Bell's Banter 2022

[Peter Mallett]

I spent a pleasant few hours at the British Motor Museum today. The reason was to celebrate 60 years of the MGB. And what a lot of MGBs there were. I bumped into Heidi Sidery-Smith who, with her husband Simon, was displaying Barry's ex Le Mans MGB and his Jaques Coune coupe.

Also got talking to the new owners of Ridgard seats. They've kept Bob's basic design but modified the production techniques. Personally I'm pleased the Ridgard heritage is continuing.

Obviously the day was devoted to everybody's favourite sportscar but I wandered through some of the museum and now will make an effort to return, because there are some pretty interesting cars on display. Oh, and I beat the computer at top trumps. I'll put some pics on my Flickr page later.

[midgetman]

I saw a number of Bs on my way up the A34 today, wondered where they were going. Despite all the adverts in "Safety Fast!" I'd forgotten MGB60 was happening!

There must have been an Austin event on too, to judge by the cars on the A5 north of Towcester.

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[Peter Mallett]

Oddly enough on my way back through Buckingham, I overtook a 1.3 Marina in extremely good condition.

[grantp]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Oddly enough on my way back through Buckingham, I overtook a 1.3 Marina in extremely good condition.

Amazing.

Not many left the factory like that!

[Peter Mallett]

A rarity indeed.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Oddly enough on my way back through Buckingham, I overtook a 1.3 Marina in extremely good condition.

I remember when we used Cowley stadium for Hot Rod racing there were hundreds of Marina vans outside of the factory already painted for the GPO. Come to think of it I haven't seen one of those for years but I suppose that someone must have one hiding away ?

[Peter Mallett]

I think. what was more interesting was that this vehicle was being driven by a relatively young bloke, not an old git like us. Clearly a cared for vehicle.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

I think. what was more interesting was that this vehicle was being driven by a relatively young bloke, not an old git like us. Clearly a cared for vehicle.

The number (registered as) on the road is actually increasing.

circa. 270 Marinas in 2012.
circa. 400 in 2022.

[midgetman]

I know I'm getting old when....I also drool at the BTCC/F4 trucks leaving Silverstone. Something for me to aspire to.

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[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Oddly enough on my way back through Buckingham, I overtook a 1.3 Marina in extremely good condition.

The former Rover dealer in a town near me here, which continued as an independent garage, has continued to run it's still immaculate Maestro works van

My classics spotted yesterday were a bit more mundane than Peter's - a Renault 4 & an as-new Peugeot 405.

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by John Elwin

The former Rover dealer in a town near me here, which continued as an independent garage, has continued to run it's still immaculate Maestro works van

.

I forgot about the Maestro van, the diesel version was quite good for towing and economy and was probably the best small sized van that they ever made.
I will always remember that one of my customers had a Maestro saloon that got stolen, he was contacted by the police to say that they had stopped it on the M20 that same night towing a caravan that had also been stolen.
When he told me about it I said "but it hasn't got a tow bar" ! When it was returned the person that had nicked it had simply chiselled a couple of holes in the plastic bumper and the back panel and used two very long bits of 5/16 threaded rod with big washers and nuts to fit a tow ball ! The police stopped it because the caravan had no lights working on it and was moving from side to side because the tow ball was almost falling off

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by GORDON STREETER

I forgot about the Maestro van, the diesel version was quite good for towing and economy and was probably the best small sized van that they ever made.

I used to drive one for work a few years ago. From what I remember, the engine had plenty of torque and it got up to speed quickly, but the gearing meant that the top speed was 72mph. You could get on the motorway and just leave your right foot planted to the floor. (and yes, it wasn't limited, that's just how fast it would go).

Great little load-lugger though, if a little unrefined.

[Peter Mallett]

As ever, I took a few pics which you can find here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA8Lqa but when I saw this one, I immediately thought "Avenger Tiger".

[Gerard C]

Nice and interesting pics, Peter, thanks. I always found the Jacques Coune rear part has something found on the Simca Bertone, aka Simca Mille Coupe or 1200 S.

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

As ever, I took a few pics which you can find here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjA8Lqa but when I saw this one, I immediately thought "Avenger Tiger".

Some nice cars there Peter.

I wonder if someone I know was there? He has a beautiful tartan (?) red B GT with chrome wires, bumpers, the lot. Uses it as his everyday car too. He used to have a second home near me, but has sold now so haven't seen him for a while.

