Tag Archives: Compton

Honest No Nonsense Teresa – Ford Cortina Mk V 1.6 L Estate

On the 24th August 1979 Ford launched the final iteration of it’s Cortina model that had dominated the British sales charts every year since 1972 except 1976, when the more economical Ford Escort Mk II took the top spot.

Ford Cortina Mk V 1.6L Estate, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

Developed under the project name Teresa the Mk V Cortina featured new front wings, bonnet and grill, new bumpers with fashionable plastic end caps, side trim and the saloon / sedan had new larger fear light clusters.

Ford Cortina Mk V 1.6L Estate, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

The rear of the Mk V Estate / Wagon, which accounted for 20% of Cortina sales, was identical to the Mk IV apart from the bumpers, stiffer suspension and lower gearing also differentiated the two variants.

Ford Cortina Mk V 1.6L Estate, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

One contemporary report sumarised the 1’6 GL Estate as “an honest no nonsense workhorse” that was “also surprisingly refined and agile.”

Ford Cortina Mk V 1.6L Estate, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

On the 22nd July 1982 the last Cortina rolled off the production line at Dagenham when the model was replaced by the Sierra, nearly two months later on the 17th of September 1982 today’s featured 1.6L estate / wagon was registered for it’s first owner, helping to make the Cortina the UK market’s second best selling car of 1982 when the sales charts were topped by the Ford Escort Mk III.

Thanks for joining me on this “Honest No Nonsense Teresa” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a limited edition hot rod. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Silent Running Hypoid Gears – Chrysler Six C7 Airstream Rumble Seat Convertible

Visitors to the 1934 New York Auto Show were stunned by the appearance of the Chrysler Airflow with it’s aero dynamic shape and the comfort promised by mounting the engine over the front axle and moving the rear seats ahead of the rear axle.

Chrysler Six C7 Airstream Rumble Seat Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

Unfortunately, not for the first time nor the last, the futuristic Airflow did not sell as well as might be expected, despite it’s superior agility and comfort, so subsequent Airflow models became more conservative in their design.

Chrysler Six C7 Airstream Rumble Seat Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

The 1936 Chrysler Six C7 Convertible seen here is powered by a 241.5 cui / 3,957.5 cc flat head straight six, who’s origins can be traced back to 1924, with an automatic choke ensured easy starting.

Chrysler Six C7 Airstream Rumble Seat Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

A new rear axle which promised silent running thanks to it’s hypoid gears, a spiral bevel gear whose axis does not intersect with the axis of the meshing gear, was introduced to the 1936 C7 range with automatic overdrive an option to further reduce the vehicles noise at speed.

Chrysler Six C7 Airstream Rumble Seat Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

Only 450 Chrysler Six C7 Airstream Rumble Seat Convertibles, which cost nearly double that of the equivalent Ford, are believed to have been built,

Chrysler Six C7 Airstream Rumble Seat Convertible, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

The rare right hand example, seen here at Summer Classics Easter Compton, almost certainly a conversion as the speedometer is on the passengers side, is showing as first registered in the UK on the 1st of April 1994, it is also showing as having a 2.7 litre 167 cui motor, a detail I suspect is at variance with the facts since there was no Chrylser 4,6 or 8 cylinder motor of that size that I know of, if you know different please do not hesitate to chime in below.

Thanks for joining me on this “Silent Running Hypoid Gear” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Forward Design – Plymouth Savoy

The arrival of of the 1957 Mopars saw a dramatic shift in styling from a conservative Plane Jane to Virgil Exner’s jet age inspired Forward Design featuring the outrageous tail fins that became synonymous with the late 1950’s and lead Plymouths advertising copy to read “Suddenly – It’s 1960!”

Plymouth Savoy, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

The only car that dared to break the time barrier Plymouth, De Soto, Dodge and Chrysler full size models all featured variations of the same body design that were available to meet a variety of needs at an all important variety of prices.

Plymouth Savoy, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

Two years after Chrysler replaced the ’55 body styles the Plymouth Savoy alone was offered with 2-door coupe, 2-door hardtop, 4-door sedan, 4-door hardtop and station wagon bodies which with 8 engine options and 3 transmission options allowed a diligent salesman to sell up or down according to the purse of just about anybody who walked through the dealers showroom door.

Plymouth Savoy, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

Allegedly “The Forward Look of Motion” caused GM’s styling boss Harley Earl to ask Chevrolet exterior designer C.J. MacKichan “Why don’t you quit?” after seeing the 1957 Plymouth catalogue”.

