Tag Archives: Bristol

Coffee, Croissant & Cars 03/15 – Avenue Drivers Club

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There was a definite military atmosphere pervading this month’s Avenue Drivers Club meeting at Queen Square thanks to the presence of the six military vehicles featured in today’s blog which were promoting The Dig For Victory Show, a 1940’s Family Festival that will be taking place on the 13th to 14th of June at the North Somerset Showground.

Willys MB, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Most unusual amongst the Jeeps present was this 1942 Willys MB painted in the colours of a Royal Naval Beach Master for the 1944 Allied Invasion of France.

Bedford OY, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

The 1940 Bedford OY 3 ton truck above was a hasty adaption of the civilian Bedford O series first seen in 1939.

Ford GPW, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Just as Bantam could not hope to satisfy the demand for a general purpose off road vehicle with the original Jeep evolution of the “Blitz Buggy”, by October 1941 it had become clear that Willys Overland were struggling to meet the US Government’s demand for their Willys MB evolution and so Ford were contracted to produce licenced versions known as the GPW (Government, P Ford speak for 80″ wheelbase, Willys licenced) like the 1942 example above.

Hotchkiss M201, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

After the 1939/45 war Jeep production continued for several decades, in France Hotchkiss produced the M201 like the 1960 example above until 1981 and the last “La Jeep” remained in service with the French Military until 2000.

Willys MB, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

The immaculate Willys MB above was built in 1943.

Austin Champ, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Finally Britain began looking for a replacement for it’s Jeeps in 1947 and one option was the Rolls Royce powered “Truck, 1/4 ton, CT, 4×4, cargo & FFW, Austin Mk.1” like the 1954 example above which is more commonly known by it’s civilian name “Austin Champ”.

The next Avenue Drivers Club Meeting will be at Queen Square, Bristol 9am on Sunday the 12th of April.

Thanks for joining me on this “Coffee, Croissant & Cars 03/15” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at an Oldsmobile Delta 88. Don’t forget to come back now !

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The Car With The Silver Wheels – Monarch Curtiss

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It appears at least two companies attempted to sell cars with the Monarch brand name prior to 1916, the first the Monarch Automobile Company of Aurora Illinois sold runabouts with guaranteed air cooled motors in 1906 and the second Monarch Motor Car Company of Detroit Michigan was founded by Joseph Bloom in 1913.

Monarch Curtiss, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Today’s featured car has a chassis plate identifying it as a product of the later which is said to have used the the strap line “The car with the Silver Wheels”.

Monarch Curtiss, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Joseph Bloom employed his brother in law Robert C Hupp, later of Hupmobile fame, to design at least three models, before the company was bankrupted in 1916, two with four cylinder motors and a third which was designed for a V8 motor.

Monarch Curtiss, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Today’s featured Monarch is believed to have been built up by Mark Walker in the early 1990’s to replicate the Curtiss powered Romano Demon Special which 22 year old Rea Lentz drove to win the first Pikes Peak hillclimb in 20 mins 55.6 seconds.

Monarch Curtiss, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Interestingly it has emerged that the Curtiss V8 motors originally had a life of just 20 mins before they were expected to be replaced in their training aircraft application.

Monarch Curtiss, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

One of motor sports great mysteries is about the fate of Rea Lentz, he has not been heard of since his unexpected triumph on the Pikes Peak Hillclimb.

Monarch Curtiss, Pittaway, Griffin, Bridgeyate,

These photo’s show current owner Duncan Pittaway at the wheel of the Monarch Curtiss in and around Bristol.

Thanks for joining me on this “The Car With Silver Wheels” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at some off road action. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Senior Compact – Oldsmobile F-85 Coupé

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The Cutlass name was first used by Oldsmobile on a prototype sports coupé designed in 1954.

Oldsmobile F85 Coupé, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square Bristol

With the introduction of the F-85 series senior compacts in 1961 the Cutlass name appeared as the top trim level for the pillared two door sedan in 1961.

Oldsmobile F85 Coupé, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square Bristol

Credit for the design of the F-85 was given to Irvin Rybicki who started work on the 215 cui 3.5 litre aluminium V8 powered F-85 model in 1957.

