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Yesterday we visited a classic car show, arriving early to
nab a coffee and avoid the crowds. Most enjoyable it was too, strolling among
cars of the past. Most of them from our past which was mildly disconcerting.
There were a few models we had owned ourselves such as an
Austin A40 Farina, a scattering of Ford Escorts and some early Minis. A few our parents had owned such
as an Austin Maxi and a VW Beetle. The Maxi was a surprise, being considerably
bigger than we remembered. There were quite a few Jaguar E-Types but I don’t
recall owning one of those. A Bond Bug too, haven’t seen one of those for years.
Decades probably.
We noticed a distinction between cars intended for use on
the roads and cars worked up into such a pristine state that one could never
imagine them being taken on the road. Almost as if they had rolled straight off
the production line. A little too close to museum pieces for my liking but the amount of work and attention to detail is impressive.
Part of the fun was trying to decide which car we’d go for
if we had the choice. The owner of an Austin 7 invited me to sit in the
driver’s seat so I did. Much smaller and more cramped than I expected so that
is not one I’d go for if I had the choice. I wouldn’t bother with an E-Type
either if money were no object. Not sure why.
When we returned to our own car we found an RSPCA leaflet
tucked under the windscreen wiper. A reminder not to leave dogs in cars on hot
days with lots of detail about the dire consequences we must all be familiar
with anyway.
What is it with these people? We don’t have a dog and if we
did we would never leave one in a parked car whatever the weather. To my mind it was akin
to an accusation. Outfits such as the RSPCA seem to feel it is okay to push such sanctimonious, unsolicited and widely understood advice to complete strangers. The outcome in my
case is that I would never give a single penny to the RSPCA. Not that I ever have.
9 comments:
Do dogs die in cold cars? I mean, if it were a really biting winter's day and you left Fido in the car with the window open while you nipped into the supermarket, could he freeze to death? Or if you left him in an open-topped sports car while it was pouring with rain, could he actually drown? I certainly think the RSPCA should look into these issues, and perhaps use some of its huge wealth to start a massive advertising campaign.
You seem to have done well: you saw the RSPCA in action without a camera crew . . . .
One day I offered a chap a lift in my Austin 7 and he asked if it was OK to bring his dog. When he arrived I saw it was a St. Bernard. When we had been up the St. Bernard pass he said he would like to have one, but I never believed he would. He made a lot of money selling pups.
Sam - good points. Also - could Fido open the door while the car is doing 70mph down the motorway?
DCB - I bet a camera crew would have popped up if I'd left a highly realistic toy dog on one of the seats.
Demetrius - the Austin 7 I sat in was only a two-seater which had been modified quite extensively so I'm not sure if even a St Bernard pup would fit in.
Old cars are small inside, even compared to 'compact' modern ones. I'm thinking of selling my Triumph Herald because although not tiny it's so low that I'm beginning to struggle to get down into it. My original Mazda RX7 had to go years back as it was even lower.
Woodsy - there was a Triumph Herald at the show, I'd forgotten that. They do look low, but even the Maxi looked rather low to us.
Bureaucrats.
I am quite intrigued as to why at todays gatherings of older motor cars, we had such a one a couple of weeks back at the local fete and fair, so many what were at best very ordinary cars and many that were dogs in their day get "classic" status, it seems everything from British Leyland is a classic when we all know differently.
There was at the fete in pristine condition a Morris Marina, I would be ashamed to own one of the bloody things never mind call it a classic.
James - yes they are.
Wiggia - I'm intrigued by that too. The effort required to keep some of them free from rust must be amazing. I wouldn't bother.
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