I think you're spot on with the Fiat - and the Rover is likely a 3500 with 3500S badges...
Never trust a Met man...
- Thread starter MikeO
- Start date
I think you're spot on with the Fiat - and the Rover is likely a 3500 with 3500S badges...
and the Rover is likely a 3500 with 3500S badges...
Or perhaps not - it looks like those bonnet scoops were fitted for some markets as was the absence of a vinyl roof.
<a href='http://www.picautos.com/imgs/26479-rover-3500-s/8/'><img src='http://www.picautos.com/images/rover-3500-s-08.jpg'></a>
Edit: Where the hell did FIAT 500 Toppling come from? It's Topolino.
ahebron
Registered user
The Rover has a N.A.D.A. bonnet. Which in English is US spec.
Adrian
Adrian
Looking at the reflectors, amber front red rear, and scoops, lead me to believe it is a U.S. Spec 3.5 S; which for them Yankees I remember was in auto also, all UK models were manual transmission. The hood scoops were for Air Conditioning, needless to say.
My ex (US) FIL liked his Rovers, and had the big 3.5 Coupe, and a 2.2 TC, and liked to point out it was the Buick Fire-Fly V8 which saved Rover, I hated the U.S. Bonnet strip BTW.
Fond memories of The Austin England = The 1100 and the Plymouth Cricket = The Avenger as the GB or US variants.
A Rabbit GT I once hired = Golf 1600 GTI..
*Also an interesting advert on TV (circa 1985) showing a car called a Beretta GT convertible, with an Air Bag safety feature, now that probably won't catch on..
much kms many 
so mike
thanks mike
the 356 might be a b 63 64 ish
i had fog like that on tuesday evening in castlewellan
so mike thanks mike
the 356 might be a b 63 64 ish
i had fog like that on tuesday evening in castlewellan
cafemaestro
Registered user
Definitely Motobecane Z-series
Model looks like a Z23 with an extra rear seat and engine bars
Best guess 1949-52
Definitely Motobecane Z-series
Model looks like a Z23 with an extra rear seat and engine bars
Best guess 1949-52
The chap didn't speak English - we managed to reach that it was a 1957 175cc Motobecane
Mike
12th September 2015
I have a crappy night's sleep.
I ate at the hotel restaurant last night and, although the food was good, the company was not. A couple of friends of the owner were in the dining room, having shouted conversations to one another and over the phone (they were sat at the same table). I think they'd been drinking most of the afternoon - it was like eating in a works canteen.
I left dinner and went back to my room - I won't be coming back here...
Looking out of the window, it's a promising looking day - but things can change quickly in this part of the world and getting a good trip over a pass can be a lottery.
I pack the bike, then the ridiculously attractive Martha...
...makes sure I have plently of strong coffee "Because you can get cold on a bike!". She asks where I am going and I tell her - her eyes light up "Oh - St Moritz - how lovely!"
I point out that I have an empty pillion seat and she smacks my hand, tells me I need more coffee and disappears chuckling into the kitchen...
I am on the road for exactly 09:00 and following Bettie's directions out of Andermatt. Almost immediately a black Audi estate pulls out of a garage forecourt directly in front of me, causing me to brake hard. I don't know if they have personalised number plates in Germany, but if not, there was a remarkable coincidence when he got allocated his...
The road climbs quickly out of Andermatt - the clouds are whipping around the peaks - it must be pretty windy up there...
Looks like we have a little cornering to do this morning...
I'm soon climbing hard and leaving Andermatt far below...
It's not warm, but no need for heated grips yet...
Eventually I reach the top of the Oberalppass...
...which for some reason has a lighthouse with a red coloured light at the top...
The ride down the other side was much less sheltered and I could feel the wind-chill...
Following the rough line of the road was a rack and pinion railway line - here routed over a viaduct...
The clouds in the distance look a lot less threatening than yesterday's, I'm glad to say...
Bettie throws in a sudden right turn up the side of the valley wall toward Obersaxen - the road surface is so rough I have to check that I'm still in Switzerland...
...the view from the top is great though...
Those long winter evenings must simply fly by...
A barn in its natural habitat...
There are roadworks everywhere...
...and - unlike most in the UK in my experience - here people are actually working in them...
I guess they try to leave the main work until after the school holidays and before the snow falls - a pretty short 'off season' in this part of the world...
Some of the road design and construction is pretty spectacular...
...and there's just room for two small cars to pass...
