Tag Archives: Bristol

Coffee, Croissant & Cars #6 – Avenue Drivers Club

One of the simple joys I have discovered this year is the Avenue Drivers Club meetings at Queen Square in Bristol, part of the pleasure of these events is that they are only 5 mins away from where I live and the other is the ever lengthening list of acquaintances I’m making. Yesterday morning I woke up to find my car frozen shut for the first time this year, once I had ‘broken’ in deiced the windows I set off to pick up my friend Tim. On the way back into town we caught up with Rich in his MG BGT as he tried to navigate his way through a couple of diversions.

After parking I Tim met several friends he had not seen in nearly a decade and we met Ted who brought out his trusty yellow 911 GT2. Ted kindly invited me to join him at the NEC for the Classic Car Show next weekend. Among the cars that I have not seen at the Avenue Drivers Club before is this 1953 Bristol 403.

The registration ST 1 was made famous back in the 1960’s by a TV series called The Saint about an international man of mystery played by (Sir) Roger Moore who drove a white Volvo P1800 on Minilite alloy wheels registered “ST 1” in the show, today the registration belongs to a Mercedes A190 Elegance.

Among a handful of Bentleys that put in an appearance yesterday was this smart 2002 Arnage Red Label, romantically named after a 90 degree right hand corner that is one of the two slowest corners on the Le Mans 24 hour circuit.

Proof positive of the Simple Joy nature of second Sunday Avenue Drivers Club meetings can be seen on the faces of the occupants of this 1965 Morris Minor 1000 Tourer.

At the more expensive end of the spectrum was this 2010 Porsche 911 GT3, which for some reason was running on 2003/4 registration plates.

Just as Ted was observing that there were not many motorcycles present this work of customised art turned up, cant imagine what riding it on cobbled streets must be like with what looks like a seriously masochistic saddle.

Again probably not the most of comfortable vehicles to drive across the streets was this 1972 Lotus 7 Series 4 complete with period Cosmic alloy wheels.

David Roots’s Lenham ALFA Romeo was parked up next to this pristine 1959 Lancia Aprilla.

13/11/12 Correction the vehicle above is a Lancia Appia not Aprila as stated above.

Looking photogenic as ever was this Jensen 541 which I showed a detail of in last months Avenue Drivers Club blog.

Harking back to 1948 was this Chevrolet Fleetline with what appears to be a non standard two tone paint job.

Another ’59er was this customised Ford Consul Mk II with fetching period sun visor.

You would not know it looking at it but this 1929 4 1/2 litre Bentley Vanden Plas has survived not one but two fires, the second of which melted the front bulkhead and original radiator core. It has since been restored using photogrpahs of it’s original body over a period of ten years.

John the owner of the 4 1/2 litre Bentley Van Plas was telling me that the owner of this 1965 Sunbeam Tiger used to go to school with the owner of the Bristol 403 at the top of this post and that they met for the first time since yesterday. As I said the Avenue Drivers Club is a great place to meet old friends and make new acquaintances.

Thanks for joining me on this “Coffee, Croissant & Cars #6” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

From the Good Guys In White Hats – Dodge Charger

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The second generation Dodge Charger was launched in 1968 with a commercial cartoon urging customers to visit “those great Dodge boys they’re the good guys in white hats.”

The new body was designed by a team that included Richard Sias who was responsible for the overall profile.

Engine options included a standard 5.2 litre / 318 cui V8 a 3.7 litre / 225 cui straight six, a 7 litre / 426 cui Hemi or a 7.2 litre / 440 cui Magnum was available for the top of the range R/T versions. This particular car appears to be powered by a 6.3 litre V8 which was available with either 290 hp 2 barrel carburetor or 330 hp 4 barrel carburetor variations.

The dual scallops on the bonnet / hood

and front doors added to the performance “Lets stir things up a bit” appearance of the car despite there complete non mechanical or aerodynamic functionality.

Among the options for the Charger was air conditioning, cruise control, electric door locks, tachometer, rear window demister, and a wood-grain steering wheel.

Safety options included head restraints for the front seats, lap belts for center seat passengers, shoulder belts front and rear and a padded steering wheel.

The integrated rear spoiler mimicking aerodynamic devices seen on Can Am and sports car racers of the period further enhanced the competition bred appearance of the Charger, the paired round rear lights were added at the suggestion of Styling Vice President, Elwood P. Engel.