[Peter Mallett]

Well that is a popular colour scheme and there was certainly a large number of cars there. I did speak to someone who's wife told me that her husband spends hours cleaning the wire wheels and as I understood it, they live in, or visit France quite frequently.

[The Fat Clerk]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

I used to drive one for work a few years ago. From what I remember, the engine had plenty of torque and it got up to speed quickly, but the gearing meant that the top speed was 72mph. You could get on the motorway and just leave your right foot planted to the floor. (and yes, it wasn't limited, that's just how fast it would go).

Great little load-lugger though, if a little unrefined.

I spent the whole of my working life with BT, and once had the misfortune to have a Bedford HA van written off by an Army personnel carrier, to be replaced with a brand new Maestro van. Not much fun when I spent most of the day on the M3/M4 & M25, getting overtaken by everything. A couple of months after getting it, I got promoted and had the choice of a red, white or blue Astra Estate, they were the days.

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Well that is a popular colour scheme and there was certainly a large number of cars there. I did speak to someone who's wife told me that her husband spends hours cleaning the wire wheels and as I understood it, they live in, or visit France quite frequently.

It's also a lovely colour scheme - in fact I came to know him as I admired the car in a local supermarket car park. I can't remember the full registration but it was a personal plate & the letters were 'AUK'. They live in Peterboro' now.

[midgetman]

I had a Maestro van. The only one that's come near it for performance and economy is my present 56 plate Citroen Dispatch. 2.0l HDI turbo engine, goes like hell and does 40mpg fully laden

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[Gerard C]

Your Dispatch is badged Jumpy here, fruit of a jointventure between PSA group and Fiat. Guess what, Toyota found this van interesting badging it as ProAce. At least our know how is recognized wordlwide. Not for cars…

Moons ago, we could improvize races of tow cars on the highway heading for a race. My favourite tow car has always been the Pug 504 Wagon (fuel not diesel).

[Lancsbreaker]

Originally Posted by midgetman

I had a Maestro van. The only one that's come near it for performance and economy is my present 56 plate Citroen Dispatch. 2.0l HDI turbo engine, goes like hell and does 40mpg fully laden

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I had a Vauxhall/Bedford Combi a while back - Corsa based one with a 1.7 Isuzu diesel engine - pulled very well and was very economical, even towed quite well

[John Elwin]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Your Dispatch is badged Jumpy here, fruit of a jointventure between PSA group and Fiat. Guess what, Toyota found this van interesting badging it as ProAce. At least our know how is recognized wordlwide. Not for cars…

Moons ago, we could improvize races of tow cars on the highway heading for a race. My favourite tow car has always been the Pug 504 Wagon (fuel not diesel).

I once drove a 504 Estate with a Judd 3.5-litre F1 engine in it. It was very quick...

[Gerard C]

Originally Posted by John Elwin

I once drove a 504 Estate with a Judd 3.5-litre F1 engine in it. It was very quick...

[GORDON STREETER]

Originally Posted by midgetman

I had a Maestro van. The only one that's come near it for performance and economy is my present 56 plate Citroen Dispatch. 2.0l HDI turbo engine, goes like hell and does 40mpg fully laden

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That's what I remember, the one I used for a while was brilliant and could certainly go faster than 70mph.
I know that BL (or what ever they were called at the time) used to supply BT/GPO with vans that were governed for economy and had a lousy top speed. One of my mates bought an ex GPO post van and asked me to look at it as it had rubbish power and speed, it was a petrol van and after looking at it I threw the carburettor to manifold mounting block away and fitted one with a decent sized hole in it !
It would appear that they were supplied new from BL like that

[midgetman]

Originally Posted by Lancsbreaker

I had a Vauxhall/Bedford Combi a while back - Corsa based one with a 1.7 Isuzu diesel engine - pulled very well and was very economical, even towed quite well

The Citroen tows well too.

Well, of sorts. I bought four supposedly decent tyres for it and the grip is terrible. With a race car on the back you have to set it up for a wet roundabout some way beforehand and you can steer it on the throttle - don't accelerate too soon or you end up taking the wrong road!

It's quite short and high so the handling is eccentric, but laden with a kart, awning and spares it eats up motorway miles well above the limit (should you wish to do that which I don't) and is doing nigh on 50mpg.

We all love and hate it in equal measure It is - of course - team orange. I was going to change it for a later model but can't find a 2.0 at a sensible price.



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