48 replies to this topic

[Lee Nicolle]

The Bay to Birdwood Run for pre 60 cars happened today 25/9/16. I left my home about 6.30am for the 10 min drive to the start and it was sunny, with some very dark clouds to the west. by the time I was halfway there it was raining though it actually cleared just as I arrived and stayed dry but cold and overcast.

I had a good walk around taking pics and chatting with several aquaintances from the classic car world, motorracing and speedway people too. It does attract a varied crowd. For me they started too early [8 30] so I missed the first 30 plus cars leaving. I returned to my car parked on West beach Rd and watched them leave from the comfort [and warmth] of the Landcruiser.

Starter as always was Glen Dix, he would get warm waving flags at the entrants.

The entry had a lot of Victorians as well a quite a few from WA. Though was well down on previous years. Under a thousand where the peak has been over 1500.

There was a LOT of Packards and quite a few Buicks as well.

I met up with a long time car orientated mate, his ideas on cars were very different. He liked the MG TC-TFs and reckons he would not give shed space too A30s, A 40s older wooden wheeled cars etc. The stuff I at least appreciated! We both however liked the 30 onwards US stuff and some of the bigger Euro stuff too.

 

The C on the Windscreen/ headlight is for Concours, The V is for veteran, The P is for preservation. The A is to head straight back to Adelaide which always amazes me, the Birdwood Mill is always an interesting day, even if you only stay an hour.

 

Anyway, here are some pics of a variety of stuff that took my eye. Some of these cars I am unsure of what they are though most are fairly self evident.

 

1 We shall start with a Rolls

2 FJ holden ute

3 Nice old Inter having a green pee!

4 Cut lunch and a waterbag trip in the old Vauxhall

5 30cwt Chev truck

6 Not sure if I would tell this bloke where to go!

7 A survivor. 24 Dodge tourer

8 And another. And no I still have no idea what it actually is.

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 05 October 2016 - 07:28.

[Lee Nicolle]

1. Something you do not often see, A Packard V12. There was TWO.

2 Dodge buckboard

3 Buick Straight 8

4 A very green buick from the NT.

5 Renault 750, a car that has been around a long time and still lovely.

6 A big red Healey

7 Preservation Austin 7,, and it can be yours. It even made Adelaide Now, online news. And the Seven news.

8 Edsel, I dont like the no plate.

9 ?

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 02 October 2016 - 04:57.

[2Bob]

A nice eclectic selection Lee, and quickly posted too.

[Lee Nicolle]

bbb 1 55 Chev Belair Sports coupe. lovely car but I hate the wheels

2 40 Buick

3Chev Stylemaster ute

4 Mopars you have to reach to the dash for the typewriter,, Edsel on the steering wheel

5 Mk1 Consul

6 Beetleback Guansvard from WA.

7 Holden FJ

8 40 Chev Hearse

9 Baby Fiat, there was a selection

10 Alright what is it? Fibreglass body and very tatty.

[Vitesse2]

#10 is a Jensen 541R. Not many (just 193) made, so that might be the only one in Oz!

[Lee Nicolle]

#10 is a Jensen 541R. Not many (just 193) made, so that might be the only one in Oz!

That was suggested, I was unsure. It may be rare but not a real attractive car. Probably why they sold 193. What year? early 60s?

Most Jensens were attractive cars. I once worked on a Interceptor, not the worlds best example and a typical pommy car too work on. But they looked good and went quite well.

[Vitesse2]

Bit of an ugly duckling to today's eye, but it was considered stylish then (squint a bit and it's similar to Astons of similar date) - and when Autocar tested the 541R in 1958 it was the fastest 4-seater they'd ever driven. Aimed at the same 'gentleman's express' market as the Bristol, but based mainly around Austin components. The original 541 was introduced in 1954 and went through three iterations before it was succeeded by the C-V8 ten years later.

[Allan Lupton]

The 541R used the DS7 version of the Austin 4 litre engine which gave 150 h.p. where the earlier version in the 541 only gave 135. The R also had bigger brakes and rack/pinion steering so altogether a better car.

