Practically Classics Forum

Yet they are dropping it and making handbags instead .

And mountain bicycles Martin. Don't forget the Land Rover mountain bicycles. LR's factory outlet store at the Quays down there in Shields sells lots of those. And tents, camo clothing, folding shovels, shoes with cleated soles and babygros in Land Rover livery to make sure that they're indoctrinated at an early age.

They may be marketing mountain bikes but they won't be making them (Or any of the other paraphernalia). I hope they are folding bikes or that they do roof racks or rear fitting bike racks, as there doesn't seem to be a lot of room in the Handbag. Funny business marketing; to a large extent it seems to rely on stupidity (Lets face it, it comes to something when there's more money to be made selling handbags on wheels, than a well proven and functional vehicle). If I see a car advert on TV (Not that I watch much broadcast TV), I usually am left wondering, "Why should I buy that car" (Or am I missing something)

On another note (Though perhaps with some relevance vis a vis stupidity etc), I heard them talking about Twitter on the radio this morning and John Humphrys mentioned "Getting a life"; it made me smile.

Speaking of down at Shields John, will you be popping down for the fins and chrome
as it's at Shields this year!

Really? I thought it was south of the river. Oh hang on, I'm on about North Shields.....

I've seen yet more Morris Minors today, that Rose Taupe 66 seems to belong someone in Heaton or possibly Jaaaaaaasmond and it's pretty healthy too as I was sitting at a steady 50mph on the coast road when it passed me as though I wasn't moving. I had to put my newspaper down and check the speedometer to make sure but yes, I was moving. Minors are just such totally inoffensive things that even when I get carved up by the driver of one, I smile and wave rather than growl and mutter rude words.
And another one was seen parked in a loading bay outside the Morrison in Blyth, this one a Traveller in Teal Blue with white painted wood so either its owner is an extra patriotic visitor from west of the border or it was hiding some rot but that too made me smile.
I've only ever owned three minors so maybe it's time to look for a nice one with Marina engine and automatic conversion. Hmm.

I sometimes think that Minor owners are perceived as pushovers.....some don't like it when they find out otherwise

The problem with gearbox swaps and Minors is the steering rack. Most Minors, with 1275 engines, have Midget spec engines, as the back end fits the BMC gearbox better. Taking this a stage further, the Ford gearbox conversions are designed around the BMC backplate and the special bell housings have the cut out for the steering rack. The question is (And I don't know the answer) does the Sierra automatic box fit the same bell housing as the 5 speeder If it does, then that could be the way to do it .

The Traveller certainly is a useful car and funnily enough, I saw a Mercedes (190 size - if they still call it that) estate yesterday. The boot floor area didn't look a lot bigger than the Traveller and when you factored in the way the boot lid sloped on the Mercedes (It would be very aerodynamic going backwards), I reckon the boot was smaller, even though it was a bigger car. It was a bit like when my father traded in a Mini Countryman, for a new Escort estate; the Escort was the larger car but the Mini made better use of the space it occupied.

JPB wrote: Really? I thought it was south of the river. Oh hang on, I'm on about North Shields.....

It could have been worse it could have been south of the Tees!!!!!!

Jag XJS in front of me driving home today, the driver was "making good progress".

Seen a lovely xk8 but it was lashing down so no pics.

also, seen this today, not exactly a classic but different and ive not seen many




Kev

I am almost certain this doesn't count as a classic car, however looky what i found: I had no idea airstream had ever made a campervan rather than just caravans. twin rear axles and polished aluminium, that is a seriously cool looking thing! (or I am weird, or both)
You should be able to guess the owner of the car park by the yellow vehicle parked adjacent to it.