"Hobbes.drives.an.A5" (Hobbes-drives-an-A5)
06/29/2014 at 16:06 • Filed to: None
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"Hobbes.drives.an.A5" (Hobbes-drives-an-A5)
06/29/2014 at 16:06 • Filed to: None | 9
| 20 |
Hi Oppo, this is my first post (thanks $kay!), so I hope you like it..!
Today I went on a classic car run with some beautiful old, and not so old, cars through the countryside of South-East England. And I thought I'd share some pics with the good folks of Oppo-land.
Transport for the day was my brother's Rover P5 Coupe. It's a lovely old beast which he's had for a good few years now.
Today's run was the Tibbles Tour, which is an annual event organised by an assorted group of enthusiast owners - it takes in about 130 miles of driving, with a few stops at various points of interest and nice pubs, returning in the evening to the Carpenter's Arms in Harpenden for very traditional English Fish'n'Chips. And beer.
I think the Tour has been running for about 20 years - I've only been on a couple, but when my brother asked if I wanted to go again this year I thought it would be a great opportunity to use my new camera to document some funky cars. And drink beer.
Unsurprisingly, there's a lot of older British cars on the tour - Triumphs, MGs and of course, Jaaags, but there's a smattering of slightly more exotic European stuff here too, including a gorgeous little Lancia Fulvia and a very yellow Alpine GTA (which sounded epic). Enough chitter-chatter - here's some pics:
This MGB had beautiful metallic orange paint with gold decals. It was also very low and really struggled with speed bumps, but miraculously, the exhaust was not torn off, which was a pleasant surprise.
This MGA thought the MGB was a little too nouveau , but whatever.
Hello Moggie!
Here come the Jaaaags...
XK150 - Nom.
Baby blue Roller - but of course.
TR4a details, also nom.
Alpine GTA. Bonjour les rosbifs! Also very scared of speed bumps.
Good Lord! The sun is out in England? Tops down and on the road. Normal service was soon resumed with a heavy downpour.
Probably my favourite car of the day - Lancia Fulvia 1600 HF. The owner has taken it to Italy several times, including over Alpine passes. Jealous? Me?
Tidy 911.
Ford Sierra XR4i - because this is about all kinds of enthusiasts.
Original Lotus 7. Wow.
Yes, the answer is always Miata (or MX5) on this side of the big pond too.
Pub break!
One of the stops was at a former USAAF bomber base from WW2, where B17 crews flew hundreds of sorties over Europe. There was a tiny, but lovely museum run by an elderly couple who were determined to preserve the memory of the young aircrews who risked and gave so much. There was also a touching memorial, below.
Then it was time to head off, into the rain, but with the promise of good food and decent beer (seriously!) at the end of the road.
Brian Silvestro
> Hobbes.drives.an.A5
06/29/2014 at 16:09 |
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Those Jaguars though....
Also, I thought Hobbes would be more of a Chevy dude.
KnowsAboutCars
> Hobbes.drives.an.A5
06/29/2014 at 16:10 |
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Great pictures! Welcome to Oppo!
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Hobbes.drives.an.A5
> Brian Silvestro
06/29/2014 at 16:12 |
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What was most amazing was that not one of those Jags broke down today. Very few Chevys in the UK sadly...
Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
> Hobbes.drives.an.A5
06/29/2014 at 16:13 |
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Cool post. Good to see more UK opponauts joining.
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Hobbes.drives.an.A5
> Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
06/29/2014 at 16:15 |
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Thank you!
aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
> Hobbes.drives.an.A5
06/29/2014 at 16:16 |
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SOON
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Hobbes.drives.an.A5
> KnowsAboutCars
06/29/2014 at 16:16 |
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Thanks! If work commitments permit, I will be going to a big classics show on Wednesday, so will post more from there.
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Brian Silvestro
> Hobbes.drives.an.A5
06/29/2014 at 16:17 |
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It's a shame Chevy rebrands it's cars in Europe. Seems pointless. Ford does nicely there without having to do it. How/where do they sell the Corvettes!?!
$kaycog
> Hobbes.drives.an.A5
06/29/2014 at 16:19 |
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Lovely cars and lovely first post! Good job!
Ferrero1911
> Hobbes.drives.an.A5
06/29/2014 at 16:22 |
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Great post, great pictures, awesome cars. Looks like a very inclusive group!
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Hobbes.drives.an.A5
> Ferrero1911
06/29/2014 at 16:29 |
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Thank you!
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Hobbes.drives.an.A5
> $kaycog
06/29/2014 at 16:30 |
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Thanks $kay. Sorry there weren't any GTs or GT40s!
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$kaycog
> Hobbes.drives.an.A5
06/29/2014 at 16:32 |
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No problem. I enjoyed seeing the pics of those cars.
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Hobbes.drives.an.A5
> Brian Silvestro
06/29/2014 at 16:35 |
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They've given up even trying to sell Chevy branded cars in the UK (they quit in 2013). I'm guessing some of the specialist US import dealerships would have the new Corvette, but I've not seen one yet. To be honest the only places you really see American cars in the UK are around the US Airforce bases.
I had an Impala LTZ as a rental when I was in the States in May and I was pleasantly surprised by it.
pdthedeuce
> Hobbes.drives.an.A5
06/29/2014 at 16:41 |
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Brian Silvestro
> Hobbes.drives.an.A5
06/29/2014 at 16:43 |
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AMERICA
I can see why the Air Force bases have many American cars around. Must be cool!
quarterlifecrisis
> Hobbes.drives.an.A5
06/29/2014 at 17:03 |
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Great photos, and I can only assume that was a great time!
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Hobbes.drives.an.A5
> quarterlifecrisis
06/29/2014 at 17:20 |
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Thank you, and it totally was!
EL_ULY
> Hobbes.drives.an.A5
06/29/2014 at 18:41 |
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Awesome first post. Very interesting and awesome pictures. Welcome to OPPO!
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Hobbes.drives.an.A5
> EL_ULY
06/30/2014 at 11:58 |
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Thank you, really appreciate all of the positive feedback!