Leonard's local spots

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

BMC's finest by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

A foosty stash of BMC's finest.

 

Vans by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

Minor and Mini vans

 

Morris dashboard by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

I like the bare, Spartan simplicity

 

Farina by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

Some BMC Farina variant. Couldn't work out which as it's partially buried in the biggest stack of firewood.

 

JCB by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

The styling and proportions of this are great, it looks like an upscaled childrens' toy.

 

MGBs by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

All MGBs should look like this pair

 

Leyland Reiver snowplough by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

Leyland Reiver gritter/snowplough. I failed to get a decent photo of the gritter end. 0.3/10

 

Suzuki LJ80 exterior by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

Suzuki LJ80. Check out the expertly home-made rear arch!

 

Suzuki LJ80 interior by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

I took an interior photograph, if only for the excellent windscreen buffer

 

Ford Transit Mk2 camper by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

I liked the comical rear overhang. Why do a lot of campervans, even today, have an enormous rear overhang? Is it easier for the conversion?

If only we had some kind of Ford Transit obsessive on the forum to inform us that this is a Mk2.5C/B½

 

BMW 528 by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

Cheer up, I have some of Tesco's own T cut in my faded Golf.

It's a 518, making the tupperware add-ons and Alpina wheels that bit more pathetic.

[seth]

Split screen Minor van would be quite a catch for a minor person. Might it be a post van? Its got an opening drivers side window by the looks of it which I think was an odd commercial variant.

 

Some BMC Farina variant. Couldn't work out which as it's partially buried in the biggest stack of firewood.

 

I'm thinking A60 but post a larger photo of the bonnet/grill and I could say for sure.

[Mr Lobster]

That Minor looks like it must have been parked there for a VERY long time judging by the amount growing on it.

 

If only we had some kind of Ford Transit obsessive on the forum to inform us that this is a Mk2.5C/B½

 

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

DVLA couldn't find the Minor's registration, SLM 454, so no accurate info about when it was taken off the road. I'm going to guess 40 years.

I couldn't get a good shot of the Farina's front end because it had some wooden cupboard blocking it.

 

Humpty Dumpty Had Piles by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

Does anyone know what this sticker on the Mini van is about? It's lost on me.

 

Rover 213 by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

I forgot one. Notable only for its pressed metal number plates. Could it be ex-authority?

[Lankytim]

That BMC saloon is either a Morris Oxford or an Austin A60 Cambridge as the Wolseleys, Rileys and M.Gs had different bonnets. My guess is A60 as im faily sure the Oxford has a different chrome lip on the end of the bonnet.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

It has a piece of vertical chrome trim on the back door, if that helps.

[Lankytim]

Oooh, Cambridge it is then! (I think)

 

*edit* I think its an A55 Cabbage, after googling some pics....

[pogweasel]

Humpty Dumpty Had Piles by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

Does anyone know what this sticker on the Mini van is about? It's lost on me.

 

 

Hobviously, all that tine sitting atop cold stone walls caused the ovoid one to suffer badly from ARSE-GRAPES.

[seth]

SO it does! In which case I shall revise my guess to A55 Mk2. I thought that lower grille horizontal looked a bit too low but I guess it is an early fintail.

 

 

Lanky, Morris and Austin Bonnets also differ from each other. Morrises are all "flat" whereas Austins have a drop towards the back, the width of teh vent in front of the screen. Also Austin chrome trim is only short where as Morris chrome runs right the way back.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Humpty Dumpty Had Piles by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

Does anyone know what this sticker on the Mini van is about? It's lost on me.

 

 

Hobviously, all that tine sitting atop cold stone walls caused the ovoid one to suffer badly from ARSE-GRAPES.

 

Ahh, of course. I'd like to select one of those stickers now, but where can I get one apart from off an abandoned Mini van?

[Angrydicky]

SO it does! In which case I shall revise my guess to A55 Mk2. I thought that lower grille horizontal looked a bit too low but I guess it is an early fintail.

 

 

Lanky, Morris and Austin Bonnets also differ from each other. Morrises are all "flat" whereas Austins have a drop towards the back, the width of teh vent in front of the screen. Also Austin chrome trim is only short where as Morris chrome runs right the way back.

 

Defintely an Austin. You can make out the "mesh" type grille and the Austin grille badge in the photo. A55 MK2 it is then

 

That split-screen Minor van is almost certainly an ex-GPO example, being an early split with the London reg and traces of green paint. Shame it's so far gone as they are quite sought after in Minor circles.

