Founder’s Blog: Autumn is with us.
It’s the Italian Grand Prix this weekend and most schoolchildren are facing that long , ever colder and darker term which takes them to Christmas. The very hot days are already a memory but it’s not time to put those precious Classic cars away just yet.
Last weekend, I had the annual pleasure of taking a prewar car to Chatsworth for the Country Fair. I decided to take our very sweet little Austin Ten to display alongside Great British Car Club Chairman: David’s splendid Austin 16 Tickford Convertible.
This was the first time I had driven a ten on the road and I was very impressed. Regular readers will know about my love affair with all things Austin Seven but the ten offers more space, considerably more pace and an altogether more relaxed driving experience. Our car has only had two owners , the first from 1932-34 and the second from 1934 up to our acquisition in 2020. Being a very early car, it lacks any synchromesh but the brakes are excellent and the sliding sun roof was a welcome addition.
The journey to Chatsworth was pleasant and uneventful although David’s 16 did have a steamy moment at Cromford. Fortunately we were armed with extra water and once topped up, Stanley as the car is now known ran perfectly. Unfortunately, when it was time to go home on Sunday evening,the ten misbehaved by jamming its starter pinion firmly onto the flywheel and resisting all attempts to free it. Fortunately, I was able to cadge a lift home in Stanley which was lovely!
On Monday, we visited my very old friend Jonathan Bromley in Herefordshire who had recently returned from a visit to Alsace in his Daimler . I have a great regard for the Daimler marque which sadly seems to be very out of fashion. The post-war Drophead cars represent great value for truly quality motoring with smooth engines and the famous Wilson pre-selector gearboxes. Jonathan took me for a ride in his 1924 AC Royal roadster which certainly goes very well. AC is another great British marque which was around in the great days of the Brooklands circuit and achieved immortality with the Cobra, although for me the AC Ace of the 1950s was the most beautiful of all their cars.
Also last week I had my first proper drive in an MG TF . We are very grateful recipients of an immaculate low mileage 2005 135 model which is now on display in Chapter 9. The car was donated to us by Jacqueline Bird whose late husband has owned it from new.
I took it on a 15 mile drive taking in the Via Gellia which is a local sinuous A road with significant bends and elevation change. The car was a revelation and in my view superior to the MX5 of the day in terms of dynamics, although the interior does not match the Mazda in terms of quality . I am now on the look out for one of the 500 LE cars made by NanJing Automotive at Longbridge between 2008 and 2010. I really like the mad Papaya Orange ones!
Various of our cars have been out at local events: the Frogeye had a stay at Cromford Mills and the De Lorean was a guest at Matlock Farm Park. Don’t forget if you want to borrow a car for an event with a Classic theme, we are happy to help in return for some publicity.
In the mean time, drive safely and enjoy the undoubted pleasure of Classic Motoring!
