Beefsteak 305 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 My mate Dave worked there for several years, I got an invite to the launch party of the Megane series. Casino night, free cheese and wine the works. First prize was a top of the range car for a week, I didn't win although I had done quite well on the tables. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paulus 541 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 !! I know Cripps was mentioned earlier, but did they have a showroom on Parlaiment street? opposite the Palais, I recall going there with my Dad in 1963?? to see the all new Hillman Imp I thought it was amazing (rear engine, air cooled) but my Dad could not bring himself to buy a car that was so 'state of the art'..................he bought a 2nd hand Ford Anglia (105E) instead, the inward sloping back window was his idea of 'state of the art'.........God bless him !rotfl! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,454 Posted December 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 Cripps were indeed on Parliament Street, near the Palais. I think they disappeared from that site when Vic Centre was built, although the building they occupied is still there, and hasn't been "modernised" in any way. Although for many years it's been an Argos.......if that's progress Note the Hillman Minx in the window....... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scriv 168 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 My mate Dave worked there for several years, Would that be Dave Smith? Stocky bald-headed lad, had a son in the Army who was wounded in service IIRC? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
catfan 14,793 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 !! I know Cripps was mentioned earlier, but did they have a showroom on Parlaiment street? opposite the Palais, I recall going there with my Dad in 1963?? to see the all new Hillman Imp I thought it was amazing (rear engine, air cooled) but my Dad could not bring himself to buy a car that was so 'state of the art'..................he bought a 2nd hand Ford Anglia (105E) instead, the inward sloping back window was his idea of 'state of the art'.........God bless him !rotfl! Hillman Imp's were in fact water cooled, a common fault on them was water pump failure, which resulted in cylinder head gasket failure. Iv'e replaced hundreds ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlebro 234 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 Spot on Catfan. The Imp engine was a derivative of the Coventry Climax 'featherweight' fire pump and had it's history in 1950's motor racing. The engine was not really reliable due to head gasket problems but when it was working the Imp was fantastic fun - in a straight line. Needed a sack of cement in the front boot to help cornering. Remember the early Imp had an atmospheric accelerator. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mick2me 3,033 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 My Imp XNY 797H (Tahiti blue) took us miles. Yes, Head gasket went after a few years sorry to see it go. Could not be listed in the thread Crap Cars of the 70's Unlike its replacement, the Morris Marina 1800 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scriv 168 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 Slightly off-topic, sorry, but do any of the bikers on here remember that lad from Derby who had the V-8 Imp-engined special? Two Imp blocks with a one-off crankcase. He wasn't a very big chap, the bike was huge, but he could certainly ride it! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlebro 234 Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 Coventry Climax also developed the Imp engine as a V8 (FWMV), the bike owner must have come across one. The Imp was fast, the bike must have been like greased lightening! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 Went to see an imp engined Norton that was for sale at Bilsthorpe in I think 1976, same road as an ex girlfriend of mine lived on ironically but you don't want to know that! the engine was across the frame and Norton gearbox still used, the guy had took the starter motor off and fitted an "engine sprocket" to mesh with ring gear with chain drive to the g/box, seem to recall not as fast as my CB750 (Kwak Z1 and Norton Commando apart not much was) and not exactly well balanced so never bought it, wish I had, but like the rest it would soon have been sold ( I got bored) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 Would that be Dave Smith? Stocky bald-headed lad, had a son in the Army who was wounded in service IIRC? Nope , Dave Allen, tall and dark haired , although his lad is in the Army!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scriv 168 Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 Nope , Dave Allen, tall and dark haired , although his lad is in the Army!! Ah, don't remember him, must've been after my time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beefsteak 305 Posted December 18, 2010 Report Share Posted December 18, 2010 Around 94 onwards (Till when I don't know as I was abroad from 95 and lost touch with a lot of mates for a few years after that!!) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamber 128 Posted December 23, 2010 Report Share Posted December 23, 2010 The original VW dealership was Beardall's on Loughborough Road in WB. You could always tell one of their cars they used to put a small, metal "Beardall's" badge on the engine cover. And not to forget Natrass for Saab and Speeds for Volvo. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,454 Posted December 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2010 Must admit I don't remember Beardall's, but I didn't know that area back then. Those would've been the days when VW dealers only had one model to sell, which must've been a bit boring. Were they on the site next to Asda which now has "Nottingham VW", previously "John Fox" and pre-previously "Bristol Street Motors"? