HMC architecte britannique

[Split_Pin]

I used to be like you and have pristine cars and hated leaving them anywhere in case they got a ding or scratch.

Then I gradually succumbed to this place and now I really enjoy 'ten-footer' cars which are presentable but I'd never notice another parking ding or scratch so never give it a second thought.

Re the Navara my policy is a max of 2 people on my property or the car stays locked. They have 30 seconds to leave or the police will be called. They're also being recorded.

[Bren]

Sad about the passat. But simply not worth spending clutch type money on it.

Certain  vehicles attract the worst - try and have ( several ) people with you next time.

[comfortablynumb]

I've found the ' oh my god, didn't realise it was that bad, I can't sell it then, my mate will scrap it, sorry for the wasted trip' method to work if telling them to fuck off might end badly 

[jonathan_dyane]

I had that thing about 10 years ago with a Vectra. I had a bad feeling because as they were on their way I had a call with them wanting to negotiate the price. I explained that I would prefer them to come and see the car and make an offer but they wanted to negotiate a price on the phone. I said that we could agree a price on the phone but if they wished to do so there would be no further negotiations when they arrived.

Naturally there was about 5 of them and they claimed to find various faults and were aggressive and intimidating with a derisory offer. I apologised for their wasted trip, jumped in the car and drove off but felt shaken up by the experience.

[Marm Toastsmith]

On 16/08/2025 at 16:50, HMC said:

 Sadly a team of people  turned up and before long oil was found in various previously unseen places. I could see what was happening but was seriously outnumbered- i played the negotiation game but knew i was being scammed as it happened.

 

 

I pondered over the different clientele a VDP 1500 vs a double cab pick up of a certain age might attract. Im more of a VDP person myself and proud of it.

So sorry to hear this. Can only hope the universe gets it’s own back for you - I suspect it will.

But agreed, the Navarra is a twat’s car, the VDP is for a sophisticated man of exceptional taste. You win.

[HMC]

Fleet news- 

After comings and goings and losing interest perhaps a bit- especially in stuff thats complicated and goes wrong and having enough of the general public - im now down to a very small car orientated fleet. Both under a litre. One litre beaters ftw. The micra doesnt even have PAS. Both are fun to drive. The micra feels the more eager performer in a straight line despite similar on paper figures. Im going to service the 107 ASAP as its a poor neglected little thing.

Appearances are deceptive- despite the crunched boot the k11 has been loved by mainly 1 elderly owner that gave up driving at nearly 100; and the interior in particular is immaculate. The 107 is a former write off thats been used but not loved an awful lot. Although despite all this its still got its supplying dealer (in Dewsbury, w.yorks.)  plates still.

Only the “moderns” are working; the VDP now has overhauled working brakes and im going to service the engine and fit a powerspark electronic ignition on it- and use it.

 

[DeanH]

1 hour ago, HMC said:

(in Dewsbury, w.yorks.)  plates still.

 

 

Poor thing.

[Matty]

On 17/08/2025 at 13:34, comfortablynumb said:

I've found the ' oh my god, didn't realise it was that bad, I can't sell it then, my mate will scrap it, sorry for the wasted trip' method to work if telling them to fuck off might end badly 

I've always preferred fuck off and when you get there fuck off a bit further. But then I'm a bit hard faced.

 

 

(You are right in fairness)

[N Dentressangle]

8 hours ago, Matty said:

I've always preferred fuck off and when you get there fuck off a bit further. But then I'm a bit hard faced.

 

 

(You are right in fairness)

My neighbour foolishly agreed for some of those people to do his driveway a couple of years ago, a decision which of course he regretted.

I had a week of fending off offers to buy one or another of my cars, keeping a really close eye on everything and returning their weird hate stares with a blank face. Nothing went missing or was damaged and eventually they left. Best avoided.

[HMC]

Fleet news.

Solid (and 1.70 per month road tax) 1 litre beater 

 

And an incoming drop head coupe with dickey seat (a 1.1 litre VSCC Beater)

a swift 10 p3 - made in coventry by hand and found to be not economically viable by 1931. this is a 1929 example with the all important dickey seat ive always wanted…

Currently en route…

Bizarrely here is a photo i found on the internet of it at a 1976 classic car meet (all the cars in the background  were then current, most are worth more now)

[N Dentressangle]

Looks like you've got the pre-war bug 👍

[D.E]

Awesome! One of that many, many smaller independent brands that disappeared during the Great Depression.

