30-07-2019, 08:20 AM
(This post was last modified: 30-07-2019, 08:35 AM by AllAlloyCup.)
The first and the last!
In 1969 I was working at Barr & Stroud in Glasgow. In a scrapyard a short walk
From Caxton Street where B&S was located , the car now displaying a BS registration number
Had lain before being rescued by Tom Abernethy.
Coincidently, I worked beside Tom’s father, and brother, Ronnie, at B&S and drove
a very, very rough Morris 8 Tourer BBO 218 ( see the back page of the “Profile Publication”)
Another fellow worker was Alex Mitchell , a design engineer who had a very nice Chummy
and was a friend of Tom’s. Ronnie suggested I should visit Tom to see the 2nd Austin 7 he was
rebuilding . This turned out to be a Gordon England Cup.
I was amazed at the quality of the restoration which had brought a wreck back to
showroom condition and decided there and then that was something I’d like to attempt.
So began my series of ambitious car restoration projects spanning 50 years!!
When I retired 4 years ago I was looking for a modest sized project and
Remembered Tom’s first Cup( he subsequently made many bodies for other folk).
This first photo shows the tail of that Cup now owned and maintained
by John Davies and still going strong 50 years later. In the background
is the newly built AllAlloyCup, if you like a homage to Tom and his first Cup.
7133D46F-C82D-45C8-9ABD-1DD1FA1F504A.jpeg (Size: 80.71 KB / Downloads: 681)
Some of Tom’s progeny are lined up together at Guildtown for the first time
and it must have been a proud moment for him!
F0E7A0C0-11E9-442A-9A3A-302442F0286C.jpeg (Size: 151.32 KB / Downloads: 682)
1E675AA2-6B99-4842-9274-FBBB9B8F3FEA.jpeg (Size: 131.65 KB / Downloads: 681)
92ACF35E-9B84-4766-BF71-C4C07EEDB489.jpeg (Size: 128.77 KB / Downloads: 677)
The weather forecasts for the weekend were terrible and we had a downpours
right through Friday night. But Saturday and Sunday brought sunshine and made
the event a wonderful place to be for Austineers.
2700839F-D346-4C20-BE50-362D3F85221C.jpeg (Size: 83.44 KB / Downloads: 677)
This was the first outing for my Cup and had only 15 miles on the clock
before setting off on the Road Run. We nearly didn’t set off as the SU float sunk
As it was full of petrol, luckily Ruairidh had a spare and we were able to set off
chasing the others who had all got away 20 mins earlier. The run included some
very stiff climbs, all taken in the new Andes2nd gear.
After a pleasant lunch stop at Alyth Golf Clubhouse
Neil and myself enjoyed the sunny run back to Guildtown to meet
up with other car friends( again some I’ve known for 50 years!)
Plus the chance to meet many new folk soon to be friends too .
All in all a very satisfying weekend.
Thanks to everyone who made such a success of staging this weekend.
Regards
Bill G
24361396-98F5-4F13-A1D3-54D5ECD0A1C8.jpeg (Size: 143.95 KB / Downloads: 680)
76413539-DE34-4D1A-8C87-F720BE7E69E7.jpeg (Size: 90.79 KB / Downloads: 678)
In 1969 I was working at Barr & Stroud in Glasgow. In a scrapyard a short walk
From Caxton Street where B&S was located , the car now displaying a BS registration number
Had lain before being rescued by Tom Abernethy.
Coincidently, I worked beside Tom’s father, and brother, Ronnie, at B&S and drove
a very, very rough Morris 8 Tourer BBO 218 ( see the back page of the “Profile Publication”)
Another fellow worker was Alex Mitchell , a design engineer who had a very nice Chummy
and was a friend of Tom’s. Ronnie suggested I should visit Tom to see the 2nd Austin 7 he was
rebuilding . This turned out to be a Gordon England Cup.
I was amazed at the quality of the restoration which had brought a wreck back to
showroom condition and decided there and then that was something I’d like to attempt.
So began my series of ambitious car restoration projects spanning 50 years!!
When I retired 4 years ago I was looking for a modest sized project and
Remembered Tom’s first Cup( he subsequently made many bodies for other folk).
This first photo shows the tail of that Cup now owned and maintained
by John Davies and still going strong 50 years later. In the background
is the newly built AllAlloyCup, if you like a homage to Tom and his first Cup.
7133D46F-C82D-45C8-9ABD-1DD1FA1F504A.jpeg (Size: 80.71 KB / Downloads: 681)
Some of Tom’s progeny are lined up together at Guildtown for the first time
and it must have been a proud moment for him!
F0E7A0C0-11E9-442A-9A3A-302442F0286C.jpeg (Size: 151.32 KB / Downloads: 682)
1E675AA2-6B99-4842-9274-FBBB9B8F3FEA.jpeg (Size: 131.65 KB / Downloads: 681)
92ACF35E-9B84-4766-BF71-C4C07EEDB489.jpeg (Size: 128.77 KB / Downloads: 677)
The weather forecasts for the weekend were terrible and we had a downpours
right through Friday night. But Saturday and Sunday brought sunshine and made
the event a wonderful place to be for Austineers.
2700839F-D346-4C20-BE50-362D3F85221C.jpeg (Size: 83.44 KB / Downloads: 677)
This was the first outing for my Cup and had only 15 miles on the clock
before setting off on the Road Run. We nearly didn’t set off as the SU float sunk
As it was full of petrol, luckily Ruairidh had a spare and we were able to set off
chasing the others who had all got away 20 mins earlier. The run included some
very stiff climbs, all taken in the new Andes2nd gear.
After a pleasant lunch stop at Alyth Golf Clubhouse
Neil and myself enjoyed the sunny run back to Guildtown to meet
up with other car friends( again some I’ve known for 50 years!)
Plus the chance to meet many new folk soon to be friends too .
All in all a very satisfying weekend.
Thanks to everyone who made such a success of staging this weekend.
Regards
Bill G
24361396-98F5-4F13-A1D3-54D5ECD0A1C8.jpeg (Size: 143.95 KB / Downloads: 680)
76413539-DE34-4D1A-8C87-F720BE7E69E7.jpeg (Size: 90.79 KB / Downloads: 678)
Based near the Scottish Border,
