Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Jim Reaper]

Well I hope we are all watching the “Motorway” series on BBC4. Some splendid footage of many cars and goods vehicles of the day and a healthy step back in time for nostalgias. On second thoughts is “healthy” the word I’m looking for – did my 100E really discharge that amount of emissions?

[buzzy bee]

Hi

I can't get BBC4!

Cheers

Dave

[Jim Reaper]

Come on Dave lad, we can't stick in the sixties forever - keep up.

[buzzy bee]

Hi

I live in the victorian era, most of the time! hehe Just got back from town on the Penny Farthing!

Cheers

Dave

[Penman]

Hi
What's with this word "watch"?
I recognise BBC Radio 4, but not BBC 4,
Is it something to do with those moving picture thingies that my kids have?

[Jim Reaper]

I’ve been on a few forums in my time as a Reaper but this one is a Classic – and I don’t mean a 315.
This programme contains a wealth of images which has me sitting like a schoolboy rhyming off the names and models from a rewarding time in the motor trade.

[Uncle Joe]

BBC 4? I cant even get BBC 1 and 2!!!!

Dont think it'll catch on......

UJ

[Jim Reaper]

We used to say that about brake servos.

[buzzy bee]

Hi

I bet you would never get these replies when you posted about the show on BBC4!

Cheers

Dave

P.S... Jim Reaper, Welcome to the forum by the way! What classics do you own/interested in?

[Jim Reaper]

Thank you young man, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to relive the best days of my life.
I spent the sixties and seventies in the motor trade specialising in Fords.
Nothing else would do, I was addicted!

I owned initially a 100E then a 105E van with 1600 crossflow engine and 40DCOE weber. Fair to say it was an adventure and it worked, after a fashion, but not my best idea because although I was a brake fitter (relining shoes and clutch plates in an oblivious haze of asbestos) for AP at the time I chose to stick on a set of 5 ½ J steel rims but couldn’t afford to up-rate the pathetic drum brakes.

Married then and a splendid Mk 2 Cortina 1600GT reg number CIA 1600 – bit cool in those days!

Then on to a Cortina Savage (Jeff Uren as I recall but correct me as necessary).
An enthusiastic wife who adored the waft of an Essex V6 encouraged us to acquire a rare RS 3100 Capri which was sadly stolen but led on to my much missed Mk1 RS2000 Escort with blueprinted Ford AVO engine.
Previous owner was Ford AVO Borehamwood - Diamond white with thin red triple pin stripe where the others had the broad bodyline band usually in blue (or orange )
Nothing apart from the Janspeed exhaust gave it away from a 1300E (half front bumpers and small flared arches) and therefore no real attention from anyone apart from keen Dolomite Sprint owners and the occasional optimistic 131 Mirafiori.

Because I spent those two decades working 18 hour days (breakdown service after work) I never fulfilled my dream to buy and restore a classic but that doesn’t stop me dreaming. All through those times and right from 64 – 93 I had also a succession of bikes from Trophys to Bonnevilles to Tridents and a Slippery Sam replica then move to England in 78 and a plethora of Japanese rockets and just the one Ducati 851.

I left the motor trade in 1979 and went to the more lucrative (at that time) Class 1 HGV driving which led me to 1993 and an industrial accident and permanent disability. Now that I can afford it alas my problems deny me the ability – but that’s life – my life anyhow and I hope it has rekindled a few memories for you guys.

[buzzy bee]

Hi

Great story, only sorry to hear you haven't ever had the chance to do a resto.

I suppose you are a mine of info on fords then, that will come in handy on this board! Did you ever work on any E83W's in the 60's, they ended production in the 50's but would have still been around?

Cheers

Dave

[Uncle Joe]

JR, was the Uren by any chance Aubergine in colour?

UJ

[Rick]

Hi Jim Reaper, with a car background like that you should have a few interesting stories tucked away grunty rear wheel drive cars have always been a favourite of mine (I rarely seem to own one though for some reason..!)

Rick

PS don't know what BBC 4 is either!
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[Brian M]

My Jeff Uren story:

In 1969-1972 I was studying about 2 miles from Jeff Uren's garage in Ley Street Ilford. His Savages were all the rage so I thought I would go and have a look and so pulled onto his forecourt in my Frogeye Sprite.

Sensing a possible customer, Jeff came out of the workshop to meet me, I came clean immediately telling him that I was a skint student just about able to keep my Frogeye on the road.

He still took me all round the workshop, where six or so Mark 2 Cortina were being converted and explained some of the problems they had overcome to fit the V6 engines. He must have given me 15-20 minutes of his time - excellent public relations when he knew I was unlikely to be a customer for many years.

His sense of humour was evident on his personal Savage - the registration number was JU 8 - just read it out replacing the intials with his full name!

I was sad to see that he passed away recently.

[Jim Reaper]

Right, first of all let me get a few of you knocked unceremoniously into the techno world. A conscious effort will have to be made to enable the reception of BBC 4. This is a television channel untarnished by banal adverts and quite frequently broadcasting interesting documentaries. The current one with my attention is “Secret Life of the Motorway”. Now tonight is the final episode of the trilogy but I have no doubt it will be repeated so lets all lumber our way down to the local C***et or C***rys and exchange a wad for a nice S**y 46” LCD – splendid clarity and size for the hard of vision like me.
Freeview channels will be included in the package - sorted.
All terrestrial channels are significantly better through this new Freeview innovation so no excuses for those still without Channel 5.
We’ll discuss the controversial new radial ply car tyre at a later stage.

buzzy bee
I fear I may be a version too young for the E83W. My dad had an E93A (correct me as to number) Ford Prefect flat back but I was still at school and his ubiquitous 100E was the first motor I worked on. Correct me again but I recall the E83W was a van or pick-up more than likely with the same running gear etc as the Prefect / Popular.
I suspect I’m preaching to the converted here.

Uncle Joe
My JU Savage was actually a bit naughty in that it was white with green stripe – yes it had been re-sprayed either to look like a Lotus or actually had been a strengthened Lotus body converted by JU. To dispute this fading memory my wife thinks the inner door pillars were silver - I can’t remember but the dash was 1600E which suggests she might be correct.

Rick
Yes indeed I have a few stories from the back roads of N. Ireland where the traffic police had a batch of “warmed up” 3 litre Capri’s reputedly with the “Cologne” (correct me) 4 valve head innovation of the time.
Just a bit of innocent auto fun in an otherwise septic land.

Brian M
Good to read your story. Living in N. Ireland we knew of this demon on the Mainland called Jeff Uren and his work was admired and sought after in that (and still is I believe) motor mad country. We didn’t know Borehamwood from Blackpool at the time but those magical names are still just as exciting now in DumbDown land. Sorry to hear an idol has passed on – I was unaware.

Don’t get me started on DeLorean of Dunmurry.