General Old cars remembered by Old Farts

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Hi Jock You just got it up to flat out and stayed there, as you well know. One great thing about it was that it forced you to look well ahead, and plan ahead overtaking braking etcetc. Looking well ahead is a great benefit to safe fast driving. When I did an advanced course with a police instructer he said, "I always lookas far ahead as I can, I would look into the next County if I could" I have a feeling that quote may also appear in "Roadcraft" the Police Manual.
"As far ahead as possible," is absolutely essential if you are to survive as a motorcyclist, as is a sixth sense

Hi Colin, I only just noticed this post. It was truly amazing how it would run for hour after hour with the throttle flat to the floor at around the national speed limit. I was very skeptical when first told they could be driven like this but that first long journey down the M6 was spent with at least 50% of the time with the throttle to the floor and she seemed to thrive on it!

Riding bikes when you're young and can survive falling off is greatly to be recommended in my book. You are always looking out for metal man hole covers, white lines, shiny road surfaces, road camber, rainbow colours which may well be diesel which is lethal - I'm sure I'm telling you how to suck eggs here? If new car drivers were taught to observe this sort of stuff we'd all be a lot safer.

When I tried my hand at car sales for a couple of years at the DAF garage, the boss was very keen to have anyone who might be out driving with customers take the advanced drivers assessment and attend a short corrective course if needed, he paid for it so I took it. I learned a lot from it especially about lines of sight and placing of the vehicle on the road as well as what are appropriate speeds for prevailing conditions. Anyone who has the chance to take one of these courses I can strongly recommend it. Looking well ahead is a no brainer but so few actually do it. Driving in heavy traffic and at speed on a motorway when many around you are obviously just watching the bumper of the car in front terrifies me! Every time a new vista opens up, so as you exit every bend or crest every hill or whatever, look as far ahead as you can and see if any potential problems present. Generally by looking well ahead you'll automatically pick up if something nearer is going to require attention but if you only look maybe a couple of cars ahead - or like many do, just at the back of the car in front - you'll not pick up early enough on developing situations ahead and won't be ready to take the action needed. Once you get into the way of looking well ahead it just becomes the obvious way to do it and will make you a much smoother driver which saves fuel, wear and tear on the vehicle and increases passenger comfort while reducing stress levels for you too.

 

[Motorcyclist Colin]

Hi Colin, I only just noticed this post. It was truly amazing how it would run for hour after hour with the throttle flat to the floor at around the national speed limit. I was very skeptical when first told they could be driven like this but that first long journey down the M6 was spent with at least 50% of the time with the throttle to the floor and she seemed to thrive on it!

Riding bikes when you're young and can survive falling off is greatly to be recommended in my book. You are always looking out for metal man hole covers, white lines, shiny road surfaces, road camber, rainbow colours which may well be diesel which is lethal - I'm sure I'm telling you how to suck eggs here? If new car drivers were taught to observe this sort of stuff we'd all be a lot safer.

When I tried my hand at car sales for a couple of years at the DAF garage, the boss was very keen to have anyone who might be out driving with customers take the advanced drivers assessment and attend a short corrective course if needed, he paid for it so I took it. I learned a lot from it especially about lines of sight and placing of the vehicle on the road as well as what are appropriate speeds for prevailing conditions. Anyone who has the chance to take one of these courses I can strongly recommend it. Looking well ahead is a no brainer but so few actually do it. Driving in heavy traffic and at speed on a motorway when many around you are obviously just watching the bumper of the car in front terrifies me! Every time a new vista opens up, so as you exit every bend or crest every hill or whatever, look as far ahead as you can and see if any potential problems present. Generally by looking well ahead you'll automatically pick up if something nearer is going to require attention but if you only look maybe a couple of cars ahead - or like many do, just at the back of the car in front - you'll not pick up early enough on developing situations ahead and won't be ready to take the action needed. Once you get into the way of looking well ahead it just becomes the obvious way to do it and will make you a much smoother driver which saves fuel, wear and tear on the vehicle and increases passenger comfort while reducing stress levels for you too.

