of cash in a classic it is too late to look at 60's 'blue chip' sports cars. potting the 80's future stars is now the thing, and I have a hunch the M635csi may be one of them.
You are right about the M-B 560SEC though, it was the darling of the F1 drivers in its time due to its continent crushing abilities. I have driven many of these as I used to run a Mercedes-Benz garage and they are a great car...for me though the M635 is prettier.
It seems all the atention on 80's BMW's has centered on the E30 M3 - deservedly so as its a great car, but BMW coupe's have always been slow to follow the market...even now CSL's struggle to make £40-40k unless they are a genuine Batmobile edition. So I see the CSI as a sleeper, I am not really worried if it ever 'wakes-up although it would be nice!
700 BBP
You sold it to me in September 1970. I still have it. If you want to talk about it or see it give me a ring on 01276 65823.
Excuse my ignorance, but what
Yep, it's a Gilbern Invader, I used to have an estate years ago, a brilliant motor, for it's day went like s*** of the proverbial shovel, handled well and had plenty of room, I loved it.