Despite Torsion-Aire Ride using torsion bars but not airbags as the name might suggest, build quality problems with the Forward Designs meant many did not survive long before they started to rust away, the ’57 Savoy featured in these photographs is seen at last years Summer Classics meeting in Easter Compton.

Thanks for joining me on this “Forward Design” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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More Like A Six Cylinder – Plymouth PD

In 1932 sales of the Plymouth PB helped Plymouth become the only brand to show an increase in it’s sales volumes over 1931 and edged Chrysler closer to displacing Ford in second place in the corporate sales league, despite this Chrysler was still loosing money.

Plymouth PD, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

For 1933 Walter P Chrysler boldly invested US$9 million in new plant and machinery to make a new six cylinder engine “for the price of a four” which would be fitted to the 107″ wheelbase PC model that was to replace the PB.

Plymouth PD, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

To launch the new Six Cylinder PC which sat on a 109″ wheel base chassis in October 1932 Chrysler booked 90 mins of the ABC radio networks airtime just to talk to it’s dealers and employees across the nation.

Plymouth PD, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

Despite all this investment in a brand that was just five years old the PC was not a great success because it sat on a 107″ wheel base it looked like a 4 cylinder car.

Plymouth PD, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

A revised deluxe PD with the same 189.8 cui / 3.1 litre straight six but now on a 112″ chassis was rushed into production in time for the spring sales and the manufacture of the PC was discontinued in March 1933.

Plymouth PD, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

The Silver Dome 70 hp and 76hp Red Head variations of the PD remained in production until December 1933, the ’33 PD example seen in these photographs, at last years Summer Classics meeting in Easter Compton, was first registered in the UK on January 1st 1935.

Thanks for this “More Like A Six Cylinder” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l more psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Tiger Or Purring Kitten – Mercury Monterey S-55 Convertible

In response to the Buick Gran Sport package and Ford’s own Galaxy 500/XL Mercury built three Special line models, the S-22 Comet launched in 1961, the S-33 Meteor and S-55 Monterey such as the one seen here launched in 1962, the latter of which was only available with 2 door hard top or convertible body until 1963.

Mercury Monterey S-55 Convertible , Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The most important feature of the S-55 was the choice of larger engines; 6.4 litre / 390 cui FE V8 which was offered with either 300 or 330 hp and the 6.7 litre / 406 FE aimed squarely at the drag racer with three 2 barrel Holley carburetors that produced 405 hp and 448 ft lbs of torque which enabled the car to accelerate from just 12mph to 120 mph top speed in the floor shifted top gear of the all synchromesh gear box, as one contemporary journalist reported “this is virtually a two gear automobile”.

Mercury Monterey S-55 Convertible , Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Additional performance options included; cam-ground forged aluminum pistons, 15 different gear ratios from 3.00 to 8.83:1, limited slip differential, quick ratio steering for track racing and a list of cc’s for a series of deck clearances (distances from the top of block to top of pistons) added to which was the volume of the space the head gasket occupied, plus a range of cylinder head combustion chamber volumes, all essential information for the dedicated competitor.

Mercury Monterey S-55 Convertible , Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Inside the S-55 featured the aforementioned floor stick shift that replaced the column shift of the more pedestrian Monterey’s, 2 bucket seats replaced the front bench seat, and the doors were fitted with novel for the period combination white and red lights which came on automatically when the doors were opened to both illuminate the door aperture and warn traffic approaching from behind that the door was open.

Mercury Monterey S-55 Convertible , Summer Classics, Easter Compton

The front bucket seats folded flat so that one could stretch ones legs across them from the back seats, the purpose of which escapes me, but might have made camping in the car at night an option on long journey’s.

Mercury Monterey S-55 Convertible , Summer Classics, Easter Compton

Deleted from the S-55 was the air conditioning and power assisted brakes all of which took power away from the motor and thus reduced competitiveness in competition, the S-55’s brakes and suspension were however uprated from the standard Monterey.

Mercury Monterey S-55 Convertible , Summer Classics, Easter Compton

One contemporary 405 hp S-55 test concluded that the vehicle was not far from the ad man’s fantasy of a cross between a tiger and a purring kitten and all one needed to appreciate the ’62 S-55 like the one seen in these photographs at last years Summer Classics at Easter Compton was a fondness for a smooth-operating performance and handling package.

