My parents have a Citroen Berlingo. It's their second one thanks to someone parking a Golf in the back years ago. It's an odd car. Utterly unpretentious, but if you talk to an owner, they love thier little French van with windows in the side.
One such enthusiast is James Walshe, deputy editor of Practical Classics magazine. A couple of Sundays ago, he organised "Berlingos and Bacon" at the local, but unknown to me, Gilks Garage Cafe.
The family Berlingo was my idea in the first place, and I'll admit that I think it's a fantastic vehicle. Incredibly practical if you are the sort of person who lugs model railways or boats around. If the 3rd version enjoyed as much legroom as the second, I'd probably have had one as my company car. As it is, I still think the first facelift produced the best looking version.
Anyway, 22 cars turned up along with their owners. And we chatted all things Berlingo. No airs or graces, just some slightly mad people talking about their vehicles. Several carried camping interiors, which is an interesting move. A bit cramped perhaps, but if you like being out in the fresh air, an excellect idea which turns out to be really trendy too. So, not for me then.
In many ways, this was like the Heart of England group meet. Not a "proper" show, just a group of people getting together with a shared interest. Maybe in the post-Covid world, where big shows are harder to put together, this is the future for all sorts of hobby?
Photos of the meet over on Flickr.
Since you ask, the cake looked excellent, but it was too early, even for me. And I had somewhere else to go in the afternoon. I will be heading back for a proper look, and in the meantime, the hot chocolate was sublime.
Perhaps a model of the garage in the early days would be a nice little project?
ReplyDeleteG'day Phil,
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting.
You missed your opportunity in showing what you do carry in your ride & promoting the hobby at the same time.
Ah, there's always next year.
A huge congratulations on over 6000 Blog post ole mate.
Cheers Woz
Sydney, Australia
Woz - That idea had crossed my mind. Something for a future event perhaps!
ReplyDeleteJames - It definitely has possibilities. I'll need to go back and take a proper look, and perhaps sample the cake.
I watched the Vlog on YouTube about this meet - it's on the HubNut channel.
ReplyDeleteGeorge
I love mine, its not a 33 year olds typical car but it gets things about
ReplyDeleteHi has anybody done a rear disc conversion on any of these vans? If so could you name the parts I would need to do the conversion including caliper carriers, back plate and handbrake cable please thank you
ReplyDeleteNo idea. I'd suggest trying James Walshe at Practical Classics magazine, or one of the Berlingo YouTubers who specialise in this sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteI'm also tempted to ask "Why?" The brakes supplied are fine unless you are going to uprate the engine at the same time.