Tag Archives: Pick UP

Rowing Minor – Morris Minor Pick Up

Morris Minor Pick Ups were manufactured between 1953 and 1971.

Morris Minor Pick Up, Malta Classic Car Museum, Qwara

Like the Minor Van, Minor Pick Ups feature a separate chassis on which to mount the body panels unlike the Morris Minor passenger vehicles which had a unitary / monocoque body construction.

Morris Minor Pick Up, Malta Classic Car Museum, Qwara

The single piece windscreen and large indicator side light cluster point to this model seen at the Malta Classic Car Museum in Qwara being built post 1961.

Morris Minor Pick Up, Malta Classic Car Museum, Qwara

The varnished wood paneling in the rear along with the oars are a give away that this vehicle was probably used by on of the seven rowing clubs that take part in Malta’s annual Victory Day Regatta which can be traced back to 1822.

Morris Minor Pick Up, Malta Classic Car Museum, Qwara

If you know which club this vehicle used to belong to please do not be afraid to chip in below.

Morris Minor Pick Up, Malta Classic Car Museum, Qwara

Morris Minors were imported to Malta new and used, there was a small industry built around rebodying vehicles to suit Maltese needs which included Morris Minor Pick Ups fitted larger pick up boxes than the original as seen in this link featuring a Maltese bodied Minor Pickup being rescued from a field.

Thanks for joining me on this “Rowing Minor” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

3/4 Task Force – Chevrolet Apache 32

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Today’s featured pickup is a 1959 Chevrolet Apache 32 Pick up.

In most respects the Apache 32 Cab and motor options were similar to the Apache 31 Fleetside I looked at last week.

The ’58 and ’59 Apaches all shared twined front head lamps.

This particular vehicle is registered with a non standard 3.5 litre 213 cui motor size, given that it is in the UK this may well be one of Britain’s popular all aluminium Rover V8’s that originated from Buick.

The big difference between the Apache 31 and 32 is the wheel base 114 inches on the ’31’ and 123 inches on the ’32’ which also had heavier duty axles and springs to allow for a 3/4 ton load in the six and half foot long cargo box.

353,509 Apache’s of all sizes were built in 1959 before they were replaced by the C/K series in 1960.

Thanks for joining me on this “3/4 Task Force” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres”, I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Vote Johnny – ’29 Ford Model A Pick Up

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A couple of weeks I befriended one of Gary L Wales neighbours Johnny Martinez on Facebook, turns out Johnny like Gary is accustomed to winning the odd motor show prize.

Johnny built his ’29 Ford Model A pick up from a TCI chassis with a Currie rear end, small block Chevrolet motor and 4 speed transmission with overdrive 20 years ago.

Ford Model A, Johnny Martinez

The immaculate small block is “kickin’ about 385 hp”.

Ford Model A, Johnny Martinez

Johnny’s Ford is equipped with disc brakes and the steering uses a Chevrolet Vega steering box.

Ford Model A, Johnny Martinez

Notice below that the door only has two hinges, that’s because Johnny lowered the roof three inches and dispensed with the top hinge.

Ford Model A, Johnny Martinez

Over the last 28 months Johnny’s ’29 Ford has won 27 awards below Johnny is seen with the Big Red Machine Bike and Car Show award he won in 2011. Here is a link to a clip from the show which comes with a parental advisory on the sound track.

Ford Model A, Johnny Martinez

Johnny is prepping his hot pick up for this years Grand National Roadster Show “The Grand Daddy of Them All” held in Panoma next weekend. Meantime you can vote for Johnnies pick up in the Gold Eagle “Cool Ride Of The Month” contest which has seen Johnny running neck and neck for the lead for over a week now.

CLICK ON THIS LINK and click “John’s 1929 Ford Model A” to vote, your daily participation until the end of the month will be much appreciated.

My thanks to Johnny for sharing his photo’s and story and wishing him the best of British at the Grand National Roadster Show and in the Gold Eagle “Cool Ride Of The Month” competitions.

Thanks for joining me on this “Vote Johnny” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me for Ferrari Friday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Royal Enfield Transporter – Volvo 740 GL Pick Up

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The Volvo 740 as introduced in 1984, it featured the same body as the V6 and 4 cylinder Turbo Intercooler 760 models but was fitted, initially, only with normally aspirated versions of the 4 cylinder motor which had hither too been found in the Volvo 240 models.

Today’s featured model was built in 1989 with a fuel injected pushrod overhead valve 1986 cc / 121 cui 4 cylinder B20F motor that was known in the trade as a log burner because it’s 120 hp worked hard to move the older 240 models at a respectable pace. This car is fitted with a standard 5 speed manual transmission.