[Dipster]

Lee,

 

Thank you for taking the trouble to post these photos. I am sure we all appreciate it. There were some very nice vehicles there.

[GreenMachine]

Thanks Lee, appreciated!

[Lee Nicolle]

I am hoping Lynton will come up with some pics, he has in the past and he can take pics of cars moving,,not my forte!

[lyntonh]

I am hoping Lynton will come up with some pics, he has in the past and he can take pics of cars moving,,not my forte!

Would like to, but I was otherwise engaged in a guided tour of the old treasury building in Victoria Square yesterday.

 

Very interesting it was, too, with a wander into the old cabinet room & down into the vaults where they stored the gold

brought back from Victoria in the 1850s on the Tolmer gold escorts.

[ken devine]

There's always a great range of cars in the Bay to Birdwood. Thanks for showing them Lee.

[Lee Nicolle]

more.

 

1 E series Vauxhall Cresta

2 Singer with 14" wheels

3 Nice blinged Chev. Bloody caravan in the background, you cannot escape them!

4 Twin Spinner

5 V12 Packard, this one was shinier and idling over near silently. Quality motorcar.

6 Straight 8 Packard

7 Lovely 30s Packard

8 50s Packard

9 Pink!

10 Nice Austin A90. I want the complete rear axle assembly!

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 26 September 2016 - 03:23.

[Lee Nicolle]

1 Nice FC Holden. Bit 'custom' with  wide rims & EK hubcaps, steering column and the like

2 Yet another caravan

3 Olds. Bloody cyclists who cannot ever park their stupid machines. Yes he was told.

4  39 Dodge in green

5 Lovely black Plymouth 

6 MGA in red

7 53 Belair complete with its own drivein speakers. Actually nearly across West Beach Rd from the Old Blueline drive in.

8 Holden FJ ute workhorse

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 27 September 2016 - 23:07.

[timbo]

I just love the way that people from Adelaide embrace events like the Bay to Birdwood.

We recently had the Council of Motor Clubs event at Eastern Creek circuit, and while there was a record number of entrants for the day, the number of spectators paying to see the display was disappointing. Perhaps it was all said there "paying to see".  I suppose that is Sydney.

Thank You to our man on the ground, Lee Nicolle.

[Lee Nicolle]

The public pays to get into the mill. Birdwood though is busy 52 weekends a year.

I have never been to the finish for the older cars, have been though 9 times out of 10 for the Classic years.

It is always busy then. Though with the entrants alone is busy enough.

[Ray Bell]

Lee, what was towing that caravan?

It looks like a Bentley, though I guess it might be a Shereline.

[bradbury west]

I thought a Sheerline, A125?, too , Ray. Freestanding headlights are the giveaway and rear roof and three quarter rear, although the single rear tail light per wing confused me, perhaps a particular fitting from the body builder. The Bentley Mk6 had suicide front doors.
BTW UK circuit owner John Webb, Webbair too, used to race a Jensen 541 R/S on wire wheels , ISTR, 1957/58 ish.
It looks like a nice green Bristol 400 behind, as in t'other side of, the yellow Daimler SP250 and a Magnette in the next rank.

Lovely range of photos, Lee, many thanks.

Roger Lund

Edited by bradbury west, 27 September 2016 - 19:54.

[Dipster]

The wheels don`t look quite right for a Sheerline , to my eyes. Nice car though.

[bradbury west]

I have seen Sheerline wheels on web pictures with a chrome ring insert on the wheel trim with the winged Austin badge in the hubcap centre. Also the front wing top sidelight is right for the Sheerline.
Roger Lund

[Lee Nicolle]

Lee, what was towing that caravan?

It looks like a Bentley, though I guess it might be a Shereline.

A Bentley I think. I saw several hundred cars on the day, they blend together!

Sheerline!

