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TRUCKING MAN
Paudie O’Sullivan from Feenagh, Co. Limerick has, for many years, been connected with trucks. One manufacturer in particular has been a favourite of his; M.A.N. Paudie stuck with the M.A.N. brand through thick and thin during his haulage career, and when he got the chance to buy one of his favourite classic models he jumped at it. It came from the now much-talked-about Irish Glass … Read more
Acute Angle
Ford have almost always succeeded with coming up with the right car for the Irish motorist, and one of the best-loved of all is surely the Anglia 105E. Its quirky styling was certainly a point of controversy when it was launched in 1959, but it soon made lots of friends for itself thanks to its roomy interior, smooth and lively OHV engine and four-speed gearbox, … Read more
BLOWN BUGEYE
The Austin Healey Sprite might have had some odd nicknames thanks to its quirky, bulbous styling, but there was no nonsense about its drivability or value for money. Intended from the outset as a basic, affordable sports car, the Sprite carried out its brief very successfully, and is held in high esteem by classic car collectors today. Billy Roche from Kilrush spent five years restoring … Read more
CHICAGO SPECIAL
IH Farmall tractors were famous for their eye-catching, bright red colour schemes, so why is this fabulous, restored Model-C white? It’s actually a factory shade, which was only applied to a very limited run of a couple of hundred tractors in early 1950 earmarked for dealer-demonstrator use. Andrew travels to Co. Cavan to meet with the owner of this rare machine, a long-time vintage vehicle … Read more
TRADING PLACES
Classic commercials enjoy a special place in the memory of any classic vehicle enthusiast, as they were part of everyday life back in the fifties, sixties and seventies. One particular favourite on these shores was the Ford Thames Trader, and this month we catch up with Alan Barry and his compatriots from the Halfway Vintage Club in Co. Cork, who have only recently completed the … Read more
DOUBLE TRIUMPH
Classic motorcycles come in all shapes and sizes, and this month we catch up with a bike enthusiast who has recently restored a ’72 Triumph T100, as well as building his own 1955 Triton café-racer. As the name suggests, the Triton is an amalgam of the best parts from Triumph and Norton, namely the Turner Speed Twin engine and the featherbed frame, along with a … Read more
NO JOKE
The poor old Skoda brand has been the butt of lots of jokes over the years, few of which had anything to do with flaws in the actual cars themselves. Cheap, rugged and utilitarian, the Skoda of old was built to tackle the worst roads that Eastern Europe had to offer, which in turn made them perfect for Irish roads… This month’s cover car is … Read more
GREEN GIANT
The poor old Skoda brand has been the butt of lots of jokes over the years, few of which had anything to do with flaws in the actual cars themselves. Cheap, rugged and utilitarian, the Skoda of old was built to tackle the worst roads that Eastern Europe had to offer, which in turn made them perfect for Irish roads… This month’s cover car is … Read more
HIGH NOTE
Once a stalwart of the Irish haulage sector, the Hino HE series of trucks have become practically extinct, not because of their mechanicals or effectiveness, but because of that familiar Japanese bugbear; rust. However a small number have survived, and this month we call to Conor Jennings in Tullamore to check out his fabulous 1977 HE336; Conor’s father ran the well-known Midlands Truck Centre in … Read more
B1 BROTHERS
Paddy O’Donovan from Cork is lucky enough to have not one, but twin AJS B1 350s at his disposal. However, his luck came hard-fought, as the restoration process for these vintage motorcycles was intensive, to say the least. The majority of engine and cosmetic parts are unavailable new, leading to their owners scouring the planet looking for spares. When these can’t be found, there’s often … Read more