Around 96,100 Chargers were built in the 1968 model year, 75% of which were fitted with factory option Vinyl roofs. 17,000 top of the range R/T Chargers were built of which just 500 were fitted with the fabled 426 Hemi.

The ’68 Charger, which share the same platform with the Dodge Coronet, is probably most famous for it’s movie appearance in Bullitt, which features a couple of hit men in a black Charger R/T dualing for tarmac with Steve McQueen driving his green Mustang GT. By all accounts the R/T was the superior machine.

Thanks for joining me on this “From the Good Guys In White Hats” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you’ll join me again for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

The Sunlight Textile Services – Pegasus Sprint

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Last Saturday I had another 6am start, but this time not to go and spectate at an event but to act as a marshall for the The Sunlight Textile Services Pegasus Sprint run by the Bristol Pegasus Motor Club. Despite a healthy breakfast which included melon, tangerine, kiwi and a banana by the time I got through signing on I was ready to wolf down a traditional Full English Heart Attack in the Castle Combe Canteen. Even with long johns double layer trousers, three fleeces and a coat I was going to get cold under the cloudless skies with temperatures peaking at 8 degress C but with the wind chill factor making it feel like 9 below zero.

In between my second breakfast and the marshalls briefing I managed to snap Jack Taylors 1954 Lotus MG Mk VI this car is chassis #6-18 in theory the 24th Lotus ever built, it’s powered by an MG XPAG motor and appears to have a one off body, quite possibly by Williams and Pritchard though I have yet to confirm that.

Wondering around the pits during the half hour lunch break I managed to take a few more photo’s including John Marshall’s Lotus Mk VI, followers of my blogs at the much missed Rowdy.com, and I know there are one or two of you, will remember me originally mis recognising this car as a Lotus 7. Many mis recognitions since I have found out it was also originally supplied with an MG motor and gearbox which has since been swapped for a Ford 100E motor and Triumph gearbox. In John’s hands this car has won at least 54 trophy’s most no bigger than egg cups.

Perhaps the most extraordinary car and for my money cor of the day was Jeremy Hawkes 1933 MG K3, built as on offset single seater to compete at Brooklands where like the 24 litre “Napier Railton” it holds a record in perpetuity, for vehicles up 1100 cc / 67.126 cui having recorded laps in excess of 120 mph.

Anthony Smith brought his 1937 MG TA along to compete in the production road going A2 class.

This was only the second occasion on which I have ever seen a contemporary MG A Coupé this one was driven by Martin Wollacot in Class A2.

Regular readers might recognise this Bristol 403, which was not competing from the first Coffee Croissant and Cars blog I posted back in April.

SEAT’s León Cupra R (Typ 1M) was voted 7th best hatch back of all time in a poll conducted by Autocar in 2010, four years after production had switched to the newer Typ 1P. This 2004 Tdi Cupra R shows signs of how tricky the conditions were forcing the brothers who competed with it to go home after the practice sessions were completed to repair the damage which was incurred some where between Avon Rise and Quarry Corner during the second practice runs.

Richard Girling was running his 1st generation 2009 all wheel drive Nissan GTR R35 in the most powerful A4 road going series production class, his car left the factory with 478 hp and a conservative 193 mph capability matched by a rest to 60 mph of 3.2 seconds. Needless to say the car looked quick on the track.

Micheal Kason was running his 2 litre / 122 cui FIAT X1/9 in the modified limited prodiction class C3, notice it sits on slick tyres which would not have been easy to heat up in the prevailing conditions.

Running in the largest C4 modified production class were Andrew Fraser and Tim Painter in this 2004 Porsche (996) 911 GT3. This car is for sale at £37,500, if you would like Andrew and Tim’s phone numbers send me an e-mail and I’ll gladly forward the details, usual disclaimers apply.

Last runners of the day were David Hardcastle and Simon Allaby who were competing in the Revington TR / TR Register Sprint & Hillclimb Championship.

I did not manage to get many photographs of the on track action but while taking a break from marshaling duties I did get a photo of Ian Hall’s 5.2 litre / Darrian T98 GTR which set fastest time of the day by nearly ten seconds.

Thanks to a combination of few too many thrills and spills with short hours of sunlight competitors only got one timed run in before the event started to get too far behind schedule for everyone to get a second time in. Out at Tower we were great full for the hour or so this spared us standing in the delightful sunshine but freezing wind.

