Traveling is an important element to my intrinsic needs, so I'm always eager and fascinated to explore different modes of transportation, whether it be trains, cars, planes, ship /ferry and my focus today; on classic vintage cars, as there are some fine features on streets across the UK that have been restored and still functional.
Vanden Plas Princess 1300
It's half term holidays and the canals are heaving with families on rented narrowboats, so a decision to moor up and go exploring the streets and towns of Leamington Spa and Warwick had proven to be an excellent idea after spotting some stunningly beautiful restored automobiles that make me say, "I was born in the wrong era".
The Origin of Vanden Plas
'As the sunbeams illuminate the car doors, and I'm holding my camera, I'm secretly wishing I was holding the keys for this car, because I'd love to take it for a spin :)'
For a small, compact, and classy design, the car looks pretty spacious to me and I kept looking around hoping the owner would conveniently walk by so I could ask to get a look on the inside. Still, I admired how intact the leather seats are and I like the slick look of the fine steering wheel and I was imagining my fingers wrapped around it, touching the dashboard, and I wanted to have a closer look at all the trimmings and flooring, but I wasn't so lucky.
Austin A90 Westminster (Red vs Black)
The black has an edgier look to me. I like the minimalistic classy look of it. Makes it more striking to me. Can you imagine the sheen after a trip to the car-wash?
'Seeing these Austin cars brought back memories of me discovering (by accident) that my distant family had a "full-sized shiny old car" in mint condition,parked on a ramp in an enclosed garage.'
I was on a summer break from school, staying with family in the city of Kingston, Jamaica (some real elders). I must add, I admire elderly people, and I remember my Aunt Anna to be 98 years old at the time. Although she was wrinkled, her fine features made me stare. She was always smoking her pipe, and in-between telling me stories she'd say, "Me a go tek a fresh" — meaning she was going to take a shower. I was totally amazed by her. However, one day I was playing and I somehow opened a door which revealed a massive car, a rose pink 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air with black trims - very different, but it brought back those memories. So big and high on a ramp, I was frightened that I might touch something that would make the car fall on me. I closed the door, ran, and told my Mum, who told me to zip it! I had no business being around the owner's prized possession...
Grey Rover V8 Classics
When I see this car, I imagine the owner to be someone keen on luxury, comfort, reliability, and elegance. Gorgeous and beautiful design, but something about it screams masculine to me.
Could it be the dimensions, shape, or just the colour?
It's not the emblem, because all the others (which I could picture myself driving, especially the Vanden Plas, all have big emblems).
Do you feel what I'm feeling?
I think the Rover is very suited as a family car as long as no food is eaten in it :)
Volkswagen Family
Camper van restored to its former glory. Brilliant!
Timeless pieces of machines.
I actually met a lovely couple who were moored next to me on the canals, and the gentleman said he'd spent much of his youth traversing across East Africa in a camper van. He said his "white face" and camper van garnered much fascination from kids playing on the streets, as you probably could imagine. The couple also shared that they were pleased to see me, a "black face" on the canals, and said they'd been narrow-boaters for many years and always thought that there was an absence of persons who look like me, and that they hope to have more diversity within the narrow boating community (me too).
He said he had a special love for his camper van and I understand why.
The Beetle
I remember the first I saw a VW Beetle and discovered that the engine was at the rear. I was confused!
I wonder how that design was conceived?
If you could have one, which of these cars would you ask for?