So we are in the England portionXJ6

[JPSmit]

So we are in the England

Saw some lovely classics in Shetland -then flew back to Aberdeen and took the train(Virgin) to Birmingham where we picked up a car. On the train in the midst of lovely countryside, I saw a TR7 in a junkyard but that was about it. However, when we pulled into the parking lot of the hotel there was an immaculate 1970 XJ6 LHD. Turns out the hotel is a conference centre owned by Tata (jags parent company and they do much training for Land Rover and Jag - a nice bonus.

today as i learned to drive on the left and shift with my left hand (so far so good) I saw a Morgan Aero in a restaurant parking lot, a Triumph 1800, a light blue MGB with a hardtop, an old Mini, a Rover P5, a gorgeous something - looked like an old 30's Bentley drop top - gorgeous long hood and big headlights but couldn't see a marque. Also a Lotus Exige and, curiously, a forst generation Acura NSX and an early 2000s Vette - a very good day in a very pretty country!

 

[Basil]

 

[Grantura_MKI]

You must visit the motor museum at Gaydon, as you are near.
I will be there next week. Enjoy your holiday!

 

[Boink]

You must visit the motor museum at Gaydon, as you are near.
I will be there next week. Enjoy your holiday!

I can attest to that. It's really a great museum (which we visited on our way down from Yorkshire to Goodwood).

 

[JPSmit]

Sorry about the lack of pics, these are cars I am seeing while driving. There will be some pics but not till we get home as I can't figure out photobucket. Argh! Yesterday was a Reliant Robin, waited to see if it would roll. and, a fancy, 30's? Rolls type saloon. Not a Rolls and couldn't see a marque but appeared to have a beige or light brown triangle on the front with the point facing up.

Today, we started the morning with a brief glimpse of a Snipe or Hillman or some such thing, later saw a Morris Minor in a front yard, pulled out behind a lovely robins egg blue Hillman Countryman and saw a Triumph Herald pootle by. BTW as we left the airport the other day I was following a gorgeous new Jag wagon - never seen one before.

Today was Wells Cathedral - amazing! And Glastonbury Cathedral - OK and tomorrow to Port Isaac where they film Doc Martin. Last night we were twenty minutes from Midsomer Norton.

and will be going to the Haynes Museum, likely the only car stop.

 

[JPSmit]

Well, still no pics but a slight tale of sadness. Yesterday we had a lovely meal in Minehead, walked along the seafront and has a good nights sleep - woke up and drove around the coast to Port Isaac (where they film Doc Martin) The first place we drove through is called Porlock - drove past a garage and there was a gorgeous Morris Minor ragtop with top down. Glanced deeper in the garage and there was a Chummy? And something of similar vintage even deeper. Well, there was no place to park and no place to stop - Porlock is really really tight, so, it was only later that I realized it was a classic car company called Porlock Classic Cars. Exmoor national park is gorgeous - saw a Lotus Cortina and Capri briskly motoring through the moors. Got to the next place (can't remember the name) but there was an incline railway to get from upper to lower - lovely. There, parked on the main street was a Morris Minor (1928 version!) I did get pics of that. Also bought a book in the used book store on the Austin 10 (for a pound in the used book store) finally passed a Spitfire - a true daily, dented and faded but having a ton of fun apparantly.

all in all a great day.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Sounds like you're having a great time. We are as well. Currently at sea, on the way to Tallin.

Not too many car sightings to share, though we did see what appeared to be an Austin 7 roadster on Bath Rd. near Heathrow. Didn't have the camera ready to catch it by the time it passed us.

I share your frustration with Photobucket; add to that the slow internet onboard and it's a challenge.

 

[JPSmit]

Any classic boat sighting? :grin: the cruise sounds amazing! Btw as I opened BCF just now I thought, "who will even be awake at this hour?" And of course you too are on this side of the pond. Cheers!

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Any classic boat sighting? :grin: the cruise sounds amazing! Btw as I opened BCF just now I thought, "who will even be awake at this hour?" And of course you too are on this side of the pond. Cheers!

Saw lots of 'em in Copenhagen. Some really nice wooden boats - power and sail.

 

[Grantura_MKI]

I will be there Tuesday....driving over to the Le Mans classic.

 

[JPSmit]

Well, today was lovely. We drove over to the Eden Project - quite amazing, an old china clay quarry that has been turned into an amazing biosphere - large domes housing rainforest and then another with mediteranian environments, well worth seeing - plus just the outdoors replanting. Then to Lands End and, a shortish drive to St Ives via the country lanes - lots of negotiating past cars and one hasty reverse in the face of a double decker bus!

Not many cars today, but saw a wedding car at a distance, I would guess a Lanchester or a Daimler late forties, early fifties. Passed this place https://www.carnbosaverngarage.com with a lovely old tow truck in front - couldn't tell you wha but it was lovely! Had one short detour (don't even think of travelling this country without GPS!) and saw a gorgeous red Lotus Elan and finally just as we were pulling into the hotel an MGB. Hopefully Haynes Motor Museum tomorrow.

 

[JPSmit]

Quite a day today, much time crossing from the west coast to Southampton. 3 1/2 hours drive which is a breeze in Canada, but, in England, not so much. At any rate, spooted a gorgeous OEW Morris Minor Countryman with brand new wood. Saw an early Ford Escort, a (I think) bullnose Morris, a 50's Bentley and later on a Lotus 7 (kit) a late 70's vette and a replica? cobra, oh and an MG Magnette.

then BEAULIEU!! HURRAY! What a wonderful place, more pics to follow of course, but many many cars! And the Top Gear display and the Movie Cars (Harry Potter Anglia among others) the goofiest monrail on the entire planet and a super great day,

And, if this wasn't enough a stationary motor meeting/ display and an Austin 7 meet on site. I must say that I am totally in love with Austin 7's (because I am thinking the Midget is just too big :grin I would love love love to have one. There was one couple there with a Daimler Chrysler van converted to a camper - you know the kind, the oversized ones we see everywhere - bed in the back which folded up, car rolled up a ramp into the back and Bob's your uncle!

Oh and speaking of vans, lots of customized VW Transporter vans here - ie most have been modded - rims, paint, lowered etc, not the old vans nor the Chrysler rebadge we see in the USA but the one we see tradespeople using - very cool, the VW scene is big here.

 

[JPSmit]

Well, nothing at all yesterday but we were in downtown Southampton. Today was awesome though - started with an old Mini, a Minor Traveller, but then it got amazing - a gorgeous red Bristol 404, a Mini Marcos, a TR3 racecar on a trailer, an old double decker on the highway and even a car from the London TUbe on a trailer! And if that wasn't enoghh, at Stonehenge, which was amazing BTW, a five day tour from Wales including a Bugeye, a Stag, A Rover 3500, an E Type, an XJS, a Herald, A TVR, MGB GT, MGB and a first generation Cortina - and even another Stag in the airport parking lot. Quite a day. Tomorrow, home, and then back to ordinary cars - hopefully pics to post though!

 

[JPSmit]

well my photobucket seems <seems> to be working a little again, so, some belated piccies from the trip.

This guy was waiting to board the ferry to Shetland - he and his friend had come the night before and had picked up the car that day - they were elated!





Going back a couple of days - Iceland - lots of macho trucks!



and tour trucks:

 

[JPSmit]

Singer! This was in the museum in Shetland - and the Shetland history magazine the month we were there had an article about it - it was a barn find from the island.



Ok, not British but really quirky! we were at the docks and this Citroen "kit car" was there - quite a hoot!