The occasional sighting of wide jeans with 4″ turn-ups, flying jackets, and 1950s hairstyles added to one of autumn’s regular crowd-drawing activities – the annual Classic Car Cruise through the town.
Circling the town at least twice – half a dozen times in some cases – dozens of magnificent machines from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s showed themselves off. Ranging from the ubiquitous little Mini to vast American V8-powered monsters, big enough for Jempson’s to set up a supermarket branch in.
Many were in lovingly-restored condition while others looked as if they had been discovered in a barn only yesterday (perhaps some had!). Although apparently retaining the patina of age can be regarded as cool and the right thing to do. Petrol heads who find Wheeler Dealers compulsive viewing on various UK TV channels will probably understand the reasoning behind this.
Not just the bodywork was cared for. There were engines that were unrecognisable from their original incarnation, with glistening chrome, polished aluminium and after-market accessories such that the engine itself could hardly be seen.
And then there were the opposite, one or two cars of uncertain age or parentage, with their mechanics open to the sky and for all to see – and hear.
While, in the absence on other duties of the mayor, the deputy mayor was charged with the job of finding a winning car, the favourite for this writer was undoubtedly a lovely little humble (by comparison) MG T series, although, having owned a number of MGs, I have to admit bias.
Image Credits: John Minter .