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Showing posts from September, 2023

Volvo P1800: From West Bromwich to Gothenburg.

Saw this lovely piece of Gothenburg metal in South Birmz today: Built between 1961 and 1973, with the Shooting Brake version produced in the final year of production, the P1800 shot to fame when Roger Moore (who also owned one IRL) used a Coupe version in The Saint. Assembled for the first year of production at the Jensen Motors factory in West Bromwich, UK, where 6000 units were built, until quality control issues led to the transfer to Volvo's Torslanda and Gothenburg plants, alongside its Amazon sibling. So influential in design, many cues can be seen in later Volvo models, most prominently in the all-glass rear hatch, as seen in the Volvo Safety Car concept; a watered-down version of which becoming the C30, and to a lesser extent, the Peter Horbury (RIP) designed 480.

Social media positivity, 60’s German audio equipment, impractical cars, practical cars.

Social media is often demonised, but I’ve had two positive experiences with it this week. As I’ve moved in to my new flat, I’m busying myself with the acquisition of mid-century furniture. As well as the dressing table and sideboard from Moseley Vintage Hub, I bought a Grundig Radiogram from eBay. Not expecting to win it, I submitted a speculative £29.99 bid. Overnight, I won, which presented me with a logistical problem; I have a silly, impractical car, not in the least bit suitable for transporting heavy wooden vintage audio equipment.  This is where social media came in. I put out a cry for help, asking:  “ Tamworth Posse! Is anyone driving down to Birmingham at any point? I've bought a Radiogram from Polesworth and it won't fit in my car. Will pay, obvs!” I had a number of helpful responses with offers of help, the first of which was from Max Cartwright, who offered his services. Tonight, Max drove from Tamworth, after collecting and loading the unit from Polesworth, deli

Lee Fisher, A Better Way, Guerillas, and an AIWA Super Bass.

I’ve just found my AIWA Radio Cassette Player which I've owned since I was 15, complete with a copy of a DJ Mag Guerilla Mastermix by some lad called Justin Robertson. I popped a couple of AA's in there, put a pencil through the reel and I'm now transported back to 1992.  Also, found this A Better Way t-shirt, bought in Pure records from a hip young gunslinger called  Lee Fisher .  1990's washing machines were very unsophisticated by today's standards, hence the small holes. 💯 would recommend.