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littlebro 234 Posted December 24, 2010 Report Share Posted December 24, 2010 Absolutely, Beardalls was on the same site as today's Nottingham Volkswagen. Beardall did have more than one model, there was the Type 1 Beetle, Type 2 van, type 3 saloon, K70 and 411 all before Mr Beardall retired. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamber 128 Posted December 24, 2010 Report Share Posted December 24, 2010 That's right, their dealership was next door to Gem /ASDA. The family owned business had a very loyal customer base and the switch to Bristol Street Motors was not popular. If my memory serves me correctly there was some shenanigans involved. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted December 24, 2010 Report Share Posted December 24, 2010 I guess it could be classed as a car? even it only had 3 wheels and could be driven legally without L plates by someone who'd never even been in a car before! referring of course to The Reliant, known as plastic pigs, originally they had an alloy body and agent for them was Breffitts (spelling?) on Nuthall Road opposite Newcastle Arms. One or more of that family quite well known motorcycle trails and scrambles rider, They were also agents for Ariel Motorcycles, in my day the leader, arrow and golden arrow. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bamber 128 Posted December 24, 2010 Report Share Posted December 24, 2010 Jack Hopewell had a Rover then British Leyland franchise at Tollerton for donkeys. I think they are now a specialist bodyshop. I was at school with Rob Hall (the son of the owner of Hall's)- he was the only boy in the year to have a car, nothing flash mind, a Moggie Minor. Nowadays they all turn up in their 09 Reg Golfs Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,454 Posted December 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2010 I guess it could be classed as a car? even it only had 3 wheels and could be driven legally without L plates by someone who'd never even been in a car before! referring of course to The Reliant, known as plastic pigs, originally they had an alloy body and agent for them was Breffitts (spelling?) on Nuthall Road opposite Newcastle Arms. . If we're going to talk about weird cars, in the early 60s my dad had one of these which were around at the same time as the early Reliants Bond Minicar, if you've never come across one before. Three wheels and a two-stroke engine. No doors, flaps for windows, and the rear seats were like small hammocks suspended sideways. Who was the dealer for these in the Nottingham area? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OLDACE 196 Posted December 24, 2010 Report Share Posted December 24, 2010 I had a Bond Minicar in 1965, I think I paid £12 for it. It had a Villiers 10E engine (or was it a 9E Ashley), had to lift the bonnet to kickstart it, the brakes were useless. I was hit by a Lambretta on Queens Road Beeston, the scooter wasn't too badly damaged, but I had to write off the Bond. Aluminium body was light but easily bent, the front wheel was jammed against it at an angle, I crossed the road and went into some iron railings. The accident was my fault,I didn't allow for the poor brakes, but the scooter rider was a learner carrying a passenger, so we called it quits. Later, in the 70's I knew a chap who had a Bond Bug, he took me out in it a couple of times, great fun. Ashley knew him too and might remember his name. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
denshaw 2,871 Posted December 24, 2010 Report Share Posted December 24, 2010 I think the Bond was 250cc very underpowered. It had a very good turning circle though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
OLDACE 196 Posted December 24, 2010 Report Share Posted December 24, 2010 I agree about the turning circle. My Bond had the 197cc engine, if later they fitted a 250cc engine that could have been the Villiers 2T. The 2T was far more powerful than the 10E, but not as reliable if my experiences on Villiers engined bikes are anything to go by. Ashley, did Bond use the 2T? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
catfan 14,793 Posted December 24, 2010 Report Share Posted December 24, 2010 The original VW dealership was Beardall's on Loughborough Road in WB. You could always tell one of their cars they used to put a small, metal "Beardall's" badge on the engine cover. And not to forget Natrass for Saab and Speeds for Volvo. Remember those badge's well. Who in the right mind would let a dealer drill holes in a new boot lid to mount their badge ? I certainly would not. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ashley 288 Posted December 24, 2010 Report Share Posted December 24, 2010 Hi, re the bond's yes the 197cc 9E was in early bonds, later like mine the 250cc 2T twin with siba dynostart, ( you put power in the dynamo and it span to start) Same starting system also fitted to my berkley T60 with 325cc Excelsoir twin 2 stroke engine, great fun with 2 wheels at front and one at back sliding all over the place! think the 60 referred to top speed, they also made a model the T95 Suicide with 700cc enfield 4 stroke twin! My alloy reliant had a 4 cyl sv 750cc engine, a later one had the 600cc ohv version, both were crap! The guy with the bug(imp engine)you are thinking of Graham was probably Geoff Baldwin (Geoff the butcher), died after cancer about 10 years ago. Used to live on Rosetta Road, just round corner in 1950's on Egypt Rd a Mr Webb ran an electricians business from his house. for years his company car/van was a 3 wheeler with girder forks and canvas top, not sure if a very early reliant or a BSA Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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