Thanks for joining me on this “The Sunlight Textile Services – Pegasus Sprint” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Coffee, Croissant & Cars #5 – Avenue Drivers Club

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Last Sunday I was due to take part in a production trial however for the second time this season heavy rain the week before saw the event canceled so I trundled down the hill to Queen Square in Bristol on Sunday for a morning of Coffee, Croissant & Cars, well actually Rooisbos Tea, Lemon Cake and Cars but I’m sure you’ll forgive the truth getting in the way of a good headline.

Adding to the collection of vehicle manufacturers I have never heard of before, above is a Robin Hood S7, a kit car made, quelle surprise, in Nottingham, unlike the Caterham 7 the Robin Hood uses a steel monocoque chassis in place of the space frame chassis of it’s better known competitor.

Nissan’s 100NX is a small sports orientated vehicle alongside the 200SX and larger 300ZX that was built from 1991 to 1996. The Targa top is a factory option unlike the wild body panels on the front and sides.

A law student friend of mine had a Triumph Stag back in the early 1980’s and he used to take great delight in filling it with five people and going into town for a wild night out on the tiles in it. Regrettably it was in nowhere near as good condition as this example built in 1971.

Easily the most fun car I have ever driven is Citroen’s 2CV this one dates from 1989 just over a year before production came to an end after 42 years.

In 1992 Marcos abandoned the kit car market in favour of manufacturing complete vehicles like the Mantara, this 1996 model is powered by a 3.9 litre / 240.7 cui all aluminium Rover V8 that dates back to Buick in 1960.

This 1961 Series II Wolseley 1500 share it’s chassis and running gear with the Morris Minor but shares its body with the Riley 1.5.

This 1956 Jensen 541 is powered by a 125 hp Austin Sheerline six cylinder limousine motor enough to give glass fibre the four seater a 120 mph plus performance.

The sort of car one might have expected to see taking part in Production car trials in 1938 is this Austin Seven, probably nearly as much driving one of these as a 2CV judging by the smile on the drivers face.

The BMW M3 was primarily devised as a production car on which to base racing versions to run against the Ford Sierra RS Cosworth and Mercedes 190 2.3-16V. It had 12 body panels that differed to the stand 3 series E30 body shell including the high boot / trunk lid and spoiler. This completely original 1987 example looks like is a sure Concours d’Elegance winner.

Launched in 1967 with an 88 hp Ford Kent motor the glass fibre bodied TVR Vixen easily out performed mass produced sports cars like the large engined MGB GT, the example above is a 1969 Vixen S2.

The Austin 1800 was voted Car of the Year in 1965 when it was launched, it’s odd dimensions are the result of it having a transverse mounted motor and front wheel drive. Over the years it was steadily improved the car above appears to be a 1973 Series 3 version.

Finally just as the morning came to a close a couple of US 8 foot beds that never have to be made turned up including this 1971 fifth Generation Ford F100 which comes with a 5.9 litre / 359 cui V8 motor.

Thanks for joining me on this “Coffee, Croissant & Cars #5” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a little pick up. Don’t forget to come back now !

FI = 1 H.P. per CU. IN. x 283 – Chevrolet Corvette C1

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With the arrival of the enthusiastic Zora Arkus-Duntov in GM’s engineering department, the famous Chevrolet small block in the engine bay and some competition in the form of the Ford Thunderbird, Chevrolet ramped up it’s commitment to building and American sports car in 1956 by replacing the first iteration of the Corvette which was considered low on performance, high on water leaks into the cockpit and less than a true sports car.

Banished for ever in 1956 was the 155 hp triple carburetor Blue Flame six cylinder engine, the Corvette from 1956 on was strictly a V8 powered vehicle.

For ’56 there was all new bodywork, replacing the first generations body that was close to the original concept Corvette first seen in 1953.

The bold sculpted sides behind the front wheels really helped the second iteration two tone Corvette stand out from the crowd.

As did the faux air scoops on the front wing/fender.

There was a hard top hood option and the much improved soft top had a power assisted option as did the roll up glass window’s.

The three speed manual transmission became standard but the, inferior performance wise, Powerglide automatic remained an option. The cockpit controls fittings and instrumentation of the ’56 and ’57 ‘vettes remained similar to the original Corvette cockpit.

