HMC WBOD news

28,543 · January 25

15 minutes ago, wuvvum said:

I've probably mentioned this before, but...

When I was in middle school in the late '80s - early '90s, there was an old Land Rover parked on the road that led to the school gate.

The latest Google Streetview pictures from 2022 show that it's still there. And probably hasn't moved in all that time.

Wow! That’s awesome. How has it never been towed away though!? You’d think after so long (look at the mark on the ground around where it’s been!) the local authorities would get sick of it and drag it away?

I remember a mk4 Cortina estate being like that near my old school. Naturally I had the horn for it massively, but I was devastated one day when I walked past and someone was towing it off for scrap.

16,775 · January 25

2 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

I was just looking at the photo of HMC’s car wondering why it looked familiar, then it hit me…

I made a model of one last year!😄
Some of you old ~~duffers~~ guys might remember having one as a kid? It’s the old Corgi driving school car. I just got rid of all the driving school stuff.

Where's the roof sign?

1,439 · January 26

10 hours ago, Matty said:

By God I remember them looking like that as a kid in the 80s

A chap on my road had one or two in his garden like that, and, as a nice touch, a picture of one of them stained-glassed in his door too. I used to love looking at them on the way to school. I think last time I went past, a sign of the times was that they were replaced by a rover 75. Are you on here Mr C?

23,362 · January 26

Lovely looking purchase, HMC. Isn't it a Dorset/Bournemouth registration?

2 hours ago, jon.k said:

A chap on my road had one or two in his garden like that, and, as a nice touch, a picture of one of them stained-glassed in his door too. I used to love looking at them on the way to school. I think last time I went past, a sign of the times was that they were replaced by a rover 75. Are you on here Mr C?

That reminds me of a place a couple of miles from here. For years it had an ever-changing eclectic mix of motors lined up. He sold the Ant in 2012 (A999 NTA) but nothing appears to have happened with it. There's always been at least one early 60s finned Brit amongst them though. I'm guessing the owner is now elderly and unable to play any more as the few remaining motors are slowing sinking into the grass. Even the Reliant nose cone which was attached to a garage door for years has gone. Photos are in time order.

4,983 · January 26

12 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

I was just looking at the photo of HMC’s car wondering why it looked familiar, then it hit me…

I made a model of one last year!😄
Some of you old ~~duffers~~ guys might remember having one as a kid? It’s the old Corgi driving school car. I just got rid of all the driving school stuff.

Also did an A55 from the James Bond black taxi version.

I had the original back in the day, got this repro now.

18,345 · January 26

Bloke who lived in the flats opposite my garage in the shit-pit of Edmonton had one of these, painted taxi black with a red interior, it chuffed along for years with the aid of monumental levels of giffer bodgery. Sadly he died of lung cancer about 17 years ago. End of an era.

28,543 · January 26

10 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Where's the roof sign?

The steering wheel thingy off the roof? I took it off as I always hated it! Filled the hole it left in the roof with chemical metal putty then rubbed it down smooth. The steering gubbins inside I removed part of it and just glued the bits attached to the wheels in the straight position so it’s just like any other Corgi car.
Hardest bits to remove were the L plates from front & rear bumpers. Lots of careful grinding away with a dremmel then tidying up with little files.

That A60 was always a really good model from Corgi, but it was totally underused by them in my opinion. When it was released the real car was current so it was something kids could see and relate to every day. Even their parents might have had one. Yet Corgi only released it in the driving school style in the one colour. They could have used it so much more over the years as a normal car in different colours.

21,487 · January 26

Or modded it with minor work to create the Wolseley or Morris or MG - just like BMC or even a Di Tella - the exotic cousin. No estate or Di Tella pick-up - the latter the Cybertruck of the 60's 😂

Of course their factory may have been at full capacity so there was not the opportunity?

But I think there was not the same collectable market in those days - these were 'just' kids toys?

21,487 · January 26

Family had two of these new in the 60's - a maroon and a grey I recall. These were company cars bought new each year - after that it was only Cortinas.