[D.E]

Yours is also in an old (I think...) postcard:

https://www.ebid.net/nz/for-sale/swift-1929-220577825.htm?srsltid=AfmBOopq9O7GEDePBALmIWWzhjw1LTIfVtR0DeXd4gXpFmed7HcXlT2B

[High Jetter]

There's quite a few pics of it online, one at Bromley pageant

[Dick Cheeseburger]

5 hours ago, HMC said:

Bizarrely here is a photo i found on the internet of it at a 1976 classic car meet (all the cars in the background  were then current, most are worth more now)

What a gem! Intrigued to see photos of the dickey seat in action. I see the 70s photo of it was posted to Flickr by @trigger, who discovered the image on a disk with lots of other period motors in the 70s. 

[HMC]

10 hours ago, Dick Cheeseburger said:

What a gem! Intrigued to see photos of the dickey seat in action. I see the 70s photo of it was posted to Flickr by @trigger, who discovered the image on a disk with lots of other period motors in the 70s. 

Dickey seat action-

2’s company

3’s a crowd….

Previous owner has kindly left a series of how to notes…

[artdjones]

14 hours ago, D.E said:

Awesome! One of that many, many smaller independent brands that disappeared during the Great Depression.

They are things of beauty now. But at the time Morris Motors finished them off, the Cowley and Oxford being better cars, and cheaper.

[junkyarddog]

What a fabulous thing!!

The boys in the dicky seat look like they are having a whale of a time 😀

[Momentary Lapse Of Reason]

8 hours ago, HMC said:

3’s a crowd….

 

Which one is Richard ?

[HMC]

Moorland pub visit/ test run

[captain_70s]

Lovely old thing, big jealous...

I'd be attacking those wheels with a rattle can of gloss black though. 😬

[dave j]

I saw you this afternoon! I was in the Trout and Tipple car park and saw you drive past in this. 

[yes oui si]

On 25/08/2025 at 00:48, Matty said:

I've always preferred fuck off and when you get there fuck off a bit further. But then I'm a bit hard faced.

 

 

(You are right in fairness)

It's very much accent dependant but "Get tae fuck, and when ye get there, fuck off a wee bit more." is a long time favourite. 

3 hours ago, captain_70s said:

Lovely old thing, big jealous...

I'd be attacking those wheels with a rattle can of gloss black though. 😬

I quite like a colour as a contrast, but perhaps a rich maroon would set off the bodywork better than bright red. 

[purplebargeken]

Very lovely indeed!

[HillmanImp]

On 30/08/2025 at 18:15, HMC said:

Bizarrely here is a photo i found on the internet of it at a 1976 classic car meet (all the cars in the background  were then current, most are worth more now)

All the cars in the background will also be older won't they. 

When the photo was taken this will have been about as old as something like a Talbot Horizon or Mk1 Jetta at a show these days. 

[flat4alfa]

2 hours ago, HillmanImp said:

When the photo was taken this will have been about as old as something like a Talbot Horizon or Mk1 Jetta at a show these days. 

*shudders*  😖

[flat4alfa]

Going to be worth getting in contact with the Club - what am I saying of course you have already

Make sure you go to website

https://theswiftclub.co.uk/

and not:

https://theswiftclub.com/   which is something else entirely and a 'Dickey Seat' might not mean the same sort of thing...

[flat4alfa]

So, the Drop-Head Coupe at £245 would be ~£36k in today's money.  Buyer didn't go for the Wire Wheels at ~£712 extra.

20 Cockspur Street would have been a prime location showroom in its day

Across the road is the building we would have bought our ticket for that Titanic trip, 17 years earlier

Some pathway remodelling since - that lad was standing to the left of that tree.  20 Cockspur street was having a 50%-off sale when Google Camera was passing

[Bear]

Weirdly, I saw the logo on the teaser picture...

And then a red Swift appears for sale on Facebook... No, I'm not buying it, but I've never seen one before.

How many before it's a flock?

[tooSavvy]

On 01/09/2025 at 01:39, yes oui si said:

It's very much accent dependant but "Get tae fuck, and when ye get there, fuck off a wee bit more." is a long time favourite. 

I quite like a colour as a contrast, but perhaps a rich maroon would set off the bodywork better than bright red. 

Claret to taste..... 😋

Lovely old bus you have there.... 👍

🚙💨