The October 2015 edition of Irish Vintage Scene (Issue 113) is on sale now, and is overflowing with top feature vehicles and show reports from all around Ireland.
The little green car on this month’s cover will raise an eyebrow for some, but a fond smile for most; it might have been tiny, with a mighty 600cc two-cylinder engine in the tail (650cc if you were lucky enough to have a late example), but the Fiat 126 is bursting with character and was perfectly capable of providing everyday motoring for a small family in the seventies and early eighties. The particular car we feature this month was bought new by highly-decorated Italian war hero, Baron Amedeo Guillet, during his years spent living in Co. Meath in the seventies, and came to the current owner in the recent past after many years spent in storage, but in need of quite a bit of restoration work. Our second feature car is another tale or restoration, this time a desirable original Irish Ford Cortina 1600E from Co. Donegal, while we also look at an early eighties Renault 4 that’s been restored to look more like a sixties model, with plenty of chrome and a baby-blue paint job.
Our main tractor feature this month tells the story of a Fordson Major that’s been restored as a family affair, with the owner’s young son using it to compete very successfully in ploughing matches since its completion, while the second looks at a Multi-Power-equipped Massey Ferguson 35X, one of the most popular small tractors Ireland’s ever seen, that’s been rebuilt from the ground up by a Limerick enthusiast.
Moving to two wheels, our featured motorcycle this month is literally unique, as it’s a home-built creation that very successfully evokes the style and performance of sprint-racers of the 1930s, while our featured commercial vehicle is a now-rare Austin A60 van that’s been decked out in period Ferguson Service livery to accompany the owner’s tractor collection.
We have a whole host of event reports this month, stretching from Donegal to Kerry and including the Gordon Bennett Classic Car Run, the Mosney Classic Car Show, the Tipperary Silage Extravaganza, the Jumpstart VW meet, the Obama Plaza Monster Vintage Rally and lots more besides, so you won’t want to miss the October 2015 issue of Irish Vintage Scene; get yours today!
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Baron Find
How often have you seen a classic car advertised with “an interesting history”? Well, we’ll bet that most won’t have had a first owner as interesting as this little Fiat 126’s, who’s former custodian was a legendary Italian war hero that lived to 101 years old!
Red Transformation
The most capable and versatile of the fifties-era Ferguson/Massey Fergusons is undoubtedly the 35X Multi-Power, with its three-cylinder powerplant and hydraulically-shifted high/low transmission. It was a favourite when new and it’s a still a favourite on the classic scene today. This freshly-restored beauty shows us why.
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A Working Man’s Classic
Ford have in their back catalogue a great many cars that appeal to classic motorists today, and one of the most revered of these is the Mk2 Cortina 1600E. They’re relatively rare compared to their more mundane stablemates, which led Donegal-man Alex Fullerton to spare no effort in making his the best that he could.
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Phantom Racer
It can be difficult to find a vintage or classic vehicle that exactly meets your needs and tastes. However, if you’ve got enough skill, enthusiasm and vision, you can just create your own, as Luc Racine has done with this stunning motorcycle.
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At Your Service
Ardent Ferguson tractor enthusiast Raymond Browne from Cookstown collects not only Harry’stractors, but also tools, literature and anything else connected to the Ferguson story. His Austin A60 van honours the memory of the service vehicles used by the Ferguson company in Northern Ireland.
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Show & Event Report
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Roughty Valley Vintage Fair Day
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Beaulieu Spring Autojumble
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Anne Casey Joy Classic Car Run
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Obama Plaza Monster Vintage Rally
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Silage Extravaganza
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Jumpstart VW Meet
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North East Mosney Car Show
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WVVMC Pre-’55 Run
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South Donegal Vintage & Heritage Club Fundraiser
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Gordon Bennett Irish Classic Car Run
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IVVCC & RIAC Picnic in the Park
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Classic Wheels Ireland Vintage & Classic Car & Bike Show
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Carlow Vintage & Classic Motor Club’s
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Duckett’s Grove Show
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Regulars
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.
Your Letters 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 News from the ever-growning world of model collecting.
Tales From Over the Water The often offbeat stories of our roving overseas reporter, Roger Hamlin.
Retrospect A page of old and nostalgic motoring photos sent in by our readers.
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.
