Beautiful burgundy P1800 Volvo passed before my eyes just as I was leaving work. Designed by Pelke Peterson whilst a student under the Italian carrozzeria Pietro Frua. The P1800 was introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, the same year as the E-Type Jaguar. The Saint TV show starring Roger Moore as Simon Templar used the Volvo as his car after Jaguar declined to offer their XKE.
Fobbed off
– an essential item for a single key or a collection of keys. Identity of use or group storage. They can be souvenirs, promotional, toys, trinkets.
Museum pieces
– fa few choice articles seen at the Nation Motorcycle Museum. Gang jacket patch, tin toy motorcycles, kids ride, Shriner fez . Shelves were filled, corners clogged and walls covered.
No Cars
– cleaner than a clock; a rather splendid oil-in-frame Triumph with ruby tank and polished cases. The light bronze frame is a special touch.
Skin Graffiti
– Gorillaz bassist Murdoc Niccals gets up to no good street art in this body art scene.
Tiger Cub
– this is like the crazy half hour in our house at about 10.30pm. The two cats tear around the house chasing each other like crazy dervishes.
Graffiti
– the new Triumph Trident has arrived in Chicago and have already sold out at Motoworks. I haven’t seen one in person yet, but will no doubt see one darting around the urban environment.
Lepus ssp.
– lovely pencil illustration by artist Benedicte Waryn of a pre-unit Triumph chopper with a “hare-brained” owner. So much to like about the detailed drawing: from the clothing; to the custom bike; and the lush fur of the hare’s head.
Red Hot Chilli Pepper
Flaming Triumph
A red frame does look smart on an early seventies Bonneville. The large oil filled frame gives weight to the accent color.
Gran Turismo
– slotting a two litre inline 6 into the Spitfires chassis and more streamlined bodywork from the Michelotti studio created a worthy competitor to the silo mar MGB GT. The Poor Man’s E-Type it has been called.
Codename Zest
– pure sixties design from Giovanni Michelotti in the shape of this compact sports car from the Triumph factory in Coventry. In red it looks like a firecracker.
Ragtop
– another classic from Giovanni Michelotti’s drawing board. The 3l V8 Stag built between 1970 & 1978. This particular blue body color is impressed on my childhood memory.
In Anticipation of Good Tidings
Natty Dresser
– the Triumph cars certainly had their own vibe going on. One in particular was the Triumph Herald; a small two-door car made from 1959 to 1971. The body design was by the Italian stylist Giovanni Michelotti, and the car was offered in saloon, convertible, coupé, estate and van models, with the latter marketed as the Triumph Courier. This example has a fine green side body and room with white hood and wings. The blue skies with scudding clouds with verdant grass make me nostalgic for the warmer weather to come. I think we’ll revisit Michelotti designs this week.