Hi Jock. You are absolutely right in all you say. Although I am an Advanced Rider of many years, and a retired Accident Investigator specialising in motorcycle accidents, I still do the odd, Police organised "Biker Aware" couses, partly because they are a good days riding but also as they are fun. The last one was about 2018
This may amuse you. On the last course I did I went with a mate a few years younger than me but also called Colin. All participants were sitting around a table while the organising copper gave us a briefing about the day and then asked everyone to give brief details of their riding experience and bike they were using for the course Fist up was something like "I'm John, been riding for 8 months and on a 2017 Susuki Sv" next something like "I'm Margaret been riding 4 months and I'v got a new Kawasaki 500"etc etc etc. It eventually came to my mate Colin, who said something like "I'm Colin I'vbeen riding about 55years and i'm on a 1952 Vincent Black Shadow" Eyebrows shot up a bit and then it got to me "I'm Colin too I've been riding for about 64 years and I'm usuing my 1978 BMW 1000". Bit of a pause (while imaginary voice bubble over the kids heads read" Blimey what are these silly old sods doing here") Then the copper said "You two have been riding longer than I've been alive!"
Modesty forbids me from saying Colin and I rode rings around the kids, until the instuctor said, you two lead and show them how it should be done, and I'll watch from the back (or something to that effect)
Remind me sometime about the other amusing story about the youngsters in Canterbury on a very very hot day some while back.

 

[bugsymike]

Another memory of the Dyane just sprang to mind. Bombing down the M6 for our annual holiday - That year camping in south Wales and the west country - very slowly creeping past the heavy lorries on the M6 with foot pretty much on the floor. Then having them all, equally slowly, overtake us on the hills (climbing up shap was interesting) only to then slowly creep back past them over the next 50 to 100 miles. Many of the drivers were smiling and waving to the kids as we overtook with only maybe a 2 or 3 MPH difference.

Reminds me of one of my Iveco Dailys it had been governed to 56 mph as ex Council vehicle, so on dual carriageways the only way I could overtake some lorries was to wait for a long right hand bend where the difference in the turning circle/radias benefited me .

 

[Cornish Ian]

Reminds me of one of my Iveco Dailys it had been governed to 56 mph as ex Council vehicle, so on dual carriageways the only way I could overtake some lorries was to wait for a long right hand bend where the difference in the turning circle/radias benefited me .

I also used to have problems overtaking lorries when I used to drive the firms Luton transit to the NEC to set up shows.
The transit was high geared, low on power with a high square fronted Luton body.
It would do between 50 and 70 on the motorway depending on the incline so would make reasonable progress on a clear road. The problem was when we wanted to get past a lorry. Many times I would get alongside going well until I hit the lorries bow wave then back we would go. Only way I could get past was on a slight downhill section, build up a bit of speed first and ideally go into the 3rd lane to avoid the bow wave.
I must have made several lorry drivers smile over the years considering the times I didn’t make it past them.
Difficult to be absolutely certain when you are in the cab but I’m fairly sure a cross wind put me on two wheels when I was empty crossing marsh mills flyover. Hated that truck.

 

[bugsymike]

Used to share the driving on some of a friend's trips driving 7.5 Ford Cargo when they first came out (before becoming Iveco), only rentals but they went quite well, one time they only had a Merc 7.5 tonne which I assume had a slightly narrower axle and crappy suspension, I was pressing on hard going round a roundabout and managed to take the load off the rear axle resulting in noticeable wheel spin. A first for me in a fully laden commercial, it was 30 odd years ago and of course wouldn't dream of it today.
One of my Ivecos an extended long wheel base 3.5 tonne 35s120 I think, so 2.3 litre was governed to 65 mph, but could accelerate quite quickly up to that, I did wonder what they were really capable of, until a acquaintance told me the fish delivery used the same model and coming back from Scotland would regularly see 100 on their speedo, I assume their firms didn't use trackers in those days.