Oldsmobile F85 Coupé, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square Bristol

The car appeared as a ’61 model year and received facelifts in ’62 and ’63 before the introduction of the second generation F-85 in 1964.

Oldsmobile F85 Coupé, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square Bristol

The 1963 F-85 seen here features a body that is more squared off and four inches longer than the ’61 and ’62 F-85’s

Oldsmobile F85 Coupé, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square Bristol

The F-85 jet plane was a still born fighter project, designed to be carried aboard the B-36 heavy bomber, that never got beyond the experimental stage.

Oldsmobile F85 Coupé, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square Bristol

The all aluminium 215 cui V8 which would become the top line mainstay of Rover, Range Rover, Land Rover and British Kit Car producers until the turn of the millennium was available in two options 155 hp or turbocharged 215 hp Jetfire forms, less than 4,000 of the expensive turbocharged options were built.

Oldsmobile F85 Coupé, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square Bristolt=”444″ class=”alignnone size-full wp-image-22850″ />

This F-85, seen at an Avenue Drivers Club meeting in Bristol earlier this year, was first registered in the UK in February 2008.

Thanks for joining me on this “Senior Compact” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a jet powered Rover. Don’t for get to come back now !

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Fifth Gen Facelift – Maserati Quattroporte V

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The fifth generation Maserati Quattroporte, M139, was launched in 2003 and went into production in 2004.

Maserati Quattroporte, BIAMF, Bristol,

The Pininfarina face lifted M139 model appeared in January 2008 with redesigned bumpers, sills, side mirrors, a convex front grille with vertical bars, new headlights and tail lights with directional bi-xenon main beams and LED indicator lights.

Maserati Quattroporte, BIAMF, Bristol,

The weight of the steel body is kept low by use of an aluminium boot lid / trunk lid and bonnet / hood, the aerodynamic co efficient of the body is Cd 0.35.

Maserati Quattroporte, BIAMF, Bristol,

Three V8 motor options were available for the 2008 to 2012 Quattroportes with power outputs from 400 to 440 hp.

Maserati Quattroporte, BIAMF, Bristol,

60 mph could be reached in under six seconds from rest by all three variants likewise the top speed was at least 168 mph for all three.

Maserati Quattroporte, BIAMF, Bristol,

As we saw last week Swiss Team built an EVO competition version which Andrea Bertolini drove to a championship victory in the 2011 International Superstars Series.

Thanks for joining me on this “Fifth Gen Facelift” 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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Bob’s New Era – Cooper Bristol #CB/4/53

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Severely short sighted Frederick Roberts “Bob” Gerard was born in 1914 into a family who business, Parr’s, a company that evolved from bicycle manufacture into the haulage.

Cooper Bristol T23, Russell, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe,

Bob’s first motoring event was the MCC Lands End Trial which he completed driving a Riley Nine an was awarded a Premier Award, Bob continued to successfully compete in trials and races at both Donington and Brooklands until the outbreak of war in 1939.

Cooper Bristol T23, Russell, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe,

After the war Bob continued competing, now with ERA R4A and later ERA R14B, in 1950 he finished the British Grand Prix in 6th with the latter and 6th at Monaco with the former.

Cooper Bristol T23, Russell, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe,

For 1953 Bob bought today’s featured Cooper chassis #CB/4/53 which was fitted with a six cylinder Bristol motor and designed to compete in 2 litre / 122 cui Formula 2 races, some of which were part of the World Drivers Championship in 1953 and 1954. Bob finished 11th in the 1953 French Grand Prix and 10th in the 1954 British Grand Prix diving this car, but experienced a good deal more success in British Formula Libre (all comers) events with it.

Cooper Bristol T23, Russell, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe,

On August 28th 1954 Bob drove this car to victory in the Hastings Trophy Formula Libre race at Castle Combe and beat a mighty V16 BRM in the process.

Cooper Bristol T23, Russell, Autumn Classic, Castle Combe,

Bob continued to race #CB/4/53 until 1956, with a slightly enlarged motor fitted he finished 11th in the 1956 British Grand Prix. His final British Grand Prix appearance was in 1957 when he drove a Cooper T43 to another 6th place finish.