Suddenly, after miles of twisty roads without a decent sight line, it opens up into a straight a few miles long...
Good job they didn't put a speed check on it...
It's just before noon when I pull in to a little frites cabin at the side of the road...
Where I'm served with a cheeseburger (actually in a flat sort of panini bread - more like a kebab) and frites. Lots of frites.
I have a coffee afterwards, then waddle out to my bike...
...and continue following Bettie's directions...
Weird bit of statuary in someone's front yard...
Bubble-gum harvest apparently came in late this year, but it's a good crop...
Jolly nice of the owner to give these guys some shelter...
Onward!
Where they are not being worked on, the roads are superb...
I'm soon climbing up another pass - the road clinging to the rock...
...then winding through tiny cobbled streets...
...the civil engineering effort that goes into the construction and maintenance of roads and railways here is immense...
...and I feel very fortunate to be able to take advantage of it...
It's not a bad way to be spending a day.
Up above the tree-line now...
...but although it's cooler than the valley floor, it's nothing like the enveloping chill of yesterday's cloud...
I top the pass and the road continues on a plateau for a couple of kilometres...
...before starting its descent...
...beautiful church in the village of Bever...
I arrive at my destination...
...in the early afternoon - but I could do with an early stop after a poor night's rest.
A long time playground of the ski-set, St Moritz's shops indicate immediately that I will be staying at the cheap end of town...
I spot this pensioner passing as I am getting off my bike outside my hotel - unappealing called the Hotel Piz. Any guesses for make/model/year?
Bianca soon checks me in to my very clean Ikea bedecked room...
Where a chocolate heart welcomes me...
Unfortunately (always read the small print) there is no hotel parking - I have to park about 100m away in an open public car park - which charges one Swiss $ per hour until 19:00, then 50 cents per hour afterwards...
Bianca reassures me that they have riders staying here all the time, and have never had a theft or damage problem with their bikes parked there. I wonder what she would have told me if, in fact, there was a huge problem with bike theft? I somehow can't see it in St Moritz - and I'm certainly not going to be losing any sleep over it.
The internet speed is remarkable - all today's pictures uploaded in under five minutes (remember I usually take at least three times the number I post).
I start looking at weather forecasts. It does not make happy reading...
Good day today, though...
I have a crappy night's sleep.
I ate at the hotel restaurant last night and, although the food was good, the company was not. A couple of friends of the owner were in the dining room, having shouted conversations to one another and over the phone (they were sat at the same table). I think they'd been drinking most of the afternoon - it was like eating in a works canteen.
I left dinner and went back to my room - I won't be coming back here...
Looking out of the window, it's a promising looking day - but things can change quickly in this part of the world and getting a good trip over a pass can be a lottery.
I pack the bike, then the ridiculously attractive Martha...
...makes sure I have plently of strong coffee "Because you can get cold on a bike!". She asks where I am going and I tell her - her eyes light up "Oh - St Moritz - how lovely!"
I point out that I have an empty pillion seat and she smacks my hand, tells me I need more coffee and disappears chuckling into the kitchen...
I am on the road for exactly 09:00 and following Bettie's directions out of Andermatt. Almost immediately a black Audi estate pulls out of a garage forecourt directly in front of me, causing me to brake hard. I don't know if they have personalised number plates in Germany, but if not, there was a remarkable coincidence when he got allocated his...
The road climbs quickly out of Andermatt - the clouds are whipping around the peaks - it must be pretty windy up there...
Looks like we have a little cornering to do this morning...
I'm soon climbing hard and leaving Andermatt far below...
It's not warm, but no need for heated grips yet...
Eventually I reach the top of the Oberalppass...
...which for some reason has a lighthouse with a red coloured light at the top...
The ride down the other side was much less sheltered and I could feel the wind-chill...
Following the rough line of the road was a rack and pinion railway line - here routed over a viaduct...
The clouds in the distance look a lot less threatening than yesterday's, I'm glad to say...
Bettie throws in a sudden right turn up the side of the valley wall toward Obersaxen - the road surface is so rough I have to check that I'm still in Switzerland...
...the view from the top is great though...
Those long winter evenings must simply fly by...
A barn in its natural habitat...
There are roadworks everywhere...
...and - unlike most in the UK in my experience - here people are actually working in them...
I guess they try to leave the main work until after the school holidays and before the snow falls - a pretty short 'off season' in this part of the world...
Some of the road design and construction is pretty spectacular...
