Coffee & Chrome At Prescott Hillclimb: May Show Report

Let’s talk about the weather. The British climate can be rather frustrating: for weeks you can enjoy beautiful spring / summer sunshine and on the day that you want to get married (consult Alanis Morrisette) or… have a car event, the heavens open.

On the week prior to the Prescott Hillclimb Coffee & Chrome event we’d seen a bit or rain, some windiness, unwelcome chilliness, blazing hot sun and a bit of cloud.

The omens then, were marginal, but on the Sunday morning drive to the venue, it was abundantly clear that the weather gods were smiling upon the first Footman James C&C event of the year. And, as a consequence, Prescott became somewhat alluring and the simple magnificence of cars assembled in neat rows on the side of a hill, while not transcendent, was really quite lovely.

This show report illustrates the passion that people have for their cars. What is so apparent in many owners’ stories in this edition is that engine size, technical specification – the bits that start conversation when talking about cars – evolve into reasons why people have these cars: it’s the human stories that are interesting: the cars and all the mechanical detail, in some respects, are just the icing on the cake.

FJ’s Classic of the Meet

Ian - 1970 Mercury Cougar

This is a story that started with a ten-year-old seemingly transfixed by a car he had seen on a 1970s programme called ‘This is your life’. For those unfamiliar with this ITV special, celebrities would be taken through their story on each episode by host Eamonn Andrews, and counterpoints and key moments of their lives would be revealed. Eamonn, armed with a big red book, commandeered friends who played some part in those vital life events, and then in front of a studio audience they would detail, from the recesses of their memory, what actually happened in those major moments. It was all a bit cheesy to be honest

John Alderton, a 70s actor, was the subject on this particular episode and, as a small boy, Ian watched in wonder has he saw footage of the rom-commer drive a Mercury Cougar from a petrol station. The future for Ian was sealed.

“I just thought it was such a super cool car, and from that moment on I knew that at some point in my life I would have to have one,” explained Ian. “I even named my cat after it.”

Three years ago, Ian saw a yellow Mercury Cougar for sale on the internet and then he bought it.

“As soon as I saw it, I had to buy it,” he said. “We did the deal – there was no question that I would have it.”

For the record, this example is a 1970, 5.7-litre V8 and, if you are eagle-eyed, you’d spot the relevance of the number plate: WON 970.

You’ll work it out.

Jon – Lambretta LI Eibar

Usually when you come across a (middle-aged) person with a Lambretta, the inevitable question is: ‘Were you a mod?’

Jon’s answer was a simple, “No, it was before my time, but I do have a passion for classic Italian scooters: Lambrettas and Vespas. I enjoy them because I like the competition element on events. I do have a collection that I ride regularly.”

This model is an Eibar version, which comes from Spain (it’s not an Italian version) thus begging the question: ‘What’s the difference?’

The difference is that the Italian versions have a fixed mudguard, while the Spanish model has a ‘turning mudguard’ that turns with the front wheel.

This one is a nice example, but not concourse because Ian rides it regularly. He explains that he doesn’t use this 150cc scooter for long jaunts, he’ll opt for a Vespa to do that.

“They say a Lambretta should come with a pair of trainers because often you’ll be pushing it,” he joked. “They can be rather unreliable, whereas Vespas are like sewing machines – they just keep going. I do like this Lambretta though. It does have a bit of character about it.”

 

Andrew – 1972 ‘A suffix’ Range Rover

Picture caption: Andrew, Sam and dog Kody

The rather standard question: ‘How long have you had this car?’, yielded a bit of mental adjustment from the respondent as we enquired tentatively.

After a few seconds’ pause the owner, Andrew Perks, admitted: ‘I bought it 44 years ago. It’s part of the family now.”

Andrew is the second owner of this Range Rover and you can see as Andrew tapped on its bonnet that there is a lot of affection for this vehicle that has undoubtedly gone through thick and thin. Andrew gave it a ‘nut and bolt’ refurbishment over a five-year period and that is why this example is in amazing condition.

It has, however, survived quite an ordeal. One day in July 2007 there was a massive storm and the River Avon near Evesham burst its banks. The garage in which the Rangie was parked was engulfed.

“The water was right up to the roof – you couldn’t see the bonnet,” explained Andrew. “You might have thought that was terminal, but we fixed it up and now it’s right as rain.”

This is one of the early Range Rovers with the A suffix. What’s the difference between that and later models? Well, the seats were plastic, although Andrew has fitted cloth seats in the front. It’s been repainted in the original white.

Andrew’s Range Rover has a 3.5-litre V8 under the bonnet and, as to any questions of reliability, he responded: “I use it regularly - it’s a perfectly practical, usable everyday vehicle.”