British automotive treasures/follies

[Colin McKay]

Following on from the Auction Action thread, what would you classify as such? And would you put your hand in your pocket to preserve them for the nation?

[apriliadriver]

Colin,
Treasures : Any pre-1914 racing Napier; outright WSR cars pre-1960; 1907 RR Silver Ghost; Napier Railton; very little else.

Follies (for which a compulsory export licence should be granted) : Duncan Drone; all MGAs; any BL post-1968 except SD1 Rover & Metro 6R4 ; any post-1950 Lagonda; Ford Consul Classic/Capri. A few more that are too dreadful to mention and should be deprived of the oxygen of nostalgia.

There, has that upset enough people ?
Nick

[zefarelly]

most of our cars? certainly everythig in my toy cupboard.

[Rudernst]

folly and treasure:
all open topped double decker sports cars

anyways, very british



Rudolf

[john ruston]

Nick

At last someone has put Lagonadas in their correct historical position.

[Peter Mallett]

I think perhaps it should be a bit more specific. I mean what about the Austin Atlantic, or the Nash Metropolitan? They invented the term "skip" before Skoda got to use it.

[John Turner]

However, let's not forget that the engine that powered the post war Lagondas also went into the Astons and much of mechanicals of the Atlantic went into the A-H 100/4, so whether or not follies in themselves, something good came out of parts of them!

[john ruston]

Atlantics and would you believe Vivas are accepted in Tour Auto.

[bauble]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Atlantics and would you believe Vivas are accepted in Tour Auto.

When I was just a young lad at school my best friend Charlie Jones thought the Austin Atlantic was the best car on the road. No pictures of XK 120's, DB2's, MG's would change his mind.

So there!

[Mike Harte]

Two vehicles, in my mind, have wheels in both camps.

Firstly, the Daimler SP250 of which my first memory is of a black one, with a bell on the front, chasing after me on the North Circular around London. I stopped purely out of curiosity to admire the beautiful lines of the car. As a good proportion of the Met's fleet of these cars were based at their Finchley motor pool (which later moved to Hendon adjacent to their training HQ), I saw a lot of them around and always loved them. I really would have loved to have owned one.

My other choice is the Triumph Stag, one of which I did own for a few years. Although a late model (an S registered automatic model) which I loved and lavished great care on, it never truly repaid me. It was great fun to drive and would cruise effortlessly on long runs, but hit the smallest amount of slow traffic or, heaven forbid, pause more than momentarily at traffic lights, the engine temperature would shoot up.

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by john ruston

Atlantics and would you believe Vivas are accepted in Tour Auto.

And what, might I ask is wrong with Viva's?

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by VIVA GT

And what, might I ask is wrong with Viva's?

And guess what- it is the Viva GT that is on the eligibility list! Along with the original 60s VX 4/90....... My boss when I was an acme pimpled apprentice bought a new Brabham Viva. At the time I thought it was really cool, then the Cortina 1600E came out!

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by Mike Bell

I was an acme pimpled apprentice

Acme pimples? Sort of a spotty Roadrunner?

[Clive Brown]

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

Acme pimples? Sort of a spotty Roadrunner?

Snigger....

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by Dave Brand

Acme pimples? Sort of a spotty Roadrunner?

If ACME pimples were as strong as the ACME thread they must have taken some bursting!

[zefarelly]

Saw that Gooda Bentley thing at Woodgood yesterday, bizarre.

[R59]

Two words. Gordon Keeble.

[Mike Bell]

Originally Posted by R59

Two words. Gordon Keeble.

I hope that is under the 'treasure' header, not the other one!

[apriliadriver]

Gordon Keeble, I should have put that on the list, body designed by Giorgetto Giugaro.
It's a treasure with the steering box mod., and a folly without it.
Nick

[bauble]

Originally Posted by apriliadriver

Gordon Keeble, I should have put that on the list, body designed by Giorgetto Giugaro.
It's a treasure with the steering box mod., and a folly without it.
Nick

Designed by a Eyetie? With a moniker like Apriliadriver, and driving a Mustang!

Are you really the best person to venture an opinion?

On the other hand you did admire my picture of an ERA taken at Goodwood, and that is a true treasure. Oh! The car not (necessarily) my picture.

Cheers Nick.

Bob.

[apriliadriver]

Who would not covet the chance to race an ERA, Bob ? Great picture, I still look at it.

A Mustang ???!! My dear, I would not touch one with the tip of my parasol ! Chev Camaro, please ...
A Lancia Aprilia is the thinking man's car, I trust it would find a place on the List of Italian Automotive Treasures.
Nick

Originally Posted by bauble

Designed by a Eyetie? With a moniker like Apriliadriver, and driving a Mustang!

Are you really the best person to venture an opinion?

On the other hand you did admire my picture of an ERA taken at Goodwood, and that is a true treasure. Oh! The car not (necessarily) my picture.

Cheers Nick.

Bob.

[Peter Mallett]

The pinnacle of pimples?

[Dave Brand]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

The pinnacle of pimples?

Top spot?

[Peter Mallett]

Of course there is one British car that remains a treasure even today. The original Issigonis Mini.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Of course there is one British car that remains a treasure even today. The original Issigonis Mini.

It's way beyond treasure, because if you read any newspaper, almost anything can become a "national treasure.

The original mini was an icon, and will be revered way beyond our lifetimes.