Barrow Wheels: RESURRECTION!

[eddyramrod]

Spotted this rather nice Mini the other week...

An actual British Open Classic!

This is round the corner from me...

I haven't seen it move yet.

This one hasn't moved since it arrived around Christmas, either, and is sitting on a flat tyre...

We are living in White Van Alley round here, there are loads!    The little Connect I posted earlier has moved, but it's only round the corner, and hasn't turned a wheel since it was shifted.

[eddyramrod]

Out with my dog at teatime, and suddenly this is coming down the road...

[eddyramrod]

Remember this?

Well forget it now, it's disappeared.

Today I was out and about in the Volvo, and I caught a glimpse of a roofline, so I turned the car around and went back for a better look.  I thought, there are only two cars that could be, and I think I know which it is.  And I was right.

I loves me a Corsair, I does.  No idea why this was parked there, but there was a beavertail just behind it, and Barrow is a big banger town.  Considering it's 54 years old it looks pretty darn good, if a bit worn around the edges.  It'll be the 1700V4 Essex, which was the standard engine in contemporary Transits too.  The colour looks like Goodwood Green, the same colour my dad's brand new 1500 2dr was in 1964.  He was very disappointed with that car and only kept it a year, possibly less.  Much later I had a 2000E but by then they were worthless old bangers and delighted as I was, I didn't keep it long at all.  I'd love to have a crack at this one!

Oh and the other car it might have been?  Mk3 Zephyr, which is what my dad bought after his Corsair.  The roofline, especially at the rear, is very similar.

[eddyramrod]

Well... you never know what you're going to see, do you?  One day a gloriously shabby Corsair, the next day this!

That was unexpected!

[warninglight]

That's a rarity!

 

The Transit with modern motorhome body on the back is regularly around Ulverston, it's an interesting one.

[eddyramrod]

On 5/6/2021 at 11:38 PM, eddyramrod said:

Remember this?

Well forget it now, it's disappeared.

And it's back!

be

Back where I first papped it too, sporting a new (or more likely used) wing instead of the mangled one, so maybe someone cares for it after all.

Now then... way back in 1976-7 I did a year at art college, so I reckon I'm artistically-qualified enough to judge this, and pronounce upon it.

And the words I pronounce are: fuck me, what an offensive piece of shit!  I mean, what's right with it?  Someone please tell me, because I can't see any such element.

Much better a couple of streets away though:

This gets used often, as a daily, despite the owner also having a modern.  It's in jolly good shape, but slightly short of perfect.  Which therefore makes it perfect.

And one for the bike pervs among us!  This baby is in a showroom just across the main road from me.  They sometimes have the odd classic car too.

[bezzabsa]

my only experience of Barrow is delivering to the Big scary building, with them funny sinking boats in them....Oh and a diving bell to the industrial estate in the middle of the ringroad!! 

and spotting Rhino's on the way in too.....that was surreal!!

[eddyramrod]

There has been some more spotting today.  My writers' meeting was over by 4pm, so I went for a little drive in the sun.  Let's start where the green Corsair was (and still is)...

Sorry about the intrusive hedge, but this was the clearest photo I could get without venturing onto the property, and I'm no Bearded Explorer.  Hillman Minx on the back of the beavertail seen in the Corsair pics.  I do hope this chap isn't a bangerist.

All these photos were shot within maybe half a mile radius of the Corsair.

We all like an 800... note guest appearance from Famous Five!

Locust was right across the road from the Rover.

The Minis are multiplying....

Now a few years ago I noticed what I thought might be a Panther Kallista down this side road, but I was always driving on the main road that you can see across the background, so I could never check further (although I suppose I could have gone back on my own time; I just didn't until today).

Nope, not a Panther, and since I didn't read the badge I don't know what it actually is; some sort of kit, presumably Triumph-based.  On the driveway is an Arkley SS, a kit for your Spridget; and a Spridget beyond that wearing a period hardtop, which I think was by Lenham.  Nice little haul!

[warninglight]

1 hour ago, eddyramrod said:

Now a few years ago I noticed what I thought might be a Panther Kallista down this side road, but I was always driving on the main road that you can see across the background, so I could never check further (although I suppose I could have gone back on my own time; I just didn't until today).

Nope, not a Panther, and since I didn't read the badge I don't know what it actually is; some sort of kit, presumably Triumph-based.  On the driveway is an Arkley SS, a kit for your Spridget; and a Spridget beyond that wearing a period hardtop, which I think was by Lenham.  Nice little haul!

I think that's young Mr Hudson's house - I assume you know him and his dad! 

[eddyramrod]

Ah yes!  I didn't know where they lived, but it makes a lot of sense.  Thank you!

