The Festival of the Unexceptional

It’s a while since I photographed a car show, but the 2014 Festival of the Unexcpetional appealed to my sense of humour.  Described as a Concours de l’Ordinaire with ‘cars from the era that quality control forgot’…..Allegro’s, Maxi’s and Marina’s to name a few. Plus their owners. So, a small gallery as a flavour.

For info about 2015, see: Festival-of-The-Unexceptional

 

Left: Furry dice in Austin Allegro 1100 Deluxe. Right: 1975 Austin Allegro Special

Left: Furry dice in Austin Allegro 1100 Deluxe. Right: 1975 Austin Allegro Special

Ford Cortina GT, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Ford Cortina GT, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Pink platform shoes - Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Pink platform shoes – Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Ford Anglia Estate Deluxe, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Ford Anglia Estate Deluxe, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Ford Anglia Estate Deluxe, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Ford Anglia Estate Deluxe, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Left: Ford Anglia Estate Deluxe. Right: Hillman Imp Super

Left: Ford Anglia Estate Deluxe. Right: Hillman Imp Super

Vauxhall Chevette, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Vauxhall Chevette, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Ford Cortina GT, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Ford Cortina GT, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Peel P50 1964, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Peel P50 1964, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

 

Peel P50 1964, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Peel P50 1964, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Austin Maxi 1750, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Austin Maxi 1750, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Austin Princess 1300, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Austin Princess 1300, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Renault 6TL, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Renault 6TL, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Left: Triumph 1500. Right: VW 412 LS

Left: Triumph 1500. Right: VW 412 LS

Renault 6TL, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Renault 6TL, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

VW 412 LS, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

VW 412 LS, Festival of the Unexceptional 2014, Whittlebury Park

Left: Ford Cortina owner. Right: Lollipops in Morris Marina

Left: Ford Cortina owner. Right: Lollipops in Morris Marina

 

 

Kodachrome retrospective exhibition

As noted in the post on 30th August, Kodachrome processing finally ceases on 30th December 2010. To celebrate the end of an era, the Association of Photographers are staging an exhibition of work by AOP members taken on this classic film. I heard this week that two of my images have been selected.

BMW 5 Series, shot on Kodachrome 64 for Car Magazine in 1990

BMW 5 Series, shot on Kodachrome 64 for Car Magazine in 1990

Austin Healey rear badge

One of my last Kodachrome images from 1990 - Austin Healey badge taken for the book, The Original Austin Healey, by Bay View Books.

The exhibition runs from 18th January to 10th February 2011. More information, along with travel details, will be available on the AOP website, though as I write, the announcement has not been published.

Pickersleigh Road motors

I visited the Morgan factory in Malvern this week. I’ve never been there before, and it was quite refreshing to be able to walk around a car workshop without being asked to produce  a multitude of passes. A nod from MD, Charles Morgan, was all that was required.

Charles Morgan at the Morgan factory in Malvern

Charles Morgan at the Morgan factory in Malvern

Charles Morgan at the Morgan factory in Malvern

Charles Morgan at the Morgan factory in Malvern

My colleague Peter Nunn came to interview Charles Morgan for a feature – and with the outside hope of driving the new Morgan three wheeler. As this doesn’t appear until next year, the best we could do was have a look at the three wheeler pedal car. With a price tag of £3000, it’s a luxury Christmas present for all small petrolheads. Really serious ones. Actually, I don’t think my old SAAB was much more than this.

Paul Debois with three wheeler Morgan pedal cars

Paul Debois with three wheeler Morgan pedal cars

Instead we had a drive in the Morgan Aero SuperSports, a more than quick 4.8 litre, V8 engined, two seater. At £120,000, this is for serious adult petrolheads. Although not to my taste, it was fun driving around the Malvern Hills for a few hours.  It was a bit difficult to get in or out and I doubt the Lucie Clayton School of Etiquette would have had an answer for ladies, but it certainly turned a few heads.

Morgan Aero SuperSports in Malvern

Morgan Aero SuperSports in Malvern

Morgan Aero SuperSports in Malvern

A cornering Morgan Aero SuperSports in Malvern

Sir John Harvey-Jones in the BBC TV programme ‘Troubleshooter’ was aghast at seeing what he saw  as  old fashioned work practices in the Morgan factory. Fortunately Peter Morgan, Charles’ father, more or less ignored the advice given – so things are pretty much the same. The old Plus 4 bodies are still being produced, largely with wooden frames made from Ash, making it seem like a hand-crafted furniture workshop. Long may it continue.

Morgan factory in Malvern

Morgan factory in Malvern