Well, I've just spent a jolly week in Wales. Just in case anyone didn't know Wales is Gods own country and I'm sure its the Welsh themselves put about all those stories about it always raining, sheep shaggin' and the rest just to put off the English from going there and stinking the place up. And whats that stupid ad on TV at the moment "you can't have our mud". What utter balderdash. I don't want your mud. Your beer, your cheese, your cawl I'll have (and in previous years I have enjoyed sampling the ladies too...)
Anyway, apart from a week of excellent weather, fine company, superb food, bargain prices, top rate accomodation at reasonable prices... I am pleased to tell you Wales is still fine spotting country.
Just to give you time to let the several photos load up from my photobucket account I'll tell you the tales of the ones that got away. Sadly my camera-fu was too slow, or I was under orders to "stop being such a f***ing sad bast***" from SWMBO....
I saw a lovely Mk1 Escort van, all retro style modded, but sadly being driven by a gimp who reckons razzing it thorugh the town centre at 50 MPH is cool rather than fool. No photo on princiapl really.
Saw a fine early Renner 21 with old giffer owners doing 20 MPH.
Saw a tidy Carina II but it was a hatch not a booted saloon so I didn't snap it, plus anpotherof those neat Toyota Coroolla Executives I do like.
Saw some lads out of the town in a shabby Morris Minor 4 door which looked pretty cool.
Saw an abandonned Pug 505 the exporters have missed (estate too) and near by a really clean Mk2 Fiesta which looked like the absolute base model.
Saw tonnes of VW T2s both down there and on the way, choice of splits and bays. One guy even had two matching ones on his drive in two tone blue and white.
Seems that Wales is the principal export market for the Suzuki Swift. Well, it was in the early to mid 90s. Saw millions of them there. Not retro so no pics, but odd to see so many.
Also anyone wondering what became of all those Jeep Cherokees from the M - P reg years need not worry, they are alive and well and living fruitful lives in West Wales.
I also saw a lovel;y Bedford CF series 1 horsebox as well as one in a Dormobile which had what appeared to be factory converted twin headlights. My dim brain recalls seeing this before on a Dormobile CF1. Anyone know if this was a popular DIY mod or a part of a legit package?
If theres one car that threatens the Suzuki Swift for dominance on the roads out there its the VW Golf. Especially the Mk2 and theres a fair few modded ones, and some rather nicely done. No, no photos. But you can imagine what a neat Mk2 looks like. Also saw a fair few Mk1s (usually in gardens or whatever) and plenty of VW Caddys.
You just know theres got to be loads of old Landys, Pog would be in his element. Saw everything from 50s up. Also saw a fair few military only versions including lightweights and forward controls. Also non LR military stuffis popular in the riral areas, even spotted some guy driving a WW2 Guy 6x6.
I spotted more 2CVs in a week, than I've seen all year and the number of Morris Minors on the road is great to see. Saw one guy running a lawn mowing business with one loaded with "stuff" and also one of those "TRaffic Surveys" where the guys were sitting drinking tea in another Minor Traveller. Both were mint. I did see a couple of abandonned ones and also some on the road in less shiny condition too.
What else? A Cobra clone, Pug 205CJ convertible, several Herald 13/60s and a garden of a ouse with a Vitesse, Marina estate and some other classics rerturning slowly to nature. Also spotted a Mk2 Consul doing the same on a farm.
For the Hyunda Pony fans, I saw an X2 and a selection fo Pony pickups from the mid 80s.
Howabout a Pulsar GTi-R, a TVR 350i, a derelict XJS HE V12, a 1971 TVR (Tuscan?) Spartan kit car, a couple of modern mid 90s TVRs (Tuscans or Chimera or something) and a Rickman Ranger in bits in a garden. Loads of Rally-ish Minis in bts in gardens, on the road and on trailers. including a really nice looking Mk1 Austn Mini Cooper with all the proper rally kit. Also saw many Beetles including a couple of Mexican ones.
Saw a couple of Mk2 transits, one a camper and one a "wizzards minibus" in blue with wizzard murals.
Also razzing about the roads I saw a 1920s Alvis boat tail, a blower Bentley, stunning Mk2 RS2000 and a rally prepped Mk2 flat nose and a E type.
And tons more I've forgotten no doubt.
One thing I was impressed with was the amount of grass roots motorsports going on - banger racing (of course) but stocks, mini stocks, grass track, auto cross, autograss, tractor pulls, steam festivals (including some kind of traction engine drag racing malarkie as far as I could make out) and that was without looking for it. And they have those excellent roads too....
