Nostalgia pics: Old people, chairs, shite cars

[Spottedlaurel]

My Grandma sadly died recently, and my mum was sifting through all the old photographs last weekend when we visited. I was hoping there'd be one or two of Grandad's old cars, here's what turned up:

 

 

Grandad loved Marinas, he had four in succession. Before this red one he'd had a blue coupe which I remember, then prior to that a Farina of some sort (probably Wolseley).

 

The vehicle details for PVX 872M are:

Date of Liability 14 03 1983

Date of First Registration 01 03 1974

Year of Manufacture Not Available

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1798CC

 

 

This action shot surprised me. Anyway, this is Marina #4. Between this and the red one there was an R-reg (?) one, a colour called Sandglow possibly with a vinyl roof and wheel covers that had a series of black dots around the edge. I can vividly recall the yellow cushions that used to live on the parcel shelf.

 

I wonder if he'd have had an Ital after this, had he not become Transport Manager at Marconi's in Chelmsford and ended up with a Mk1 Astra 1600 estate. As he was no great car enthusiast this always seemed an odd choice of job, I remember looking at the list of cars they owned and there was a fair number of Avenger estates. It was handy for me as I got lots of brochures through him.

 

The vehicle details for JEV 412V are:

Date of Liability 01 11 1991

Date of First Registration 01 08 1979

Year of Manufacture 1979

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1700CC

 

 

What a line-up! 1981 at another relatives. Grandad's Marina again, plus facelift Alpine and a tidy Farina belonging to various aunts and uncles. I'll do DVLA checks on these cars later, but the one I have done was on the Wolseley which apparently is still around and on a SORN. My uncle replaced this with an FSO I believe and I always assumed it got scrapped, but nice to think it's evaded the oval so far.

 

The vehicle details for OVN 986G are:

Date of Liability 01 08 2009

Date of First Registration 10 01 1969

Year of Manufacture Not Available

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1622CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status SORN Not Due

 

 

Distant relatives, and a slightly interesting relationship as these two weren't married, but I've a feeling that Doug was... I recall him having a dog-eared Anglia in later years, so where the early 1275GT with 10" Rostyles went to I'm not sure, or perhaps it wasn't even his?

 

The vehicle details for KLT 721K are:

Date of Liability 29 12 1986

Date of First Registration 07 10 1971

Year of Manufacture Not Available

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1275CC

 

 

 

Aunt and uncle's RS Turbo. He worked for Ford and had a new car every six months or so, usually chose sportier numbers. Disappointing level of old stuff in the background of the first shot, Mk1 Cavalier seems to be the standout.

 

The vehicle details for F46 THK are:

Date of Liability 28 06 1991

Date of First Registration 07 06 1989

Year of Manufacture 1989

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1597CC

 

Interesting, must have been written-off or stolen maybe?

 

 

Having gone into retirement, and the Marina and Ital now long gone, Grandad moved onto a series of booted Fords (with the help of family dicount through my uncle). First came a couple of Orions, then this Sapphire. Another Orion came afterwards, which was to be his last car. 405 behind must've been fairly new, but the '60s Beetle and Mk4 Cortina add a nice touch. Round the corner from here there was someone into Alfa GTV's, and I remember this Essex estate heaving with Mk3 Cortinas in the '70s.

 

 

Snow! Maybe winter about 1990/91? Rubbish shot of the car, but what amuses me is that old person thing of clearing the drive and getting the car out even though quite clearly a Sapphire wouldn't be going anywhere that day!

 

 

Something for our Fiesta loving Jersey resident.

 

 

Day trip to Felixstowe. Cars are a bit fuzzy sadly, but L-R we've got a pre-facelift beige Mk2 Granada, R18, facelift Violet, Mk5 Cortina, unknown thereafter.

 

 

Finally, a surprisingly crisp shot somewhere in the Cotswolds, Bourton is it? Everything seems remarkably contemporary, what maybe a Celica/Supra in the foreground of most interest to me. 126 has perhaps pulled away after filling up with BP fuel at what looks like 95.5p - a gallon! Couple of 240-series Volvos down the hill look like estates, seem to recall that's where there is an antiques shop.

 

And that appears to be it, shame not to find more but cars were never really my grandparents' thing so any shots were always going to be rather accidental.

