Its Rod from the South Island of New Zealand here. I seem to have spent more time reading old posts on here than anything else in recent times so have finally got around to signing up. I seem to have always loved anything automotive and in my teens had a series of 50's fords but then fell in love with Jaguars and other English classics. Since then have had aroung 200 cars including Austin Healeys, Jags, Alvis's, MG's and a number of specials and as dailys mainly BMW and Mecedes Coupes. I love the timeless elegance of the German coupes and the lovely feel of everything you touch in them. My current drives are a Mercedes E320 Coupe 1994, MGF Roadster 1997 and a 1946 Bradford Trials Special. Bradfords were a light commercial vehicle built by a long deceased British Company Jowett. The mechanical specification is particularly exciting...NOT!!! 2 ashthmatic horizontally opposed cylinders, 3 gears all useless, mechanical brakes (dragging your heels works better). Combine all this with styling that came straight from the manual of how to build a garden shed and the handling characteristics of a flying brick and you start getting the idea. Mine has lost the bodywork and now consists of a seat and a 12 Gallon drum sitting on a wood platform mounted on the chassis so it truelly is not for those who take themselves too seriously. The downside of my love of cars is the fact I'm a total mechanical idiot and a life member of the YUB ( You Useless Bastard) Society so have found it more practical to immerse myself in the history plus enjoy others who have the talents efforts. For nearly 20 years I was involved in car importation but 4 years ago decided to follow a dream and started a small business buying and selling motoring books, sales brochures, manuals and parts books and have recently added die cast models to the mix. Not very lucrative but I love it. My next dream is to get a 38 Deluxe Coupe, black with skirts and dropped down in the rear but 1st I have to wind the business up a bit more. Anyway enough about me its back to reading the board again.
Welcome aboard Rod! I live in the Wairarapa, in the North Island. I think my mate Terry Marshall knows you well?
Thanks Steve. Yea I see a lot of Terry.......he's a awesome guy and one hell of a photographer. Kept looking at that 38 of yours when it was on Trade Me and glad it is going to be saved.
The Jalopy Journal
