BL Autumn Rally

[Synclare]

That's British Leyland to the young 'uns.
Not zed but interesting nonetheless. I have a small interest in BL products with having a very late A series engined Metro 1.3 Clubman with just 1,812 miles on the clock ftom new, totally genuine.
It was held at Milton Keynes Museum just off the A5. Well, what a museum, totally absorbing and takes you back to a slower way of life when people had values and integrity. It is centred around the main hall. Within there are re-creations of businesses and displays of life's everyday articles of the time. Going to be a little picture heavy.
Anyway, starting outside with the original and genuine concrete cows that were synonymous with Milton Keynes:

The usual fare from BL which have stood the test of time surprisingly well from the humble 1100 range in various guises, Austin, Wolseley, MG, VDP to up market Rovers:

The MG1100 (above) was the very first car I ever had and until today I had never sat in one again.

I remember well the strip style speedo above.
Some more of BL products in no particular order:

A rather rare Maestro Camper with largely original fityings:

The modern Wolfrace style alloys spoil it in my opinion.
I'll post these and continue with the hall next.

 

[Synclare]

The hall is very worthy of a visit and probably at a weekend when all the volunteers are present to man things.

Start things off with this plaque to explain things (above).
A hall dedicated to telephony over the years:

Some of the business exhibits:

The typical kitchen was very much hands on with children being allowed to toast bread over the fire using a three pronged toasting fork and then buttering it before scoffing it. I guess they were amazed that people used to have real open fires INSIDE a house, I remember my grandparents having a very similar kitchen where they spent much of their time, certainly in the winter.
Remember Black Jacks?, these were 20p each (that's 4 bob)I recall getting 4 for a penny or was it ½p? The post office was well stocked with a good varieth:

So I had a ¼ of Dolly Mixture - I know how to live!:

 

[Synclare]

The bread toasting:

Back outside:

Lord knows how old the Cedar tree above is.
A very interesting place to visit and highly recommended, quite how the trawler got there I don't know:

 

[Synclare]

I thought I'd posted it under General Banter, evidently not. @GazHyde

 

[Pond]

Looks great.
Isn't it just amazing that there are people still restoring and looking after 'disposable' BL cars?
Who would have thought that a Maxi would ever be interesting?

MG Maestros are increasing in value, too. My dad had one as his last company car in 1987. It was crap. Imagine that.

I do have thing for the Rover P5B coupe. They have gone up a lot in value recently (which is why I don't have one).

1/4 of sweets for £1.20 is a bargain. I paid double that in an 'olde worlde' sweet shop in Harrogate this year. Rip off!

 

[Grumps]

Really interesting read Adrian. They made the worst cars known to man but they hold a place in my heart as my old Dad, got may he rest, swore by them, god only knows why! He had 2 Marina's, a Maxi and an Ital to my recollection as a child, I only had one, an MG maestro 1600 with talky dash, I was bloody awful!
On the Rover side of things I'd happily have a P5 or SD1 but the zed would have to go to allow for garage space.

 

[Pauliebhoy]

My first company car as a Junior Project manager with John Laing was a Metro 1.1 It had 33 miles on it when delivered. My Girlfriend (now my wife) used to go out in it at weekends just for the sake of driving a car that wasn't in danger of breaking down or pulling out the gearstick when changing gear (MK3 Cortina) and Co-indecently this was in Milton Keynes!!!