Renishaw Hall Show 2013 - Retro Update 24/01/2014

[vulgalour]

Renishaw Hall Classic Car & Bike Show is organised by the Chesterfield Rotary Club and is an annual affair to raise money for charity.  My initial concerns was that this would be a very stuff affair with overly restored classics littering the lawn and grounds of a stately home.  I was pleasantly surprised then to find that the shoddy car I chose to turn up in was welcomed and directed to rather a nice spot within spitting distance of the big house, flanked by a super clean black Mini and a nice red what I think was a Morgan.  Throughout the day the weather had been a confusing mix of glorious sunshine and miserable showers, seeing me wandering round in that very British summer traditional attire of a straw hat to keep the sun off and an umbrella to keep the rain off.

 

Normally when I attend a show I do take a lot of pictures and then throw a good two thirds of them away because there's a lot of repetition.  This time that was not to be the case and I've ended up with hundreds of photographs of cars ranging from the turn of the century right up to brand new stuff.  It really is a very mixed bag and the people attending are just as varied as the cars.  I would highly recommend this to anyone who likes cars and older motorbikes (though the bike selection was quite small comparatively) over what those cars and older motorbikes are.

 

So, on with the pictures.  I've broken stuff down into smaller assortments according loosely to age so I'll be updating over the next few days with the best and most interesting bits so I don't flood the place with images.  We'll start with the oldest, which were easily some of the most beautiful machines there.  I staked out a good spot near the entrance and spent a good hour or so at exhaust level inhaling fumes while taking photographs, enjoying every minute of it.

 

Where possible, I'll tell you what the vehicle is, but this first one I can't remember the identity of.

 

This behemoth I can, it was a Guy Vixen.  It was stunning, a true marvel to behold.  When the driver was told to reverse it into place next to a spotless 1970s Beetle by one of the marshalls I was further impressed by the feat being accomplished with considerable aplomb.

 

I know this is an Austin, but I don't know which one.  Particularly liked the hubcaps on it.

 

Okay, so this Triumph Roadster is about as far removed as you can get from Autoshite but just look at it, that's a beautiful thing, worthy of photographing.  Besides, Berjerac had one.

 

Proper motorcar this little Renault from the turn of the century.  I think this was the oldest car there and it was a delight to see.

 

Accidental Woollarding.  The chap doing the Woollard was asked "what seems to be the matter?" to which he answered "It's broke."  I think this is a Morris, but again I don't know which one. EDIT:  Hillman Minx, info courtesy of Paul H.

 

Another stunner.  It might be a Bentley, I'm not sure. EDIT: Alvis TA14, info courtesy of Paul H.

 

This is a remarkably similar car to the above, and this one is a Bentley.

 

I can't remember what this is, possibly a Standard/Vanguard.  It was very nicely two-toned in almost-beige and burgundy.  EDIT: Austin 16, info courtesy of AngryDicky

 

Yet more proper motorcar action.  I don't even know who manufactured this car.

 

The noise, the smell and the look of this pair was just perfection.  I think the black/primrose is an RMA and the all-black is an RME, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

 

Austin?  I really don't know.  I tend to just assume cars of this shape and style are Austins. EDIT: Austin 10 Colwyn Cabriolet, info courtesy of AngryDicky

[Angrydicky]

Great pictures! I can help with a couple of those, the two-tone car you thought was a Standard Vanguard is an Austin 16, and the pre-war tourer above, PV 2093, is a circa 1936 Austin 10 Colwyn Cabriolet. I think the Morris is a 10M series as well, although it's difficult to tell with the bonnet open.

[vulgalour]

There's more...

 

I couldn't work out what this one was at all, just that it looked superb.

 

Happily, the manufacturer wrote their name on the engine and the grille.  I always thought Lagonda only did massive Bentley Blower sized things. EDIT: Lagonda Rapier, thanks again Paul H.

 

 

This one's an Austin, no guessing needed, it's also a Big 7 and not just because the number plate says so.  Finished in Autoshite racing livery, it was excellent from bumper to bumper.

 

 

I had never seen one of these before, that I can recall, it's a cigar vent.  This particular example was rebuilt from parts and installed in the roof very neatly indeed.

 

The interior retrim is excellent.  The interior looks brand new and yet, strangely, didn't look over restored for it in the way quite a few retrimmed cars can.  Everything about the car look factory fresh rather than concourse competitor and yet it probably could win a concourse competition or two if it wanted to.

 

I commented that the Bakelite trims were the best I'd seen, because they were, and it turns out they were vinyl wrapped!  You really couldn't tell.

 

Gorgeous little engine too.

 

 

Is the black one perhaps a Rover?  Answers on a postcard, &c. EDIT: Morris Flatnose, info courtesy Paul H.

