Issue 91 December 2013

The December 2013 edition of Irish Vintage Scene (Issue 91) is on sale now, and as usual is packed with a wide variety of interesting features. On the cover this month is a beautiful example of arguably the world’s most iconic car; this VW Beetle 1200 Deluxe was assembled in Dublin in 1965, and spent nineteen years in the ownership of its caring first owner. Having fallen into disrepair in recent decades, it’s now been restored to an extremely high standard. Moving further into the magazine we take a look at some other popular classic family saloons, this time a Ford Escort Mk2 and a pair of Mk1 Fiestas, plus a stately prohibition-era 1926 Pontiac 6 tourer.

Our tractor features this month are a lot more special than the usual restoration story. The first concerns a collection of ten Porsche and Allgaier tractors that have been part of the lives of the O’Toole family from Wexford since the sixties and seventies, while the second tells the tale of a Ferguson 20 diesel that has recently been reunited with a long-lost owner after an absence of 39 years, when it was unveiled as a very special 90^th birthday present!

Motorcycle enthusiasts of a certain age will be transported back in time when they lay eyes on the Heinkel Tourist A2 in our biking slot; in the scooter-mad sixties the fast and sturdy Tourist was THE scooter to own, and this one’s been well restored in the last year. Our commercial feature this month deals with a real rarity; an Austin Gipsy Series 4 pickup. This one worked from new with the Board of Works, and spent decades lying disassembled in a shed before its previous owner’s grandson tackled its restoration, with the help of lots of friends and relations.

With a long list of event reports, ranging from the Ulster Festival of Steam & Transport to the National Ploughing Championships to the Gerard Murphy Memorial Run, plus all our usual attractions like Laid to Rust, Your Letters, News & Events and lots, lots more, you won’t want to miss the December 2013 issue of Irish Vintage Scene; get yours today!

 The Features                                                                           

	Out of the Darkness In this old car game of ours it’s all too easy to build up a close relationship with a rusty pile of metal that scarcely resembles a vehicle anymore. While many of these long-term restorations never reach fruition, there are some, like this Irish-built ’65 VW 1200 Deluxe, that make it back out into the light to provide inspiration to others, as Andrew Pollock tells us this month.
	Porsche Parade A childhood spent on and around Porsche and Allgaier tractors has meant that the O’Toole brothers from Blackwater, Co. Wexford have a deep affinity for the marque. Their line-up of restored tractors is all the more impressive when you discover that these are all machines that were owned by their father from the sixties into the eighties.
	Flight Plan Long-time member of the COVOC and a familiar face at many events behind the wheel of his Ford Consul Capri, Paddy O’Rourke has wanted a Heinkel Tourist scooter ever since he lusted after one through the dealership window in the early sixties. He’s recently restored one of his own, with fantastic results.
	Gipsy King It might look like a Land Rover, sound like a Land Rover and go like a Land Rover, but the Austin Gipsy is a very fine vehicle in its own right, and is a whole lot rarer nowadays. This ex-Board of Works example has been part of the Hayes family for almost fifty years, and has recently been returned to roadworthy condition.
	Growing Success Over three years ago James Coen and his sons, Padraig and Jamie started building a diorama, like most others, in a room in their house in Borrisokane, Co. Tipperary. This build was just for themselves to enjoy, but it got bigger and more detailed as time went on. They’ve recently started taking it to model shows, which is where we caught up with James for a chat.

 

 

 Show Reports … Countrywide                                           

• Clonoulty Rossmore Rally
• Drive to Survive Meet
• Greybridge Harvest Day
• Clonmel VVCCC CRY Run
• Lisdoonan Vintage Show
• Nenagh Classic Club BBQ
• Moynalty Steam Threshing
• Ulster Festival of Steam
• Gerard Murphy Memorial
• National Ploughing Championships
• Kilmacanogue Vintage Day
• Killybegs Classic Show
• Millstreet Vintage Run
• Dunmore Vintage Rally
• Royal Breffni Working Day
• West Cork Vintage Ploughing
• Shrule & District Vintage Rally
• Nobber VC Ring of Kerry Run
• Munster VMCC Cork Veteran Run
• Limerick Diecast & Model Show

 Regualrs                                                                        

News & Events 

The latest developments from all over Ireland and abroad.

Diary Dates 

The most comprehensive list of upcoming events in Ireland.

Club Scene 

A dedicated section open to every club in Ireland to promote itself and its events.

Letters to Editor 

Have your say and get it off your chest; this is your place to say what you really think.

Laid to Rust 

A monthly pictorial of vehicles that are rusting away in the peace of our countryside.

Past Times 

Ireland’s best-known motoring historian, Bob Montgomery looks back at motoring and motoring events in the early days.

Model Scene 

One of the fastest-growing sectors of our hobby is the collecting and displaying of models, and each month this section brings you some of the best events and features from this vibrant scene.

Retrospect 

A page of old and nostalgic motoring photos sent in by our readers.

Tales From Over the Water 

Roger Hamlin, our roving overseas reporter, checks in each month with interesting, and often offbeat, stories from England, New Zealand, Australia and who-knows where.

Classifieds 

Looking for a classic? Well this is Ireland’s only dedicated marketplace.

Behind the Wheel 

Dick Byrne looks back at his memories of motoring in the last century.