Thanks for joining me on this “Tiger Or Purring Kitten” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for Ferrari Friday. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Delicious And Wholesome – Ice Cream Vans

With the summer holiday season still in full swing, at least in the UK, I thought I’d focus today’s post on Ice Cream vans.

Bedford CF, Arnolfini, Bristol,

The first time I remember taking a photo of an ice cream van was in 2005 when I was collecting images that might make interesting subjects for poems, the reflected image of a Bedford CF Ice Cream Van standing in front of the Arnolfini in Bristol above never did get used for a poem, but ever since I have kept half an eye out for these bearers of Delicious Wholesome products.

Morris J-Type, Silverstone Classic,

The oldest Ice Cream van I have in my files is this 1949 J-Type Morris seen above early in the morning at last years Silverstone Classic.

Volkswagen Type 2, Volksfest, Easter Compton,

Earlier this year at Volksfest in Easter Compton I couldn’t resist buying a single scoop of Marshfield Farms finest from The Split Screen Ice Cream Company who claim to be operating the oldest Volkswagen Ice Cream Van in the country in the form of the 2012 British Street Food Award winning 1964 Type 2 seen above.

Citroën HY, Cribbs Causeway, Bristol,

Seen in another early morning photo is this 1968 Citroën HY, belonging to Ice Cream Events, which in an ironically, one couldn’t make this up, used to be operated by French Fire Fighting Services before being imported to the UK in 2011.

Ford Transit, Castle Combe

Since at least the late 1960’s, when they first came into my regular summer experience, Ice Cream vans in the UK have often had Disney characters painted on them, above Mel’s Super Whippy Ford Transit is covered in characters from the animation Cars and was appropriately seen at Castle Combe race circuit a few years ago.

Ford Transit, Porsche Curves, Le Mans,

The further traveled, but more modestly decorated 1995 Transit 150 above is seen on the banking of the Porsche Curves at Le Mans, France, during the 24 Hour race around 05:24 am !

Mercedes Benz Sprinter 311, Bristol,

It would appear that while Bedford CF Ice Cream vans are disappearing they are being replaced by Mercedes Benz Sprinters like the 2000 311 example operated by Carmelo & Sons seen above in Clifton, Bristol.

Thanks for joining me on this “Delicious And Wholesome” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at Lord Hesketh’s all new 1975 Formula One Challenger. Don’t forget to come back now !

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New Jersey Premium – Mercury Montclair

Mercury showed it’s XM-800 concept car designed by John Najjar to the public for the first time at the 1954 Chicago Auto Show and although the advanced design was said to be engineered to go into production it never did.

Mercury Montclair, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

However styling queue’s from the XM-800 including the hooded headlights did get adopted by the all new for 1955 first generation full size Mercury Montclair.

Mercury Montclair, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

The premium Montclair range was only built in 4 door sedan / saloon, 2 door Coupé and 2 door Convertible form.

Mercury Montclair, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

Power for the Montclair came from a 4.78 litre / 292 overhead valve V8, first seen in 1954, with dual exhausts, producing 198hp which was delivered to the rear wheels through a Merc-O-Matic transmission, note the motor on today’s featured 1955 example is not the original.

Mercury Montclair, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

The Merc-O-Matic featured push button selection of the gears with the neutral button also acting as a starter button for the motor according to Floyd Clymer reporting in “Popular Mechanics“.

Mercury Montclair, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

A hard top Montclair was shown to be capable of reaching 60 mph from rest in a more than respectable for the period 12.8 seconds.

Mercury Montclair, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

Options offered with the Montclair included power windows, four-way power seat, and factory fitted air conditioning.

Mercury Montclair, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

By 1957 the Montclair could be ordered with a 290 hp 6 liter / 368 cui Lincoln Y-Block V8 that also powered the Mercury Turnpike Cruiser that replaced Montclair at the top of the Mercury premium tree.

Mercury Montclair, Summer Classics, Easter Compton,

Adding the Montclair to the Mercury range boosted Mercury sales in 1955 by 27% over the previous year to a marque high of 330,000 units, a number that would not be reached again until the 1960’s.

It is believed that the Montclair takes it’s name from a suburban township in Essex County, New Jersey, in 1955 John Najjar’s Lincoln Futura concept was shown to the public and that vehicle went on to become to find fame in the 1960’s in much modified form as the Batmobile in the TV series staring Adam West as the capped crusader.

Thanks for joining me on this “New Jersey Premium” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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