About Solosolo

Solosolo · ‎19-06-2021

I would take a Spexter before a Boxter all day, every day. A really good looking car.

Solosolo · ‎16-06-2021

Back in 1958 I took my 1956 DBD 34 Gold Star out onto a long, dead straight road to see just how fast it would go but when it got to 113 mph the plug wire came off and of course the bike stopped. I turned around and was pushing the bike down the road looking for the plug top a cop on a motorcycle came up towards me and asked if I had seen a guy on a motorbike go past me at a very fast speed? I told him that I had about 5 minutes before he came and with that he was off in pursuit! I got the plug lead to stay on with the help of some chewing gum and beat a hasty retreat before he came back!

Solosolo · ‎24-03-2021

The Triumph TR 6 is the only one worth saving in my opinion.

Solosolo · ‎23-03-2021

I had a 1956 BSA Gold Star DBD 34 500cc single back in 1960. Ex racing bike with clip on handle bars, Grand Prix carb, close ratio gearbox etc. Wonderful bike, second only to my 1956 Triumph Tiger 110.

Solosolo · ‎18-03-2021

I can't get very enthusiastic about any of them either.

Solosolo · ‎17-03-2021

That's really sad to hear. Sabine was a great, great driver. The video of her driving the van in the Top Gear episode when it was still Clarkson, Hammond and May, was something else to watch. Absolutely brilliant and a lovely, bubbly person as well. R.I.P. Sabine.

Solosolo · ‎11-03-2021

And without Musk' money there would still be only 6 Sportechs produced as against the hundreds of thousands of Teslas being manufactured.

Solosolo · ‎10-03-2021

Unbelievably talented man. I just wish I had 5% of his ability. Beautiful cars as well. Love the Mercury Sled.

Solosolo · ‎27-02-2021

I have just started watching the first episodes of "Timeless" so am looking forward to the episode which includes the Wendell Scott story.

Solosolo · ‎27-02-2021

I have owned a 1925 JE Harley, 1941 WL, a 1943 WL, and a 1981 Low Rider and for my money they were all rubbish. The British 1956 Triumph Tiger 110, 1958 Tiger 110, 1956 BSA Gold Star 500cc were ten times the bike that the Harleys' were. I have owned a further 45 motorcycles since then including British, Italian, German, French, Checkoslovakian, Japanese and even Chinese manufactured bikes, and it has never crossed my mind to buy another Harley.

Solosolo · ‎12-02-2021

At the end of the day this one is just going to be another Honda 360 but with low mileage. The amount of work needed to make this bike even presentable will make it more a restored bike than an original. The "crate" story is a big let down as well.

Solosolo · ‎12-02-2021

Oh, how us bikers wish that we owned this beautiful Vincent. Just to walk around it and appreciate it for what it is would be an absolute pleasure. I have seen a lot of Vincents here in UK, both in museums and bike shows, however, none of them can hold a candle to this one.

Solosolo · ‎08-02-2021

Back in 1989 while on my way to Hershey Swap Meet I stayed over at my friends house in Garwood City, New Jersey, and over the weekend he took me to visit the Ralph Space Museum in either Andover or Wendover or similar, in Pennsylvania. Apart from thousands of rifles, bullets etc. from the Civil War, he had a collection of cars including a very rare Premier that had a sign on the running board that said it was one of only two known to exist but the current whereabouts of the second car where unknown. Two months later, back in South Africa, I was showing my friend my American photos and when he saw the Premier he called out to his wife "Hey Pam, here's a Premier just like ours." What are the chances of that happening nearly 10,000 miles apart? Back to the Ralph Space Museum, where just about opposite where the Premier was parked there was a Ford "T" just like this one. Fascinating car, and museum, which I believe doesn't exist anymore as I tried to let them know where the other Premier was to be found but couldn't find a contact.

Solosolo · ‎05-02-2021

I notice that the bow/prow of the hull has been altered quite a lot since the black and white photograph was taken. The topside and interior looks beautiful and the mahogany has a glass like finish to it, however, whoever painted the blue under the waterline needs glasses and a steady hand before trying it on another boat. (or some masking tape!)

