The British motor/motorcycle industry - discuss

[Erie Fred]

No one has mentioned the Triumph TR7, new factory and new model destroyed by unionist fanatics

No way could I ever fit in the thing, and aren't you about the same size as me ?

 

[roofman]

No way could I ever fit in the thing, and aren't you about the same size as me ?

Lets just say Fred there is no way i could fit in one either

 

[redlig]

I managed to vibrate my own feet off the foot pegs once on my 250 single race bike when I missed a gear coming out of the Devil's Elbow at Mallory Park

i installed a CR 250 engine in a TZ250 rolling chassis. took it nice and gentle for a few laps .sub7k , then gave it a bit more revs and the bl***y thing went into a blurr. I then noticed a black object about the size of a film canister drop off. back to pits and discovered a section of frame had disappeared. back to TZ engine for the following weekend.

 

[Rannsachair]

Thruxtonise one of those, and they are around 65 bhp. A good one, nearer 70 bhp....

Yes, Malcolm Uphill's 1969 Bonneville Thruxton was the first production bike to break the 100mph lap record of the TT.

 

[Shedendman]

Leyland DAF pilot
NO NO NO NO NO
The worse van(imo) that ever graced our roads,i had the misfortune of owning one for 4yrs,before that i had a Sherpa
WTF was i on back then

 

[minimutly]

I had a works ldv sherpa diesel, drove like a race car, good suspension, brakes, gearbox. Could have done with a turbo and some soundproofing. Gave me backache and made me deaf, my best trick was lifting the back inside wheel whilst on opposite lock coming down the bends outside Pumsaint.
Wouln't entertain it now..

 

[Shedendman]

When i left the army in 83,year later i was working for a very small builders merchants in wandsworth london,the delivery truck was a 70's Leyland boxer 4x2 tipper
After so long i threatened to drive it back dow to the tank range in warminster and have the pleasure of seeing it get the ***k blown to bits
Leyland nah

 

[dobbslc]

i installed a CR 250 engine in a TZ250 rolling chassis. took it nice and gentle for a few laps .sub7k , then gave it a bit more revs and the bl***y thing went into a blurr. I then noticed a black object about the size of a film canister drop off. back to pits and discovered a section of frame had disappeared. back to TZ engine for the following weekend.

Funny you mention a CR250 engine, mine was the same, blxxdy Honda's!

 

[oldbikedavey]

Yes, Malcolm Uphill's 1969 Bonneville Thruxton was the first production bike to break the 100mph lap record of the TT.

Good for about 140 mph on IoM gearing...

 

[dobbslc]

Good for about 140 mph on IoM gearing...

Scary stuff.
Hand over clutch, bung up the ring...

 

[redlig]

Yes, Malcolm Uphill's 1969 Bonneville Thruxton was the first production bike to break the 100mph lap record of the TT.

Best of both worlds .Manx rolling chassis fitted with 650 Bonnie engine and RRT gear box.

 

[Greeves246]

Don’t forget that Tom Phillis lapped at 100.36 in 1961 on a Doug Hele built Norton 500 twin, the first 100 mph lap on a pushrod motor.

 

[redlig]

Don’t forget that Tom Phillis lapped at 100.36 in 1961 on a Doug Hele built Norton 500 twin, the first 100 mph lap on a pushrod motor.
View attachment 439961

Fabulous shot !! Just look at the concentration in his face. My lowboy triumph classic racer was based on the Seeley copy of that frame ,handling was just sublime.

 

[minimutly]

Don’t forget that Tom Phillis lapped at 100.36 in 1961 on a Doug Hele built Norton 500 twin, the first 100 mph lap on a pushrod motor.
View attachment 439961

Reminds me of the late John Goodall, his face was like that all the time, unless he was talking about bikes...

 

[Migmac]

One of the first vans I got supplied from my work was a Marina. Was much faster than my escort van but had a few issues with the gear box, 17 year old with a lead right foot was probably the cause of its problems.

 

[Colin Barron]

As someone who was loyal to buy British (Austin 1100, 5 x mini, Metro, MGB) (Triumph Bkazer 250) i can honestly say when we got my dads old Volvo 340 i discovered there were two days holiday at the end of each week. Only weakness on the 340 was the distributor cap needed regular replacement (rubbish Renault 1.9l engine). The demise of the British car industry also caused the demise of most of our local motor spares shops which regularly had a queue each Saturday and Sunday.

 

[minimutly]

As someone who was loyal to buy British (Austin 1100, 5 x mini, Metro, MGB) (Triumph Bkazer 250) i can honestly say when we got my dads old Volvo 340 i discovered there were two days holiday at the end of each week. Only weakness on the 340 was the distributor cap needed regular replacement (rubbish Renault 1.9l engine). The demise of the British car industry also caused the demise of most of our local motor spares shops which regularly had a queue each Saturday and Sunday.

Seeing as all the cars you've listed were from a certain era of break it and fixit (for makes other than Leyland ad well), perhaps your view is a little skewed? Austin Rover carried on well past the mini heyday (yes they still sold them I know), but the Rover 200, 400, 600 and even 800 were solid relliable and modern offerings, which didn't break down. I had an MGZS V6 (civic chassis from the 80's, but a good one), then a ZT V6, Rover designed with BMW bits - excellent cars. Compare these to some of the French things of the same time...
History is a strange thing, we only remember the bits we want to...

 

[Shox Dr]

Seeing as all the cars you've listed were from a certain era of break it and fixit (for makes other than Leyland ad well), perhaps your view is a little skewed? Austin Rover carried on well past the mini heyday (yes they still sold them I know), but the Rover 200, 400, 600 and even 800 were solid relliable and modern offerings, which didn't break down. I had an MGZS V6 (civic chassis from the 80's, but a good one), then a ZT V6, Rover designed with BMW bits - excellent cars. Compare these to some of the French things of the same time...
History is a strange thing, we only remember the bits we want to...

I had a mk1 827 hatchback. Tank of a machine. I had it painted, left at the local pub overnight, where someone kicked every panel in. kin anker

 

[minimutly]

I had a mk1 827 hatchback. Tank of a machine. I had it painted, left at the local pub overnight, where someone kicked every panel in. kin anker

I had a Vitesse V6 briefly - Recaro seats, lovely Honda engine, top spec executive car - a long way from the Marina/Ital...

 

[Colin Barron]

Seeing as all the cars you've listed were from a certain era of break it and fixit (for makes other than Leyland ad well), perhaps your view is a little skewed? Austin Rover carried on well past the mini heyday (yes they still sold them I know), but the Rover 200, 400, 600 and even 800 were solid relliable and modern offerings, which didn't break down. I had an MGZS V6 (civic chassis from the 80's, but a good one), then a ZT V6, Rover designed with BMW bits - excellent cars. Compare these to some of the French things of the same time...
History is a strange thing, we only remember the bits we want to...

My last British car was an MGB which had reliable mechanics but needed a major bodywork rebuild at 8 years old. MG would have found it difficult to create a car with more rust areas if they tried. I loved the car it was a nice car to drive.