 

Handsome little Ford Prefect.

 

Riley with some sort of Americanised thing going on.  I liked it, but felt I shouldn't, which probably makes it Autoshite.  EDIT: Riley RMC, aimed at the American market. Again, thanks to Paul H for identifying this one.

 

 

This was completely new to me, at first I thought it was a Crosley.

 

The manufacturer didn't exactly boast about what the car is.  It's got to be a very rare little thing and was parked next to a Ferrari of some description that I wasn't interested in.

 

Right hand drive too, which I thought was peculiar for a French car of this era.

 

 

 

Another surprise was this Lanchester.  It's the first time I've seen a Lanchester that wasn't a weird dumpy looking thing.  This was just amazing.  I wanted it for my very own.

 

 

Calibra watches as an ancient Austin ambles away.

 

I only wish I could have recorded the smell that all of the above made, there really is nothing quite like it.  We've made it through the Great Wars with the above selection, so our next installment will see the post-war chrome boom of the 'Classic Cars'.  My apologies for pretty much all of the above being not very shitey.

[vulgalour]

Ta for the info, Angry Dicky

[Novanick1]

some nice motors here

[MikeKnight]

So that's why you've not been on Skype! You've been getting palm blisters looking through all these photos. 

 

Glad you enjoyed it. I was worried they'd beat you up and throw you out. 

[vulgalour]

I have not been on Skype because my computer is presently about as reliable as something with an Italian engine, French electrics and British bodywork on Chinese tyres sold to the Indian home market.

[michiel]

Nice cars there, love that Juvaquatre!

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Right hand drive too, which I thought was peculiar for a French car of this era.

Built (well, assembled) in Acton.

[brickwall]

Cracking pics. I really admire some people for the labour they put into their old wagons.

[vulgalour]

I've finally found this so I can haul it out of the depths and put the rest of the MILLIONS of pictures I took in it.  We'd done the vintage stuff so now it was time to move forward in time to the Classic bracket.  Let's kick things off with something interesting/gopping with a car that looks for all the world like it was designed by committee, the Daimler Dart.

 

 

 

Less gopping was this Triumph TR4.

 

I rather liked this Ford Consul.  I only know it's a Consul because of the badges.

 

 

Details like the little stars in the chrome trim are very appealing.  I have a strange liking of useless accessories like the parking light too.

 

 

This Triumph Herald was exactly as you'd expect of this sort of thing.  Fabulous.

 

 

 

 

Lovely little Renault 4CV.

 

This Citroen is a local car, I see it bombing around now and then.

[dugong]

This is the sort of thing I want to take my Amazon to. Everything else can FRO.

[vulgalour]

Mini in Not-a-Mr-Bean-Replica shocker!

 

 

Lovely Vauxhall Victor

 

 

That's the familiar face of Mick's Simca, another local car and everyday chod hero owner.

 

 

Some random boring cars.

 

Ford Anglia jellybean was a proper little boat floater.

 

I'll likely never see another one of these in person ever again.  Opel Rekord, I believe, but it might also be a Ford Taunus, I'm not sure.

 

 

This Farina car looked really lovely, but wasn't very well on the day, sounded for all the world like the clutch was completely knackered.

 

Pontiac Chieftain (I think) with flames.  A few hot rods turned up, this one only really gave the game away with the flames.

 

Another car I'll likely never see again was this very handsome Nash Rambler.  I do like Nashes.

[rml2345]

Excellent stuff! Little details like the stars in the Consul's trim are what I like finding in classics too. Things like that just make them nicer to look at than more modern stuff. 

[vulgalour]

Bye bye, lovely Nash.  I spent more time looking at this car than taking pictures of it, I tried not to drool on it too much.

 

Normally, a Beetle is a pretty dull thing, but this one grabbed my interest.  I didn't know the history behind it, but it looked like it had an interesting story to tell.

 

 

Pope's nose number plate light and copper exhaust tips.

 

Any ideas on this?  A little memento from a holiday, perhaps.  I have literally no idea.

 

Dealer window stickers are okay, but what you really want is a cast dealer script badge.

 

I did not understand these rear tyres.

 

And now for something very beautiful, a Sunbeam Alpine/Tiger.

 

 

About as different as it's possible to be with this agricultural series 1 Land Rover and the futuristic Citroen DS side by side.

 

 

Aston Mmmmmartin.

[vulgalour]

There are HUNDREDS of pictures still to come.  I was a proper shutterbug at this show and I shall go again this year because it was actually pretty ace.