...and there's just room for two small cars to pass...
Suddenly, after miles of twisty roads without a decent sight line, it opens up into a straight a few miles long...
Good job they didn't put a speed check on it...
It's just before noon when I pull in to a little frites cabin at the side of the road...
Where I'm served with a cheeseburger (actually in a flat sort of panini bread - more like a kebab) and frites. Lots of frites.
I have a coffee afterwards, then waddle out to my bike...
...and continue following Bettie's directions...
Weird bit of statuary in someone's front yard...
Bubble-gum harvest apparently came in late this year, but it's a good crop...
Jolly nice of the owner to give these guys some shelter...
Onward!
Where they are not being worked on, the roads are superb...
I'm soon climbing up another pass - the road clinging to the rock...
...then winding through tiny cobbled streets...
...the civil engineering effort that goes into the construction and maintenance of roads and railways here is immense...
...and I feel very fortunate to be able to take advantage of it...
It's not a bad way to be spending a day.
Up above the tree-line now...
...but although it's cooler than the valley floor, it's nothing like the enveloping chill of yesterday's cloud...
I top the pass and the road continues on a plateau for a couple of kilometres...
...before starting its descent...
...beautiful church in the village of Bever...
I arrive at my destination...
...in the early afternoon - but I could do with an early stop after a poor night's rest.
A long time playground of the ski-set, St Moritz's shops indicate immediately that I will be staying at the cheap end of town...
I spot this pensioner passing as I am getting off my bike outside my hotel - unappealing called the Hotel Piz. Any guesses for make/model/year?
Bianca soon checks me in to my very clean Ikea bedecked room...
Where a chocolate heart welcomes me...
Unfortunately (always read the small print) there is no hotel parking - I have to park about 100m away in an open public car park - which charges one Swiss $ per hour until 19:00, then 50 cents per hour afterwards...
Bianca reassures me that they have riders staying here all the time, and have never had a theft or damage problem with their bikes parked there. I wonder what she would have told me if, in fact, there was a huge problem with bike theft? I somehow can't see it in St Moritz - and I'm certainly not going to be losing any sleep over it.
The internet speed is remarkable - all today's pictures uploaded in under five minutes (remember I usually take at least three times the number I post
). I start looking at weather forecasts. It does not make happy reading...
Good day today, though...
The chap didn't speak English - we managed to reach that it was a 1957 175cc Motobecane
Mike
Did a search on 1957 175cc Z Motobecane and this popped up!
TVR VIXEN, c 1972.
much kms many
thanks mike
the 356 might be a b 63 64 ish
i had fog like that on tuesday evening in castlewellan
I think it might be a tad earlier - 57-59 (which would make it as old as me - dammit) - the later ones had radiator grills on the bootlid (according to Wikipedia)...
Yep - I think so.
Better than your first stab...
I had round Cortina tail lights in my mind's eye which would have made it a Grantura and then I went back and looked at you pic again....
I had round Cortina tail lights in my mind's eye which would have made it a Grantura and then I went back and looked at you pic again....
Yes - I can't remember where they nicked the ones for the Vixen from - Escort MkI maybe? They used to be a hodgepodge of bits inside and out - I have a mate who's owned some very old (and very new) ones - they certainly upped their game before they went bust...
MkII Cortina.
I beat the A47 in March - I moved to Aberdeenshire. Just the A96 to crack now
Great RR, dew yew keep it coming bor.
Great RR, dew yew keep it coming bor.
steophilis
Registered user
Great stuff, really enjoying this
13th September 2015
A fantastic night's sleep - I don't wake until about 07:30...
...I step out onto my balcony - a look shows me it has been raining, but is currently dry and there's lots of cloud about...
After an excellent breakfast, I decide to go and see how the Adv has fared being left alone for the night. Happily she has remained unmolested, so I go about paying the $S12 parking charge. The machine doesn't take a credit card, so I am forced to draw $S20 from a suspiciously convenient ATM and am given a hoard of silver coins as change. I later use these to pay for part of my fuel stop - they're no use to me otherwise.
The roundabout at the bottom of the street is closed off - they are holding a road-skating race. I wait for a few minutes until the local copper directs me up to my hotel again...
I pack and check out - the Hotel Piz is really nice - it's only down-side is the parking situation. Information for those of a less law-abiding nature: there was easily enough room to get the bike out around the barrier without paying the fee...
