Classic cars on the road

[Grant]

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Here's another Aussie battler...

There seems to be and you seem to find plenty of old classics out there Simon ... Do you know Ole Philip Barker out there in New Zealand who does the Jensen Spares?

[sespie]

I certainly do. It's a a very strange story. He went to the private Catholic boys school in Auckland right across the road from my "normal" state school. But I didn't really know him. Our last year at school was 1981.
Then one night in about 2000, I was driving my third-ago Interceptor III from near Aylesbury (where my then-girfriend now wife here in NZ's parents lived) back to London, where I was living at he time, when the alternator went. I got it to a petrol station near Great Missenden I think and was about to call the RAC when a white Jensen-Healey roared past. It saw my car, did a U-turn and pulled in. The back seat was loaded with spare parts of enormous variety. Barker walks up to me:

"I saw your Interceptor with the bonnet up....Hey, didn't you go to Auckland Grammar???"
"Umm yes"
"Well never mind that now, what's gone wrong?"
"Alternator not charging. But who are you again???"
"Do you know Duncan Clarke? He's only about 10 mins away in Stoke Mandeville".

So off we went. Duncan's garage was full of about 8 Jensens, of many eras and models, and he sold me an exchange alternator AND FITTED IT THERE AND THEN for 20 pounds sterling while Barker and I tried to work out how we knew each other.

Fast forward to now, where he runs Jensen Motors from a beautiful location in the far north overlooking the sea. Sue's octogenarian parents were out here last summer and we toured up that way. We spent a fantastic evening with Philip and Liz, where Philip basically showed Sue's dad every item in stock in the gigantic Jensen Motors warehouse on the property, keeping him occupied for hours.

Anyway, we've just had British Car Day here on Sunday, so stand by for a photo of the Aussie/British miracle...

[sespie]

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Here it is - the Aussie/British miracle.
Leyland P76 - in both the V8 and straight 6 forms

[sespie]

Oh, and the even rarer Force 7 coupe made an appearance last year. One of 6 made?

[sespie]

Three blower Bentleys, including a 1935 boat tail, came through Wellington this morning. They're over from England and have been touring the South Island. Came over on the inter-island ferry and about to head north.

[Grant]

I certainly do. It's a a very strange story. He went to the private Catholic boys school in Auckland right across the road from my "normal" state school. But I didn't really know him. Our last year at school was 1981.
Then one night in about 2000, I was driving my third-ago Interceptor III from near Aylesbury (where my then-girfriend now wife here in NZ's parents lived) back to London, where I was living at he time, when the alternator went. I got it to a petrol station near Great Missenden I think and was about to call the RAC when a white Jensen-Healey roared past. It saw my car, did a U-turn and pulled in. The back seat was loaded with spare parts of enormous variety. Barker walks up to me:

"I saw your Interceptor with the bonnet up....Hey, didn't you go to Auckland Grammar???"
"Umm yes"
"Well never mind that now, what's gone wrong?"
"Alternator not charging. But who are you again???"
"Do you know Duncan Clarke? He's only about 10 mins away in Stoke Mandeville".

So off we went. Duncan's garage was full of about 8 Jensens, of many eras and models, and he sold me an exchange alternator AND FITTED IT THERE AND THEN for 20 pounds sterling while Barker and I tried to work out how we knew each other.

Fast forward to now, where he runs Jensen Motors from a beautiful location in the far north overlooking the sea. Sue's octogenarian parents were out here last summer and we toured up that way. We spent a fantastic evening with Philip and Liz, where Philip basically showed Sue's dad every item in stock in the gigantic Jensen Motors warehouse on the property, keeping him occupied for hours.

Anyway, we've just had British Car Day here on Sunday, so stand by for a photo of the Aussie/British miracle...

... Hi Simon.. Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner:oops:.. Brilliant story.. such a a small world.. Ask Philip to tell you the story of when he got into a cab in the UK and mentioned Jensen convertibles to the cab driver if you don't already know the story

[sespie]

Will do!

[Pymmie]

Not quite on the road - Saunton Sands , North Devon today

Merlin powered car , first test.

Link : https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-ne ... re-1233945" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

John P

[felixkk]

Not the most spectacular classic (if it even qualifies), but additional points for in the snow

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[VFK44]

If I get extra points for snow, I don't need to go to Switzerland, just step outside my back door...

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That's my MX5 under there somewhere, so a qualifying classic too...

[sespie]

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Double header in our street...

[felixkk]

Ok Stephen, how about this one? If not the snow, extra points for the colour maybe?

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[sespie]

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No snow here. We had lunch in the garden bar of the Cardrona pub and there were a few old Australians in the car park...

[VFK44]

Some fantastic styling there. I don't know why, but those shapes really get my pulse racing. Maybe because they look so much like the UK cars of my youth, but more exciting and lacking the bloat of so many US designs.

[Robinson D]

By the way, beautiful country there.