Vintage Cobham Cars

Cyclefrance • Jun 16, 2007 9:26 am
Probably bending the rules a bit squeezing these in this section, but then cars are a bit of a sport item, I suppose...

Across the road from our office is 'The Fairmile' restaurant, bar and hotel. Yesterday lunchtime saw a small but superbly finished collection of vintage cars, predominantly Railtons, a marque which was originally built in Cobham Surrey. So that explains why they rendezvous-ed in this location.

Amongst the 'Railton' nameplates were 3 others I didn't recognise - an 'Essex', a 'Brough' and an 'RT' - turns out that one George Brough developed a V12 Railton using a Lincoln Zephyr engine as the power source - that was the 'Brough'. The 'Essex' was actually built by Hudson Motors of USA.

Looks like the last model bearing the initials RT could be a 'Railton Terraplane' - another product of Hudson USA.

Amazing what turns up on your doorstep...

First, three Railtons:

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Cyclefrance • Jun 16, 2007 9:32 am
Another Railton and then the Essex (white car) next to the Brough (black car):

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DanaC • Jun 16, 2007 9:33 am
Sweet. Like 'em.
Cyclefrance • Jun 16, 2007 9:35 am
From behind....

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Cyclefrance • Jun 16, 2007 9:37 am
I was about to leave and then spotted another Railton and the RT (the dark blue open-top job) in the overflow car park:

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xoxoxoBruce • Jun 16, 2007 2:18 pm
Hot damn, I love to see these cars, out and about. They are interesting in museums but they never look better than when they are being used and enjoyed as they were intended to be. Many thanks, cf.
Hagar • Jun 17, 2007 10:10 pm
Sweet! Beautifully restored.

Those long, sweeping, curved mudguards are the hardest things in the world get to right. Even harder when you're painting them black!
xoxoxoBruce • Jun 18, 2007 8:39 pm
Here's a late 30s Vauxhall at Holt station.
Cyclefrance • Jun 20, 2007 8:59 am
Nice one Bruce - UK plates as well - and that house in the background looks typically British. Have you been secretly popping over to the UK and taking photographs....?
xoxoxoBruce • Jun 20, 2007 1:50 pm
They were taken last week at Holt, Norfolk, UK, last week, but not by me.
TheMercenary • Jun 21, 2007 10:31 pm
I love them. I always wanted to get a restored classic. I have restored {ground up, pan up restoration of a 1973 Super Beetle} but you really need a good garage space to store any restored classic. Maybe in a few years.
Cyclefrance • Jun 22, 2007 2:20 am
TheMercenary;357662 wrote:
I love them. I always wanted to get a restored classic. I have restored {ground up, pan up restoration of a 1973 Super Beetle} but you really need a good garage space to store any restored classic. Maybe in a few years.



That must have been one of the last models - I can't remember when they stopped production but 1973 feels about right - don't suppose you have any pics...?
skysidhe • Jun 22, 2007 11:35 am
Thos are very nice cars. I went looking for some photos and fell in love with this one.Image
barefoot serpent • Jun 22, 2007 2:27 pm
You can buy a 5-br house in KS for what that Bentley'll set you back.
Sundae • Jun 22, 2007 4:47 pm
Sky, I don't want to sound mean...
... but that's such a fucking ugly car!
It looks like a fat 10 year old bully who makes out he wants to be a boxer when he grows up but really he just likes to wallop people

I'd take it if it were offered me (but it'd go straight to the salesroom and I'd buy a Micra and go on holiday!)
skysidhe • Jun 22, 2007 9:31 pm
Sundae Girl;357974 wrote:
Sky, I don't want to sound mean...
... but that's such a fucking ugly car!
It looks like a fat 10 year old bully who makes out he wants to be a boxer when he grows up but really he just likes to wallop people

I'd take it if it were offered me (but it'd go straight to the salesroom and I'd buy a Micra and go on holiday!)


so'kay..no offense taken.

I'll see that Micra ( which there isn't many good pics of)
Image


and raise you a Jaguar..the car we both should love! ( hey I rhymed)

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Cyclefrance • Jun 24, 2007 9:30 am
Sundae Girl;357974 wrote:
Sky, I don't want to sound mean...
... but that's such a fucking ugly car!
It looks like a fat 10 year old bully who makes out he wants to be a boxer when he grows up but really he just likes to wallop people

I'd take it if it were offered me (but it'd go straight to the salesroom and I'd buy a Micra and go on holiday!)


Oooh, Sundea, Sundae, how can you say such a thing!?!?

You're just looking at the wrong type of Bentley. The old Continental was a beautiful vehicle and the new Continental emulates the old one's design - it's one of my favourites - I mean just look at those lines - muscular yet graceful:

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Cyclefrance • Jun 24, 2007 9:33 am
And that bonnet enclosing a V12, 6 litre engine with 580 bhp of power waiting to be unleashed....