[Spottedlaurel]

Who knows what else is lurking in that pile of wood?

 

Suzuki must have been in use relatively recently, surely it would have just rotted away if left up your way for long?

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Suzuki must have been in use relatively recently, surely it would have just rotted away if left up your way for long?

 

The vehicle details for AST 843W are:

 

Date of Liability 01 01 1995

Date of First Registration 30 12 1980

Year of Manufacture 1980

Cylinder Capacity (cc) 797CC

CO2 Emissions Not Available

Fuel Type Petrol

Export Marker Not Applicable

Vehicle Status Unlicensed

Vehicle Colour CREAM

 

15 years, yikes. I think it's been used as an off road hack to access the grouse moors above, its floor is very see-through. I can't remember seeing any LJs on the roads in the '90s.

[eddyramrod]

Ford Transit Mk2 camper by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

I liked the comical rear overhang. Why do a lot of campervans, even today, have an enormous rear overhang? Is it easier for the conversion?

If only we had some kind of Ford Transit obsessive on the forum to inform us that this is a Mk2.5C/B½.

 

As it happens... This type of front end was introduced in 1978 and was known even then as the 78-1/2 Transit, or Mk2. However if a new smile is all it takes to make a new model, then strictly this should be Mk3 as the petrol-engined models were re-grilled in about 1971. The front shown, however, also marked the ditching of the Essex V4 in favour of the in-line Pinto. Another restyle in about 1983 saw a bigger, more plastic grille, sculpted steel wheels and new front and rear lights, before the shovel-nose appeared in 1985/6 with a whole new body.

 

Regarding the overhang, many of these conversions are based on the standard-wheelbase chassis offered by the factory, which is really designed for relatively small vans with about 10-15cwt capacity. They often look a bit down at the rear, because a fully-fitted coachbuilt camper is heavy; equivalent to running at maximum load for the van's entire life. That's got to be hard on the rear springs. There are some that were built on the LWB chassis, which were usually designed for greater loads. They survive with something like their correct stance, but oh, those twin-wheels! Ugly or what! Nearly as ugly as a current 5-Series... No, I'm being uncharitable to the vans there, nothing can be that ugly. (That'll get Eccentric-Richard on his high horse, and give me back my initials!!!!!)

 

You can't leave valuable and useful information like this floating free in the ether, somebody has to have it in their head...!

[oldford]

The A55 MK II, where you steer it by leaning and get a bit of tyre squeal on roundabouts at 20mph.

[Albert Ross]

Eddy, your initials are er, like someone hesitating in thought, his are ER, like the Queen, or a shit television programme about a Hospital (unfortunately not the Psychiatric wing)

 

Therefore, as lower case, you come first. That, and you have actually driven a car, and probably forgotten more than he will ever "know".

 

The other, pretender, is just that.

 

Oh, and the Minor van? I heard that someone makes a full GRP body for these, to assist with restorations...... Drop the weight, Fiat/Alfa Twin cam, Alfa transaxle, do you see where I'm going? But paint it in Green "Post Office Telephones" livery, just to piss off the resto crowd.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

I think the body on that one is restorable; the weird boggy, cold birch wood climate has helped preserve it.

[eddyramrod]

Eddy, your initials are er, like someone hesitating in thought, his are ER, like the Queen, or a shit television programme about a Hospital (unfortunately not the Psychiatric wing)

 

Therefore, as lower case, you come first. That, and you have actually driven a car, and probably forgotten more than he will ever "know".

 

The other, pretender, is just that.

 

Thanks Albert; all valid . I should point out that my ACTUAL initials are ER too and I've had them for over 50 years, as my name really is Eddy (as you noticed ) and my surname begins with R. I've been using eddyramrod (all lower case) since I first set foot on the internet; Ramrod was actually my CB radio "handle" many many years ago and when I was truck-driving, I had a number plate made with that on, to display in my windscreen. It's now on my shed door. The "Ram" part comes from my birthday being in April (Aries). I'll leave the "Rod" part open to speculation .

 

Mr Hatred, apologies for the hijack.

[gearoil]

I like the Reiver.

 

Don't old Brit trucks end up exported and driven into the ground...?

[trigger]

Am i missing something?, It looks like some posts have been deleted?.

 

Ramrod was actually my CB radio "handle" many many years ago and when I was truck-driving, I had a number plate made with that on, to display in my windscreen. It's now on my shed door. The "Ram" part comes from my birthday being in April (Aries). I'll leave the "Rod" part open to speculation.

