Musings following a BBQ and drink. Post 2.

[Tim SP]

There is a chap fairly local that has, poss the only one ordered/made, mk1v Zodiac exec camper!
Its so grim its mega!
The car/camper is in fantastic nick, he'd owned it from near new-

Hi John- do you remember this at Bromley??
It was like a Brit version of what Scaramanga might of escaped from Bond in- had he lived here (and been real!!)

[Krusty]

LIKE THIS ....

Ginetta car-camper interior
It is a unique vehicle, based on a 1970s’ Ford Zodiac executive saloon fitted with a walnut dashboard and plenty of eye-catching instrumentation. Stylistically the fibreglass exterior has echoes of yacht design with its sleek, sweeping lines. The interior is lined with wood veneer and conjures up an image of a narrow boat cabin.

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[Julian]

My Stag is extremely tidy but unfeasibly gutless compared to my convertible.

Great contrast of two cars made at the same time. One made in a shed by craftsmen whilst in recievership, one in a factory of blokes also heading for recievership.

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[kees]

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For me the ideal replacement would be a humble Renault 4GTL (perhaps the SINPAR 4x4), modded with extra sound deadening, a 1300cc engine with about 55DINHP in stead of its original 1100cc unit with 34DINHP, Volvo 440 seats and improved brakes.
It is comfortable, easy to get in and out, easy to maintain, frugal, decent road behaviour in spite of it leaning in the corners, has the looks, lots of space, and most of all lots of fun.

Kees Oudesluijs

[Steve Payne]

Many years ago a friend had a 2CV that he had upgraded with a GS engine in the motor club. It was crazy, the problem the only upgrade were the front brakes and driveshafts from GS ( discs). It looked standard from a few feet away.

It ended up in a field after going through a hedge and loosing some of its bodywork from a tree it hit on route.

He just unscrewed the number plates and walked away ( actually limped as he had hurt his ankle and knee) . He went to the medical centre and told them he had fallen off his bike.

Those were the days, no airbags or crumple zones.

Steve

[David Devine]

Nothing was safe from the camper converters back then

First registered in 1969 this Rover P5B Coupe was sold to it's second of, we believe, four registered keepers in 1971 and he made the unusual decision to mount a one off hand built Caravanette frame onto the chassis of the P5. The conversion was obviously a success as he enjoyed many years of touring in the West Country and extensively on the Continent.

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[Dion]

That looks a fairly modern conversion (80s onwards), certainly not done when the car was new.

Love the wheels....

[John Staddon]

At the NEC last November.

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I liked it, that's why I took the photos.

John

[JamesE]

My Stag is extremely tidy but unfeasibly gutless compared to my convertible.

Great contrast of two cars made at the same time. One made in a shed by craftsmen whilst in recievership, one in a factory of blokes also heading for recievership.

Finished car.jpg

I have always wanted a Stag, I think it is one of the best balanced cars I've ever seen, especially with the hardtop on. I honestly believe that if some exotic car company had released it everyone would be praising it as one of the best designs ever. The problem is, much as I love the sound of the Triumph V8, it just doesn't go well enough for me, even in manual o/d.

[kees]

Sadly no more low slung cars any more, not even my favourite Alpine Renault A110. I have trouble enough getting out of the J-H. We (or rather Anne Marie) have had a fair number of Renault 4's: actually starting with a Renault 3, then a 4 followed by 3 4TL's and finally a 4GTL with an engine from an R6 with 45 Din HP, wheels from an R5 Gordini, KONI shocks and larger diameter tires. 150kph on a good day. They were used several times for trips to West Bromwich to collect Jensen parts for myself and other Jensen owners in the late 1970's/early 1980's.
They also served as a camper sometimes. When the children were not born yet we used to remove the rear seat, put a mattress in and did some rogue camping.
As the car has good access and a high seating position it is ideal when you are not so mobile any more.
I would not mind another one at all.
Kees Oudesluijs

[Oxymoron]

My Stag is extremely tidy but unfeasibly gutless compared to my convertible.

Great contrast of two cars made at the same time. One made in a shed by craftsmen whilst in recievership, one in a factory of blokes also heading for recievership.

The attachment Finished car.jpg is no longer available

I have always wanted a Stag, I think it is one of the best balanced cars I've ever seen, especially with the hardtop on. I honestly believe that if some exotic car company had released it everyone would be praising it as one of the best designs ever. The problem is, much as I love the sound of the Triumph V8, it just doesn't go well enough for me, even in manual o/d.

I've always thought that the Stag looks better with the hard top fitted!

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[Oxymoron]

Sadly no more low slung cars any more, not even my favourite Alpine Renault A110. I have trouble enough getting out of the J-H. We (or rather Anne Marie) have had a fair number of Renault 4's: actually starting with a Renault 3, then a 4 followed by 3 4TL's and finally a 4GTL with an engine from an R6 with 45 Din HP, wheels from an R5 Gordini, KONI shocks and larger diameter tires. 150kph on a good day. They were used several times for trips to West Bromwich to collect Jensen parts for myself and other Jensen owners in the late 1970's/early 1980's.
They also served as a camper sometimes. When the children were not born yet we used to remove the rear seat, put a mattress in and did some rogue camping.
As the car has good access and a high seating position it is ideal when you are not so mobile any more.
I would not mind another one at all.
Kees Oudesluijs

My first car was a Renault 6TL. I acquired it from my mother who had upgraded to a 14TL back in 1980!...

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[Kevin Birch]

Sadly no more low slung cars any more, not even my favourite Alpine Renault A110. I have trouble enough getting out of the J-H. We (or rather Anne Marie) have had a fair number of Renault 4's: actually starting with a Renault 3, then a 4 followed by 3 4TL's and finally a 4GTL with an engine from an R6 with 45 Din HP, wheels from an R5 Gordini, KONI shocks and larger diameter tires. 150kph on a good day. They were used several times for trips to West Bromwich to collect Jensen parts for myself and other Jensen owners in the late 1970's/early 1980's.
They also served as a camper sometimes. When the children were not born yet we used to remove the rear seat, put a mattress in and did some rogue camping.
As the car has good access and a high seating position it is ideal when you are not so mobile any more.
I would not mind another one at all.
Kees Oudesluijs

I had to look up what a Renault 3 was, never heard of one probably really rare now, being a basic R4 without the window in the rear quarter. With these Renaults speed bumps are a doddle as the rear wheels are offset, so will rock over them

[kees]

The Renault 3 was identical to a basic Renault 4 but with a smaller engine, 600cc, and no heater. The early basic Renault 4 also did without the rear side windows.

[johnw]

The Renault 3 was identical to a basic Renault 4 but with a smaller engine, 600cc, and no heater. The early basic Renault 4 also did without the rear side windows.

Those Renaults were so popular back in the 70s, so many were around in the 1980s too, cheap or free. You are more likely to see an Interceptor these days.