Originally the second prize in a national driving competition for lady drivers, this Escort XL is now a cherished family heirloom.
In these days of over-zealous political correctness, it’s a brave soul who dares to comment on the abilities of women drivers, but back in the early Seventies it was a very different matter. Female drivers in those days came in for a lot of stick from their male counterparts and in an attempt to dispel the age-old myth that men were more competent behind the wheel than the fairer sex the Daily Mail ran a series of annual competitions to find the nation’s most proficient women drivers.
A typical headline in the paper during the period these car craft competitions were taking place claimed the contestants all had 'nerves of steel but still drove like angels'. One of the angels who took part in this gruelling driving competition three years running was Rosemary North, a telephonist and mother of four from Brampton in Northamptonshire.
The first time Rosemary took part in the competition was in 1971 when she came 17th. Encouraged by her husband to try again, she entered the 'Daily Mail Woman Driver of the Year' competition again the following year and this time came fourth, with her skilful car craft winning her a caravan. Buoyed on by the success, Rosemary decided to enter the competition once more in 1973 when the top prize was a brand-new Ford Capri. Although Rosemary didn’t manage to win the Capri, she came second and won the bright red MkI Escort 1300XL featured here.
Rosemary used the car as her everyday transport for quite a few years and during the late Eighties she would occasionally take her grandson David Green to school in the Escort. One day, David asked if could have the car when he grew up, as he really liked it. David’s grandmother stuck to her promise and eventually presented him with the car when he turned 18 – he’s owned TBY 3M ever since.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Issue 260 من Classics Monthly.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Issue 260 من Classics Monthly.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
REINVENTING THE PAST
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AN MG RARITY
The MkIII and MkIV Magnettes have forever lived in the shadow of their illustrious forebear, the Z-Type Magnette. Sales were never strong and scrappage rates were high, but fans are now seeking out and cherishing the few that remain.
Out on the road again
I was in a great rush as usual when I checked out the Allard P1 late one evening, only to find that the lights wouldn’t come on main beam.
A CHEEKY CHAPPY
The Austin A30 and later A35 are tiny by today's standards, but back in the 1950s they were everyday transport for many a family. With all the charm of a puppy they had a tendency to worm their way into owners' affections, and Ray Lewis' lovely 1957 example is no exception to this rule.
Light Fantastic
We revisit Audi’s cleverly engineered lightweight loss-leader. Just don’t mention the A-Class.
Prized Companion
Originally the second prize in a national driving competition for lady drivers, this Escort XL is now a cherished family heirloom.
Exhausting Gentry
At the beginning of August I was in Denmark attending the 2017 Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix and as usual this was a brilliant event.
Major Minor Screen Problems
The last few weeks have been taken up with fettling the Minor’s wipers, as the motor was running too hot, despite smoothing the bends in the outer and replacing the grease with EP90 oil.
10 Things You Need To Know About... Bmc 1100/1300 (1972-1974)
For a car that was Britain’s best seller for most of its 12-year production run, the BMC 1100 and 1300 are remarkably scarce with survivors being just a tiny fraction of the two million plus cars that were produced between 1962 and 1974. Built in both Cowley and Longbridge, demand for the 1100 was so great that even after Longbridge started building the Austin version in late 1963, the Cowley plant had double shifts working to build enough cars.
Project MGF
Last month saw us going right through the MGF’s cooling system and since then I’m happy to report that the garage floor seems to have remained bone dry.