 

I always thought a ramrod was another name for the rod that you use to clean shit out of the drains?.

 

Mind you according to Wiki - A "ramrod" is also slang for a dumb person, That would explain why one of the blokes i used to work with called me that then.

[scruff]

I got given an LJ80 in about '03, went up to Hounslow to fetch it. Arrived in the dark to find it perched on a kerb hemmed in by a BMW and a Range Rover. "So the numberplates are hidden", I was told. Anyway with a tug from the Rangie the thing fired up and I drove it up the ramps, only to discover it had NO brakes!! If it wasn't for the winch on the front of the flatbed it would have shot straight off the front into the back of the Landy. Anyway we got it back to Horsham with the intention of using it for a bit of OMG OFFROADIN but a quick look at the state of the floor and chassis but paid to that idea. A lad came over for the engine and gearbox and a fella building a WW2 Jeep replica out of an SJ gave me £100 for the wheels and tyres! And there's my LJ story

[Guest EccentricRichard]

Regarding the overhang, many of these conversions are based on the standard-wheelbase chassis offered by the factory, which is really designed for relatively small vans with about 10-15cwt capacity. They often look a bit down at the rear, because a fully-fitted coachbuilt camper is heavy; equivalent to running at maximum load for the van's entire life. That's got to be hard on the rear springs. There are some that were built on the LWB chassis, which were usually designed for greater loads. They survive with something like their correct stance, but oh, those twin-wheels! Ugly or what! Nearly as ugly as a current 5-Series... No, I'm being uncharitable to the vans there, nothing can be that ugly. (That'll get Eccentric-Richard on his high horse, and give me back my initials!!!!!)

 

I really don't like the current 5-series. It's just plain bloody bland. It's the previous one I think is a great piece of design, the E60. Mind you, the new 5 is the only one I feel no love for... maybe it'll grow on me like the E60 did, or maybe, five years on, it'll still piss me off for being so bland and gawky, like the current 3-series.

[M'coli]

I really don't like the current 5-series. It's just plain bloody bland.

So are you saying the new 5 is futureshite, or had you just forgotten that this is an old car forum again?

[Guest EccentricRichard]

I really don't like the current 5-series. It's just plain bloody bland.

So are you saying the new 5 is futureshite, or had you just forgotten that this is an old car forum again?

 

Nah, it'll never be shite like our favourite stuff, it's waaaayyyy too complicated and by 15 years old the electronics will be fucked and there'll be nowt you can do to stop it going to the scrapheap... Someone mentioned how ugly something was and compared it to the current 5 and said it'd piss me off, but I actually agreed with them...

[warren t claim]

I really don't like the current 5-series. It's just plain bloody bland.

So are you saying the new 5 is futureshite, or had you just forgotten that this is an old car forum again?

 

Nah, it'll never be shite like our favourite stuff, it's waaaayyyy too complicated and by 15 years old the electronics will be fucked and there'll be nowt you can do to stop it going to the scrapheap... Someone mentioned how ugly something was and compared it to the current 5 and said it'd piss me off, but I actually agreed with them...

 

I quite like the look of the new 5 Series and people have been saying how unreliable car electronics will kill older cars for the last 20 odd years.

[Pillock]

When my grandparents bought a Mk3 Cav, they had the option of a top of the range Mk2 GLSi with all the options that was sat at the dealer, unregistered.

Their mechanic (it was at a time when everyone had a mechanic) recommended they get this instead, as the Mk3 was "too complicated" and only a dealer would be able to service it. I guess he was trying to keep himself in work (it failed, they got the base model Mk3) but even 22 years ago, people were scaremongering about electronics killing DIY mechanicing.

[Split_Pin]

Love the Reiver

 

That one would have been built in Scotstoun at the Albion Factory, hence its name. The Bathgate-built equivalent was the Mastiff. Subtle badge engineering??

[Guest EccentricRichard]

People have been saying how unreliable car electronics will kill older cars for the last 20 odd years.

 

Oh well, I hope I'm wrong, because I really want to get an E38 7-series one day - they're complex as fuck and I hope they'll still be working by the time I'll have the means of buying one!

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

BUMP FOR A REAL THREAD

 

Singer Gazelle by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

 

Singer Gazelle by zenithfivenine, on Flickr

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Love the Reiver

 

That one would have been built in Scotstoun at the Albion Factory, hence its name. The Bathgate-built equivalent was the Mastiff. Subtle badge engineering??

 

It's baffling how they had two factories, not far from each other producing the same lorry. Were they aimed at different markets?