1973 Week

[SprintMWU773V]

BBC Four are currently having a 1973 week so apart from Life on mars repeats they are showing some documentaries on Tuesday Night 4th April.<br>
<br>
One is about that idiot Red Robbo and the other is about the rise and fall of Rover.<br>
<br>
just thought it may interest some people out there! Obviously as Triumph fans we have to take a dim view of the Rover name, what with it killing off our brand WHY? but it's still a sorry mess however you look at it.<br>
<br>
Incidentially i'm fed up with the bodyshop fixing our MG saying they can't get parts cos "It's a Rover". If you can get parts for a 30 year old Dolly why not a car they stopped making just 12 months ago? Damn that bus that took the front end off the car and drove off. They'll probably write it off next week cos it's worth about £1.<br>
<br>
Rant over now<br>
<br>
Mark

<p></p><i></i>

[davepoth]

Rimmers do the full line of parts. I'd ask them for their price list.<br>
<br>


<p></p><i></i>

[SprintMWU773V]

I passed the details of Rimmer's to the offending garage and also X-Part who are in overall charge of the parts situation. Worst thing is I actually work for the garage concerned!

<p></p><i></i>

[dollybird72]

Talking of Rover, I guess most of you have seen this site already but if not, it makes interesting reading.<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?ajaxtlinef.htm" target="top">www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?ajaxtl ... <!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
<br>
The BBC forgot to mention the greatest moment in history of 1973 (no, not my birth - that was the previous year <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> ) - the year that the Dolomite Sprint was launched! (according to the above website).<br>
<br>


<p></p><i></i>

[Aberdeen Sprinter]

Watched that thing about Robbo and wasn't it crazy? However, was heartened seeing the boys "wanting" to go back to work and wanting to do a good job. Think they knew the industry would collapse? <br>
<br>
Government weakness and Union greed....shambles. 46% pay rise? Well I agree I should get that but realistically I doubt I'll get more than 43%.....yeah right!!!<br>
<br>
Shame really.....power in all the wrong places...<br>
<br>


<p></p><i></i>

[SprintMWU773V]

Just watched Robbo as I recorded it last night. I wasn't really around during the 70's so obviously won't remember but it's plain to see that the industrial unrest then ultimately led to the collapse of UK car production and its death last year. Some products were a clever idea but badly executed, others were just rubbish. i remember my Dad talking about a Datsun he bought in the 70's and people thought he was weird buying japanese but when it never went wrong and had a radio and heated rear window all in the price they soon decided it was a good idea. That said the Japanese have always taken good idea and designs from the europeans but made them properly. The soul is usually lost in the process though.

<p></p><i></i>

[MaddMart]

The thing is with Datsuns they used to rust quicker than the British stuff. I don't think the Japs were up to speed with our weather conditions at the time...certainly made up for it now.

<p>Martin<br>
<br>
<!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.dolomitesprint.com/" target="top">www.dolomitesprint.com</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--></p><i></i>

[alun n]

The Japanese words for 'learn' and 'copy' are the same! Once its been copied, make it better.<br>
<br>
Your humble Japanese worker would have too much humility to ask for a pay rise, but if he had earned one it would be given.<br>
<br>
Japanese culture retains respect for elders and betters<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Those are 3 of the reasons why they still make cars and we don't...

<p></p><i></i>

[SprintMWU773V]

My late grandmother had one of the first Toyota Startlets into the country in the 70's. had it Ziebarted or something similar and it still rusted badly. Her second one is still going strong with the sister driveing it. 21 years old and no rust!<br>
<br>
Japanese have some weird MOT at 3 years old which is very expensive hence they just buy another car. No need for rustproofing and it ensures a boayant new car market. that's why you have to be carefull if you buy a japanese imported car, no underseal or cavity wax in many cases!

<p></p><i></i>

[no41sprint]

remember my dad buying a hillman avenger in 1973 for £750.sold it in 1980 for £400......to buy a Talbot salora.<br>
nearly a happy ending to the story.He didnt want a jap car as you couldnt sell them afterwards.

<p></p><i></i>

[SprintMWU773V]

When was the last time you saw one?<br>
<br>
my Dad also had an avenger, an orange estate one which he bought from a car auctions when it was 2 years old and already full of rust. Think this is what he bought after his Datsun. After that he decided to back to the far east and bought what must have been one of the first hyundai pony's brought here. It's only redeeming feature was it was rear drive. after my sister came along the 3dr Pony went to be replaced by another Hyundai, a Sonata (a special edition Stellar). Once the first choice for a Bolton mini cab most rusted away. Dad liberally waxoiled it and it survived well. Was a weird hybrid of a Cortina floorpan and Mitsubishi running gear. A mate has got one and he's stuck a Rover V8 in it, apprantly it improves the performance no end but fuel consumption has taken a turn for the worse.

<p></p><i></i>

[no41sprint]

There is one Keighley ,he uses as his daily runner.it is a red one,prob was dark once but now lightish!<br>
ours was dark green ,i loved the L-shaped lights on the back...so sad.neighbour worked for a hillman garage,he had an orange tiger,with orange painted wheels and he had a radio in it....but it was a sprint i wanted,the professionals have a lot to answer for.

<p></p><i></i>