 

[Motorcyclist Colin]

A very very hot day, I thing about June 2020, I took my BMW G/S to my mate Jim for some minor job. My wife came pillion. On the way back got in a traffic jam in Canterbury, so solid I could barely get the bike past it, and the heat was building up to almost unbearable conditions (we had our full protective gear on) Wendy needed to stop for something in Canterbury, so I gratefully pulled off under a shady overhang, feeling a bit groggy. A guy in a parked car offeredme a cold bottle of water, which was gratefully received and made me feel very much better
Whilst still waiting a man of about 30 came by with two boys of about 6 and 8 or thereabouts. They stopped to look at the bike and the older boy said to me "You shouldn't be riding that motorbike", a bit taken aback I asked "Why" "'Cos motorbikes are for young people" was the reply. His Dad looked a bit embarrased "Oh" I said "How old do you think I am then/" Back came the answer "Er 'bout 30". Made my day, I was 82 at the time. A bit later they came back and the lads asked if they could sit on the bike and rev it. "You can sit on it but you can't rev it, OK." Dad said he was going to get a bike, hope he was only 28/29!
The moral is clear if you are over 29 you shouldn't be riding motobikes, so there. 'Fraid I take no notice, of that but "......out of the mouths of babes...!
One bike I have some computer pics of. It is a 1984 BMW G/S of breathed on , 1000cc. (You are right-- BM never made a 1000cc G strokeS Gelande /strasse. they only made GS gelande/sport of 1000cc... But I know a man who did, and it is an absolute cracker of a "Wolf in sheep's clothing")

 

[bugsymike]

A very very hot day, I thing about June 2020, I took my BMW G/S to my mate Jim for some minor job. My wife came pillion. On the way back got in a traffic jam in Canterbury, so solid I could barely get the bike past it, and the heat was building up to almost unbearable conditions (we had our full protective gear on) Wendy needed to stop for something in Canterbury, so I gratefully pulled off under a shady overhang, feeling a bit groggy. A guy in a parked car offeredme a cold bottle of water, which was gratefully received and made me feel very much better
Whilst still waiting a man of about 30 came by with two boys of about 6 and 8 or thereabouts. They stopped to look at the bike and the older boy said to me "You shouldn't be riding that motorbike", a bit taken aback I asked "Why" "'Cos motorbikes are for young people" was the reply. His Dad looked a bit embarrased "Oh" I said "How old do you think I am then/" Back came the answer "Er 'bout 30". Made my day, I was 82 at the time. A bit later they came back and the lads asked if they could sit on the bike and rev it. "You can sit on it but you can't rev it, OK." Dad said he was going to get a bike, hope he was only 28/29!
The moral is clear if you are over 29 you shouldn't be riding motobikes, so there. 'Fraid I take no notice, of that but "......out of the mouths of babes...!
One bike I have some computer pics of. It is a 1984 BMW G/S of breathed on , 1000cc. (You are right-- BM never made a 1000cc G strokeS Gelande /strasse. they only made GS gelande/sport of 1000cc... But I know a man who did, and it is an absolute cracker of a "Wolf in sheep's clothing")

I recall when I got to 25 years old thinking I am a quarter of a century old ! Wish I was now

 

[Motorcyclist Colin]

Taking my daughter in the 2CV to work experience in the west country, the car was loaded with her massive suitcase. another big case full of food etc and her easel and painting materials. We were heading along the M4 in the usual motorway cruising mode ie pedal flat to the floor and max. speed maintained as far as possible We were maintainig about 70mph and we very, very, slowly overtook a Ferrarri, with a couple of young wealthy looking young men on board. My cheeky teenage daughter, was waving and smilling at the 2 lads who waved and grinned back at her, as we s-l-o-w-l-y edged past and pulled in, in front of them.
Moments later they shot past us at warp speed max, waving and grinning like Chesire Cats. Never saw them again much to my daughter's dismay
-

 

[Motorcyclist Colin]