21,663 · January 26

This belonged to a friend (the Riley I mean, the Triumph was mine)

This was circa 1990 and neither of us had long passed our tests. Perfect transport for 20 year olds.

It was the earlier 4/68 not the 4/72 so it was only a 1500. I don't know how much difference the twin carbs made but it didn't go too badly and did a good job of keeping up with the Triumph, which admittedly was an auto. It had what BMC described as bucket seats in place of the front bench because it was a sporty Riley but they were nothing of the sort. They were just individual front seats, there was nothing bucket about them at all.

My friend drove it very enthusiastically indeed, we were only 20 after all, it's what you did. I mean it sort of went round corners quite well in its own sort of way but it certainly wasn't relaxing for the passenger. My mate was OK, he had a steering wheel to hang on to. But there were no armrests or anything to hang on to so I had to put my hands down either side, grab the sides of the seat frame and pull myself down in to it. If you had the bench you wouldn't be able to even do that so I assume you just slid from side to side.

Also of note in this picture was my neighbours Granny Ghia Coupe. He was about our age too, I didn't realise it then but what a great time to start driving. It was originally that metallic blue they came in but he had it resprayed bright red. You'd never do that now of course but different times. I still see him very occasionally when he's visiting his mum at the same time I'm visiting mine and he always has some sort of E34 or E39 5 series these days (and for about the last 20 years)

And then there's the Volvo which was just everyday car back then.

28,543 · January 26

1 hour ago, Yoss said:

This belonged to a friend (the Riley I mean, the Triumph was mine)

This was circa 1990 and neither of us had long passed our tests. Perfect transport for 20 year olds.

It was the earlier 4/68 not the 4/72 so it was only a 1500. I don't know how much difference the twin carbs made but it didn't go too badly and did a good job of keeping up with the Triumph, which admittedly was an auto. It had what BMC described as bucket seats in place of the front bench because it was a sporty Riley but they were nothing of the sort. They were just individual front seats, there was nothing bucket about them at all.

My friend drove it very enthusiastically indeed, we were only 20 after all, it's what you did. I mean it sort of went round corners quite well in its own sort of way but it certainly wasn't relaxing for the passenger. My mate was OK, he had a steering wheel to hang on to. But there were no armrests or anything to hang on to so I had to put my hands down either side, grab the sides of the seat frame and pull myself down in to it. If you had the bench you wouldn't be able to even do that so I assume you just slid from side to side.

Also of note in this picture was my neighbours Granny Ghia Coupe. He was about our age too, I didn't realise it then but what a great time to start driving. It was originally that metallic blue they came in but he had it resprayed bright red. You'd never do that now of course but different times. I still see him very occasionally when he's visiting his mum at the same time I'm visiting mine and he always has some sort of E34 or E39 5 series these days (and for about the last 20 years)

And then there's the Volvo which was just everyday car back then.

Compare that to the utter shit people usually have now as first cars.
You’re right though, you guys of that age definitely did have it good in that respect. I think I just about caught the tail end of that sort of thing about a decade later, but it wasn’t much longer after that all the interesting stuff dried up and first cars started to become new crap on leases or new crap on daddy’s credit card!

28,543 · January 26

Also, another model/toy I forgot about until this morning. Another one you old ~~biddy’s~~ guys might remember from your childhood.

Triang Spot-On.

21,487 · January 26

1 hour ago, Yoss said:

This belonged to a friend (the Riley I mean, the Triumph was mine)

This was circa 1990 and neither of us had long passed our tests. Perfect transport for 20 year olds.

It was the earlier 4/68 not the 4/72- so it was only a 1500. I don't know how much difference the twin carbs made but it didn't go too badly and did a good job of keeping up with the Triumph, which admittedly was an auto. It had what BMC described as bucket seats in place of the front bench because it was a sporty Riley but they were nothing of the sort. They were just individual front seats, there was nothing bucket about them at all.

My friend drove it very enthusiastically indeed, we were only 20 after all, it's what you did. I mean it sort of went round corners quite well in its own sort of way but it certainly wasn't relaxing for the passenger. My mate was OK, he had a steering wheel to hang on to. But there were no armrests or anything to hang on to so I had to put my hands down either side, grab the sides of the seat frame and pull myself down in to it. If you had the bench you wouldn't be able to even do that so I assume you just slid from side to side.