[Lee Nicolle]

1 MGA in red. The no plate on the FJ is a lie,,, 132.5ci

2 Pontiac

3 51 Buick Super

4 The full option FJ Holden ute

5 The Dart,,, yes it is the Dart, Daimler Dart.

6 Dyna Flow

7 Caddy with boobs, so ugly it is beautifull.

8 57 Chevy Sport Coupe with smaller boobs!!

9 Studebaker, the yanks loved Chrome bumps in the 50s.

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 29 September 2016 - 09:28.

[Ray Bell]

Originally posted by Lee Nicolle

Any IDs on these yet?

[Lee Nicolle]

If I have not listed them I do not know. American almost certainly but I know most post 50 vehicles but pre 50 is not me.

[Ray Bell]

You have the originals, Lee...

You can see the full-size versions, or even enlarge the badges to see what they are.

[Vitesse2]

The label on the window of the second one looks to say 'Dodge' if you enlarge it and I think the third one could be a late 20s Pontiac Six?

[Lee Nicolle]

1 Austin A70, original.

2 A40 Van

3 Mainline

4 Buick?

5 38 Ford V8 from WA

6 Austin A30. For the reserves list @ Goodwood

7 Plymouth Belvedere, the poms had A30s and the yanks has Belvederes!

8 Early Zombie with aircond

9  Hot FJ Holden

10  Fiat 600, in that color it needs  a rotary!

11 Holden FC Special.

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 04 October 2016 - 09:20.

[ken devine]

Photo 1 is an Austin A70 Hampshire,Very original i know the Victorian owner,the van is also from Victoria it usually tows a matching trailer.

[Ray Bell]

And the Ford V8 is a '39, not '38...

The Belvedere is a Canadian-made CKD Australian-assembled RHD version, it's a '59.

The Buick is a '48 or so and the Austin van is what was known as a 'hi-lite' model. Circa 1952.

[PJGD]

And I see a Jowett Javelin behind the Fiat. . .

[DanTra2858]

Ray I do not have the best of eye sight, wear glasses that are multi focus but they are good enough to see that the Belvedere is not RHD but LHD?

[Lee Nicolle]

And the Ford V8 is a '39, not '38...

The Belvedere is a Canadian-made CKD Australian-assembled RHD version, it's a '59.

The Buick is a '48 or so and the Austin van is what was known as a 'hi-lite' model. Circa 1952.

The owner has 38 Ford on the No plate. Maybe he knows and maybe not. All I know is it is late 30s.

And yes Dan is right,, it is left hook!

Oh and yes the first pic is an A70, I did know that but did not open my eyes!

[Lee Nicolle]

bbb

1 early Mk2 Zephyr

2 Spridget, very nice, very smart.

3 48 Mercury, again very nice.

4 Surfs up,, FJ Special

5 300SL, very expensive.

6 48 Ford

7 36 Ford

8 New resto FJ Holden

9 59 Buick. Lots of nice Buicks this year.  The FC Holden in the background was 58000 miles and unrestored. I would love a day with it to detail it! And no dont ask me why I did not take its picture!

10 35 Buick, very classy.

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 05 October 2016 - 07:19.

[ken devine]

Thanks Lee there are some beautiful classics there.

[Vitesse2]

#2 is purely Sprite, not a Spridget. There was no MG version of the Mk I 'frogeye' and the confusingly-named MG Midget Mk I arrived alongside the Sprite Mk II.

[Lee Nicolle]

Like many the term is generic to those baby BMC sports cars. That one is very pretty and I am not even a fan of the things.

[Ray Bell]

Hardly generic, Lee... very few use that term...

The Zephyr is actually a late Mk 2 model, with the lower roofline and the better-looking grille.

The grille behind the gullwing is '38 Ford style, I'd think that's a truck, however. And do you have a shot of the car alongside the cream Mainline?

[fredeuce]

Definitely a 1938 Deluxe Model 

 

5 38 Ford V8 from WA

[Lee Nicolle]

Hardly generic, Lee... very few use that term...

The Zephyr is actually a late Mk 2 model, with the lower roofline and the better-looking grille.