Another bike story (OK skip it if you want cars) but this one can have a picture withit if I can find it and transfer it to here.
In 2010 we decided to go to the Vincent Owners Club rally in Greece. The first in that country and it sounded good. Both retired we would take a month to do the trip and see other places. I decided to use my 1978 BMW R100T as it was equiped with a tow bar and we could tow our light trailer and carry everthing needed for a month long camping trip. A fairly uneventful crossing of France complicated by me not noticing that the handlebars had turned whilst filling with fuel and set the "kill switch" After only 1/2 an hour or so of checking all fuses etc and a lot for French practice ("merde") I noticed the. kill swith was off.. An uneventful crossing of Switzerland after having bought the obligatory "Vignette" we were stopped at the exit to Italy, by Police who asked why we did not have a vignette for the trailer as well!! After pleading ignorance about a trailer vignette I got a lecture in perfect English and were politely allowed to go on.
In Italy as far as possible we followed the coast road to the west of Italy ie Rome , Naples etc side, and found a lot of good campsites Each morning as we set off we used the very good petrol stations all of which had excellent coffee shops. We had breakfast very good hot croissants. and coffee, a fill up and off we go. Just short of Rome in a petrol station we were approached by an Italian motorcyclist who said , among other things, that he thought it was illegal to tow a trailer.in Italy with a solo bike "Oh Dear" or words to that effect. Anyway too late to do much about it at that stage. Two or three days later we pulled into our usual petrol /coffee morning stop. We notice three policemen in the coffe shop and a fourth policeman pulled in behind us. He got out of the car came over to us, walked roung the bike and trailer a couple of times without saying any thing, shrugged his shoulders (as only an Italian can!) and went to meet his mates. He said not a word but the shrug spoke volumes "I think a trailer is illegal but I cant't face the paperwork "
A bit further on we were befriended by a very attractive Seniorita who insisted on photos with us the bike etc. I hope I can now find them and post
The trip was great and the temperature ranged from plus 47degC in the Greek Meteora to minus 3degC ascending one of the Swiss passes The BIKE (not me) gave absolutely no trouble and never missed a beat, though it did not like running in 47 deg of heat.Nor did we.

 

[Motorcyclist Colin]

Sorry my stories are completely out of any chronological sequence ,but........
About mid/late 50s my then girlfriend fell off the back of my motorbike due to us crashing into a half filled trench left by whoever dug it up. Her parents sued "who ever" and she got some compensation. By then we were married and we bought a BMW Isetta Bubblecar as we both worked away from wher we lived and this was an easy way to travel..
One weekend I entered the "Esso Scoot to Scotland" in the Isetta. My navigator was Rob, he of the later Sunbeam Alpine, We started in London and wound our way through the English countryside to Hawick in Scotland. It was near Hawick that the Special Tests began. It was also near Hawick that the plug lead started jumping off and stopping the bubble. No problem,at the next "Special Test" ( can't remember exactly what it was but it did involve not stopping on a particular stretch of road ) I pulled the back of the seat forward,, and thus had to drive doubled up, while Rob knelt on the seat and held the plug lead on through a little hatch to the engine. He mostly held it via the insulated cap but the odd bump or tight bend caused ........Yeah you've guessed. it ............ Followed by a big yelp and some very naughty language. We did stop I think once which wrecked our clean sheet and dropped usto a second class award. ( I still have the little second class cup we won) We somehow finished the rally and set off for home back in Kent. On the Doncaster by-pass the Isetta cried enough and simply stopped . I have a picture of me sitting in the road delving into the engine via a panel near the rear wheel. I appear to be absolutely filthy and have a fag hanging out of my mouth I was probably dismantling the carb at the time !!!!! 'Elf an' Safety and all that jazz!!. My nearly non existant mechanical knowledge failed to get it going so we hitch hiked home . Got some info as to what it might be and hitch hiked back the next week end. Miraculously the Isetta was where I left it ( Today it would have been in bits and shipped out to Albania by then, or in a crusher as the Council swept the by-pass) Also miraculously, I fixed it and drove home to Kent, Funnily enough when I did a bit more rallying in the early 60s. Rob declined my offer of the Navigator seat and went with another driver. I gave up as a driver and went as a "Navvy" too, hence my bit about the SAAB above . There were some other adventures with the Isetta, but with a less happy outcme. Hey Ho part of life's.....etc.
Again only prints I am afraid .

 

[Motorcyclist Colin]

Three more memories of the Isetta.
The door opened out in front, so if ( read "when") I parked up against a wall the only way out of the little beast was via the sun roof! You only do it once though.
As the big front door opened out, attached to the door was a little binnacle with the speedo in it. Attached to the binnacle was the steering column held on with one pivoting bolt, so the steering column moved at the UJ on the bottom of it and the steering wheel moved out too giving plenty of space to get in and out ofthe bench seat. On day descending a hill a bit "sharpish" the single pivoting bolt snapped. I still had steering BUT the column was not attached at the top so moved around on the bottom UJ. A bit hairy trying to steer and hold the column steady!!

