I'm writing this on a dying laptop so forgive me if it goes astray. It seems to me that Rochdale only ever gets in the national media for horrible reasons*, so to make up for it here's the annual car show hosted by the local rotary club in a park near the town centre. It was a good mix of traditional classic car fodder, with some more modern modified rides. Once upon a time I would have given the late model cars short shrift but the fact that it brings enthusiasts from different scenes together can only be a good thing, So I'll admit to being wrong on that one.
*Actually if you're in that area, the beautifully restored Town Hall is well worth a visit for any lovers of gothic/Victorian architecture.
How do you like your Escorts? Every period and style from mild to wild was represented. The “RS Turbo” estate was well done enough to convince it was a factory build.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/61e1e1ab0ee5.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/f3fcf18bf9fb.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/771ecedd3a90.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/539fe15b6e4f.jpg)
There were, as you'd expect a few MGBs around (of which this red one was the nicest) but the little 1929 M Type was more of a surprise.
The wider wheels on the Magnette suggests there's some jiggery pokery going on under the bonnet but I never got to find out.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/cd5b7092d11b.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/8d2a9a4e4cad.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/6985f087f748.jpg)
BMWs aren't exactly my cup of Rosie Lee normally but these two 3 serieseses did appeal with very different schools of modifying.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/332edce69e72.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/a53e9baf9895.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/7b1522080a34.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/1d345ebe9686.jpg)
So this week I learned that 2CVs have a weird shift pattern, with reverse where you'd expect 1st to be, 1st where you usually find 2nd and so on. I've always wanted to drive one of these, preferably aound twisty country lanes, but I fear this would confuse the hell out of me.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/488e2f29b698.jpg)
Corrola (1988?) would once have been as common and forgettable as lamp posts but now quite rare especially considering it's a regular 5 door hatch and not one of the hot versions beloved of the JDM scene.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/f9cc89331c8b.jpg)
Fiat 128 Coupe. How many left reckons there are only 14 of these in Britain. Almost certainly wrong but this is the only one I can recall seeing for many a year.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/9f487ac1a931.jpg)
Porsche replica was quite tasteful and nicely detailed so I can forgive the fake badges. The Fakerrari behind was fooling nobody however.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/d2947ea409ff.jpg)
These Rolls Royces always make me think of two things:- Weddings and old school comedians of the big bow tie and mother-in-law jokes variety. Bernard Manning used to live a couple of miles up the road from me and I'm sure he had one.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/1932c7f80aa4.jpg)
MK2 Jag was once owned by one of my heroes; Anthony H Wilson (of Factory Records etc) and I had to wonder what stories this car could tell. Just who has ridden in it and what they might have got up to. check the nooks and crannies for any "substances".
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/e26e5c9e761a.jpg)
And the rest.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/a86e16837334.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/6c9e025b4328.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/b1bd8da8a759.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/06cd98876d72.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/bfb36248471e.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/83995c519601.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/2422a8a16109.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/503b9422f463.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/f74ea18f0f00.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/e81487dfc258.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/d4322ac6c436.jpg)
Ta ta!
*Actually if you're in that area, the beautifully restored Town Hall is well worth a visit for any lovers of gothic/Victorian architecture.
How do you like your Escorts? Every period and style from mild to wild was represented. The “RS Turbo” estate was well done enough to convince it was a factory build.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/61e1e1ab0ee5.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/f3fcf18bf9fb.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/771ecedd3a90.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/539fe15b6e4f.jpg)
There were, as you'd expect a few MGBs around (of which this red one was the nicest) but the little 1929 M Type was more of a surprise.
The wider wheels on the Magnette suggests there's some jiggery pokery going on under the bonnet but I never got to find out.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/cd5b7092d11b.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/8d2a9a4e4cad.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/6985f087f748.jpg)
BMWs aren't exactly my cup of Rosie Lee normally but these two 3 serieseses did appeal with very different schools of modifying.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/332edce69e72.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/a53e9baf9895.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/7b1522080a34.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/1d345ebe9686.jpg)
So this week I learned that 2CVs have a weird shift pattern, with reverse where you'd expect 1st to be, 1st where you usually find 2nd and so on. I've always wanted to drive one of these, preferably aound twisty country lanes, but I fear this would confuse the hell out of me.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/488e2f29b698.jpg)
Corrola (1988?) would once have been as common and forgettable as lamp posts but now quite rare especially considering it's a regular 5 door hatch and not one of the hot versions beloved of the JDM scene.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/f9cc89331c8b.jpg)
Fiat 128 Coupe. How many left reckons there are only 14 of these in Britain. Almost certainly wrong but this is the only one I can recall seeing for many a year.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/9f487ac1a931.jpg)
Porsche replica was quite tasteful and nicely detailed so I can forgive the fake badges. The Fakerrari behind was fooling nobody however.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/d2947ea409ff.jpg)
These Rolls Royces always make me think of two things:- Weddings and old school comedians of the big bow tie and mother-in-law jokes variety. Bernard Manning used to live a couple of miles up the road from me and I'm sure he had one.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/1932c7f80aa4.jpg)
MK2 Jag was once owned by one of my heroes; Anthony H Wilson (of Factory Records etc) and I had to wonder what stories this car could tell. Just who has ridden in it and what they might have got up to. check the nooks and crannies for any "substances".
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/e26e5c9e761a.jpg)
And the rest.
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/a86e16837334.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/6c9e025b4328.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/b1bd8da8a759.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/06cd98876d72.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/bfb36248471e.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/83995c519601.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/2422a8a16109.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/503b9422f463.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/f74ea18f0f00.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/e81487dfc258.jpg)
![](https://img.retro-rides.org/i/v/ratchart/d4322ac6c436.jpg)
Ta ta!