TRACTOR WORLD 2011

An event to watch for any fan of vintage and classic tractors, Tractor World has become an established favourite on the show scene in Ireland. Organised by the Cork Branch of the Ford & Fordson Association in conjunction with the Fota Island Vintage Club, this year’s instalment took place on Saturday the 30th of April and Sunday the 1st of May at the Corrin Marts … Read more

MILLSTREET 2011

In only its second year, the Millstreet Vintage Show succeeded in building on the popularity of its inaugural running last year. The Green Glens Arena in the Co. Cork town was packed with some great vintage and classic vehicles this Easter Sunday, with a particularly impressive indoor display of modified Mk1 and Mk2 Escorts, as well as classic rally cars and other retro motors. Outside, … Read more

ESSEN 2011

The Techno Classica show takes place in Essen in Germany each year. April 2011 saw Editor Tom Heavey making his first trip to the event, and here are just some of his photos from the trip. Tom says that “ this is the best show I have ever attended, and I was left speechless for a few days after. With 20 halls of cars to see, my feet were also sore … Read more

DURROW 2011

Traditionally the season-opener for a great many vintage and classic enthusiasts, the Durrow Vintage Rally didn’t disappoint this time around on the 17th of April, with the Co. Laois venue once again packed from end to end with all manner of vehicles and displays. The first year that the event has enjoyed the traffic relief of the new Cork/Dublin motorway, there was a steady flow of … Read more

MOYNALTY 2010

The Moynalty Steam Threshing took place in August 2010, and was the 35th running of the event. Each year this draws a huge crowd thanks to its extensive working displays, and the 2010 event was the organisers’ biggest yet, with up to eight threshing mills in action and 400 cars on display; see our March 2011 issue for a full report on the event. The … Read more

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

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