[dugong]

I really like early Beetles. Actually, most un-scened \ mildly modified Beetles are good with me. It's when you start getting into the narrowed beam \ stupid camber affairs that I lose interest. That one on RR with Hayashis was ace, for example. There's still a 1967 1200 (now 1500) in the family and I may well buy it at some stage, add some EMPI Gas Burners and very little else.

 

At one point it was suggested I get rid of my Amazon and buy the Beetle instead when its future looked uncertain. I LOL'd until my geps fell off. If you see a shashed standard blue 1967 Beetle farting around Hebden Bridge, it's probably my aunt going down the shops.

[vulgalour]

Next to that Aston Martin was a car I've wanted to see in the tin for years and unfortunately I was left feeling underwhelmed by it, even though it's in one of the colours that I consider my favourite for it.  Oh well.  I guess I expected it to seem more special in person than it did.

 

 

Couple of old American trucks, I like the blue one best.

 

I've photographed this one before, but I still like it.

 

Now that's a rare pair!  Correct me if I'm wrong (I sometimes am) but that's a Vauxhall Ventora next to a Landcrab.

 

Funny how the Morris badge on this one looks like a London Underground symbol in chrome.

 

There was another Landcrab there in the form of this Morris 1800 in Dark Tulip, yum.

 

 

At some point this bonnet mascot appeared on the Morris, it gave me a chuckle.

 

I don't know what this is.  I guess it's an Alfa Romeo, but that's all I know. EDIT: Alfa Romeo Zagato Junior, ID courtesy of Dugong.

 

Cortinas of the Motornutz club.

[vulgalour]

Vauxhall Cresta E (at first, I thought it might be a Wyvern) was another pleasant surprise.  The show was full of pleasant surprises.

 

 

 

As was this proper Mini with a tidy but not overly polished engine bay.  Nice to see.

 

 

This is simultaneously the worst and the best colour I've ever seen applied to a Midget.

 

One for Junkman.

 

These Imps were great, the shabby brown one was my favourite.

 

 

 

Mk1 Ford Escort.  Usually I'm dismissive of these because of Fordmongs but this one was amazing for apparently not being messed about with in any way other than it might have been when nearly new.  I was amazed it had kept its wing mirrors, hub caps, bumpers and square headlights, these always seem to be immediately binned.

 

[dugong]

I don't know what this is.  I guess it's an Alfa Romeo, but that's all I know.

 

It's an Alfa Zagato Junior. Lovely wee things.

[vulgalour]

That Escort again from the back.  I couldn't remember if the black rear panel was an original thing or not, but it looked right on this car.

 

Another ancient Land Rover was there.

 

 

This did not disappoint, I liked this a lot.  I assumed it was a Morgan but it might not have been.  I don't care what it was really because it made me happy.

 

Another Sunbeam Alpine was hiding in a random space, this one with a soft top.

 

Now for a thing of great beauty from Japan.  People call it the Japanese E-Type and I find that unfair because this looks a far more appealing prospect to own.

 

 

 

Another delightful green Ford, this time a Cortina.

 

Triumph did have some strange colours, this is Mostly Brown, it sometimes looks like it might be purple or grey, but it's always Mostly Brown.

 

I'm not sure, but I think this Triumph was painted either with those silver markers that have ballbearings in to agitate the ink or humbrol chrome paint and a 000 size brush.

[hairnet]

whats in the background of the landcrab pic?

 

and the ferrari you didnt photo is a mondial

[vulgalour]

Cheers for the info on the Alfa, Dugong.  Now I know what that is.

 

This moggy pickup was nice, but you see that campervan next to it?  That was a work of art.  Normally, campers are pretty shonky, but this thing was exceptional.  Typically, my camera that is now virtually dead had just about packed up at this point (pictures aren't being uploaded chronologically) so I only got the one shot of it.  The owner wanted to build a one person camper that incorporated the Morris Minor so that he could attend classic car shows and moggy rallies in the comfort to which he was accustomed.  He took three caravans and painstakingly cut them up, rearranged them and build what has to be one of the best executed microcampers I've ever seen.  The finished product looked better than factory with an attention to detail and an aversion to hideous home-built tat addition that was exemplary.  He deserved to be awarded some sort of trophy for undoing a lot of camper conversion crimes with his vehicle and from the sounds of things I wasn't the only one that thought so as he'd been swamped the entire day with people asking him about it and where they might purchase one.

 

Big American lard wagon in the form of this 70s Cadillac.  EDIT:  1962 Cadillac Deville, info courtesy of Junkman.  The gasser on the trailer behind it was fired up and it barked very loudly across the entire showground, fantastic noise.

 

 

 

I like Nash Metropolitans, I really do, but I found this utterly baffling (and perhaps a little bit brilliant).  The owner was at least an octogenarian and must have been an Enthusiast.

 

 

 

 

This is a Not-a-Morgan.  Apparently it's The Fountaine Flyer.