Also of note in this picture was my neighbours Granny Ghia Coupe. He was about our age too, I didn't realise it then but what a great time to start driving. It was originally that metallic blue they came in but he had it resprayed bright red. You'd never do that now of course but different times. I still see him very occasionally when he's visiting his mum at the same time I'm visiting mine and he always has some sort of E34 or E39 5 series these days (and for about the last 20 years)

And then there's the Volvo which was just everyday car back then.

The 4/68-72 was in production from 1959 - the 2000 from 1963. Shows the difference between Standard Triumph and BMC design philosophy and products. Interestingly of course both with Italian designed bodies.

Price-wise the Triumph was £1094 in 1963 and the Riley £1,028 in 1959.

The Farina Rileys sold about 25,000 units - not stellar sales over 10 years - high price may be being one of the inhibitors. They really were mopping up the ageing 'we always have Riley' clientele perhaps - and satisfying the dealerships.

Though being dear old BMC Riley were set up in competition with themselves with the slightly smaller Riley One-Point-Five and similar Wolseley 1500 up to 1965.

4/68 was the most expensive Farina on offer.

16,775 · January 26

3 hours ago, danthecapriman said:

The steering wheel thingy off the roof?

Yep, that's the one. Also had a German police beetle where the blue light was used to steer.

21,663 · January 26

27 minutes ago, lesapandre said:

The 4/68-72 was in production from 1959 - the 2000 from 1963. Shows the difference between Standard Triumph and BMC design philosophy and products. Interestingly of course both with Italian designed bodies.

Price-wise the Triumph was £1094 in 1963 and the Riley £1,028 in 1959.

The Farina Rileys sold about 25,000 units - not stellar sales over 10 years - high price may be being one of the inhibitors. They really were mopping up the ageing 'we always have Riley' clientele perhaps - and satisfying the dealerships.

Though being dear old BMC Riley were set up in competition with themselves with the slightly smaller Riley One-Point-Five and similar Wolseley 1500 up to 1965.

4/68 was the most expensive Farina on offer.

The Riley interior was certainly a cut above the rest of the Farinas with very comprehensive set of gauges.

And these are the 'bucket' seats in the 4/68. They improved them for the 4/72.

As you say they were the most expensive small Farina which makes me wonder how close in price they were to the Westminster. That must have had an effect on sales if you could have big Farina for a few quid more.

21,487 · January 26

AI says £1148 including tax in 1959 for the Yesminister. The Wolseley would be more. They never made a big Riley version which is a pity - as a high performance big Farina with the Austin Healey 3000 tune would have been interesting.

I suppose the VDP filled that slot. The 4-Litre R puts out a stonking 190bhp. They also never considered a VDP version of the smaller Farina either as a range-topper though they did modify the 1100.

Eccentric bunch BMC.

That Riley is nicely finished inside. Though actually all the Farinas were very comfortable and well-appointed. Mostly leather I think on all of them - the Morris may have had PVC. They were a carefully made car exuding old-world care. Beautifully detailed - items like the bumpers are very well thought through - I think they are stainless steel or very high quality chrome?

The design is not all Pininfarina - Dick Burzi chief designer at Longbridge worked with them.

21,663 · January 26

The last Oxfords were definitely vynil but it was 1972 by then. But you're right, the Austin/Morris had less wood and instruments but what they did have was still of the same quality as the higher spec cars. I love the metal dash on the Oxfords.

21,587 · January 26

I do like a Farina, the Wolseley is my favourite, particularly the 15/60 with the cathedral tail lights and upmarket interior. The earlier Austin/Morris have quite a harsh front end, which I always feel looks a bit unfinished, but the 1961 update cuts down the tail fins...

I've seen at least one Mostin estate equipped with a Wolseley front end and interior, which is a cool idea.

Not sure if I'd say they were indestructible, water soluble might be closer the mark...