I am on the road at exactly 08:45, heading back the way I came. It's a bright morning, but there are a lot of clouds building at the far end of the valley.
Guess where I'm headed?
Various objects and bits of statuary dot the towns on my route...
...no war memorials, though...
As Bettie tries to steer me towards Zernez on route 27, traffic is halted by a young local policemen (with an earring!) who tells me that there will be a 15 minute delay as the road is being used by the skaters I saw in town earlier...
I watch them skate over the bridge whilst Bettie calculates an alternative route. The alternative will increase the day's ride by an hour, so I decide to wait it out.
Predictably it is more like 40 minutes than 15, but eventually we are waved onto the road, to find ourselves at the back of a huge caravan of cars and bikes doing about 10mph - the speed of the last skater and his escort...
As there's no oncoming traffic, I overtake all the cars and join a huge gaggle of riders at the front...
We are stopped just short of the next town...
...as the police let the oncoming traffic onto the road for ten minutes or so. They then wave us on - it's like the start of Le Mans...
Just as everything seems to be sorting itself out, there's another sudden stoppage...
...which clears as quickly as it appeared and it's then plain sailing.
I've asked Bettie to provide me with a winding route to Canazei, where I am booked into the Villa Emma this afternoon. She has come up with just over five hours driving to get me there. My only concern is the weather - it's due to get a bit wet later in the day and the skaters have put a crimp in my plan to break the back of the journey before lunch...
Just imagine if that place was on your paper round...
The roads are really busy - not sure how much of the is due to the disruption caused by the skaters and how much is general Sunday drivers...
The weather keeps reminding me that its a factor though...
I top the Ofenpass in cloud, but nothing like the dense and cold stuff from the other day - I'm back in clear air quite quickly on the far side...
At about 12:30 I cross the border into Italy. Remarkably, it's manned - not that they are stopping anyone...
Italy has dry roads, but it's beginning to spit with rain now and again. I look at Bettie's display - four hours still to go. I know she's going to route me over the Stelvio and/or sundry other passes. On a clear day this would be fine, but it's obvious that all these passes are going to be socked in.
I say "Sod it" and ask her to recalculate me a direct route. It instantly cuts the time down to two hours. I start to follow her directions and the weather seems to improve almost immediately...
Great signs on the speed cameras. The camera didn't look like it had received any maintenance in a long time - it has lichen growing on the lens...
This is apple country - and the crop looks ready to be picked. I resisted putting this to the test with some difficulty...
I'm making good progress along Bettie's new route. It's quite a pleasure to let the Adv stretch its legs, rather than continually fight with corners...
...the distance continues to shrink...
...but I am taking nothing for granted with these cloud formations about...
Eventually Bettie steers me onto a dual carriageway and the kilometres start to fly by...
...and I'm starting to think I'm going to get away without a soaking...
But let's not forget, Canazei is in the Dolomites - and I've a bit of climbing to do before I get there...
Sure enough, Bettie soon turns me off the 'road more travelled' and starts finding some more interesting bits of tarmac to play with...
...and as I climb, the unmistakeable rock formations of the Dolomites start appearing out of the cloud ahead...
The threat of rain is a distant memory now...
...just need some clear weather...
Damn they put power lines in the worst places...
Loads of bikes both being ridden...
...and in groups at the tops of the passes...
...the roads are in first class condition - almost up to Swiss standards...
...and the Dolomites make a spectacular backdrop...
Pretty soon I have descended the last pass and I'm just along the valley from my destination...
Hold on - what's this?
Anybody care to supply make and year for this one? Clearly restored to within an inch of its life...
Onward!
I'm soon pulling in at my hotel, the Villa Emma...
Where I am checked in in a rather perfunctory manner and told that Wi-Fi is only available in the public rooms
No matter, I unpack the bike and drag everything up to my pleasant room...
...then come back downstairs and have a coffee whilst writing my journal in the quiet lounge, looking out at the Adv as a soft but persistent rain falls...
A fantastic night's sleep - I don't wake until about 07:30...
...I step out onto my balcony - a look shows me it has been raining, but is currently dry and there's lots of cloud about...
After an excellent breakfast, I decide to go and see how the Adv has fared being left alone for the night. Happily she has remained unmolested, so I go about paying the $S12 parking charge. The machine doesn't take a credit card, so I am forced to draw $S20 from a suspiciously convenient ATM and am given a hoard of silver coins as change. I later use these to pay for part of my fuel stop - they're no use to me otherwise.
