Vin's Screen Grabs (Update 30/12/16) - Akenfield (Suffolk, 1974)

[RoadworkUK]

It'd be even more fun to just push somebody elses caravan into the canal...

[Felly Magic]

That 'boat' looks like it was made from an old caravan by 'George' himself.

[chaseracer]

Two questions:

 

1) how the hell do you get the boat back on the trailer, and 2) surely there is a law against shorts like that...?

[Vin]

A BTF film for this update (my mate has borrowed my 'Look at life' DVD)

 

This is a nice 15 minute BTF film called 'The Seaspeed Express' - Made in 1980, it shows two journies by Hovercraft, both from Dover but to Boulogne and Calais.

 

One journey is a trip into Belgium made by a businessman in his Granada to deliver some engineering samples. He also takes his golf clubs. The other journey is a family of four from London to Paris - Train, Bus, Hovercraft and then Train.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[morris_ital_lover]

 

Audi 80?

 

Lovely photos, I'm disappointed my 'rents didn't take me across the channel on one of these, they loooked awesome... instead we just had to take the bleedin ferry.

[fiatdaft]

Audi 50,and 2 beta berlina's spotted aswell,cheers for doing this vin!

[eddyramrod]

Audi 80? Not in this pic, sorry. In front is a Mk4 Cortina; up on the ramp is either a first-gen VW Polo, or the equivalent Audi 50. I can't make out the badging, sorry. Was the Granada one of Ford's press/publicity cars? There seem to be a few in the same registration batch knocking around on old TV shows like Minder, The Sweeney, The Professionals.... just a thought.

[RoadworkUK]

HJ is an Essex plate, also seen on my old 820e.

 

Most likely a Brentwood or Dunton Press / Demonstration car. And looking terrific in pre-facelift spec.

[morris_ital_lover]

Audi 80? Not in this pic, sorry. In front is a Mk4 Cortina; up on the ramp is either a first-gen VW Polo, or the equivalent Audi 50.

 

That would make sense.... I've got all my Audi number muddled up.

[Vin]

It is definitely an Audi 50, as the badge is a bit clearer when it's on the TV.

 

The last of the BTF films that were made are of a lesser picture quality than those made in the fifties and sixties. Just compare 'Seaspeed express' with 'Give your car a holiday' or 'Motorsport tries motorail' to see the difference.

 

It would appear that in the sixties the Hovercraft was seen to be the future of travel. There are a few 'Look at life' films about them too. I'm no expert, but I think these cross-channel Hovercraft were as big as they got.

 

Whatever happened to Hovercrafts from then on

[morris_ital_lover]

It is definitely an Audi 50, as the badge is a bit clearer when it's on the TV.

 

The last of the BTF films that were made are of a lesser picture quality than those made in the fifties and sixties. Just compare 'Seaspeed express' with 'Give your car a holiday' or 'Motorsport tries motorail' to see the difference.

 

It would appear that in the sixties the Hovercraft was seen to be the future of travel. There are a few 'Look at life' films about them too. I'm no expert, but I think these cross-channel Hovercraft were as big as they got.

 

Whatever happened to Hovercrafts from then on

 

 

I think the Chunnel killed the Hovercraft as it offered quick and smooth journeys across to France that are never affected by weather. As for the crafts themselves, they are currently all at the Hovercraft museum on the Isle of Wight... there was talk of them going to Canada but that seems to have disappeared.

[gricer]

I think the Chunnel killed the Hovercraft as it offered quick and smooth journeys across to France that are never affected by weather. As for the crafts themselves, they are currently all at the Hovercraft museum on the Isle of Wight... there was talk of them going to Canada but that seems to have disappeared.

 

 

The chunnel was the final nail in the coffin - really the SeaCat high-speed ferries which offered greater capacity, similar speeds and a lot less cost killed the hovercraft, whose only real advantage was not needing a deep water port to load and unload. Of course these were available on all the main cross-channel routes.

 

The two remaining SRN4s (the big channel hovercraft) are indeed at the hovercraft museum - which is at Lee-on-Solent, not the IoW. They were powered by Bristol Proteus engines - as in the '50s Bristol Britannia airliner - so parts were getting scarce and running costs were escalating. Unless you re-engined them (which would be difficult) they won't be used again. Last service was over a decade ago.

 

However if you want a ride on a commercial hovercraft you can catch a smaller one from Southsea pier to Ryde. Just the sort of high-frequency work the hovercraft is ideally suited for.

 

Hovercraft are still produced for military use, where they mmake ideal landing craft.

[andrew e]

HJ is an Essex plate, also seen on my old 820e.

 

Most likely a Brentwood or Dunton Press / Demonstration car. And looking terrific in pre-facelift spec.

 

May well be, I had M919XHJ & M299UHJ. FoMoCo did like a pressed steel plate sometimes - if you spy one of these, your talking 100% ex-blue oval.

[Lord Sterling]

Thanks for putting these up Vin, I missed them for some reason. The Sealink really does take me back to when my parents and I used to go abroad to Belguim. I sometimes still do this journey (By coach, then Ferry/Hovercraft) and hopefully will take my car with me one time.

[Vin]

Bit of a festive update this time..

