The November 2014 edition of Irish Vintage Scene (Issue 102) is on sale now, and as ever is packed with a wide variety of interesting vehicle features. On the cover this month is surely a unique find; the Fiat Argenta wasn’t the most popular car on Irish roads in the early eighties, so the discovery of this mint, 50,000-mile, original Irish survivor is a real one-off. Having lain in storage for almost twenty years, it’s now in the ownership of an ardent Fiat enthusiast and its amazing condition is destined to be maintained. Our second car feature delves into one owner’s restoration of a Riley RMF, which was a real basket-case when it arrived on his doorstep three years ago; he’s done some amazing work though, and now it’s one of the most elegant saloon cars you’re every likely to see.
Our tractor features this month look at two very rare machines. The first is a stunningly-restored David Brown Thresherman, a limited-edition model that famously was created by the David Brown factory as a conversion for surplus aircraft tugs at the end of World War 2; this one was restored by a specialist in Scotland before coming to Ireland last year, and is a real eyeful with lots of glossy red paint, chrome and brass. The subject of our second tractor feature might not be as fancy but is just as rare; it’s an Opperman Motocart, a three-wheeled half-tractor/half-truck powered through its single front wheel. This one has been restored from deplorable condition by a man that worked one alongside his father in Westmeath many moons ago.
Motorcycle-wise this month we compare one owner’s NSU Quickly and Yamaha U5 to chart the kind of development that was going on in the scooter market during the fifties and sixties, while our commercial feature tells the story of a fine Bedford S-Type truck that again was literally “saved from the grave” back in the nineties. We’ve lots of event reports this month as usual, including the Irish Classic & Vintage Motor Show in Terenure and the Gordon Bennett International Rally, and also bring important news on the Road Safety Authority’s current consultation on the future of vintage vehicle roadworthiness testing in this country. All of our usual attractions are in there too, so you won’t want to miss the November 2014 issue of Irish Vintage Scene; get yours today!
