Random family car-related photos from days of yore

[Spottedlaurel]

I’ve been suffering a drought of decent spots recently, mirroring the weather here. Luckily, I’ve been managing to unearth a few old family photos and slides and been busy scanning them in. Quality not always great due to poor film/camera/scanner or a combination thereof, but hopefully you’ll find something you like here...

 

Country Show Up North, c. 1987/88 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Don't know where or exactly when this taken, I didn't go on this holiday. Something for everyone car-wise though. 100A estate came off the road in late '88, the rest made it until 1996-2002.

 

Car variety in a town somewhere Up North c.1987/88 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

This might have been taken on the same holiday. Any clue as to where it might be? There is one quite unusual car to be seen.

 

Peugeot 504 and Toyota Corolla, Up North c.1987-88 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Possibly on the same trip too. It's certainly not in East Anglia...

 

Great George Street, London 1979 + traffic by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

9yr old SL is in this photo. Don't know why I'm not looking at that lovely P5B.

 

1976 Ford Capri 1.6L MkII in Wales, 1977 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

1976 Ford Capri and Monza caravan in Wales, 1977 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Capri and Monza caravan at Lakeside camping & caravan site, 1977 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Young SL looks at a horse in Wales (+ Capri, Hunter, Minor) by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Holidaying 1977 style. Glad to have found these shots of our Capri, it hadn't surfaced previously in photo albums. DVLA says it just about made it to 1989.

 

1967 Ford Cortina at 21 Runsell View, Danbury c.1970 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

1965 Morris Oxford at 21 Runsell View, Danbury c.1970 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

My grandparents' bungalow in Essex, many happy times spent here. The Cortina was my dad's, probably the car he had when I was born, and the Oxford was grandad's. That photo is great isn't it? A series of four Marinas followed this.

 

1972 Morris Marina 1.3 Coupe (#1) + Farina + Horse by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Number 1. Lasted until 1985 says DVLA.

 

1974 Morris Marina 1.8 Saloon (#2) by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Number 2, died in 1983.

 

1977 Morris Marina 1.8 Special (#3) at Mexborough, late 1970s by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Number 3, this one made it to 1992.

 

1979 Morris Marina 1.7HL (#4) + Alpine at Mexborough, early 1980s by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

And his last one, making it to 1991. He bought them all brand new, this last one was replaced by a series of company cars (he became Transport manager for Marconi in Chelmsford, which helped build my brochure collection).

 

1982 Ford Sierra 1.6L at Montagu Street, Mexborough early 1980s by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

I don't know if this was one of grandad's, or maybe it belonged to my uncle who worked for Ford. Looks to be a dangly mirror job! This and the previous two photos were all taken outside the ancestral home of the northern side of my family in Montagu Street, Mexborough. My grandparents went back a lot to visit relatives.

 

New Holland combine harvester in Essex, early 1980s? by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

1967/68 Clayson combine harvester, early 1970s? by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Harvesting 1970s style.

 

More to come.

[seth]

To replicate this photo now would mean living the dream!

 

 

Wonderful images SL. Is the unusual car in that scene a Nova cabriolet?

[Spottedlaurel]

A few more.

 

1974 Land Rover petrol, c. late 1980s? by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Random L-R in the snow. Possibly ex-MoD, was only registered in 1986.

 

Cortinas and Civic in the snow, Boxford c.1979 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

More snow. The red 2.0GL was my dad's. Neighbour Graham replaced his Mk3 which was getting pretty rough with a Mk1 2dr.

 

Daking Avenue, Boxford in the snow c.1979 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Looking up the road from where I lived up to 1989. Which in sunnier times looked more like...

 

Daking Avenue, Boxford c.1985 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

This, a few years later.

 

Taxis and Escort Mk2 police car, London c.1979 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Houses of Parliament, London c.1979 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

More from that trip to London.

 

Mini Clubman Estate at The Catherine Wheel , Bibury late 1980s? by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Another holiday I didn't go on.

 

Theobald's Coaches on 1982 school trip to Wales by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

But this one I did, middle school trip to Wales on a couple of Theobald's coaches. I think the LH one is still around, the RH one made it as far as 2007.

 

Conwy Castle car park, 1982 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

This tantalising car park shot from that trip. Shame I was only using a 110 Instamatic thing.

 

Car line-up at Bier Keller in Berlin, 1988 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

By 1988 I was off on my own holidays, this was taken on a council-organised youth trip.

 

La Rochelle, France 1993 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Disappointingly little old stuff on view here.