CB/4/53’s second owner had a 2 litre supercharged ERA motor fitted and the car was later restored to it’s original condition as seen here at Castle Combe, with Steve Russell at the wheel, by Dick Crosthwaite.

Thanks for joining me on this “Bob’s New Era” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psychoontyres” I hope you will join me again for Maserati Monday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

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Coffee Croissant & Cars 02/15 – Avenue Drivers Club

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Sunday saw the second Avenue Drivers Club gathering of the year down at Queen Square in Bristol, and today’s blog shows there was no shortage of vehicles from near and far.

Avenue Drivers Club, Ford Anglia, Queen Square, Bristol,

Above looking to drag us out of the winter blues a mid 50’s chopped top Ford Anglia, message to self remember to get the registration next time and find out what is under the bonnet / hood.

Colt Celeste GT, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Japanese Industry had a reputation for imitation in the 1970’s and this 1976 Colt Celeste GT is a case in point echoing features seen on Ford Mustang fastbacks of various vintages although it is actually a 3 door hatchback.

Hyundai Grandeur XG,Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Thinking of imitation, the tail lights on this second generation 2000 Hyundai Grandeur XG30 appear to mimic those of a contemporary Rolls Royce or Bentley. At first I thought this car might be a low rider with dropped suspension, but having looked at photographs of others on the intelnet I am now not so sure.

Volkswagen Golf Mk III, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Happiest dog in the house was out for a ride in this stanced rat look Mk III Volkswagen Golf Estate.

HSV VT ClubSport, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Imported from Australia was this 1999 Holden Commodore based HSV VT Club sport powered by a 265 hp 5 litre / 302 cui Australian iron block V8.

Dodge Challenger R/T, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

By now regular readers know I am a huge Dodge Challenger fan so I’ll make no excuses for sneaking in this photo of a 2011 Deep Water Pearl Blue R/T, which the owner admitted was a bit of a mid life crises purchase. The owner, who hails from South Carolina and is now living on the other side of the UK from Bristol in Cambridge, was inspired to buy the car by the Dukes of Hazard television series, she, no spelling mistake, also confessed that this car is not her daily driver.

Thanks for joining me on this “Coffee, Croissant and Cars” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at Fred Lorenzen’s team mate’s 1965 Ford Galaxie 500. Don’t forget to come back now !

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A Close Shave – Lamb Rover

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During the making of the 1995 Aardman Animations short “A Close Shave” Aardman model maker Matthew Healey was tasked with creating the model Lamb Rover seen on screen.

Lamb Rover, Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon,

Working from photographs taken of Land Rovers of varying vintage Matthew had just eight days to create the model baahck at Aardman’s Bristol studio.

Lamb Rover, Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon,

A Close Shave received tremendous acclaim from British television viewers on Christmas day 1995 and like the previous Aardman Christmas stop frame shorts A Grand Day Out (1990) and The Wrong Trousers (1993) the film was nominated for the 1996 Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 1996 which it won, as did The Wrong Trousers in 1993.

Lamb Rover, Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon,

12 years later the star of A Close Shave, Shaun The Sheep, was given his own “Shaun The Sheep” television show which has to date has run to 130 7-minute episodes that have been broadcast in 180 countries.

Lamb Rover, Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon,

Today’s featured Lamb Rover was built as a replica of Matthew Healey’s 1995 film model by craftsmen in the Land Rover Solihull Tool Room to promote the “Shaun The Sheep” TV series in 2007.

Lamb Rover, Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon,

Using a 1951 chassis the Lamb Rover was built, with panels sourced from Land Rover Series of varying vintage including the 2007 Defender, in just seven weeks and is road worthy, though currently not taxed for road use.

Lamb Rover, Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon,

Notice that the vehicle which appears in the animations and today’s featured vehicle are missing any obvious way to fill the tank because the Matthew excluded the traditional fuel filler on the off side rear panel of his model.

Lamb Rover, Heritage Motor Museum, Gaydon,

On Friday, February 6th, a new feature length “Shaun the Sheep Movie” will go on release in the UK and the vehicle seen in these photo’s is on display at the Heritage Motor Center at Gaydon to promote the new release.

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

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