In 2000 the previous owner of today’s featured car converted his estate / station wagon into a pick up so that he could carry his Royal Enfield motor cycle to rallies and shows.

With over 265,OOO miles and a full service history Volvo Enthusiasts Club member Colin Hughes expects to keep this vehicle for a good while yet, when I was selling these cars new back in the day we used to boast that such cars could easily be made to last over 20 years this one looks like it could easily last twice as long. Colin has another Volvo 740, a hearse.

Thanks for joining me on this “Royal Enfield Transporter” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a look at a vehicle billed as “Born To Perform Miracles”. Don’t forget to come back now !

Bangles Pick Up – FIAT Coupé (Type 175) 20v Turbo

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After working on the Opel Junior Concept vehicle Chris Bangle moved to Centro Stile FIAT where he designed the body for, today’s featured, FIAT Coupé which was launched in 1993 after which Chris moved on to become one of the most talked about designers, in the last twenty years, at BMW.

The FIAT Coupé was originally powered by a turbo charged and normally aspirated variations of the 4 cylinder Twin Cam motor used in the Lancia Delta Integrale. By 1998 when todays featured car was built 5 cylinder turbocharged 20 valve engines had been introduced, the turbocharged variant on this car would have given over 200 hp a top speed of 155 mph and a rest to 62 mph time of 6.5 seconds.

Pininfarina was responsible for the design of the for the original Coupé interior which like the motors would receive numerous upgrades between 1993 and 2000 when production was terminated.

This appears to be an early 1998 car characterised by the non colour coordinated sill panels below the doors, the absence of red Brembo brake calipers indicates that it is unlikely to be one of the limited edition LE models.

While FCSS (Fiat Coupe Service Specialist) were responsible for converting this car which had a damaged roof, in the space of a week, this is by no means the only Chris Bangle design to become a pick up.

On April 1st last year BMW revealed a one off Bangle originated E93 BMW M3 Pick Up, complete with removable roof, towing hitch and a claimed 186 mph capability making it faster than even the legendary Australian HSV Maloo !

Thanks for joining me on this “Bangles Pick Up” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow when I’ll be looking at a MG badge engineered variation of what was Britain’s top selling car much of the 1960’s. Don’t forget to come back now !

Bertones Czech Brief – Škoda Favorit Pick-up

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From the late 1950’s until 1987 Škoda had been best known for building cars with the engine in the boot trunk which culminated in the 130L / Estelle series.

The front engine front wheel drive Favorit concept was originally approved by Škoda’s owners the Czechoslovakian government in 1982 with Nuccio Bertone being given the brief for the design. The first hatchback Favorit’s were seen in 1987. The Pick Up (Type 787) did not arrive until 1991 by which time Volkswagen had replaced the Czech government as owners of the company.

The Favorit name was first used by Škoda for a saloon / sedan in 1936.

Volkswagen were quick to make improvements to the quality and trim levels of the Favorit while the all new Felicia model was developed. The Felicia Pick up replaced the Favorit Pick Up in 1995.

Thanks for joining me on this “Bertones Czech Brief” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Annual Face Lift – Vauxhall Velox Series E Pick Up

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The Velox Series E was launched in 1951 with 4 door saloon/sedan, 2 door tourer and Coupé pick up versions.

In 1955 Vauxhall owners General Motors mandated annual face lifts for it’s Vauxhall models and the car seen here is a 1955 model with a less clumsy front grill than it’s predecessors.

Power came from a six cylinder motor that produced 64 hp or 68 hp if specified in high compression spec. Note the faux sculpted chrome bonnet trim, a throw back to Vauxhalls built in 1911.

Velox’s were assembled in Vauxhall’s home town of Luton, Australia and New Zealand. Utility pick ups were and are particularly popular in the farming communities of Australia where they were sold with Vauxhall badges by Holden.

The Series E Velox was phased out in 1957 to make way Velox and Cresta PA models introduced for 1958.

Thanks for joining me on this “Annual Face Lift” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me for a look at an MG tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Gettin' A Li'l Psycho On Tyres

Art Tidesco blogs on all things motoring

Tag Archives: Pick UP

Rowing Minor – Morris Minor Pick Up

3/4 Task Force – Chevrolet Apache 32

Vote Johnny – ’29 Ford Model A Pick Up

Royal Enfield Transporter – Volvo 740 GL Pick Up

Bangles Pick Up – FIAT Coupé (Type 175) 20v Turbo

Bertones Czech Brief – Škoda Favorit Pick-up

Annual Face Lift – Vauxhall Velox Series E Pick Up