 

1974-77 Datsun Laurel 200L (C130) Norway 2000 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Finally for now, a lovely Laurel seen when we were on the way home from the Datsun/PMC show four of us from the DOC went to in 2000.

 

Lots more to come when I get them scanned in. The slides in particular take a while.

[Spottedlaurel]

To replicate this photo now would mean living the dream!

 

[snip]

 

Wonderful images SL. Is the unusual car in that scene a Nova cabriolet?

 

Thanks Seth. You’re right on the Nova!

 

We never had electric hook-ups on those caravan holidays, did they even have them back then? The caravans were always hired, think I’ve posted this one before but it’s perhaps even more shite-worthy than the Capri and Monza combo:

 

1974 Austin Allegro 1500 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

[gtd2000]

 

Daking Avenue, Boxford in the snow c.1979 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Is that a Moskvitch? Used to see a tan coloured one, occasionally, back home.

[gtd2000]

 

Car line-up at Bier Keller in Berlin, 1988 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

By 1988 I was off on my own holidays, this was taken on a council-organised youth trip.

 

 

I was doing the same thing in 1985, back then they called it the British Army...

[Danblez]

Great pics, the second pic is Appleby in Westmorland, cumbria. Random completley pointless fact of the day.

 

Looking at these leads me to ask why the hell do we need such big cars these days? A new bloody fiesta is as big as 80% of the cars on the road then.

[boobydoo]

Those are wonderful! It makes me yearn to be able to go back in time even if just for a few hours!

 

I remember Monza caravans well....they were very popular in the mid seventies/early eighties. I recall going with my parents to look at them second-hand when they were looking to upgrade their Sprite 400. In the end they bought an Ace Pioneer, which they towed for many years with Marina Mk1 and Mk2 throughout the 70s.

 

There was a sweetcorn colour Alpine in one of your pics...was that owned by a neighbour?.

 

Anyone else spot the Renault 14 lurking in the village scene?

[Guest]

exellent photos Mr. Laurel, keep them coming

[Spottedlaurel]

Without quoting everyone’s posts, and roughly in order:

 

Yes on the Moskvich! It was replaced with an estate version later on, and the bloke drove a Fiat HGV tractor unit which was often parked up there. Note also one or two other things of interest in that shot, like the Citroen GS up the road.

 

Well done on the Appleby-in-Westmorland recognition. Boroughgate apparently, link to Streetview: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&sourc ... 45.91,,0,0

 

Yes, there is a Renault 14 in that shot!

 

About the Alpine, it belonged to other relatives who were visiting at the same time for a family wedding. Here it is another, previously-posted shot:

 

Marina, Wolseley and Talbot Alpine at Attleborough 1980? by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Sadly I’ve not yet seen enough of it in a photo to get a registration for it. The Wolseley is apparently on SORN, it hasn’t died on the oval! I wonder if it’s the car that appears with the Marina coupe in one of the photos above?

 

I’m having fun digging out these shots, glad they’re being enjoyed by others.

[Spottedlaurel]

Apologies if I’ve posted some of these before, would’ve been a while back:

 

Ford Cortina Mk2 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Suffolk Free Press copyright photo of dad OMG_DRIFTING his Cortina, complete with natty accessory wing mirrors.

 

Grandad's Austin 12/4 (?) by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

I think this was one of grandad’s cars prior to the Oxford, not 100% though, Unlike on my dad’s side of the family, he was quite late to cars.

 

Young Spottedlaurel in pedal car #1 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Dad’s Escort in the background, which followed the Cortina.

 

Young Spottedlaurel in Team Raleigh pedal car #2 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Young Spottedlaurel in Massey Ferguson by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Me in other automotive devices.

 

1967/68 Ford Anglia 105E by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Hire car.

 

1988/89 Ford Escort RS Turbo by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

One of the Ford-employed uncle’s many company cars.

 

1971 Morris Mini Clubman 1275GT by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

1974 Morris Marina 1.8 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Felixstowe Seafront, early 1980s by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Deckchairs through the ages.

 

Hillman Avenger 1500 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Dad’s Avenger, which followed the Escort and was in turn replaced by...

 

Allegro_2 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

This Allegro 1500.

 

1978 Renault 5GTL + Mini + Manta (May 1985) by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Mum’s Renault 5, which followed on from various Minis. Pleasingly, although the Mini in the background has long-gone, there is usually a very standard and slightly time-worn 1979/80 version parked there whenever I go back.

[retrogeezer]

Top pics there S-L.