The grille behind the gullwing is '38 Ford style, I'd think that's a truck, however. And do you have a shot of the car alongside the cream Mainline?

So many cars and people milling around. A lot more cars I would have liked to get, or just plain missed. I remember waiting to actually get a clear pic of the bugeye Sprite. I took pics of too many cars the same as they caught my eye, eg FJ Holdens and I know I missed as many other cars that  were as good or better. Though sometimes there was a crowd around lesser examples and not the ones I wanted, that 48 Merc Convert people just walked by as they did the grey Buick also. Though ofcourse a mintute before or after there may have been appreciative crowds too. Both cars were very nice and very appealing, at least to me. And not cars that I have seen before.

Because I am in the US scene here in Adelaide the US stuff always grabs my eye, though I missed too many of them including friends cars.

I like the bikes and trucks too but the cars moved off at 8 30 not 9 as I thought so missed most of them too.

I got a couple of cars twice, better to be safe than sorry!

I still have a few more, plus poor pics of really nice cars too and moving shots taken through the windscreen where I got at least most of the cars appearance.

I will put them up soon.

[Lee Nicolle]

This is the last of the pics. 

1 Not all English Sports Cars where red, A Big Healey in blue.

2 Desoto ute

3 Ford F350? Late 50s

4 Nice Chev ute.

5Lovely 57 Buick 4 dr pillarless.

6 350? Truimph twin. Late 30s

7 Chrysler Royal

8 Chev truck

9 Vauxhall Vagabond. Early 50s?

 

Last few were taken through the windscreen of the car as it was damn cold out.

Edited by Lee Nicolle, 10 October 2016 - 08:00.

[GreenMachine]

2 Spridget, very nice, very smart.

Agree, very nice, but as an ex-bugeyes owner it is definitely a Sprite (without the Mk1), never a spridget ...

[seldo]

10  Fiat 600, in that color it needs  a rotary!
img=http://s25.postimg.o...haakztr/071.jpg]

I think you'll find your 600 is actually a 500....I'm surprised one of the other pedants on here didn't pick-up ;)

[Lee Nicolle]

I think you'll find your 600 is actually a 500....I'm surprised one of the other pedants on here didn't pick-up ;)

Yes I think you are right,, the brown is a similar color to the Dick Ward Mighty Mouse Sports Sedan hence my rotary comment.

[DanTra2858]

I think you'll find your 600 is actually a 500....I'm surprised one of the other pedants on here didn't pick-up ;)

When you look at the number plate it all becomes clear.

[Ray Bell]

Does the number on the windscreen mean something too?

The angle tends to make it look more like a 600 than a 500 would from other angles. I looked twice, I admit.

[bradbury west]

I am just being curious about the Birdwood event as it seems to attract such a large, varied and quality turnout, but what sort of catchment area does it serve, or from what sort of distances do the exhibitors travel? It just seems such a good event.
Roger Lund

[Ray Bell]

Far and wide would be a good answer to that, Roger...

Going back over numberplates, I see a couple from the Northern Territory, three or four from Western Australia, many from Victoria, one from Queensland.

Of course most of them are 'native' to South Australia, but only Tasmania, the ACT and New South Wales are missing from the list of states on the plates.

[Lee Nicolle]

It is nominally a International event, in the past there has been several important  cars attend.

The event had about a thousand cars this year, actually well down on the 1700 plus best of the past. For us locals it is a combination of mucking around with the route that has caused major traffic jams en route. The SA Govt would sooner have bicycles than this type of event, a lack of traffic control has been the problem. They do not understand that the car hobby probably makes more money to the economy than stockar races, bicycle races and other events for far less outlay!

The event alternates Classic and Veteran year in year out, I have done all bar one Classic since 99.

There was quite a large contingent from WA this year which was good to see. And the NT also. Always quite a few Victorians. I did see cars with NSW plates as well as Tassy too.

Evidently traffic flowed quite well this year with yet another route! Except for turning right into Cross Rd,, no cops to assist. Several made alternate routes there.