1,937 · January 26

17 hours ago, N Dentressangle said:

Looking at the indicator / sidelight positions, probably a Series II rather than a IIA, plus a tropical roof - worth a few £££

It also has the deep sill covers, so yes a sII rather than a sIIa

21,487 · January 26

1 hour ago, captain_70s said:

I do like a Farina, the Wolseley is my favourite, particularly the 15/60 with the cathedral tail lights and upmarket interior. The earlier Austin/Morris have quite a harsh front end, which I always feel looks a bit unfinished, but the 1961 update cuts down the tail fins...

I've seen at least one Mostin estate equipped with a Wolseley front end and interior, which is a cool idea.

Not sure if I'd say they were indestructible, water soluble might be closer the mark...

There were some niches BMC never exploited. An upmarket estate car was one. They really left it to Rootes with that niche with the Singer Vogue and Humber estates. But I don't think they even sold a lot - maybe the demand was just not there.

A Farina Countryman is very cool. The Wolseley would have been called the 'Shire' or 'County' or some other more upmarket name. Ford had already nabbed 'Squire'.

16,775 · January 26

2 hours ago, captain_70s said:

Not sure if I'd say they were indestructible

The story BITD was that on banger tracks the sides could fall off. Not sure how true it was, though.

47,033 · January 26

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

21,663 · January 26

3 hours ago, lesapandre said:

There were some niches BMC never exploited. An upmarket estate car was one. They really left it to Rootes with that niche with the Singer Vogue and Humber estates. But I don't think they even sold a lot - maybe the demand was just not there.

Ahem, I think you forgot this.

21,487 · January 26

I did! Not a BMC car but one of the rivals before the merger. Very classy.

I didn't mention the Ford and Vauxhall specials - but they were farmed out and I don't think sold in any numbers?

14,461 · January 26

8 hours ago, lesapandre said:

Though being dear old BMC Riley were set up in competition with themselves with the slightly smaller Riley One-Point-Five and similar Wolseley 1500 up to 1965.

They were doing what VAG have been doing with VW, Skoda and Seat for the last 25 years. When the Germans do it it's marketing genius.

14,461 · January 26

On 25/01/2025 at 14:11, montytom said:

Lovely looking cambridge little bit younger than my wolseley they really are lovely cars

Is the rear hubcap missing or resting in the boot?

13,834 · January 26

8 hours ago, lesapandre said:

Though being dear old BMC Riley were set up in competition with themselves with the slightly smaller Riley One-Point-Five and similar Wolseley 1500 up to 1965.

Here's one I made earlier.

About 1968

1,280 · January 26

1 hour ago, artdjones said:

Is the rear hubcap missing or resting in the boot?

It was missing but they were cheap chinese ones so I bought the proper wolseley version

7,759 · January 27

By God I remember them looking like that as a kid in the 80s

As do I in the 70’s the local banger guys at the opposite end of the double headed cul-de-sac to my grandfathers old corporation house.

I spent hours annoying them as a 6yo onwards.

Those fins stay with you. They also latterly moved to granada coupes in the mid 80’s.

23,838 · January 27

I learned to drive and passed my driving test in a Riley 4/72 that was as scruffy as the A60 in @morrisoxide post.
I would like another BMC Farina, preferably that Riley 8/160 I fantasized about building when I was learning in the 4/72...

HMC WBOD news

Recommended Posts

danthecapriman

High Jetter

jon.k

Dick Cheeseburger

bigstraight6

purplebargeken

danthecapriman

lesapandre

lesapandre

Yoss

danthecapriman

danthecapriman

lesapandre

High Jetter

Yoss

lesapandre

Yoss

captain_70s

camryv6

lesapandre

High Jetter

HMC

Yoss

lesapandre

artdjones

artdjones

Mally

montytom

bangernomics

Asimo

Create an account or sign in to comment

Create an account

Sign in

Similar Content

NEW New new new New top gear ON HOLD, RIP? 1 2 3 4 38

The new news 24 thread 1 2 3 4 3501

XM Fettling - New Pastures New 1 2 3 4 10

Old and New 1 2

New purchase 1 2

Browse Forums

Activity