Unlikely Bedfellows

The Standard Atlas is a clumsy looking old thing, and quite rare now.  Most Standard Atlas' have rotted away or are found seemingly solid only to have rotted away in all the important places so that they turn into a pile of old British tin at the mere tug of a door handle.

The Bosozoku movement of Japan creates clumsy looking things.

I like both, for reasons I don't yet fully understand, so when the challenge for a Bosozoku themed vehicle came up over on Retro Rides I couldn't help myself really.

I HAVE NO REGRETS!

Watercolour Anglia

Something to ease my boredom and to experiment with an idea for some automotive portraits that are a bit different to the norm.  Not perfect, but not bad... just a shame my scanner didn't pick up the blue properly.

4th July - Retro Rides Meadowhall Meet - part 2

At the recent Retro Rides meet was one of my all time favourite cars.  I've heard them likened stylistically to the Jaguar E-Type but if I were to choose, it would be the Datsun all day long for me.  I really don't see what the fuss is about with E-Types, they're not even that attractive, though I'm aware not everyone agrees.

For more attractive proposition has to be this pristine white Datsun 240 Z.

Another stunner at the meet was this Ford Anglia.  Very clean, very well executed.

Fussy nose on this BMW.

The only picture I got of this before my camera batteries died.  The Mk1 Polo is a rare sight these days.  I thought this one was modified brilliantly, especially the grille treatment.  Not often you see hatches with their arse in the air, but it really worked on this one.

A bicycle with a difference.

The frame is built around a shotgun.

I've never been a big Vauxhall Nova fan, but this one blew me away.  Very stripped out interior.  The whole package was just perfect, there's not a single thing that needed changing at all and the owner should be rightly proud.

4th July - Retro Rides Meadowhall Meet

As I make more blog posts I'm getting more familiar with what does and doesn't work.  With this in mind I'm cherry-picking the best bits from the recent Retro Rides Meadowhall Meet.

I didn't get as many snaps as I would've liked of this Cortina.  Very mean looking thing on black steels, with black paint and a black interior set off with small bits of chrome and a gold coachstripe.  Wouldn't change a thing... probably.

These two stood out at the meet for me, and for others.  The DMC Delorean is an icon thanks to the Back To The Future films and while other people love them, I'm not so keen (apart from the wheels).  The Ford Anglia in the foreground, on the other hand, is something I'd happily be around all day long and this one was clearly something special.

This was a very nice looking Citroen 2CV Dolly.  Wasn't over restored but was clearly loved and with the roof down it meant one could get a good look inside at the very basic construction and finish of the thing.  Charming, quirky and completely French, very little could be further away from the very German Audi it was parked next to.

Nash Metropolitan

Produced by Austin in the 1950s for the American market and sold as a Nash, the Metropolitan is a distinctive but not particularly well known car today.  I've loved these quirky little commuters since first seeing a picture of one several years ago but this is the first time I've ever seen one for real.

I was delighted to be able to take some pictures and have a good look around this right hand drive model that somehow escaped being exported.  My knowledge on these isn't huge, but I suspect this is also an early model since it has no opening boot.

Norton Country House - charitable event - part 6

The final part of my report on the show, and to conclude here's some of the detail shots I took.

Ford Escort Ghia wheel

Austin Somerset grille.

Austin Somerset interior.

Desmo aftermarket mirror on Austin Seven

Ford Capri trick reflection shot.

Norton Country House - charitable event - part 5

A great view, but took a while for people to not be in the way.

Yet another Motornutz club member, this one with a Ford Granada

A Pontiac.

Morgan on the left and a Wolseley 25 on the right

Wolseley 25

Toyota MR2

Morris Minor 4 door

Fiat X1-9 Berlinetta

Ford Zephyr

Ford Zodiac automatic

That Morgan again