One night after a very boozy re union dinner at a Pub well out in the country, owned by one of the "re-unionists" I left in the Isetta very late at night , early morning.. Trouble was three, yes 3 big blokes had hitched a lift with me as we were in a remote part of Romney Marsh. I could JUST about squeeze three on the front bench seat and the fourth was somehow curled up on the cover over the engine ,Without much warning a Policeman stepped out in front and stopped us. in the middle of nowhere. The only way to speak to him was to open the big front door, whereupon a huge cloud of cigarettes smoke billowed out followed by ME and THREE big blokes. all somewhat worse for wear.. Between giggles the Copper tried to explain that they were stopping all cars as a prisoner had absconded from the nearby open prison. Between laughs, and not getting much sense out of us, he finally said "Oh sod off you lot and don't pick up any hitch hikers" AS IF!. Good job it was in the 1950s as today we would all have been arrested , for drunk and being, not very orderly. VERY irresponsible of me I admit. In my defence I am , and have been teatotal for a long long long time. and would never do it again

 

[bugsymike]

Three more memories of the Isetta.
The door opened out in front, so if ( read "when") I parked up against a wall the only way out of the little beast was via the sun roof! You only do it once though.
As the big front door opened out, attached to the door was a little binnacle with the speedo in it. Attached to the binnacle was the steering column held on with one pivoting bolt, so the steering column moved at the UJ on the bottom of it and the steering wheel moved out too giving plenty of space to get in and out ofthe bench seat. On day descending a hill a bit "sharpish" the single pivoting bolt snapped. I still had steering BUT the column was not attached at the top so moved around on the bottom UJ. A bit hairy trying to steer and hold the column steady!!

One night after a very boozy re union dinner at a Pub well out in the country, owned by one of the "re-unionists" I left in the Isetta very late at night , early morning.. Trouble was three, yes 3 big blokes had hitched a lift with me as we were in a remote part of Romney Marsh. I could JUST about squeeze three on the front bench seat and the fourth was somehow curled up on the cover over the engine ,Without much warning a Policeman stepped out in front and stopped us. in the middle of nowhere. The only way to speak to him was to open the big front door, whereupon a huge cloud of cigarettes smoke billowed out followed by ME and THREE big blokes. all somewhat worse for wear.. Between giggles the Copper tried to explain that they were stopping all cars as a prisoner had absconded from the nearby open prison. Between laughs, and not getting much sense out of us, he finally said "Oh sod off you lot and don't pick up any hitch hikers" AS IF!. Good job it was in the 1950s as today we would all have been arrested , for drunk and being, not very orderly. VERY irresponsible of me I admit. In my defence I am , and have been teatotal for a long long long time. and would never do it again

Many years ago I left a nightclub and as I was driving off a "friend" had a chat then let me go on my way, driving very sedately as in the early ours of the morning and not wishing to attract attention, passing a burger stall I decided to stop for a snack and on getting out I found my "friend" had placed a orange workmans battery flashing lamp on the roof of my car when he had the chat with me!!! Shows how smooth my driving was .
Re the Isetta, I nearly put a bid on one as a friend was foreman at the local Honda motorcycle dealership, but I managed to stop my self .
One of my sisters went out with a lad who had a Messershmitt three wheeler who managed to spin it on a wet road, luckily they lived to tell the tale.
Strangely enough he also worked for a Fiat Dealership and ran one of the original Fiat 500 Abarth cars.

 

[The Panda Nut]

They did another based on the Austin1100.

Pininfarina BLMC 1100 Aerodynamica concept (1968)

The 1968 Pininfarina Aerodynamica Berlina 1100 concept car was a highly influential car. One only needs to look at the Citroen GS to see why.

www.aronline.co.uk

Both are very Merak.

It's a shame isn't it.
BLMC undoubtly had some of the best engineers that pushed on with FWD and fancy hydrolastic suspension when everyone else was still building front engined rear wheel drive with cart springs.
They got the best designers to style them. The likes of Pininfarina and Michelotti.
Then had them built by, er how can I put this, the disinterested!

