Few old pics.

[Pete-M]

Been digging through old family pics and I'm trying to work out exactly what some of this lot is. Figured someone on 'ere probably knows what most of it is. Pics are mainly from late 60's.

 

 

This was taken in 'scrappers corner' of my dads old garage. The make is obvious, but I know no more than that. Any Rolls anoraks?

 

 

Now, these three were taken in May 1969 when dad moved from the garage in the last two shots to a larger one. Can't quite make out the first letter of the reg, and to be honest, I'm crap at spotting old stuff.

 

 

1956 or so. Dad rode this old beastie from Liverpool to John O'Groats, to Lands End, to Liverpool. Without a crash helmet. I don't know the first thing about prehistoric bikes.

 

 

Back to early '69 with this old Plymouth.

 

 

I know what this is, but thought I'd post it anyway. I'm the one in the pram, so it'll be 1971.

 

 

This was restored, but the only pic I can find is this one

 

[Guest]

I cant help with the id of the oldies you have there but I love to see old pictures like that. Got anymore?. Bang them on here if you have.

[seth]

Really fantastic photos there Pete. I think a fair few people still rattled around in pre-war cars through the '60s but they look pre-historic compared to the modern vehicles even in those times.

 

Where was that garage? Be interesting to see what it looks like now (with streetview or fo' real)

[Justin Case]

I don't know a great deal about vintage cars, but I'm pretty sure that the Rolls is a Phantom1 (approx 1925-1930) and the body might well be by someone like Hooper, who did specialise in the formal limousines. the second one is an Austin, not sure of the model but it looks like a mid-20s 16

 

There are a lot of knowledgeable folk here:

 

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/forum/phpbb/phpBB2/

 

so a pm to Rick, who runs the site, should get it flagged up on the mystery cars thread and you are likely to get a more definite answer there

[Pete-M]

Where was that garage? Be interesting to see what it looks like now (with streetview or fo' real)

 

The garage was on West Derby Rd in Liverpool. It now looks like this. Which is a shame. The musical box is still going though, same family owns it.

 

[warren t claim]

That Plymouth has a hint of P6 about it. RHD too.

 

Mutha_Claims Fiesta Superspurt suffered an attempted theft 100 yards up the road from your garage. (I'm not blaming you for that btw).

[Angrydicky]

I think the Austin is a "Gumdrop" 12/4 from about 1926

[trigger]

 

If thats your dad to the right in this photo then you don't half look like him now Pete, Ace photos btw!

[Spottedlaurel]

Excellent stuff! Great to see the garage before and after. Don't think anyone would guess looking at the building now that's what it once was.

[Pete-M]

Couple more for ya.

 

 

This is the garage he moved to in May '69.

 

 

Same garage when he decided to retire in 1980.

 

 

Same again.

 

 

IOM 1974. Dad gets a hired mini stuck on the beach..

 

 

November '84. My brothers old R20 TL.

 

 

Early 1973. Dad promised himself he'd have a Rolls-Royce before he was 40. He was 39 when he bought this.

 

 

I'm still looking through boxes and boxes of this stuff, and I'll post any more I find. Got tons of stuff from the late '80s, but the old stuff is more intriguing.

[warren t claim]

You should go to the local library and copy an ad with his stock listed on the day you were born and post it up!

[Pete-M]

You should go to the local library and copy an ad with his stock listed on the day you were born and post it up!

 

Somewhere I've got a few old adverts. I'm trying to remember where though.

[fiatdaft]

qwality usage of the time it takes to scan !

 

also like the then and nows,keep it up !

[wuvvum]

I think the Austin is a "Gumdrop" 12/4 from about 1926

Aye, I reckon you're right.

 

 

Radiator looks a bit narrow, but that could just be the angle.

[Pete-M]

Here's a shot of the Bungalow Garage now.

 

 

Knocked down in 1984 by over zealous developers. The car wash has been there since about 1986.

[warren t claim]

Is that the Ebay award winning car wash?

