Yes, it cost £35 to get in, plus my train fare, but for 6 halls and over 16,000 steps worth of exhibits, I think it was well worth it.
The highlight for me was sitting in a Talbot Alpine, the first car I ever drove. OK, it was up a farm track, probably didn't exceed 10mph, and ended with me bumping into a fence post, but an important vehicle in my life. It's also the one I learned about Isopon body filler on, as I packed an awful lot of it into the front wings.
But, what a lovely, comfortable place to sit! Far more foot room around the pedals than my Peugeot, and so roomy inside too. I have fond memories of that car, we took it on holiday several times.
In fact it's so exciting that for a change the Matra Rancho wasn't the best car in the show, for me anyway. Second best maybe.
There was also the first car I drove on my own - a Mark 1 Ford Fiesta. OK, ours was grey, and had the 950cc engine, but it wasn't a million miles from this pristine example. Sadly, there was no chance to sit in this one.
If I had the space the money, this South African import VW Beetle would have come back home with me. £10,000 for something unwelded, running well (apparently) and with some interesting local details, such as these odd little front reflectors.
At the back, the taillights seem to be a mix of the elephant's foot ones on my bug, and the earlier version. I don't recall seeing these before. And yes, I am being nerdy about Beetle bits.
For research purposes, I took quite a few photos of this Porche Junior tractor. There is a kit for one in my stash, and it's interesting to take a look at the real thing.
So, other than travelling I spent a train-free day. Is there a connection between classic car shows and model railways? I think so. If you look at a lot of layouts, you'll spot old cars that turn out to be the first ones owned by the modellers. We all love a bit of nostalgia!
Sadly, my family seems to specialise in owning vehicles that no one makes model of. Peugeot 206, Berlingo, Nissan Juke, Talbot Horizon - nothing doing. There is a Mk1 Fiesta in the Oxford Diecast range, but there is something very odd (to my eyes) about the rake of the windscreen, so I don't own one.
You are probably wondering if I bought anything. Well, there was this Alfa that screamed "Mid Life Crisis car" that I liked the look of, but no more cars for me until the Beetle is back on the road (Permissible exception: Rust-free UK spec Matra Rancho in Bronze or red, for under £5k), but I did come back with a couple of things. You won't guess what they are though...
5 comments:
Alpine was my first drive as well and along a farm track as well - I just missed a fence post. It was my parents car which I then ran for many years. Loved it despite all its flaws and the large amounts of filler it needed over the years. It was Orange (officially Apricot) which helped disguise the rust.
It sounds like we have a lot in common. In my defence, I was doing less than 5mph when I hit the fence...
Indeed. Its funny how first cars mean so much. I still have the bonnet badge from mine plus the Haynes Manual (covered in oily fingerprints) even though it went to the scrapyard thirty years ago.
The workshop copy of Haynes - covered in grease and oil. I have one, and also a posh (clean) copy where you can see the pictures!
Memories of the Stratos on the RAC rally in sutton park, before your time! Obviously THE Bristol was the star of the show. A car that for years was thought to hae been scrapped,
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