 

I watched 'Singleton's Pluck' yesterday afternoon. It's probably my favourite christmassy/Wintery film and I always make sure I watch it every year in the run up to Christmas. It came out on DVD during the summer, so I no longer have to rely on my VHS copy recorded off Channel 4 in the early nineties.

 

While I was watching it I realised it is a prime contender for screen grabbing.

 

It was made in 1984 and is about a farmer, played by Ian Holm, who walks his geese from Norfolk to London. The main support vehicles are a Mk 1 Transit and a VW camper. The film is very atmospheric - frosty mornings, the low winter sun, colourful sunsets - very cold.

 

The film starts with the VW

 

Tractor shite when getting the geese ready for the road.

 

Setting off

 

Volvo F86 action

 

 

TAXI shite

 

 

The old bill

 

 

Thermostats knackered...

 

 

Mk2 Grandad

 

Peugeot is used by the Nationwide type news film crew who are following the geese.

 

Audi

 

As it went past I reckon it said Datsun on the front. It's an estate with a roof rack.

 

Dodge BT van - The bit with the Dodge is actually in this 3 minute clip on youtube

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEkoJaxJQD0

 

 

It's fuggin freezin man

 

CARNAGE

 

That there London

 

Calm down shiters, calm down.

 

News crew peugeot

 

I like the 'National' petrol sign next to the Fiat sign

 

Seddon Atkinson meat wagon

 

 

The end.

[RoadworkUK]

Top stuff.

 

The image of the Granada Ghia parked outside that half-timbered house is pretty much my ideal life set-up.

[John F]

Suzuki SP370 in there?

[pompei]

I feel sorry for the geese

[Vin]

Haha Tayne, it does look like Alf Thompson doesn't it...Although you've posted a picture of Ted Glen

 

Singleton loses his transport due to a Union dispute...so instead walks them to London as that was how they used to do it...when they get to Smithfield they then go for slaughter and thus christmas dinner. yum yum.

[Father Ted]

Haha Tayne, it does look like Alf Thompson doesn't it...Although you've posted a picture of Ted Glen

 

Fucking Google Images!

[Autoplas]

What a horrible story

 

So the geese who didnt get runover by the moron in the Escort were subjected to genocide after being forced marched 100 miles to London ?

 

Farmers eh ?

[Madman Of The People]

 

Looks like the VW Bus I owned many years ago!

[Vin]

This update is another 'Look at Life'. It's one I screen grabbed before I leant them to my mate.

 

'A load of pheasants' is the last film on the DVD. Dated September 1969, this episode covers the increasing number of TIR lorries travelling between the UK and mainland europe.

 

The film follows a wagon loaded with 6,000 brace of pheasants from Norfolk to Milan.

 

Bedford KM

 

Polish Fiat

 

Don't know what this is.

 

MAN Diesel

 

 

As a kid I used to love 'Pek' sandwiches.

 

Magirus Deutz - The eight legger tippers used to sound awesome.

 

This is one of the crew who is driving to Milan - getting ready to leave home.

 

He leaves home in this 1100 estate...

 

....and arrives at work in a different one

 

The transport office and loading up the pheasants

 

Setting off

 

On to the Ferry

 

 

 

MAN Diesel and a Scania-Vabis

 

Parking up for the night and meeting the German cop who will guard the truck.

 

 

Back on the road next day

 

Austrian Border

Fiat, Volvo F88 and Mercs

Door of the Fiat

 

Getting to know the locals...

 

On the road again. A bridge proves too low, so they have to back up and use an alternate route through the town.

 

 

Italian Border

Scania 1 Series at the end of a line up

 

Checking the fridge

 

 

Milan

 

Breaking the seal and unloading

 

This bloke is the Government health inspector - checking the pheasants are OK. Watch the fag ash.

 

One of the drivers rings the UK to see if there is a backload - there is, tomato puree from (I think the voiceover said) Salerno. So that's were they set off to.

 

The end.

[Shep Shepherd]

What an adventure!

[trigger]

Brilliant stuff yet again Vin!, I think Mrs Trigger's ordered this DVD for me for Christmas after i told her i wanted a copy because of this thread so thanks!

[Father Ted]

Superb as ever Vin

[michiel]

 

Wallander! Great shots, that must have been some trip in those days...

[Spottedlaurel]

Brilliant stuff Vin! I’m not sure how those films portray Norfolk though, suitable only as the starting place for long trips with lots of birds? Possibly reinforcing this stereotype, I went to my local auctions last night to find the usual tat viewing cancelled in favour of a poultry show and sale...

 

Pleased to see this shot:

 

 

Market Hill, Sudbury. Used to get dragged round the market for fruit and veg in pre-supermarket days.

 

Not sure if there’s a shot of Lavenham in there, but definitely Long Melford.

[trigger]

I'd like to add that this wasn't me during the summer!

 

[morris_ital_lover]

Thanks for another load of absolute gems!

 

I've just come back from Switzerland where I was amazed to still see some of these:

 

Still plying their trade day in day out... although they'll be gone by the end of next year if the posters about new trams coming in are anything to go by.

 

Those old Fiat trucks still seem to be going well in Libya, going by the recent events there there seemed to be a healthy population still bimbling along.