Solosolo · ‎01-02-2021

@Aquadave. No problem, I was 6ft 2in back in the sixties and I had no trouble either with sitting, or leg, room in my mates Minor. One thing I remember about a Minor is that it can do a 90 deg. turn at about 45 mph and it doesn't drift an inch even on cross-ply tyres! Sticks to the road like the proverbial to a blanket! Great little cars.

Solosolo · ‎21-01-2021

Back in the nineteen fifties I used to race a Norton 350cc and it was fitted with a steamline fairing commonly known even then as a "dustbin" so the more things change, the more they stay the same!

Solosolo · ‎18-01-2021

100hp would't have enabled this 9000lb behemoth to pull a skin off a rice pudding. Gorgeous motor car though and worth a large futune I would think.

Solosolo · ‎18-01-2021

When I decided to restore my British 1959 Ford Zephyr 6 convertible I made a point of asking fellow club members how I should go about it. About 50% said mechanicals first about 40% said paint, and the rest, upholstery. So that's the way I did it, fortunately because as I was lowering the engine into the body one leg of the tripod slipped, and the engine crashed down onto the fender which was then beyond repair. Being a bolt on fender it was easily replaced as I had a seperate body to strip another fender from. Imagine how I would have felt if the bodywork had been completed? I think I would have given up the project there and then!

Solosolo · ‎11-01-2021

BLM don't believe you.

Solosolo · ‎06-01-2021

First the Jaguar E Type, followed by the Bugatti and then the Shelby Mustang, Allard, Lancia and GT6, with the Monte Carlo a definite "no, no."

Solosolo · ‎30-12-2020

The Packard Twelve prototype must be the ugliest American car ever!

Solosolo · ‎26-12-2020

They definitely don't make them like this any more! Great story.

Solosolo · ‎17-12-2020

Isn't Shell Rotella oil made specifically for diesel engines?

Solosolo · ‎11-12-2020

I have owned over 50 motorcycles and must say that I have had no more breakdowns with the British bikes than I have with Harleys or Japanese. I have even owned two Chinese bikes which gave me no trouble whatsoever. I think it's all down to care and attention.

Solosolo · ‎07-12-2020

I forgot to mention that also with the rear fender skirts it looked great, but once they went to wire wheels with knock-ons, and had to drop the fender skirts the whole beauty was lost.

Solosolo · ‎07-12-2020

The Jaguar XK 120 was a beautiful car ruined by the raising of the cowl and trunk in order to fit more luggage (and golf clubs!). For me, the 140's and 150's do nothing.

Solosolo · ‎02-12-2020

When I was restoring my 1933 Calthorpe Ivory 500 I couldn'r find anybody that could bend the new pipes with a swooping curve as against two crimped bends so I just had the originals re chromed. Twenty years later they still look good.

Solosolo · ‎01-12-2020

I have to agree with your last sentence.

Solosolo · ‎24-11-2020

I would take the BMW any time.

Solosolo · ‎11-11-2020

The only tools I carried on my 1981 Harley Low Rider were an impact driver, bits, 4 lb hammer and a shifting spanner.

Solosolo · ‎06-11-2020

Brilliant piece of engineering and design. I love it.

Solosolo · ‎29-10-2020

The Thunderbird any day, all day!

Solosolo · ‎28-10-2020

I'm surprised that you are surprised by the fact that she drives a stick shift as most cars up to about 2010 are stick. Automatics are easy to find if built after about 2010.out

Solosolo · ‎19-10-2020

One helluva driver was Rene Dreyfus!

Solosolo · ‎09-10-2020

The Humber Super Snipe that you say exploded in the first video never happened. Watch the video frame by frame and you can easily see that it's the La Salle that blows up. Also the screeching of the tyres on a gravel road is a hoot!

Solosolo · ‎07-10-2020

Knowing that most American classic car people don't like a slush box they might change there minds if this unit were connected to a torque converter. Not knowing much about torque converters, and even less about electric motors, I look forward to some comments.

Solosolo · ‎02-10-2020

I will take the 1969 Boss against the bloated, later model every time. Ever since 1970 America lost it's design direction and started producing horrible looking motor cars.

Solosolo · ‎01-10-2020

Somebody who is an absolute Corvette fan, with very deep pockets, is the only type of person to put up $90k for this junk. Put them back in the barn.

