Tag Archives: Estate

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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Archbishop – Ford Consul Cortina Super Estate

In the early 1960’s Ford of Britain’s Project Archbishop the code name given to the family car designed by Roy Brown Jr that was to be launched on the 20th of September 1962 as the Ford Consul Cortina range.

Ford Cortina Estate, Sherborne Castle

Initially the car was offered only with a 1.2 litre / 73.2 cui 3 bearing Kent engine until January 1963 when the 60hp 1498 cc / 91.5 cui 5 bearing Kent engine became available for the Cortina Super models like the 1963 Estate / Wagon seen in these photographs at Sherborne Castle last year.

Ford Cortina Estate, Sherborne Castle

The Ford Consul Cortina Estate was launched in March 1963 and like the Anglia 105E Estate first seen in 1961 it was built in house at Dagenham rather than contracted out to Abbott’s of Farnham, as had been all other post war Ford Estates.

Ford Cortina Estate, Sherborne Castle

Today’s featured Consul Cortina Super Estate, complete with original imitation wood panels, was registered for the road in the UK on the 16th of May 1963.

Ford Cortina Estate, Sherborne Castle

The Consul Cortina was mildly face lifted in October 1964 and fitted with superior “Aeroflow” through-flow ventilation.

Thanks for joining me on this “Archbishop” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a couple of acres of Town ‘n’ Country. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Queens Abbott – Ford Zephyr 6 Abbott Estate

Former Wolseley designer Edward Dixon Abbott turned his attention to coach building after taking over Page and Hunt based in Farnham in 1929. His company Abbott’s of Farnham building bespoke for a range of manufacturers chassis including Bentley, Bristol, Frazer Nash, Healey, Lagonda, Rolls Royce, Sunbeam Talbot and even a one off Ferrari 212 Export, but it is Abbott’s bodies on Ford estate cars, after the ’39-’45 war, which were probably the most accessible.

In 1956 Ford launched the Mk II Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac models which became known as the 3 Graces.

Ford Zephyr 6 Abbott Estate, Goodwood Festival of Speed,

The same year Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II took delivery of today’s featured one off Zephyr 6 wagon, which I believe was converted by Abbott’s.

The vehicle with an extra tall roof unusually seats nine and was primarily used for ferrying guests and their luggage around the Queens holiday residence the Sandringham Estate not far from The Royal Stud.

Notice how the wiper blades are set up to give the passenger the best view of the road ahead in inclement weather, I wondered if that was because HRH preferred to let Prince Philip drive, however it seems this odd feature was carried over from the Mk I Ford Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac models to all of the Mk II Consul, Zephyr and Zodiac variants.

Thanks for joining me on this “Queen’s Abbott” 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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Almost Fully Loaded – Austin Mini Clubman Wood & Pickett Estate #XL2W2524450A

Soon after I bought my first car in 1978 I started regularly driving over from Harrow Road in Wembley to Victoria Road in the Tropic of Ruislip to visit an old school friend, the route used to take me past the Wood & Pickett works from which all manner of blinged out and often bomb proof Range Rovers used to appear for the rich and famous that brought into the UK valuable foreign exchange, most notably from the middle east.

Austin Mini Clubman Wood & Pickett Estate, Silverstone Classic,

Bill Wood and Les Pickett learned their coachbuilding skills at Hooper & Co and left to set up their own business operating from Bills front room in 1947.

Austin Mini Clubman Wood & Pickett Estate, Silverstone Classic,

By the 1960’s Wood & Pickett now operating in Abbey Road, Park Royal were vying with their former employers Hooper, Radford, Minisprint, Ridgeway and a long list of others for upgraded Mini’s which could involve anything from minor cosmetic variations to fully loaded cars which were particularly popular amongst royalty, entertainers and sports persons.

Austin Mini Clubman Wood & Pickett Estate, Silverstone Classic,

Focusing on the top end of the market and with a little help from former Radford managing director, Len Minshull, and head of marketing Eddie Collins, Wood & Pickett’s Mini clientele included Twiggy, Laurence Harvey, Brian Epstein, Mick Jagger, King Hussein of Jordan, Hayley Mills and Elton John.

Austin Mini Clubman Wood & Pickett Estate, Silverstone Classic,

Thanks to the leadership of Eddie Collins Wood and Pickett expanded into the production of the aforementioned Range Rovers and in the late ’70’s to new premises in Ruislip where today’s featured 1978 Austin Mini Clubman Estate was sent from Cleveland Garages Ltd, Mont A L’Abbe, St Helier, Jersey having been purchased there on 17th August 1978.

Austin Mini Clubman Wood & Pickett Estate, Silverstone Classic,

The list of upgrades carried out by Wood & Pickett included deseaming the front wings, flared wheels arches, fitting 5″x10″ tech Del Mini-lite wheels, twin automatic reversing lights mounted under the rear bumper, direction indicator lights and repeaters to front wings, twin headlights, air horn, high output alternator, electric windows, electrically adjustable door mirrors, chrome front bumper bars with WP logo, bonnet lock, extra secure door locks, stainless steel finish to the top of the doors, body painted Rolls Royce Caribbean Blue, leather trimmed Wood & Pickett 14″ steering wheel in dark blue leather, navy blue leather rear compartment roll-over cover, blue velour seats, deluxe soundproofing of the interior, FM Radio cassette, but strangely on the evidence of these photo’s no electric aerial.