Then back home. traffic jams, flat roads, no nice views, chavs, etc.
Meh, here are the spots, and some other random stuff.
Our whip for diz kruiz. The old Mazda 626 behaved impeccably and was even bordering on fun to wizz down some of the lanes in. Here it is at Mwnt. No thats not a typo. Mwnt.
And now I understand why people buy MPVs. This is the additional crepe which one very very little person adds to a week away...
Some form of retro estate my be on the cards....
OK! So lets spot....
I misidentified this as a Tercel. Some whacky form of Corolla Estate I assume. No idea. Someone here will have a boner over it no doubt though.
Tidy 240 GLE. Saw a couple of these looking nice.
Yee-haw - Prarie! I like these. They could get "the treatment". I assume I can get some slotmags to fit?
Old people car. They were looking very suspiciously at me as I was photographing it
Talbot Express. 100000x cooler than a VW T2. Get a Samba 3 door on a rigid bar behind it and really be the daddy. I saw several of these but this was the most "approriate" looking for reproduction here....
Non-retro but oddities to see a Dodge Ram and Chevy Avalanche.
6 wheel drive Range Rover ice cream van. Yup. On Saundersfoot beach if you fancy tracking him down for a Whippie.
Saw plenty of these and all this colour. This is on a L plate but hte newest I saw was on an R. This looked mint until you got up close and saw it had been keyed quite extensively.
The new T2? A few surfer types I know who can't afford a T2 now hae these or Peugeot Boxters. This was an elderly couple's joint.
This photo could almost be southern states USA not South Wales. Gen 5 Celica sunseeker or whatever they call them, and some odd holiday appartments. These cars are really growing on me.
I saw a lot of people riding stuff like this, some bought, some looking home made. Only one I snapped was a shop window display for a cafe-bar type place
Euro Polo Mk2. Very sweet. Wish I had more pics of this one. I like the action shot though....
Range Rover which someone has tried to bring up to date with odd orange paint and Disco wheels etc.
Saw a couple of big old Buicks about. Caught this one snoozing at the beach.
Beetle in an NCP.
Seriously retro ride! They must be like 46" rimz too blud.
The new T2? blah blah blah? Loads of these about
Including the "cone head" edition.
VERY TIDY old tat - we hit GOLD with this FSO!!!
Abandonned E30 and the remains of a Brooke Bond Tea van
Are these "retro" or just old wibblepoo?
Same question really.
Now these things are obviously the new T2. Black brush paint finish and what looks like a mobile shop awning on the side of a former black maria or whatnot LDV... You wouldn't mess with it would you? I know theres some of you getting wood over this right now.
I DEMAND MY GREEN SHIELD STAMPS. Call the cops if you want. Heddlu or whatever. I DEMAND MY GREEN SHIELD STAMPS!!!!!
It was a 500. I checked.
Tidy XR3i. These are growing on me....
The local barry boy types don't seem to be as extreme or distasteful as the Midlandz Massiv3 are. Here is a typical modded hatch from my travels. I don;t love it. I don't feel the urge to set it on fire either.
A couple of weeks ago, to my shame, I attempted to pass off a Honda Accord as a Legend. To redress the ballance I have searched the nation and found a Legend to spot for you.
Nice - saw this about 3 times.
This Volvo will make another appearance later....
If this mid-70s Sherpa isn't the new T2 then I don't know what is.
C4 as the former Lewismobile. Notice A35 van in background, also a hot looking modded R33 Skyline at the same house.
EURO-ME-PLEASE. You can hear it calling from here....
Dutton?
Electraglide in, erm, red....
tidy Aston in pub car park.
Novel use for an old Routemaster....
Old boy owner could be the original buyer. I just love pre-facelift Mk2s. Colour is DANDY. Didn't the Germans also get a 2 door version of this?
And onwards.... One of the things I wanted to see while I was in Wales was Pendine Sands, home of British Land Speed Records on both 4 and 2 wheels during the inter-war period. I was pleased to find that "Babs" is on display there in the world's smallest (but FREE) motor museum as well as there being an appropriate commemorative plaque.
the sands themselves....
Babs and friends...
Imagine doing 178 MPH on the beach in this.... !!!!
and then in the car park, its that Volvo again....
Not messing about - real classic rally material
One thing I didn't really shoot much of, but was there in abundance were the clasic tractors and trucks. Heres an old MF still working at New Quay but I saw prewar stuff still working the fields on some small holdings in the valleys.
One little obsessions I'll share with you is old pretrol stations and garages. Plenty of these about in Wales. Here's a few to whet your appetite. Again, not many pics taken, SWMBO likes me poking about disused garages even les than photographing cars in car parks or whatnot.
