Tag Archives: Colt

Coffee Croissant & Cars 02/15 – Avenue Drivers Club

Sunday saw the second Avenue Drivers Club gathering of the year down at Queen Square in Bristol, and today’s blog shows there was no shortage of vehicles from near and far.

Avenue Drivers Club, Ford Anglia, Queen Square, Bristol,

Above looking to drag us out of the winter blues a mid 50’s chopped top Ford Anglia, message to self remember to get the registration next time and find out what is under the bonnet / hood.

Colt Celeste GT, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Japanese Industry had a reputation for imitation in the 1970’s and this 1976 Colt Celeste GT is a case in point echoing features seen on Ford Mustang fastbacks of various vintages although it is actually a 3 door hatchback.

Hyundai Grandeur XG,Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Thinking of imitation, the tail lights on this second generation 2000 Hyundai Grandeur XG30 appear to mimic those of a contemporary Rolls Royce or Bentley. At first I thought this car might be a low rider with dropped suspension, but having looked at photographs of others on the intelnet I am now not so sure.

Volkswagen Golf Mk III, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Happiest dog in the house was out for a ride in this stanced rat look Mk III Volkswagen Golf Estate.

HSV VT ClubSport, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

Imported from Australia was this 1999 Holden Commodore based HSV VT Club sport powered by a 265 hp 5 litre / 302 cui Australian iron block V8.

Dodge Challenger R/T, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol,

By now regular readers know I am a huge Dodge Challenger fan so I’ll make no excuses for sneaking in this photo of a 2011 Deep Water Pearl Blue R/T, which the owner admitted was a bit of a mid life crises purchase. The owner, who hails from South Carolina and is now living on the other side of the UK from Bristol in Cambridge, was inspired to buy the car by the Dukes of Hazard television series, she, no spelling mistake, also confessed that this car is not her daily driver.

Thanks for joining me on this “Coffee, Croissant and Cars” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at Fred Lorenzen’s team mate’s 1965 Ford Galaxie 500. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share

Coffee, Croissant & Cars #08/13 – Avenue Drivers Club

The eight weeks since I last visited the Avenue Drivers Club seem to have flown by in no time at all, I guess there is nothing like being busy when your having fun.

Lotus Esprit, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Amongst Sundays potpourri of attendees was this immaculate 22 year old Lotus Esprit that would surely have won a Concours d’Elegance, if one had been run. The current owner told me that the car was originally sold to a customer in Singapore, and that he has had the car for 14 years during which time he has driven it just 4,000 miles.

Plymouth, Road Runner, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Regular readers will know that I have been a MOPAR fan since I saw the original version of “Vanishing Point”, above is a 1970 First Generation 335hp Plymouth Road Runner.

AC, Aceca, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Slightly more modest was this 1958 Bristol powered AC Aceca.

Morris, 1/2 Ton, Pick Up, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

When I took the photograph above I thought I was looking at an extremely late Austin A60 Pick up, closer inspection reveals it actually carries a Morris badge and is a vehicle that was marketed as the Morris 1/2 ton. This particular one was manufactured in 1972 the year before production ceased, the cab design dates back to the 1957 Austin A55 Cambridge 4 door saloon/sedan.

Ford, Sierra, XR4i, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

In 1983 Ford launched the Ford Sierra XR4i to top the new jelly mould bodied series of cars that had received a mixed reception since their introduction the previous year. The 2 door XR4i was powered by the same fuel injected 2.8 litre Cologne V6 as the late Ford Capri 2.8i.

Ford, 7Y, Eight, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The owner of this 1938 Ford “7Y” Eight took the car over from his sister over 40 years ago, he told me how amongst many ways Ford had saved on the costs of manufacturing the car, they built it with 6 3/4″ head lights instead of the 7″ head lights used by their competitors and that the fabric panel in the roof along with wooden floor boards all saved on the use of steel.

Colt, Sigma, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

The Colt Sigma above caught my eye primarily because it was built the year I left school in 1977. It’s condition is testimony to the fact that if one looks after any car it can be made to last well beyond two score years.

Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray Coupé, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Parking up next to a 60th Anniversary edition Corvette was this fifty year old 1963 split rear screen Corvette Sting Ray Coupé, without doubt my favourite of the sixty year Corvette production run.

Daimler, V8 250, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Looking like it had driven straight out of the film set of “Withnail and I” was this 1968 Daimler V8 250, though the film of course used a similar bodied Jaguar Mk II.

Plymouth, Road Runner, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

In 1971 the Plymouth Satelite won the US Car of the Year award, this is it’s big “bro” the 1971 Plymouth Road Runner 440 Six Pack, with a air grabber scoop in the bonnet/hood, the 7.2 litre motor was good for 390 hp when it left the factory.

Mazda, MX5, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

On a lighter note some cute adornment found on the dash of an Mazda MX5, disappointingly the only thing missing is a plastic Jesus, however since the magnets on said absent item are known to mess with the radio maybe the omission can be forgiven.

Jaguar, E-Type, Series III, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Vying strongly with the Daimler V8 250 for the patina of the day award was this 1973 Series III V12 E-Type Jaguar. Apparently the car was delivered new, painted Azure Blue to Victor Gauntlet the petroleum magnate who is best remembered as Executive Chairman of Aston Martin from 1981 until 1992.

Alfa Romeo, Giulia, Spider, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Among the many soft tops present was this 1964 Alfa Romeo, Giulia, Spider sharing the same engine Alfa Romeo 105 series Giulia saloon / sedan.

Porsche, 911, Cabriolet, Flachbau, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Porsche 911’s with flachbau (flat built) noses, inspired by the 1976 Porsche 935 racing program, are a relative rarity this cabriolet dates from 1988.

BMW, 530D, Touring, Avenue Drivers Club, Queen Square, Bristol

Finally drawing the biggest crowd in the shortest period of time were the flashing blue lights on this 2010 BMW 530D Touring, no crime had been committed, the gentlemen of the Avon Constabulary were merely demonstrating some of the features on their car. One is unlikely to be pursued by this vehicle unless one is in the process of committing, or one has committed a serious crime as the car is being run by the Armed Response Unit.

Thanks for joining me on this “Coffee, Croissant & Cars #08/13” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share