Colin is a Jaguar Man among other things

Colin is yet to open his museum and we were excited to see his collection prior to it's opening to the general public soon. Being a classic car enthusiast myself, he and I had lots to talk about and we even found that we had mutual friends without knowing each other previously. Such is the world of classic cars!

Col's passion these days is for Jaguars. I've never seen such a collection of parts. His restorations are selective and I will eventually look forward to his current project being completed - a Mk4 Jaguar Drophead.
Colin tells us that cars and parts find him rather than him chasing them. The photos of his parts collection below came from a deceased estate of another Jaguar enthusiast within a kilometre of Colin's home in Mirboo North. Another barn is full of English electrical new old stock that was purchased from an old country British car dealer that was closing.

Not all the cars in Colin's huge barn are his. Other collectors store their cars here and it becomes a revolving collection. This Bentley was a superb restoration and quite frankly I would be dubious about driving out their with the general motoring public for fear of any little mark or scratch spoiling its pristine condition.

From Jaguars to Corvettes - this American classic is so over the top, it actually appealed to me. I'm not an American car enthusiast and yet their flashiness somehow appeals to me these days. Ugliness can transform into beauty in time I guess.

And so the end of the day finished much later than expected after experiencing Colin's passion for automobile history and the collection he has acquired over many years. The presentation of the huge barn with the cars, display cabinets, wall displays does him proud.

Mirboo North and a Bloke called Colin

Last Saturday we were invited to visit a friend's brother who has started a motoring museum in Mirboo North. More about the later in the week but first you might ask, where and what is Mirboo North. In all of my 64 years, I cant say that I've been there but I've travelled much of Victoria through my work and my sport of cycling. Mirboo North is in the depths of south Gippsland's hill country with rolling terrain and rain forests.

Mirboo North is 155 kms from the Melbourne CBD but about 130kms from our home. It was a timber cutting village back in the 1870s but today it is more of a holiday home and tourist destination with a population of under 3000. There several hobby farms and boutique farming industries growing out of the district. It even has its own small beer brewing business.

We decided to have lunch at the In-Line cafe which attracts heaps of motorcyclists of the more mature age trying very hard to grow-up disgracefully and spending their kid's inheritance on expensive motorcycle exotica. Yes they were noisy but in a nice way. They were enjoying each other's company.

Like a lot of heritage towns, murals of the town's past add colour to the atmosphere. There were many more that I missed but the day was moving along and we had this VIP tour of the motor museum by its creator Colin.

Colin is a jaguar man with many other interests in motoring as these photos prove. The Jaguars will come in a following post with quite a unique story behind an aquisition that Colin lucked apon within walking distance from his home.

There was so much more in Colin's huge sheds but we'll leave that for another day.

Wednesday in France

Cars we've met while travelling France

Had one of these - actually five over five decades.

My very first car was a Renault Dauphine

Never had a Deux Chevaux but always wanted one

Yes, you guessed it - I had one of these too. It was a 60s model with a fibre glass roof

Boy, would really want a Renault Alpine but I know someone that does and I sat in it once

In our driveway today are more modern French cars - a Peugeot 307, the Citroen C4, oh yes and our year 2000 Citroen Xantia which we just can't consider letting go.

We even have a wonderful French mechanic who understands our obsession.

Do you know that we've had some Aussie mechanics that refuse to accept past requests to work on our Citroen Xantia.

No More Car Industry in Australia

TOYOTA has announced it will cease making cars in Australia in 2017, blaming the cost of manufacturing and the high dollar.

Toyota announced the closure of its Altona plant this afternoon and was briefing workers on the withdrawal. The company has been making cars in Australia since 1963.

Toyota’s move follows the decisions of Ford and Holden to quit manufacturing in Australia by 2016 and 2017 respectively.

It means that from 2017, Australia will not have a local car manufacturing industry.

Over the last six months three of our major car manufacturers, Ford, General Motors Holden and Toyota have announce that they will cease building cars in Australia. Really it means Melbourne and Adelaide where the plants are located. Further to the actual employees at these plants there is the flow-on to the suppliers to the big three. Over the next two to three years there will tens of thousands workers looking for employment.
It's estimated that there will be over 30,000 jobs lost by 2017.

The Taxi industry supported local cars - Silver top taxi in Melbourne during the 1950s.

The recently installed Government have denied any further subsidies to the car manufacturers although there are other reasons for the closures. The high Australian dollar makes manufacturing uncompetitive in the global market and the Australian Market has changed. The general Australian population are not wanting big cars anymore - well they are but not as much as they once did. With more choices out there, Australians have discovered more economical cars.

I've only had Holdens and Fords as company supplied cars over the years. As personally owned cars, I've had British, Japanese, French and Italian cars, all of them smaller and more versatile or just that little bit different to be a bit more interesting.
During the 60s, most Australians drove a Ford or Holden, then the Japanese cars gave us an alternative choice. In more recent times, the likes of the Korean cars have improved to the extent that bang for buck, they are excellent value.



http://youtu.be/RSp7bxgca_Q

Two Horses in my Driveway

A little bit of France entered our driveway last night. I made contact with a friend whom I had not seen in 20 years. Chris and I met through the Classic Citroen Owners Club of Australia when we were in our mid 20s. We both owned classic Citroens, mainly 50s Traction Avants.
The Club was running Raid 2012, an event open to Deaux Chevaux or 2CVs. Chris drove his from Adelaide to Melbourne to meet the ferry to Tassie where the Raid was to begin before returning to Melbourne and then travelling north to the bush.