Now a gallery type place
old pump still there
delightfully complete
Job done.
One last thought... Why do people who own motor homes always drive around with no shirt on? uuuuurggh. Narsty.
Anyway, apart from a week of excellent weather, fine company, superb food, bargain prices, top rate accomodation at reasonable prices... I am pleased to tell you Wales is still fine spotting country.
Just to give you time to let the several photos load up from my photobucket account I'll tell you the tales of the ones that got away. Sadly my camera-fu was too slow, or I was under orders to "stop being such a f***ing sad bast***" from SWMBO....
I saw a lovely Mk1 Escort van, all retro style modded, but sadly being driven by a gimp who reckons razzing it thorugh the town centre at 50 MPH is cool rather than fool. No photo on princiapl really.
Saw a fine early Renner 21 with old giffer owners doing 20 MPH.
Saw a tidy Carina II but it was a hatch not a booted saloon so I didn't snap it, plus anpotherof those neat Toyota Coroolla Executives I do like.
Saw some lads out of the town in a shabby Morris Minor 4 door which looked pretty cool.
Saw an abandonned Pug 505 the exporters have missed (estate too) and near by a really clean Mk2 Fiesta which looked like the absolute base model.
Saw tonnes of VW T2s both down there and on the way, choice of splits and bays. One guy even had two matching ones on his drive in two tone blue and white.
Seems that Wales is the principal export market for the Suzuki Swift. Well, it was in the early to mid 90s. Saw millions of them there. Not retro so no pics, but odd to see so many.
Also anyone wondering what became of all those Jeep Cherokees from the M - P reg years need not worry, they are alive and well and living fruitful lives in West Wales.
I also saw a lovel;y Bedford CF series 1 horsebox as well as one in a Dormobile which had what appeared to be factory converted twin headlights. My dim brain recalls seeing this before on a Dormobile CF1. Anyone know if this was a popular DIY mod or a part of a legit package?
If theres one car that threatens the Suzuki Swift for dominance on the roads out there its the VW Golf. Especially the Mk2 and theres a fair few modded ones, and some rather nicely done. No, no photos. But you can imagine what a neat Mk2 looks like. Also saw a fair few Mk1s (usually in gardens or whatever) and plenty of VW Caddys.
You just know theres got to be loads of old Landys, Pog would be in his element. Saw everything from 50s up. Also saw a fair few military only versions including lightweights and forward controls. Also non LR military stuffis popular in the riral areas, even spotted some guy driving a WW2 Guy 6x6.
I spotted more 2CVs in a week, than I've seen all year and the number of Morris Minors on the road is great to see. Saw one guy running a lawn mowing business with one loaded with "stuff" and also one of those "TRaffic Surveys" where the guys were sitting drinking tea in another Minor Traveller. Both were mint. I did see a couple of abandonned ones and also some on the road in less shiny condition too.
What else? A Cobra clone, Pug 205CJ convertible, several Herald 13/60s and a garden of a ouse with a Vitesse, Marina estate and some other classics rerturning slowly to nature. Also spotted a Mk2 Consul doing the same on a farm.
For the Hyunda Pony fans, I saw an X2 and a selection fo Pony pickups from the mid 80s.
Howabout a Pulsar GTi-R, a TVR 350i, a derelict XJS HE V12, a 1971 TVR (Tuscan?) Spartan kit car, a couple of modern mid 90s TVRs (Tuscans or Chimera or something) and a Rickman Ranger in bits in a garden. Loads of Rally-ish Minis in bts in gardens, on the road and on trailers. including a really nice looking Mk1 Austn Mini Cooper with all the proper rally kit. Also saw many Beetles including a couple of Mexican ones.
Saw a couple of Mk2 transits, one a camper and one a "wizzards minibus" in blue with wizzard murals.
Also razzing about the roads I saw a 1920s Alvis boat tail, a blower Bentley, stunning Mk2 RS2000 and a rally prepped Mk2 flat nose and a E type.
And tons more I've forgotten no doubt.
One thing I was impressed with was the amount of grass roots motorsports going on - banger racing (of course) but stocks, mini stocks, grass track, auto cross, autograss, tractor pulls, steam festivals (including some kind of traction engine drag racing malarkie as far as I could make out) and that was without looking for it. And they have those excellent roads too....
Then back home. traffic jams, flat roads, no nice views, chavs, etc.
Meh, here are the spots, and some other random stuff.
Our whip for diz kruiz. The old Mazda 626 behaved impeccably and was even bordering on fun to wizz down some of the lanes in. Here it is at Mwnt. No thats not a typo. Mwnt.