 

 

At this point, the gallery has gone a little bit brown, kicked off by this Mini City in Russet/Clove on probably Rattan beige wheels.

 

 

Debs, your Mini interior is a mess.

 

Another Imp.  There were about a thousand of them at the show.

 

Another 4CV too.  I find the interior particularly inviting.

 

[vulgalour]

One of my favourite pictures from this show was a tiny detail on that 4CV I finished the previous post with.  Turned out just as I hoped it would.

 

The crazy thing was, as the day went by and the weather got worse, the rare and unusual classics kept pouring in alongside the more regular stuff.  I was expecting a lot of Minis and Beetles and rubbish Minors but the quality and diversity was astonishing.  Proving this point had to be this ludicrously rare Vauxhall Victor estate, it's likely the only one left.

 

 

 

 

I need one of these stickers for the Princess to go with the Tiger theme.

 

This is one of the strangest colours I've seen on a car, it made the car look like it was made out of bathroom materials.

 

 

Seen this wafting about a few times, I'm told it's a one owner car and is a Zephyr 6 in Zephyr 4 trim.  I don't know how true this is.

 

That thing I was saying about surprises... this was a surprise.

 

 

Another early Mini, but not quite as nice as that grey one from earlier.

[vulgalour]

I am nearly through this section now so once I've done that I'll leave it a few days before doing the next part.  I took a *lot* of photos, but there was a lot of stuff to photograph, much of which I've never seen before.  Like this early Mini which could have afforded to lose the kidney choppers but was otherwise very smart.

 

More on this Jag and the Datsun further back later...

 

Wouldn't be a proper classic show without one of these.  Did seem to sit abnormally high, even for a 2CV.

 

 

Yet another early Mini.

 

I think I annoyed the driver of the Auntie Rover when I took this picture, he certainly didn't slow down as he approached.  Wasn't even worth it because the picture is rubbish.

 

This picture is better.  Clearly danger does not make me a better photographer.

 

This is not the best picture I have of this tidy white Triumph...

 

....this is.

 

Austin Champ!

 

 

[Junkman]

Big American lard wagon in the form of this 70s Cadillac.

It's a 1962 DeVille.

[vulgalour]

Here we are with the final instalment for the 'Classic' section.  As I mentioned, I'll leave it a few days before giving you the 'Retro' section (had to split the collection up somehow) which will feature some interesting things.

 

Apart from the wheels, I liked this Capri.

 

Pleasant original Beetle.  One of this first Airfix kits I built was of a Beetle in this exact colour, that's why I photographed this car.

 

 

This was another interesting exhibit.

 

 

I was certain to forget what it was, so I made sure to take this photograph too.

 

One of my favourite cars ever is the Austin A40 Farina.  It is my intention to own one some day.  This is a later car, you can tell by the grille and the fact the windows wind down rather than having a vertical slide operated by a glass block on the window.

 

 

 

I may have made noises not fit for public consumption when I saw this.  It is the second SM I've had the pleasure of standing next to in the real world.

 

 

 

 

Another rarity is this Gilbern Invader.

 

 

 

Let's finish this with a bit of class.  I did find myself following this through Hillsborough, Sheffield, some time ago and it was a delightful thing to be behind.

 

 

In our next installation I'll share the Retro (circa. 1970-1990), Motorbike and Hot Rods & Customs content.

[vulgalour]

I really like early Beetles. Actually, most un-scened \ mildly modified Beetles are good with me. It's when you start getting into the narrowed beam \ stupid camber affairs that I lose interest. That one on RR with Hayashis was ace, for example. There's still a 1967 1200 (now 1500) in the family and I may well buy it at some stage, add some EMPI Gas Burners and very little else.

 

At one point it was suggested I get rid of my Amazon and buy the Beetle instead when its future looked uncertain. I LOL'd until my geps fell off. If you see a shashed standard blue 1967 Beetle farting around Hebden Bridge, it's probably my aunt going down the shops.

 

I'm with you on the Beetle opinion.  When I was young and stupid(er) I wanted a Beetle as my first car but could find no mong-free examples.  Shall keep an eye out for the blue Beetle you mention, though I'm not often Hebden Bridge way.

[vulgalour]

whats in the background of the landcrab pic?

 

and the ferrari you didnt photo is a mondial

 

Which Landcrab picture?  Some Audis, a modified Escort, an Alfa or a Lancia or something... probably nothing* of interest.

[minolman]

I have not been on Skype because my computer is presently about as reliable as something with an Italian engine, French electrics and British bodywork on Chinese tyres sold to the Indian home market.

Ah, you mean the fabled and extremely rare 1949 Alfulorischindi cyclecar export project?