I rang Chris to meet up after 20 years to say hello and invited him to stay the night - a fine bottle of red was waiting and we talked about old memories and how life had changed over the past two decades.

Anyway he parked the 2CV in the driveway overnight and I wonder what my neighbours thought when they saw this delightful little vehicle decorating our driveway behind Sue's Peugeot.
A little taste of France in Mentone.

One of those "lets do it moment" things

It was one of those, "lets do it moment" things. Sue and I have been members of the MG Car Club since 1982 but the last 12 years we have been involved in other things.
The Club mag advertised the mid-week lunch run, something that started as we were changing our life. I'd retired from Club committee work after 12 years and returned to my cycling passion.
We rang a few lovely friends who were still heavily involved with the Club and I said, "Let's do it" and they agreed. We felt a little uneasy with our rest from Club activities. We need not to have been.
We renewed friendships as it was only yesterday.
Some were a little rickety and a decade had caused them a little discomfort but their passion for Mg's still burned fiercely.
It was a good day.

The MG Car Club entered our life in 1982 - we even spent our honeymoon on an MG Car Club National Meeting in Hobart, Tassie. Now that's passion......

The lunch run attracted 70 people - mostly retirees with a love of MGs.



MG's both old and new, much like the drivers.



The odd infiltrator joined us but Oh sooo gorgeous, who could say no to such a curvaceous beast.

I wonder what our weekend will bring - there's a long slow ride down along the peninsula Saturday morning, dinner at home with friends and household jobs on Sunday - must be some blog material there.
Catch ya Monday AM readers.

MGs and Misguided Passions

Sometimes we have a passion for something and we let our heart rule our head. I guess that two particular passions in my life have been cars and bikes (bicycles that is!). I should say that obviously Sue is my first passion (she's looking over my shoulder as I write).

On occasions these passions let you down and in the case of cars, this happens often. Our cars over the years have included MGs, Triumphs, Citroens, Alfa Romeos, and Peugeots, oh yes and a Mini.

Sue calls these collector's cars because when they break down, you have to go out have them collected. In the case of my MGZT190, this has happened on more than one occasion and it's really not old enough to be a Collector's car yet being born in 2005. Being a member of the MG Car Club since 1982, I thought it would be nice to continue with the Marque as my work car. Well it did a water pump last week and when one thing goes, other things need replacement - it went to an MG specialist called MG Workshop. One thing led to another and before we knew it, timing belts were replaced and then some of those computer thingies that modern cars have these days. I remember on weekends I would have my head under the bonnet, changing thermostats, spark plugs, points and sometimes even changing a gearbox. Not today!!!

We took our MGB to MG Workshop many years ago and it was always fascinating to wander around the premises. Although MG Workshop has moved it still invites you to wander around the cars and say hello.



These days I find the bike more reliable than the MG.
Having said that, I'm discovering that the motor that drives the bike is getting slower.



The owner of MG Workshop, Andrew has a liking for BIG motors. Note the white Mustang. The Damask MGBGT is actually a V8 from the Rover of the same era. My MGZT190 is from the Rover family as well.

 

Why is it that most MGBs are RED?



Although some are white! Looking down the line is the MGF, and a boy racer TC.



Although the first MGB will be 50 years old in 2012, you can still get all the parts to keep your passion on the road.
Strangely its probably easier to get replacements (and cheaper) for an MGB than my six year old MGZT.

Old and not so old side by side. MGTC boy racer and an MGBGTV8.

To wander around MG Workshop is a delight in itself for an MG enthusiast.



MG Workshop - a passion for MGs since the 70s.

Speaking with Tow Truck drivers and people in the automotive trade, I've been advised that the most reliable car on the road these days is the Toyota Camry - BUT where is the Passion in that?

Cars - Not always a boy thing.

During last year I did a post on the cars we have owned - Cars, It's a Boy Thing. Not sure how I link the article to this one but it doesn't matter I suppose.
Late last year we decided to hand down the Citroen Xantia to number 2 son - number 1 son hasn't got a driver's licence yet.

Previously I had a Peugeot 307 for my work car - it was great. So when it came time to replace Sue's car, a 307 was on the short list. The one that stood out was seriously optioned with leather, sunroof and the BIG 2 litre engine. We love it and on the weekends I leave my MGZT190 in the driveway and take the 307.

It's a really nice Pug 307 despite being silver.

But it feels really nice in the cockpit - leather, mock woodgrain and a spacious cabin.

We love having a sunroof since my 1949 Citroen Traction Avant. The Pug has one too.

My brutish MG and Sue's demure Pug.

Really this post is just an excuse to post an real Aussie Peugeot 307 advertisement.