Citroen GS design plan?

 

[Motorcyclist Colin]

Many years ago I left a nightclub and as I was driving off a "friend" had a chat then let me go on my way, driving very sedately as in the early ours of the morning and not wishing to attract attention, passing a burger stall I decided to stop for a snack and on getting out I found my "friend" had placed a orange workmans battery flashing lamp on the roof of my car when he had the chat with me!!! Shows how smooth my driving was .
Re the Isetta, I nearly put a bid on one as a friend was foreman at the local Honda motorcycle dealership, but I managed to stop my self .
One of my sisters went out with a lad who had a Messershmitt three wheeler who managed to spin it on a wet road, luckily they lived to tell the tale.
Strangely enough he also worked for a Fiat Dealership and ran one of the original Fiat 500 Abarth cars.

I would really like a Messershmitt 3 wheeler but even more the completely lunatic four wheeler with the big engine, but I've already got far too many bikes cars etc. and must cut them down
Anybody want a 1977 Yamaha DT250 Enduro with only 3749 miles from new, never been off road and absolutely original and pristine?

 

[bugsymike]

I would really like a Messershmitt 3 wheeler but even more the completely lunatic four wheeler with the big engine, but I've already got far too many bikes cars etc. and must cut them down
Anybody want a 1977 Yamaha DT250 Enduro with only 3749 miles from new, never been off road and absolutely original and pristine?

I did own a DT250 as you describe, I had made the big mistake of doing a deal against my BSA 650 Road Rocket which I had built from ground up, purely on the understanding it would include a deal for a AJS 350 I wanted to make into a "mudplugger". On going to collect the AJS the guy reneged on the deal, leaving me a very unhappy owner of a shiny red DT 250!!!

 

[Motorcyclist Colin]

Sorry my stories are completely out of any chronological sequence ,but........
About mid/late 50s my then girlfriend fell off the back of my motorbike due to us crashing into a half filled trench left by whoever dug it up. Her parents sued "who ever" and she got some compensation. By then we were married and we bought a BMW Isetta Bubblecar as we both worked away from wher we lived and this was an easy way to travel..
One weekend I entered the "Esso Scoot to Scotland" in the Isetta. My navigator was Rob, he of the later Sunbeam Alpine, We started in London and wound our way through the English countryside to Hawick in Scotland. It was near Hawick that the Special Tests began. It was also near Hawick that the plug lead started jumping off and stopping the bubble. No problem,at the next "Special Test" ( can't remember exactly what it was but it did involve not stopping on a particular stretch of road ) I pulled the back of the seat forward,, and thus had to drive doubled up, while Rob knelt on the seat and held the plug lead on through a little hatch to the engine. He mostly held it via the insulated cap but the odd bump or tight bend caused ........Yeah you've guessed. it ............ Followed by a big yelp and some very naughty language. We did stop I think once which wrecked our clean sheet and dropped usto a second class award. ( I still have the little second class cup we won) We somehow finished the rally and set off for home back in Kent. On the Doncaster by-pass the Isetta cried enough and simply stopped . I have a picture of me sitting in the road delving into the engine via a panel near the rear wheel. I appear to be absolutely filthy and have a fag hanging out of my mouth I was probably dismantling the carb at the time !!!!! 'Elf an' Safety and all that jazz!!. My nearly non existant mechanical knowledge failed to get it going so we hitch hiked home . Got some info as to what it might be and hitch hiked back the next week end. Miraculously the Isetta was where I left it ( Today it would have been in bits and shipped out to Albania by then, or in a crusher as the Council swept the by-pass) Also miraculously, I fixed it and drove home to Kent, Funnily enough when I did a bit more rallying in the early 60s. Rob declined my offer of the Navigator seat and went with another driver. I gave up as a driver and went as a "Navvy" too, hence my bit about the SAAB above . There were some other adventures with the Isetta, but with a less happy outcme. Hey Ho part of life's.....etc.
Again only prints I am afraid .

Just had a "Funky Pigeon" Birthday card from Rob, the Isetta navigator, showing the photo of me sitting in the road on the Doncaster bypass fixing the "Bubble" Coincidence! Also I jumped the the gun a bit (senile decay, y'know) my birthday's not till Saturday