Practically Classics Forum

Today, Mike ferried us over to Hartlepool for the Northern Bygone Society meet being held, possibly coincidentally, on Drive It Day. We went in the Triumph, I had wanted to take Blake and the Xantia but my back was being impossible so driving and dog handling was totally out of the question for me. What follows are some pictures and some words of the day.

OFF WE GO.


We arrived and while there were many lovely things to witness, there was a little gem that had caught my eye on the way in that had nothing to do with the meet.




The meet was much more of the chromed classics variety.




This Humber Sceptre was lovely and on only its second owner who was a very personable chap.




Not entirely sure what this was. My suspicion is it's a Beetle underneath with a Porsche mimicking bodyshell on top. I'd welcome some info on it.


I like early Beetles and this one was rather smart. Striped furry seat covers looked at home inside. The indicator upgrade was quite smart too being some almost invisible motorbike repeaters.




There were a number of Escorts there, as there always are at these events. This one stood out for just being a normal looking Mk1 Escort 2 door with vinyl roof. It even still had the brightwork around the side windows.


This C reg SAAB was very tidy and on the best wheels.


Another unusual Ford to see is the Mk2 Cortina, quite surprising to see two of them parked up together.

Triumph GT6 and a Rover P6.


Timewarp Bedford CF camper, complete with 2' tidemark and repainted door hinges in a slightly different white to the rest of the van. This is how I remember them growing up and this is how I like to see them preserved, shiny ones look nice but never as I remember.


A more different Bedford CF camper in the form of this fabulous Dormobile.


Wolseleys.








Understated Rover 90.


Fuzzy cat. I was having trouble focusing the camera thanks to my back giving me grief.


Nice old Capri.


It may be a one owner car with only 30,000 miles on the clock, but the paint wasn't perfect and the price was decidedly salty for this 440 auto.




Mk1 Spitfire. If it had a roof it would be a GT6, I am told.


The GERMANS.


Apparently French and British, perhaps this is the European Union in car form?

Nice little Austin van looking suitably tiny.


There were a few Rolls Royces in attendance and they were all beautiful.




This Bentley was also beautiful.


While there was a small scale replica MG on the dashboard of this MG I couldn't see if there was also a small scale replica of the small scale replica on the dashboard of the small scale replica. Fractal MGs.


I had not anticipated that there might be a Princess there. Absolutely stunning late model 2200 HLS model.






Behind it was a large but not massive Caddilac.




This gold Hillman Hunter estate was a treat too, a once everyday car that has pretty much disappeared now.

An Edsel with a continental kit. It went on FOREVER. I wanted to take it home but I fear that even if I had been allowed to our street wasn't long enough to park it on.








Tidy little Morris Minor.


Beautifully scruffy Morris Oxford.




I have no idea what the strange device on the steering wheel is for. It had what looked like a red telltale and some wires running off under the dashboard.


A Rolls Royce in an unusual colour scheme.






TAXI!

One of three Probes in attendance. The third one was modified and interesting but the only picture I got of it was so out of focus as to be no use.




I wonder if all Mercedes Benz end up automatically as classics, something about the styling of even the most ordinary ones seems to really stand the test of time well.


Another big American car, almost as big as the Edsel.




This was super cheery. In the pictures you can't really see that it had a greenish tint to the paint that made it look like it was made out of 70s bathroom suites. I wanted to take it home, possibly in the boot of the Edsel, it was irresistibly adorable.






Mike's GT6 at the end. When he closed the bonnet I couldn't get a shot of all three red cars together so this is the best I got, likely never to be repeated.


These were the other side of the Italian things.


I've been told by a couple of German folk that they call the P1800 estate "Snow White's Coffin".


I don't know what this commercial was but I liked it.


I adored this Rover too.

When this Jaguar C Type appeared it didn't draw much of a crowd, which was handy for getting pictures. Soon the crowd it drew made pictures impossible. I assume it's a C-type and genuine, it had that feel about it.






ADORBZ etc.








My only picture of the BSA with Squire sidecar. Neat contraption.


Appropriate numberplate on this gorgeous Jaguar. It had an air of being a rally attendee, couldn't really tell you why but it had that look of a car that was cared for but used for the purpose it was built to do. Also features one of my favourite rear light designs.

Happiest car ever, the little Austin Healey Sprite.




Really clean and tidy Ford Fiesta Ghia too.


Had a lot of time for this Landie, it looked honest and like it could rescue anyone from anywhere.




A few late arrivals here with a Triumph Herald, MG TF (I think, could be wrong) and a very 80s Porsche.




This Austin Sixteen Sports Saloon was a bit odd. It had brown leather recaros and harnesses inside, a high level brake light (perhaps a wise addition, the brake lights on this era of car are pretty feeble) and massive modern door mirrors. But it didn't seem like it had been given a performance engine. Couldn't make sense of it.

Superb Sunbeam Stilleto. The fat rear tyres and the noise it made coming in hinted at something interesting in the back. I know next to nothing about the Stilleto/Imp so I couldn't tell you what might or might not have been in it.




Austin Seven and a very tidy Triumph Acclaim, both cars of the people.


2CV sounded really healthy and looked great in black and yellow. The two-wheel conveyance next to it was, quite literally, a work of art and very impressive even if you don't like that sort of thing.




Rider had a matching helmet. Unbelievably sparkly combo.


This SAAB was another late arrival but worth getting a couple of shots of on the way out.




Then we went home and followed this tidy Mk2 Escort 1300 almost all the way back.



Was a great day out, looking forward to the next one when I'll hopefully take one of my own cars.

Like ships passing in the night as usual! I'll post ine on here but I got there a little late due to
recovering from my uncles wedding the day before(no alcohol but wrecked my legs!)

The James dean replica is based on a skoda rapid.

I bet we left just before you arrived. My back was killing me and once I sat down I knew I wouldn't get up again. I'm sure there'll be more shows. Do you know anything beyond the donor car for the James Dean-alike?