Solosolo · ‎21-09-2020

That's what I don't understand about Americans. They come to England, buy London Bridge, which they disassemble so that they can ship it back to USA, where they rebuild it in a dessert but then want to demolish one of their oldest motor car historic buildings in order to build a new modern building. I must say that I like your idea of building over it, thereby keeping the old and the new is a much better idea.

Solosolo · ‎14-09-2020

If you cannot afford the real thing, then this is the way to go. Beautiful replica and a thousand times better than a "Fake Snake" Cobra in every respect.

Solosolo · ‎21-08-2020

Pass on all of them thank you. America lost it from 1970 onwards in the design department in my view.

Solosolo · ‎18-08-2020

I was offered a 1967 Coupe 289 but the price didn't interest me even though it was very low. About two months later it was offered to me at half the previous price so, under sufferance, I bought it. I have owned over 200 cars, 3 classic car dealerships, a classic car repair shop but not ONE of those cars, including the Porsches, Ferraris, Maserati's etc. gave me as much pleasure to drive as did that Mustang. Only one other car came near it and that was a 1969 BMW 2002 Roundie. Both great cars that i wish I still owned.s

Solosolo · ‎24-07-2020

Absolutely unbelievable collection. When I started in old cars it was with a 1934 Austin Ten Four Door and my wife said that i wouldn't be able to live with it for more than 6 months before I would have to buy a larger car. She was correct, so I bought a 1947 Cadillac but I didn't sell the Austin. From then on it became a disease/obsession, call it what you like but it never leaves you. I am now 81 and although I don't have old cars anymore, I still have a 1933 Calthorpe motorcycle and a 1986 Honda Rebel motorcycle that I ride as often as I can. As for the Austin Ten, I had it for 29 years before emigrating to UK. From the smallest to the largest, a 1948 Hudson Commodore straight eight convertible, they were all great cars to have owned.

Solosolo · ‎09-07-2020

My panel shop reported to me when my 1951 Buick was being restored that the body had been galvanised and that's why there was no rust anywhere, however, about two years after the paint job rust appeared in several spots where the sanding apparatus had gone through the zinc on some high spots. Would this hot dipping, zinc plating have been normal on a '51 Buick?

Solosolo · ‎08-06-2020

As a lover of motorcycles, of which I have owned 52, mostly British from Triumph Tiger 110's, BSA Gold Star 500, Sunbeam S8 etc. Seven Harleys, one Moto Guzzi , one Czechoslovakian Jawa 350, plenty of Japanese and a couple of Chinese, I just loved your write-up. To all the people that have never owned a motorcycle, it's your loss and you don't know what you are missing. I'm now 81 and took my '86 Honda Rebel 450cc out for a 50 mile blast yesterday and still enjoyed every minute of it. All the best and enjoy the Triumph.

Solosolo · ‎04-06-2020

One beautiful piece of work. Well done Sir.

Solosolo · ‎03-06-2020

A mechanic friend of mine once told me that in an emergency, just slightly squash the condenser with a pair of pliers, pipe pliers or similar, and the condenser will operate again. I have never had to try it but he assured me that it will work.

Solosolo · ‎13-05-2020

I would like to see the same trip done today, but using an American 4x4 fitted out similar to the Land Rover, and see how today's vehicles compare with yesterdays.

Solosolo · ‎16-04-2020

Having just watched Tom Cotter finding two very different types of car collectors it amazes me that the one guy acquires cars by the hundred, restores about 40 of them by the look of it, and then parks them off and does nothing with them! He just lets them collect dust and knows that the engines will freeze and the rubbers will perish etc. but that's o.k. as he has a couple of hundred more that he is going to restore. There are so many enthusiasts out there that would love to buy so many of his cars, put them back on the road, and enjoy them. That might only happen after he croaks, and that might be past the desirability date of the current generation so they will possibly go to the scrapyard. The other gentleman is the real McCoy collector, driver, restorer etc. and drives and enjoys his cars whether or not they are perfectly presented. Thanks for another great episode Tom.

Solosolo · ‎14-04-2020

I watched him race a Cooper Jap I think it was, back in 1952/3 with the nose of his car just inside the tail opening of Roy Salvadori's car, for several laps until Salvadori had to let him through. It was at this same meeting, at Boreham circuit, where Froilan Gonzales spun his BRM H 16 off the track and into my fathers motorcycle sidecar that I was sitting in. What a great day.