And now I understand why people buy MPVs. This is the additional crepe which one very very little person adds to a week away...
Some form of retro estate my be on the cards....
OK! So lets spot....
I misidentified this as a Tercel. Some whacky form of Corolla Estate I assume. No idea. Someone here will have a boner over it no doubt though.
Tidy 240 GLE. Saw a couple of these looking nice.
Yee-haw - Prarie! I like these. They could get "the treatment". I assume I can get some slotmags to fit?
Old people car. They were looking very suspiciously at me as I was photographing it
Talbot Express. 100000x cooler than a VW T2. Get a Samba 3 door on a rigid bar behind it and really be the daddy. I saw several of these but this was the most "approriate" looking for reproduction here....
Non-retro but oddities to see a Dodge Ram and Chevy Avalanche.
6 wheel drive Range Rover ice cream van. Yup. On Saundersfoot beach if you fancy tracking him down for a Whippie.
Saw plenty of these and all this colour. This is on a L plate but hte newest I saw was on an R. This looked mint until you got up close and saw it had been keyed quite extensively.
The new T2? A few surfer types I know who can't afford a T2 now hae these or Peugeot Boxters. This was an elderly couple's joint.
This photo could almost be southern states USA not South Wales. Gen 5 Celica sunseeker or whatever they call them, and some odd holiday appartments. These cars are really growing on me.
I saw a lot of people riding stuff like this, some bought, some looking home made. Only one I snapped was a shop window display for a cafe-bar type place
Euro Polo Mk2. Very sweet. Wish I had more pics of this one. I like the action shot though....
Range Rover which someone has tried to bring up to date with odd orange paint and Disco wheels etc.
Saw a couple of big old Buicks about. Caught this one snoozing at the beach.
Beetle in an NCP.
Seriously retro ride! They must be like 46" rimz too blud.
The new T2? blah blah blah? Loads of these about
Including the "cone head" edition.
VERY TIDY old tat - we hit GOLD with this FSO!!!
Abandonned E30 and the remains of a Brooke Bond Tea van
Are these "retro" or just old wibblepoo?
Same question really.
Now these things are obviously the new T2. Black brush paint finish and what looks like a mobile shop awning on the side of a former black maria or whatnot LDV... You wouldn't mess with it would you? I know theres some of you getting wood over this right now.
I DEMAND MY GREEN SHIELD STAMPS. Call the cops if you want. Heddlu or whatever. I DEMAND MY GREEN SHIELD STAMPS!!!!!
It was a 500. I checked.
Tidy XR3i. These are growing on me....
The local barry boy types don't seem to be as extreme or distasteful as the Midlandz Massiv3 are. Here is a typical modded hatch from my travels. I don;t love it. I don't feel the urge to set it on fire either.
A couple of weeks ago, to my shame, I attempted to pass off a Honda Accord as a Legend. To redress the ballance I have searched the nation and found a Legend to spot for you.
Nice - saw this about 3 times.
This Volvo will make another appearance later....
If this mid-70s Sherpa isn't the new T2 then I don't know what is.
C4 as the former Lewismobile. Notice A35 van in background, also a hot looking modded R33 Skyline at the same house.
EURO-ME-PLEASE. You can hear it calling from here....
Dutton?
Electraglide in, erm, red....
tidy Aston in pub car park.
Novel use for an old Routemaster....
Old boy owner could be the original buyer. I just love pre-facelift Mk2s. Colour is DANDY. Didn't the Germans also get a 2 door version of this?
And onwards.... One of the things I wanted to see while I was in Wales was Pendine Sands, home of British Land Speed Records on both 4 and 2 wheels during the inter-war period. I was pleased to find that "Babs" is on display there in the world's smallest (but FREE) motor museum as well as there being an appropriate commemorative plaque.
the sands themselves....
Babs and friends...
Imagine doing 178 MPH on the beach in this.... !!!!
and then in the car park, its that Volvo again....
Not messing about - real classic rally material
One thing I didn't really shoot much of, but was there in abundance were the clasic tractors and trucks. Heres an old MF still working at New Quay but I saw prewar stuff still working the fields on some small holdings in the valleys.
One little obsessions I'll share with you is old pretrol stations and garages. Plenty of these about in Wales. Here's a few to whet your appetite. Again, not many pics taken, SWMBO likes me poking about disused garages even les than photographing cars in car parks or whatnot.
Now a gallery type place
old pump still there
delightfully complete
Job done.
One last thought... Why do people who own motor homes always drive around with no shirt on? uuuuurggh. Narsty.