[HillmanImp]

What's that Music Box place next door. Is that the same business? Been there a while that?

 

Great photos BTW.

[Manbearpig]

Lovely shots, shows how drab and lifeless the urban streetscape is now compared to 40 years ago. DER....hands up who can still sing the TV ad? Ah maybe not.

 

Loving the 2 door Viva estate in the BW pic, the racy red VX 4/90 in the colour ones is a close second

[pogweasel]

That area is quite depressing now, I'b

I've driven past that spot hunnerts of times, never would have thought you'd have a garage there. Times change.

It's close to the auction rooms though - were they there in The Past??

[Pete-M]

That is indeed the ebay award winner...

 

The Musical Box is a legendary place. Same family have owned it since the start, they're all encyclopaedic about anything that was pretty much ever released. It's one of those little places where you can walk in and ask for something truly obscure and they're likely to wander off in the back somewhere and blow the dust off a copy.

 

They've been there for donkeys years, so have the auctions. Dad did most of the '60s from the garage on the corner in the pic, but late '50/ early '60s he was even closer to the auctions. Never bought from 'em though, wasn't a fan of buying stuff at auction as that's where everyone used to send any knackered trade in stuff, and stuff was often knackered in 30k miles back in those days so the chances of buying a liability were high.

 

I feel pretty bad that I've been mucking about with cars for over 20 years now and I've still not sorted my own showroom / garage out, I'm pretty sure I got the mental taste in motors from him.

 

Thing is, I really couldn't be bothered with mundane cars. I'd want to have a place that dealt in the old, oddball and / or obscure (604s etc) along with the odd cheap good 'skint' motors and fun stuff like the Mk2 Escort, hot hatches and luxosteroid stuff like the Jag. There'd be the odd 4x4 and van too. Thing is, the trade has changed so much since these pics were taken, and so have the demands of Joe Public.

 

I wouldn't want to be bothered with people who'd expect warranties with cheap smokers and that is the sticking point. If the thing was ok it'd get a fresh mot, possibly a service and a few little minor fettles and a wash. I'd tell them everything I know about the car, any problems I'd know about or suspected to be likely, do the deal and send 'em on the way. If it's not got an MOT, then it quite probably needs work.

 

Jeez, I can do diagnostic stuff and know enough people in the trade to get anything you want done to pretty much anything out there, but oddball stuff tends to stop being cheap if it has to be perfect just to make it safe enough to avoid getting done over by a litigation minded muppet after a rare car for 1/5th of its possible value...

 

If I could find a way of doing something with all that (and make a few bob, obviously), I'd jump at it. Jeez, I can think of about ten mad motors I could flog today, but 'work' work is what's paying the bills so I can't stop doing that at the mo.

 

Oh, and if anyone's interested in a Toyota Camry 2.2, I meant to mention that on 'ere.

 

Suggestions on a postcard please.

 

Anyway, also found this.

 

 

1972. Probably Ainsdale or Southport.

[seth]

I bet there was cursing when that Farina drove into the garage shot of 1980

 

I'm guessing that the last beach photo is supposed to be of the child (you?) but the car has accidentally* been focused on....

[Spottedlaurel]

Oh, and if anyone's interested in a Toyota Camry 2.2, I meant to mention that on 'ere.

 

Nah, they’re rubbish – who’d want one of them?...

 

Love the latest batch of photos, I look forward to seeing any more you can find the time to scan and get on here.

[Pete-M]

I bet there was cursing when that Farina drove into the garage shot of 1980

 

I'm guessing that the last beach photo is supposed to be of the child (you?) but the car has accidentally* been focused on....

 

Heh, the sproglet is indeed a very young me, and if dad took the photo then that's probably why the car is in focus... family trait.

[Pete-M]

I think the Austin is a "Gumdrop" 12/4 from about 1926

 

Just had a quick google at these and it looks like you're right. Appears to be an Austin 12/4 'Clifton', which would make sense as the side road in the garage is Clifton Rd and it'd be daft not to...

[andrew e]

Great stuff Pete, I enjoyed that