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Re: Fifty Years ago Today

Posted: 12 May 2009, 10:15
by forthbridge
We had a Mini van with the sliding windows (can't remember the reg) - it was in Maroon - in this style:
http://walkingollie.files.wordpress.com ... ics-2a.jpg

My brother and myself would sit on the floor in the back as we traversed the highways and byeways of those summers of childhood that always seemed to be hot and sunny - and sleep in the back on camping trips.

It was amazingly versatile: shopping one day then loaded to the doors with logs for the fire the next :)

The doors opened via a bit of string which drooped down below the windows.

I also remember we had another one up the back of the garden minus wheels, sitting on bricks I think. I spent a LOT of time in that 'playing' that I was driving :dancer:

I also remember if you went anywwhere near a puddle, the footwells filled with water :lol:

Re: Fifty Years ago Today

Posted: 12 May 2009, 10:51
by Garry Russell
Those doors were the orignal fitted to the cars and had external hinges to boot. :lol:

They indroduced a later door with internal hinges proper interior door handles and wind up widows but seemed to keep the old door on the Van and truck along with a grill similar to the original. :think:

The original door had very useful storage lost on the later version with it's flat interior panel.

Garry

Re: Fifty Years ago Today

Posted: 12 May 2009, 11:02
by forthbridge
True enough Garry - I remember all sorts sitting in the doors :lol:

Funnily, the things I remember most are the centrally located speedo and ignition and the long gear lever, as well as the size of the steering wheel which seemed even larger when you were a kid.

I'm fairly sure the door dressings were a sort of thin fibreboard.?

EDIT: I am also sure the van didn't have a glovebox - hence the large door storage.

I've been googling, and when I clicked on one shot of what looked like an interior, I got an image up of the Hoff in speedos for some reason :o :o :o

Re: Fifty Years ago Today

Posted: 12 May 2009, 11:27
by Garry Russell
AH the gear lever...the later had a remote link but the Van and the early cars was direct and first gear was a very long way away :lol: :lol:

The single clock and two lights.......but there again when all you want is a tool at the lowest price what more do you need and the use of the original gears set up and door helped keep that cost down.

The mini was a marvel with a seating area much the same as bigger cars and with the pockets and shelves plus a boot that wasted no space it did all we wanted with all the shopping scattered round a bit but nevertheless all in. :)

Garry

Re: Fifty Years ago Today

Posted: 12 May 2009, 11:51
by DispatchDragon
Ahh the Minivan :) Dan Dare had two as traffic vans at Luton in the early 70's -- They had sort of a parcel shelf under that single gauge -- but the huge door pockets kept everything from loadsheets, to spare catering gear, the walkie talkies the rampers used to bacon sarnies from the greasy spoon!!! we didnt take them out on the public roads very often - just the occasional run to the take away in Stopsley. I remember one very wet and nasty morning actually getting an entire Comet cabin crew into one to drive to the "ponderosa" -- Shifting gears was fun that morning ;)


Leif

Oh yes they both had the floor mounted start buttons.

Re: Fifty Years ago Today

Posted: 12 May 2009, 11:55
by Garry Russell
I'd fogotten about the floor start button :lol: :lol:

Garry

Re: Fifty Years ago Today

Posted: 12 May 2009, 14:31
by Nigel H-J
I remember one very wet and nasty morning actually getting an entire Comet cabin crew into one to drive to the "ponderosa" -- Shifting gears was fun that morning
Wonder how many unnecessary shift changes there were on that drive :think: :lol: :lol:

Nigel.

Re: Fifty Years ago Today

Posted: 12 May 2009, 20:56
by DispatchDragon
As my live in SO was the No1 on the flight and she was sitting next to me and had very very long legs --- many many misshifts believe me --- and Nigel --- they were her foot prints on the headliner of my mini ;)



Leif