[Guest]

Great stuff SL - I like seeing these old photos

Any other pics of the lefthand bus here

I wondered if it was this one I saw recently

[trigger]

This is fantastic work Nigel, I love old photos like these, and yours are even better as all the cars have local Essex and Suffolk number plates, It reminds me of when i was younger!

[Spottedlaurel]

Great stuff SL - I like seeing these old photos

Any other pics of the lefthand bus here

[snip]

I wondered if it was this one I saw recently

[snip]

 

Yes, it was. There's a chap on Flickr who'll be keen to see photos of BJU13T (SuffolkBusMan1) as I think his grandad drove it. He's set up a group for Theobald's Coaches.

 

Thanks for the comments all.

[Father Ted]

Great Eccleston Show - 1976

 

Grandads Ezzy Estate in 1981

 

Roundabout 1976 or 77 Uncle Eric had an argument with a ditch at speed.

 

My Metro - 1987

 

Dads 21st 1941 ( I think)

 

Malasia 1939

[Guest Tony Hayers]

Nice pictures SL, a little window direct to yesteryear

 

The first Capri shot is at the Beacons Reservoir on the A4059, halfway(ish) between Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil.

[Spottedlaurel]

Nice pictures SL, a little window direct to yesteryear

 

The first Capri shot is at the Beacons Reservoir on the A4059, halfway(ish) between Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil.

 

Thanks, that sounds right - I remember us driving through the Brecon Beacons on our holiday in South Wales.

 

Love the Talbot shot FT!

[Spottedlaurel]

More odds and ends:

 

1 (290)small by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Typical late '80s car park fodder, something for most of us here. Both the Cortina and Sunbeam came off the road in 1992, wonder if they ended up on the oval? Sunbeams were the car to have as a 2-litre stock car back then.

 

1982 Porsche 924 + 1980 Bedford Chevanne, c. 1987/88 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Stepdad owned these at the time, I briefly drove both. The 924 was a shite-worthy mushroom colour, DVLA says it's now black and still on the road. He had a Manta before it, and an XR4x4 after which was shared with my mum.

 

Fiesta Mk2 hire car, Jersey 1980s by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Grandma looking proud of the Fiesta they'd hired.

 

Peugeot 309 1.6GR by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Surrey Road, Ipswich 1990/91. Not one of the smartest areas of town, so there was always a cracking selection of old crocks parked-up.

 

1977 Datsun 120A FII coupe (F10) by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

One of many Datsuns owned new by my stepdad. probably my mum's Mini alongside it.

 

1980-ish Datsun Bluebird 1.8GL 4dr (910) by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

This was the last Datsun, he then went onto the Manta etc.

 

1979 Morris Marina 1.7 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Grandad's Marina again, occupants all of the appropriate age.

 

1982 Porsche 924 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Aha, better shot of the 924.

 

1986 Vauxhall Cavalier 1.6 C665VJL by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Dad's company car in 1986 when he sold Fiat tractors for Leverton. Went down to South of France in it. DVLA says it lasted until 1999.

 

Our fleet at Oxer Close, Elmswell c.1996 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

All these cars now gone

 

Datsun 1200 (B110) Elmswell, Suffolk c.1996 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Same place in the snow. RWD Datsuns ideal for the conditions!

 

1988 Mini Mayfair + 1971 Triumph Toledo by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Mum's Mini and neighbour's Toledo. Latter made it as far as 1994, Mini's on SORN. My aunt won it in a Daily Mail competition.

 

1988/89 Ford Escort RS Turbo by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

And here is that aunt with the RS Turbo again.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

What great photos. I never had a camera when I was a nipper, (we used to live in a hole in't middle of the road etc) so I dont have a single photo of my Dad's excellent bedford CF butchers van! ONe of the lads who worked at the butchers shop had helpfully signwritten it 'Quility Butchers'

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Great thread. I'll have to dig through some of the albums.

Here's one that was to hand. The scanner isn't working so I had to take a photo instead; me, long before my career as a forum troll, my mum and sister in my dad's VW T25 van. He had three of them one after the other. I don't know why he kept buying them as they were unreliable and expensive to fix.

I don't think we had any child seats, and there were no seats in the back but me and my sister are still alive.

[Guest]

Agreed, excellent thread, lots of great photos, happy memories and great chod, ah the nostalgia

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

ONe of the lads who worked at the butchers shop had helpfully signwritten it 'Quility Butchers'

 

Flowery Twats!