Following in the footsteps of 1953 Gutbrod and the 1954 Mercedes Benz 300SL in 1957 the GM Rochester constant flow fuel injection was an option for the Corvettes small block V8. This innovation while not widely taken up, 1040 FI units were sold, took the power up to 290 hp, however for marketing purposes the car was said to have 1 hp for every one of of the small block V8’s 283 cubic inches.

Thanks to Zora Arkus-Duntov ’57 Corvettes could be ordered with ready to race options including the fuel injection, heavy duty suspension and if the advertising is to be believed even the power windows were said to be lighter than the manual window mechanisms.

Among the race outright Corvette winners in 1956 were Bob Stonedale, Mansfield, Bark Henry, Road America, Bill Pollack, Buchanan Field, Robert Bennet, Mansfield and most successful of all in ’56 was Dick Thompson who won at Beverly, Seafair, Thompson CT, and Palm Springs.

In 1957 Corvette drivers winning outright are known to have included Ruben Ciriacks and Peter Talbot at Hawaii, Ned Yarter at Willow Springs and Bakersfield, Jerry Parsons at Smartt Field, Bob Drake, Santa Barbra, Dick Thompson, Cumberland, Eagle Mountain, Marlboro, Viginia, Road America, Bob Byrd, John Masterson and Lloyd Gray at Cotati, Jim Jeffords, Milwaukee, Lloyd Porter at Bakersfield, Bark Henry, Lime Rock and Montgomery, Dean McCarthy, Watkins Glen, Jerry Austin, Pomona, Santa Barbra, Riverside, Palm Springs and Paramount Ranch, Bob Bent Cotati and Arcata, Leonard Butscher, Thompson CT, Fred Windridge, Watkins Glen and Bridgehampton, Dan Gurney at Riverside, John Wood, Willow Springs, H. C. Hoppe (Ladies Races) Bakersfield, Willow Springs and Orange County, Hugh Woods and Cal Bailey at Hourglass Field, Jack Bates and Frank Cairns at Pomona, John Voevodsky and Bill Moore at Phoenix and finally Elgin Holmes who won at Willow Springs and Orange County.

With Duntov’s vision the American sports car had finally arrived.

Thanks for joining me on this “FI = 1 H.P. per CU. IN. x 283” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me tomorrow for Ferrari Friday. Don’t forget to come back now !

The Worlds Oldest Bristol ? – Bristol 16/20 Type T Tourer

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Every once in a while I stumble across something that leaves me speechless as I struggle to ditch old assumptions and or beliefs. Until I visited the M-Shed Museum on the sight of Bristols Docks last week I was absolutely convinced that the oldest car bearing the “Bristol” name dated back to no earlier than 1947 in the shape of a Bristol 400 not unlike the 1948 example that featured in very first post 2 years ago.

So you can imagine my surprise when I stumbled across the placard for this 1906 Bristol 16/20 Type T Tourer that was manufactured in 1906 by the Bristol Motor Company !

It turns out that the Bristol Motor Company was founded by a cycle maker William Appleby and his assistant Arthur Johnson and that the company built at least four different models between 1902 and 1908 when they focused on distributing motor vehicles for other manufacturers including Morris from whom Johnson was to order their first model having only seen the blueprints.

Only 18 hand built 16/20 models are thought to have been built, this 1906 example is fitted with coachwork by Perry & Co who used to operate in Stokes Croft from a site that has long been an eyesore in the area thanks to a fire that destroyed an abandoned office block that stands behind the coach works frontage.

Colonel William Rolleston is thought to have replaced his horse drawn carriage with this car which was chauffeur driven by a Mr Harold King. 14 years after it was first purchased the Colonels car was converted into a pick up for an engineering company in Bedminster called Keetch & Turner.

The car eventually found its way on to blocks on a farm and one of the rear wheels was attached to a drive belt which powered a sawbench. The Bristol Motor Company which had long since stopped manufacturing motor vehicles acquired the car again and in 1937 presented it to Bristol Museum.

Fred Lester and Bob Lewis are responsible for restoring the car to it’s former glory.

Thanks for joining me on this “The Worlds Oldest Bristol ?” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a 1949 MG. Don’t forget to come back now !

Hidden Tank – MG NA

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14 01 13 Errata the original photo’s posted in this blog were of an MG KN and will be re posted on 22nd January 2013 on this link, meanwhile the photo’s on this link are of an MG NA as originally intended, sincerest and humble apologies for any confusion caused.