Riley was a British motorcar and bicycle manufacturer from 1890. Riley became part of the Nuffield Organisation in 1938 and was merged into the British Leyland Motor Corporation in 1968. ln July 1969 British Leyland announced the immediate end of Riley production. My Mum had a lovely little blue Riley Elf when I was a kid, I have fond memories of that car, but haven’t seen one for ages now. At the rally they had a Riley one point five, which looked similar to the Elf from the front
but the Elf looked more like a mini from the side and rear. Nice to see this anyway.
The Triumph marque had its origins in 1885 when Siegfried Bettmann of Nuremberg formed S. Bettmann & Co and started importing bicycles from Europe and selling them under his own trade name in London. The trade name became “Triumph” the following year, and in 1887 Bettmann was joined by a partner, Moritz Schulte, also from Germany. In 1889, the businessmen started producing their own bicycles in Coventry, England. In 1930 the company’s name was changed to Triumph Motor Company. Triumph could not compete with the larger car companies for the mass market, so decided to produce expensive cars, and introduced the models Southern Cross and Gloria. When I was a trainee Nurse, my first car was a Triumph Herald. The key ignition didn’t work in it so every time I needed to start it I would lift the bonnet and push a rubber button which fired it up. Good times! These two shots are of the Southern Cross vehicles.
Not sure what this next one is, I should take notes really, but as it’s got a crank handle to start it up I think it’s one of the oldest we saw. As a by it’s also for sale, there’s a note on the side window advertising it for £10.500!
Jaguar is the luxury vehicle brand of Jaguar Land Rover, a British multinational car manufacturer with its headquarters in Whitley, Coventry, England, owned by the Indian company Tata Motors since 2008. The 1960s Mark 2 became one of the most recognisable Jaguar models ever produced.
Seddon Atkinson Vehicles Limited, a manufacturer of large goods vehicles based in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England, was formed in mid 1970 when Atkinson Vehicles Limited of Preston was acquired by Seddon Diesel Vehicles Limited of Oldham. In 1974 the firm was acquired by the American giant International Harvester, and in February 1983 it was purchased by the Spanish group ENASA which made it a subsidiary of Pegaso. In 1990 it became part of the international commercial vehicle concern Iveco who used the brand for various types of specialised vehicles in the United Kingdom. The range of models produced included EuroMover, Pacer and Strato, which are aimed at refuse collection, recycling and construction operators. The Oldham manufacturing facilities were shut-down in 2004, and the offices were closed at the end of 2006.
Merryweather & Sons of Clapham, later Greenwich, London, were builders of steam fire engines and steam tram engines. The founder was Moses Merryweather (1791–1872) of Clapham, who was joined by his son Richard Moses (1839–1877). The company celebrated their 362nd anniversary in 2008 and is still going strong as far as I can tell.
So that’s it for vintage vehicles, stay tooned for the next report which will feature dogs, sheep people and birds. 🙂
fraggle ~ rocking a camera across the Universe 