HMC- Austin 12/4 motorsport entry 💩

[MorrisItalSLX]

5 hours ago, wuvvum said:

I'm imagining that Cressida de Little in her Delage is going to be quite impossibly posh.

She must be alright if she has been named after a classic Toyota.

[RichardK]

But Corolla de Little. Cressida Delage.

[MorrisItalSLX]

Just now, RichardK said:

But Corolla de Little. Cressida Delage.

That’s her sister.

[AnthonyG]

On 26/01/2025 at 17:35, HMC said:

I think it’s probably more about an over engineered hull (through ignorance rather than intent) than inherent rust resistance.

When Austin first road tested prototype versions of the previous A50/A55 (the ‘cowhip’ model) which was their first car of this size with a unitary structure, the bodies failed with lots of cracks. Funnily enough Spain was considered the best place for this arduous ‘colonial’ testing!

So lots of additional strength was added in traditional 1950s manner i.e. more steel, the thicker the better.  Practically another chassis was welded underneath the original floor pan. 

The Farinas were restyled versions of these earlier cars, hence the A55s always looked a bit over bodied - the body shell was a little wider but still on the same track as the earlier car. The A60 had a wider track so looked better and was considered a much more sorted car to drive - the A55 Farina was more along the lines of ‘I like to understeer, do you want some, more than some, or a complete shitload’?

One of the reasons Farinas survived until the introduction of the Marina was that fleets loved them. They didn’t like 1800s at all, certainly not the early 64-67 ones. Fleets also liked Minors, despite the antiquated image, for example 2 drs were a very popular early ‘panda’ car for many police forces. 

[High Jetter]

A60s were known 'tech'. Transverse, cable gears, soft suspension? Not for serious cars, only for mini ones.

[HMC]

I took the a60 to university today. I was a bit brave in the sense i hadn't tested its ability to not boil over in stop start traffic, nor do a longer journey. Plus I had 2 teenage schoolgirls to drop off en route, so it wouldn't just be me that was late, if some HERITAGE crept in and we ended up at the roadside. But it felt like a car that had been driven and looked after. So a took a chance on it rather than the 75.

I think my passengers were mildly amused by sliding about on the rear bench whilst scrolling on their phones as we made our way over roundabouts with a bit of body roll. But we all got where we were going on time. 

[Yoss]

We need some interior shots, or have I missed them? 

[HMC]

With a week to go the the exmoor trial ive been getting the 12/4 ready for scrutineering.

AFFF Extinguisher. marked tow points, spill kit, additional throttle return springs etc. I decided the crew (kids will be bouncers for the hill climbing) needed extra motivation (and weight) so ive gone to get takeaway  pizza.

[HMC]

Its an unlikely entry, in a class (2a) mainly populated by 3.3L ford model As (basically twice the displacment) But its all about having fun and making memories and, I suspect , in a minority in that its being driven to and (hopefully) from the event.

This is  the herefordshire event- which looks a bit less muddy and less cold.

 

 

[somewhatfoolish]

I dislike that intensely; motorsport where a class is supposed to be roadgoing/roadworthy populated by trailer queens. Offroad trialling was full of it the one time I had a go, thoroughly offputting.

[tooSavvy]

I was taken by the line, in the vid above, 'of course it's not about the [extreme] value of our cars, it's just we treat them as enjoyment...'

*Slight paraphrase but struck me as NOT break it = bus home 🤔

Looks muddy!!

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