[eddyramrod]

One more fixture in White Van Alley...

[eddyramrod]

I've literally never been a fan of these, but how often do you see one in the wild now?

I saw this the other week, but couldn't get a pic.  Think I might have been driving.  Anyway today I was walking past pushing my tripod, and just had to grab a snap.  It's like the Corsair above, pure 1979.

[CreepingJesus]

I'll bet a pound to a pinch of salt that your Panther is a Marlin. Unusual colour to see one in, they're usually BRG or Rosso gel coat. 

[eddyramrod]

This morning's Discoveries...

Also...

[Minimad5]

Some good spots Eddy.

Do love an old Discovery 😎

[eddyramrod]

I've just alluded to this in Huggy's thread, but you might as well have it here too...

1963 Chevy Nova, with a built and blown 350 SBC making a minimum of 600bhp.

And then a 1985 Polo breadvan, owned by a 21-year-old who visits his mate in my street.  Ross (the mate; green Polo) lives at number 12, I'm at number 8.  Tom loves his one-litre Polo and takes enormous pride in it being the oldest car in his circle of friends, with the obvious exception of Huggy since I seem to have been admitted to his circle over the last year or so.

Tom is also a big fan of Hub Nut :)

[bicycle repairman]

here my m8s granada the engine started smoke really bad but still starts sounds ok he put it thier about 20 yrs ago,bought 2 replacement engines lol,he aint going to do it.but he wont sell it shame.

[eddyramrod]

Well, the Corsair and Minx above seem to have disappeared.  I do hope I'm going to see them at local shows in a couple of years, rather than on the back of a beavertail under a coat of Dulux.

Today, on an almost accidental detour, I found this...

Proper hubcaps too.  This is one car I particularly like in white.

[puddlethumper]

1 hour ago, eddyramrod said:

Well, the Corsair and Minx above seem to have disappeared.  I do hope I'm going to see them at local shows in a couple of years, rather than on the back of a beavertail under a coat of Dulux.

Today, on an almost accidental detour, I found this...

Proper hubcaps too.  This is one car I particularly like in white.

Multi purpose in the early 60's. Bank robber in the week and weddings at the weekend.

[eddyramrod]

Now this one isn't something I would choose, but I thought the look would go down well here...

[eddyramrod]

Spotted this one near the tyre shop the other day...

And this is round the corner from my house...

[eddyramrod]

My dose of vitamin C for the day...

And what happens next?  Only another one!

Micro camper...

And one a bit less micro!

And finally tonight, remember what I said about White Van Alley?

I knew I'd get the three of them together if I was patient!  That Trafic/Vivaro hasn't moved since I last papped it.  Oh and round the corner there are two more plain white vans, including that battered Transit Connect I've shown you before.   Which hasn't moved since I last shot it.  I see a pattern developing!

[eddyramrod]

Well... could you get two more contrasting spots on the same day, in the same town?  First up, a trip to Asda this morning...

Four hours later, almost next door to my lockup...

The TR6 is as lovely in the metal as it looks in the pic, and he certainly had the right morning for it.  It's a US import, converted to RHD but still running on carbs, as they all did for the American market.

The Micra has been sitting where it is for at least a couple of years and looks at least as shabby in the metal as it does in the pic.

[Crackers]

TR6 = OOOOOOF. 

[eddyramrod]

Spotted outside where my doctors used to be.  I like these Rams.

[warninglight]

I've seen that Toyota Crown around quite a bit lately, seems to be getting plenty of use!

[Reece Bleasdale]

On 7/21/2021 at 2:13 PM, warninglight said:

I've seen that Toyota Crown around quite a bit lately, seems to be getting plenty of use!

That's my car mate, I've recently put a little bit of work into repairing it, so you may see it around more often.  It was making all kinds of horrible noises earlier.

[warninglight]

On 8/6/2021 at 2:08 PM, Reece Bleasdale said:

That's my car mate, I've recently put a little bit of work into repairing it, so you may see it around more often.  It was making all kinds of horrible noises earlier.

I love that it has the antimacassars! Can you open the rear door from the driver's seat?

Last time I saw it was at Roy's ices in the sunshine.

I'm sure you'll have seen Jonny Smith's taxi videos.

[Tadhg Tiogar]

On 8/6/2021 at 2:08 PM, Reece Bleasdale said:

That's my car mate, I've recently put a little bit of work into repairing it, so you may see it around more often.  It was making all kinds of horrible noises earlier.

There's at least one Hong Kong Crown Taxi which has made it to Britain......

[Noel Tidybeard]

i think the spitfire style underslung side/indicator lights look betterer on that murican tr6