The roundabout at the bottom of the street is closed off - they are holding a road-skating race. I wait for a few minutes until the local copper directs me up to my hotel again...
I pack and check out - the Hotel Piz is really nice - it's only down-side is the parking situation. Information for those of a less law-abiding nature: there was easily enough room to get the bike out around the barrier without paying the fee...
I am on the road at exactly 08:45, heading back the way I came. It's a bright morning, but there are a lot of clouds building at the far end of the valley.
Guess where I'm headed?
Various objects and bits of statuary dot the towns on my route...
...no war memorials, though...
As Bettie tries to steer me towards Zernez on route 27, traffic is halted by a young local policemen (with an earring!) who tells me that there will be a 15 minute delay as the road is being used by the skaters I saw in town earlier...
I watch them skate over the bridge whilst Bettie calculates an alternative route. The alternative will increase the day's ride by an hour, so I decide to wait it out.
Predictably it is more like 40 minutes than 15, but eventually we are waved onto the road, to find ourselves at the back of a huge caravan of cars and bikes doing about 10mph - the speed of the last skater and his escort...
As there's no oncoming traffic, I overtake all the cars and join a huge gaggle of riders at the front...
We are stopped just short of the next town...
...as the police let the oncoming traffic onto the road for ten minutes or so. They then wave us on - it's like the start of Le Mans...
Just as everything seems to be sorting itself out, there's another sudden stoppage...
...which clears as quickly as it appeared and it's then plain sailing.
I've asked Bettie to provide me with a winding route to Canazei, where I am booked into the Villa Emma this afternoon. She has come up with just over five hours driving to get me there. My only concern is the weather - it's due to get a bit wet later in the day and the skaters have put a crimp in my plan to break the back of the journey before lunch...
Just imagine if that place was on your paper round...
The roads are really busy - not sure how much of the is due to the disruption caused by the skaters and how much is general Sunday drivers...
The weather keeps reminding me that its a factor though...
I top the Ofenpass in cloud, but nothing like the dense and cold stuff from the other day - I'm back in clear air quite quickly on the far side...
At about 12:30 I cross the border into Italy. Remarkably, it's manned - not that they are stopping anyone...
Italy has dry roads, but it's beginning to spit with rain now and again. I look at Bettie's display - four hours still to go. I know she's going to route me over the Stelvio and/or sundry other passes. On a clear day this would be fine, but it's obvious that all these passes are going to be socked in.
I say "Sod it" and ask her to recalculate me a direct route. It instantly cuts the time down to two hours. I start to follow her directions and the weather seems to improve almost immediately...
Great signs on the speed cameras. The camera didn't look like it had received any maintenance in a long time - it has lichen growing on the lens...
This is apple country - and the crop looks ready to be picked. I resisted putting this to the test with some difficulty...
I'm making good progress along Bettie's new route. It's quite a pleasure to let the Adv stretch its legs, rather than continually fight with corners...
...the distance continues to shrink...
...but I am taking nothing for granted with these cloud formations about...
Eventually Bettie steers me onto a dual carriageway and the kilometres start to fly by...
...and I'm starting to think I'm going to get away without a soaking...
But let's not forget, Canazei is in the Dolomites - and I've a bit of climbing to do before I get there...
Sure enough, Bettie soon turns me off the 'road more travelled' and starts finding some more interesting bits of tarmac to play with...
...and as I climb, the unmistakeable rock formations of the Dolomites start appearing out of the cloud ahead...
The threat of rain is a distant memory now...
...just need some clear weather...
Damn they put power lines in the worst places...
Loads of bikes both being ridden...
...and in groups at the tops of the passes...
...the roads are in first class condition - almost up to Swiss standards...
...and the Dolomites make a spectacular backdrop...
Pretty soon I have descended the last pass and I'm just along the valley from my destination...
Hold on - what's this?
Anybody care to supply make and year for this one? Clearly restored to within an inch of its life...
Onward!
I'm soon pulling in at my hotel, the Villa Emma...
Where I am checked in in a rather perfunctory manner and told that Wi-Fi is only available in the public rooms
No matter, I unpack the bike and drag everything up to my pleasant room...
...then come back downstairs and have a coffee whilst writing my journal in the quiet lounge, looking out at the Adv as a soft but persistent rain falls...
Anybody care to supply make and year for this one? Clearly restored to within an inch of its life...
Jensen Healey. Somewhere between '72 and '76.
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