[ChinaTom]

Continuing the Suffolk theme, although this was taken in P'boro as my old man had escaped the countryside by this time, but the 1750HL was an Ipswich car. No idea why the Daimler had a London Reg - I guess it was a part-ex for a new Maxi in the family car dealer in Bildeston:

 

 

 

The second one is of the folks with their Oxford in the background - still in deepest darkest Suffolk (Kersey, I think)

[Spottedlaurel]

Look at Leonard, so innocent. Who knew what was to come...

 

Great to see that local reg’n on the Allegro. DVLA says it got to 1989, the Daimler came off the road just a few months earlier in late ’88.

 

Luckily my family seem to have been fairly snap-happy, but there are still all-too-few on cars – I had to sort through a box of several thousand slides to get a few vaguely worth scanning. Some more I’ve unearthed:

 

Royal Pavilion Brighton plus Celica, Cortina etc c.1983 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Nowdays all would be sought-after in some obvious/peculiar way. Cortina was another that fell by the wayside in 1989.

 

Hockleys under construction #1 + Allegro c. 1975 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Lived here from 1976-78, it was a tied house belonging to the farm where dad worked. Bit different to the usual damp/draughty/cold house that usually went with the job. The Allegro was rolled by mum in the snow just before we were about to trade it in, but it got repaired and survived until 1984.

 

Unknown coastal town and car park, West Country/Wales mid-late 1970s by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

1970s beach car park, West Country/Wales? by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Madeira Drive, Brighton? c.1983 + Peugeot 604! by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Random seaside photos. I just wish I could get crisper scans, larger views available on my Flickr pages. 604 content in the bottom one! I’ve yet to spot a Tagora, sadly.

 

Lavenham, Suffolk mid 1980s? by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Rover P6 hiding in the shadows.

 

Somewhere in The Cotswolds + VW Polo c.1988 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Another scenic location, early Mk1 Polo peeking into shot. DVLA suggests scrapped in 1991, but it escaped the lowering/stickers/faux patina/satin black thing.

 

1987 storm damage at Boxford, Suffolk by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Local aftermath of that storm. Carlton estate which I think puts in an appearance on another photo, plus Colt L300 van.

 

Daking Avenue Boxford in the snow c. 1978/79 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Another of the snowy photos. Simca/Dodge van owned by a chap called Brian who died only recently, he was always a bit of an unlucky Alf type character. He also owned a Lada estate, Victor FC estate and Renault 6 at various times. Allegro in the distance has its bonnet up...

 

Nigel Mansell F1 car + some dope by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Finally for now I shall leave you with this haunting image. Watch out ladies!

[maxpower]

wow! excellent pics there SL... funny how when a relative drove up in any of those cars you used to deny to your pals that the cars were anything to do with you and now all these years later you find yourself drooling over the pics wishing if only i could get one of those cars now

 

p.s. how did uncle eric fair after that disagreement with the ditch? because not many people clunk clicked in those days

[Jack_Harpers_Teeth]

[Spottedlaurel]

/\ etc

 

Got handed a few more, mostly from my stepdad's side of the family:

 

Whymark's Garage, Boxford, Suffolk 1980s by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Riddelsdell Bros Austin/BL garage, Boxford, Suffolk c.1981/82 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Proper garages. I could easily have been one of the kids in the second photo. That place is still going, still trading under the Riddelsdell name apparently but run by Howard Watts and selling classic/sports cars now rather than Metro, Ital and Marina pickup. Sadly Whymark's has gone, replaced by a fairly ugly house. Very pleased to have found these, I vividly remember them from my youth (the Allegro we had came from Riddelsdell's).

 

1940s Austin 10, c.1950s/60s? by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

1973 Ford Cortina 1300L, mid-late 1970s by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Austin/Morris 1100 + Ford Anglia in Stone Street, Boxford late 1960s? by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

1981 Morris Ital 1.3HL c. 1983 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Some of the cars belonging to my stepdad's father. The Ital came from Riddelsdell Bros.

 

1972 Ford Cortina 1300 Base, mid-late 1970s? by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Apparently this is George "Pitty" Pitt.

 

Country Show, Kirkby Lonsdale? c. 1987/88 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr

 

Different version of a shot I think I posted earlier. Stellar looks smart in black, was a 1600GSL and lasted only until 1995.

 

Might be some more, yet to be unearthed/scanned in.

[Pete-M]

I've posted these before, but they fit this thread.

 

 

 

 

The Moggie had done 5500 miles when this picture was taken. In '83 at the Woodvale show.

 

[Formula Autos]

This is Grasmere, SL. The slide's the wrong way round though.

 

I knew it looked familiar, but couldn't quite place it. Eventually, it's dawned on me.