The only Wood & Pickett upgraded Mini Clubman Estate was then delivered to it’s thus far unidentified owner in Jersey and registered on the 13 December 1978. Subsequently #XL2W2524450A was driven just over 29,000 miles by the owner prior to being sold at the Silverstone Classic auction a couple of month’s ago, where the car is seen in these photographs, for a modest £11,250.

Wood and Pickett has since undergone a couple of changes of ownership and now specialises in Mini’s from premises in Leatherhead.

Thanks for joining me on this “Almost Fully Loaded” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a Mercury Monterey. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Load Bearing Steel Roof – Citroën DS23 Familiale

Three years after the launch of the Citroën DS series a Estate/Station Wagon variant was launched in 1958.

The major difference between the Estate / Station Wagon and Saloon / Sedan, aside from the vast cargo capacity was that the new variant was built with a steel roof to which a standard roof rack was fitted.

Citroën DS23 Familiale, Goodwood Festival of Speed

All of the Estate / Station Wagon DS’s had three rows of seats, with the middle three all folding down to allow access to the rear.

Different markets were supplied with different variants with different names in France the down market ID based and higher spec British and Australian DS based le “Break” were fitted with two side facing seats in the cargo area where as the Estate in the UK, Wagon in the US and Station Wagon in Australia were all fitted with a forward facing third row of seats.

Citroën DS23 Familiale, Goodwood Festival of Speed

Ambulance versions of the Familiale were also built with a 60/40% fold down split in the 2nd row of seats to accommodate a stretcher and at their Slough plant in the UK a three door hearse was also built.

Fans of horse racing in the UK became particularly familiar with a 1974 DS 23 which was converted by the British Broadcasting Corporation into a Colour Roving Eye.

Citroën DS23 Familiale, Goodwood Festival of Speed

The Colour Roving Eye comprised a colour television camera and cameraman on the roof, a Band V transmitter within the cargo area, with a small generator on a trailer in tow to provide the necessary electrical power for the equipment.

The heavily laden vehicle, chosen for it’s smooth ride over uneven terrain such as that found next to race courses was ideal for live transmissions.

Citroën DS23 Familiale, Goodwood Festival of Speed

It was regularly seen in long shots during live transmissions at the start of horse races being driven at speed alongside race courses before the transmissions cut to close up shots as the races were in progress.

The Italian registered DS23 Familiale example seen in these photo’s at Goodwood Festival of Speed was built in 1973 and fitted with both a factory fit sun roof and factory fit air conditioning options.

Thanks for joining me on this “Load Bearing Steel Roof” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a visit to Pendine Sands. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Welsh Shooting Brake – Gilbern Invader Estate Mk II

In 1969 Gilbern launched the first of series of Invaders which were improved versions of the Gilbern Genie larger brakes and only powered by the larger 140 hp 3 liter / 183 cui of the Ford Essex V6 motor.

Gilbern Invader Estate, Bristol Classic Motor Show, Shepton Mallet

In 1970 the first Estate / Station Wagon or more correctly shooting brake versions of the Invader began to appear and in 1971 a Mk II version of Invader was built of the type featured today which was built in 1972 with a with stiffer chassis and MG C front axle.

Gilbern Invader Estate, Bristol Classic Motor Show, Shepton Mallet

During the period of Invader production owners Ace Capital Holdings Ltd, whose primary business was in slot machines, were sold to Mecca whose portfolio included a large stake in the Bingo Hall and related gambling operations and the Miss World Franchise.

Gilbern Invader Estate, Bristol Classic Motor Show, Shepton Mallet

Car manufacture did not fit in with Mecca’s business plan and so Gilbern was sold in a management buyout to first Maurice Collins 1970 and then to his former co director Mike Leather in 1972. For a very short period in 1972 production reached a break even point of 4 cars a week. In all 212 GT and 104 Estate Invader Mk II’s were built up until September 1972 making the MkII the most successful of all Gilbern models.

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Back To Sheet Metal By The Acre – Plymouth Fury III Station Wagon

Two years the launch of the mid size 1962 Chryslers, Plymouths and Dodges that were born of a misunderstood overheard conversation that Chevrolet were about to exit the full size car market, Chrysler swallowed it’s pride and losses and went back into the business of selling sheet metal by the acre. On of the products of the policy U turn was today’s featured car the full size fourth generation 1965 Plymouth Fury Station Wagon.

Plymouth Fury III, Goodwood Revival

The ’65 Furys were available with 5 engine options up to 440 cui / 7.2 liters, today’s featured car is listed with the smallest small block Chrysler A 318 cui / 5.2 liter V8 such as used by Bristol to power the 408 MkII, 409 and 410 models up until 1969.

Plymouth Fury III, Goodwood Revival

Fourth generation Furys were available with 3 option packages, basic Fury Is were used by the police and taxi cab companies, in 1966 the Fury III was topped by the VIP (Very Important Plymouth) option package.

Plymouth Fury III, Goodwood Revival

Automatic transmissions, air conditioning, power windows and seats were available on top of the option packages.

Plymouth Fury III, Goodwood Revival

Only Fury II and Fury III Station Wagon’s could be ordered with a third row of seats to bring the seating up to 9 from the regular 6.

Plymouth Fury III, Goodwood Revival

Production of the fourth generation Fury came to an end in 1968, although a right hand drive Australian version of the fourth generation Fury, known as the Dodge Phoenix, continued uninterrupted form 1965 to 1973.

Thanks for joining me on this “Back To Sheet Metal By The Acre” 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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