Practically Classics Forum

Cheers Mike, yes, I found that when I was searching for the correct way to spell Ambassador as it's one of the words that looks wrong even when it's right! Should also add "project" before the word results in my earlier post, just in case any students reading think exams, and that they too can cheat the system and come in the month before the board has even done the dirty deed. We'll have none of that here. :inwh:

Back in the car park and just about to set off, I spied a very sweet-looking Midget of the mid-'60s flavour on the drive, must be someone visiting and lost, they always mistake our entrance for the supermarket car park and once we have them, they have to follow our way out or they're in the scheme for all eternity.

As I pulled into the industrial est where the upholster is who is doing my car seat.
3 proper minis in various states of restoration, and a rally look one in a different area
of the ind est on the road!

Also a TVR convertable and an early masda mx5. Further along the road a mk1 golf.

My mother has also been car watching especialy as she is looking for another volvo
Behind a mot garage one of the mechanics or the owner had a small collection of
classics due for restoration. What made her stop and look was that she recognised the
roof structure etc of one of them. Granddad had a pre riva badged lada estate and it
was indeed in need of restoration. (I think even she was thinking about buying it )

Seen this in the Chorley area today



Looked in really nice, used condition

Ke

Been a bit too busy to sort out all the photos but lets say lots!! Called in to Beaulieu on the way to Le Mans, so saw lots there, from the 1895 Knight, to Campbell's Bluebird and Graham Hill's Lotus 49, parked next to Damon Hill's Williams. Here is a taster of what I saw a Le Mans; even the campsite was a spottage hot spot - http://www.motorward.com/2014/07/2014-l ... ighlights/. The outward bound ferry was full of classics.

Here is the V8 on the Mulsanne Straight -

Here is the first British car, the Knight of 1895.



The 1907 Itala - 14 Litre, 4 cylinder and 100 mph.



Graham Hill's Lotus 49 (That's Damon's Williams next to it)



MG M Type Midget (Next to it is a Morgan Aero and on the right, at a funny angle, you can see the back of a Jaguar XJR 9). I would so like an M Type!!!



Waiting to get the ferry at Portsmouth. That Riley Imp was nice and I would have sooner taken that home with me, than any of the Ferraris that were present.



Maison Blanche Corner, Le Mans. Not used since 1971 and bypassed by the Porsche Curves in 1972. Now just a public road.



Morgan 4/4 Climax. Another car I should like to take home.



Porsche 917.



Jaguar D Type.



Frazer Nash Le Mans Replicas. JYS 3 is only thee cars after the one my father owned.



The formation lap of Plateau 3 at Porsche Curves. This is the corner where the circuit leaves the closed public road section.



In the camp site I spied this XK 140 Coupe. I reckon that is the nicest dashboard any car has ever had.



After the race, I went to visit friends between Civray and Charoux. On the first Monday of the month, there is a classic car meeting held and some British people supply fish and chips from a mobile kitchen. It is popular with locals and the numerous ex pats. Here are some of the cars. Just on the right border is a Swallow Doretti, the owner of which doesn't live far from me and was staying at the same place as me.

blue and gray beta pulling up at Barleylands, obviously on a trailer

I've added some photos to my Le Mans post above.

Excellent photos there, Martin. Reliant Robins don't half show up in some weird places eh?

Useless information but you never know, someone may ask some day:
Reliant Regal, Robin and Rialto were sold in LHD form in Europe among other places, but they were made lighter, from thinner mat, for the Euro markets as the UK-spec cars with their 440Kg weight was too much for these foreign types, theirs weighed well below 400Kg**.

**-First generation Robins like that one in the picture. Later cars were heavier for the UK.

I like that Morgan too, but then anything with a Climax engine does it for me. Even the copy of a Climax engine as found in the Imp makes the hairs on the backs of my hands stand to attention when I'm in a tunnel and the engine in question is being thrashed to 9,000+ rpm.

I think the Robin was a RHD and owned by an ex pat. So I was told, the locals are captivated by it. I experienced a few hoots and thumbs up with the V8. Back home, the Morris attracts more attention.

On the subject of Reliants, I took this one at Beaulieu, en route to the ferry.



The Morgan ofcourse used the OC engine, with inlet over exhaust. They began using a 1267cc Standard engine just pre war (Most pre war 4/4s were Climax engined; lots of other firms used this engine) and this led to the long association with Standard/Triumph, until the demise of the TR4.



Some of the Climax engined Lotus cars did very well on the track.

Lovely pics of gorgeous cars

The Frazer Nash is particularly sweet

Kev

martin looks as if he had a good time! great pics mate!! ive a pic of my mini on the le mans track from the early 90s when i worked/lived over here.... god that makes me feel old...