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skysidhe • Jun 24, 2007 10:40 am
muscular yet graceful...that's what I thought. :angel:


I am really happy with my cheap Mazda MX 6. As far as semi affordable cars go I would want
a Mazda mx5 or a cheap Audi other than the Micra. :nod:
Cyclefrance • Jun 24, 2007 6:49 pm
I've got some interior pics too, lots of gadgetry, push-button start without a key (sensor recognises keyholder), paddle change on steering wheel, very sophisticated on-board computer controlling seating positions, air-con, radio - there's even a bluetooth connection to your mobile phone, and a TV option as well - plus loads more (like self closing doors and also trunk, memory electrically-controlled seats, parking sensors everywhere - the list goes on and on and on...)

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Cyclefrance • Jun 24, 2007 6:51 pm
Even the rear seating's not bad either...

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Cyclefrance • Jun 24, 2007 6:55 pm
Overall a pretty cool motor - it makes you wonder who on earth gets to drive such a car...


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Cyclefrance • Jun 24, 2007 7:00 pm
No, it's not quite what you think - no way could I afford the £135,000 these cars cost over here, but a day or two's hire could be on the cards - especially when you're celebrating a milestone birthday.

So I indulged myself in two days of unadulterated pleasure driving this one around (although Mrs CF muscled in on the driving bit as well - maybe just a tad too often!). Well you've got to do something a bit out of the ordinary when you reach 60, haven't you....
skysidhe • Jun 24, 2007 9:39 pm
yes! Yes you do and congradulations on your birthday spin!!!:D


v..e..r..y..c..o..o..l..
DucksNuts • Jun 24, 2007 10:20 pm
I'd have one of them Cyclefrance!! I'm a fan of big n ugly though (in most peoples minds).

Hence, I am in lust with the Chrysler 300C...
jinx • Jun 24, 2007 10:46 pm
Here's a great review of it ducks...

[youtube]l8maP4CB1Nk[/youtube]
zippyt • Jun 24, 2007 11:07 pm
Ducks , every time I see one of those I HAVE to do my best Spartin " THIS ,, IS ,,,, CHRYSLER !!!!
zippyt • Jun 24, 2007 11:09 pm
Oh HELL YES CF !!!

Happy Bday and all that rot !!!!
Cyclefrance • Jun 25, 2007 12:58 am
DucksNuts;358500 wrote:
I'd have one of them Cyclefrance!! I'm a fan of big n ugly though (in most peoples minds).

Hence, I am in lust with the Chrysler 300C...


I'm sure I've seen quite a few of these on our roads - and we hardly see any American cars as a rule - so I'd say they're popular over here too. If you lust after one but can't afford one, then definitely go rent one Ducksie, and enjoy the experience.
TheMercenary • Jun 25, 2007 8:32 am
The biggest problem with the Bentley is that the steering wheel is on the wrong side.
Cyclefrance • Jun 25, 2007 12:42 pm
TheMercenary;358621 wrote:
The biggest problem with the Bentley is that the steering wheel is on the wrong side.


No problem, just drive using the mirror...
DucksNuts • Jun 25, 2007 5:04 pm
Thanks for that Jinx :D I love Jeremy Clarkson

Cyclefrance, I bought a new car in December, I was tossing up between the 300C or the car I bought, Holden (GM) Commodore VE.

The 300C starts at $57k over here, my Commodore was mid 40's....but the fuel economy and handling is far superior.
jester • Jun 25, 2007 5:41 pm
myself - i'm a muscle car fan, but.....so would love to have one of these

[ATTACH]13379[/ATTACH]
xoxoxoBruce • Jun 25, 2007 6:51 pm
C'mon, that's about as far from a muscle car as you can get.
1- they stopped making muscle cars in 1973.
2- muscle cars need muscle, not that anemic V-6.
Unlike the Viper, Corvette or even Mustang, the Prowler is a poser.
jester • Jun 26, 2007 1:44 pm
okay, okay - but it's looks awesome, how about this

[ATTACH]13391[/ATTACH]
xoxoxoBruce • Jun 27, 2007 11:52 am
If you think it looks awesome, have at it. Just don't confuse it with a muscle car.
Yeah, the Chevelle is a muscle car.
jester • Jun 27, 2007 12:12 pm
not to worry - no confusion here - that's why i put the "but" in there;)
xoxoxoBruce • Jun 27, 2007 10:27 pm
I'm not concerned with your confusion, or lack thereof, but the continuing spread of misinformation by people being ambiguous, not clearly stating facts, to a public that skims it's information input.
jester • Jun 28, 2007 10:05 am
Your absolutely right, I understand the need for clarification.
xoxoxoBruce • Jun 28, 2007 2:26 pm
Thank you for understanding I'm only being a dick because it's a pet peeve. Nothing against you personally, whom I love with all my heart and soul.... forever.
jester • Jun 28, 2007 2:53 pm
golly, after such a set down - you sure know how to bring a girl back up:)
xoxoxoBruce • Jun 28, 2007 3:35 pm
I've always had a hard sp... uh, I mean, er... soft spot, for the cute ones.