[VWPowered]

great pics thanks for sharing, that last one..now thats a cool photo, very artistic shot

[Richard]

They don't make old people like they used to! I can remember all my elderly relatives looking like that but a lot of them would barely be into their sixties.In the mid 1980s, when the last picture must have been taken, petrol was between £1.70 and £2 a gallon.

[VWPowered]

They don't make old people like they used to!

ROFLMAO

[Spottedlaurel]

Yup, my Grandma would be in her early 60s in some of those pic's, maybe less.You could be right on the petrol, it's possible there is a 1 hiding on the left. Bet they don't still sell fuel like that on the roadside there, do they?

[VWPowered]

do round here

[Richard]

In about 1998 (I know that's quite a long time ago now ) we went on holiday to a place called Barnard Castle. It reminded me very much of local towns in the 1970s and there was a roadside petrol station there. It had pumps on both sides of the road and they were suspended on huge booms, I think they could have filled a lorry even if its filler was on the offside.I doubt very much if it's there now though.

[Ratdat]

Damn, I've been short changed. Neither of my Grandparents drove at all so no vintage shite pics for me

[Raffles]

I'm pretty sure the last shot is Burford. I pass through there every other weekend. I'll take a present day shot next time.

[pompei]

I love doug's shirt - in fact not too unlike the one I'm wearing today

[trigger]

The funny thing is Felixstowe hasn't changed a bit, Still got old people in deckchairs on the seafront and old cars everywhere!Where is that picture with the stunning RST taken?, Looks like Harwich in the distance?And i think that Sapphire in the snow photo might be December 1990, Was the last time i remember heavy snow like that in Essex (I was a Colchester boy).Thanks for sharing!

[Station]

Great photos and history! Did photos from that era look so warm and colourful, unlike the 'high definition true colour' digital shite from today.I have loads of these I'll have to dig them out, I spent a whole French holiday taking photos of cars.

[Mash]

Wonderful pics SL and great to see the Wolseley is still alive. My grandparents also only had cars as a means of transport and pictures are pretty much non-existent though I do have an ace pic of my grandad looking relly cool with shades on posing next to his Daimler Consort in the early 70s. Damned if I know where it is though

[Owain-328i]

Wonderful pictures. Thanks for sharing them

[reallyloud]

Excellent and fascinating period shots. The 60's and 70's mark a golden period in photography as the costs came down and made it more realistic preposition to own a camera, thus documenting some now very ordinary yet important snap shots. Quite brave of you to disclose some clearly very personal and private moments.

[retrogeezer]

I'm pretty sure the last shot is Burford. I pass through there every other weekend. I'll take a present day shot next time.

Seconded....pretty sure that is Burford - been through/stopped there a few times.Fantastic photos - these period shots with cars in are my favourite photos. Thanks for taking the time to scan/post them.

[seth]

I'm pretty sure the last shot is Burford.

That was my immediate thought too though I couldn't remember the name of the town.Farina looks very nice SL

[Guest]

 

The vehicle details for F46 THK are:

Date of Liability 28 06 1991

Date of First Registration 07 06 1989

Year of Manufacture 1989

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 1597CC

 

Interesting, must have been written-off or stolen maybe?

Probably. But it would be nice to think that it's still smoking round the Emerald Isle or one of the Crown Dependencies perhaps?

 

Loving those pressed steel numberplates that a lot of Fords brochure and demo cars seemed to carry in the eighties

 

 

Something for our Fiesta loving Jersey resident.

Magic! I am very tempted to take the XR2 down to this very spot tomorrow and replicate the photo 25ish years on; the background is little different. I'll probably forget though

[Spottedlaurel]

I am very tempted to take the XR2 down to this very spot tomorrow and replicate the photo 25ish years on; the background is little different. I'll probably forget though

Consider this a reminder then.

 

About the Escort, '91 would have been the height of the joyriding era so I fear that is highly likely.

 

Glad the pic's have been enjoyed. Yes, definitely Burford on the Cotswolds town - when I typed Bourton I somehow knew it wasn't right, but couldn't think of an alternative (my excuse is they both begin with B and have seven letters). I even stayed there once. When I looked on Google it gave me this pic, which contains Cavalier interest:

 

 

Seth, is there any way of finding out if the Farina is known to club people, please?

[seth]

I've saved the image so will see if I can find anything out.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I'm pretty sure the last shot is Burford.

Definitely.The 1275GT has been de-striped - peasants. Our white one (NJT840J) was white with red stripes when every other white one had black.