New Year’s Eve is the one day of the year I don’t drink excessively. This is partially because I don’t get invited to any decent parties, but mainly because it’s good to start the new calendar with something car related, without a hangover. After a gap of two years, 1st January 2022 saw the return of Vintage Stony.
Stony Stratford is a small market town that has just about resisted the imposing advances of neighbouring Milton Keynes. Unlike MK, which is a 1960s concrete new town that presumably must have seemed such a good idea at the time, Stony Stratford retains some historic heart and boasts a market charter that dates back to 1194. Vintage Stony is one of two car-meets that happen annually in the town, the other being the summertime Classic Stony. Despite the names and the theoretical spotlight on pre-war cars for the Vintage event, there’s normally little difference apart from the weather, and both involve the town centre being overrun with old cars and visitors. The New Year’s Day meeting had a straight run of 10 years and almost got to the point of being a victim of its own success; not everyone approves of the invasion. However, the 2021 event was cancelled for predictable reasons, which must have hit the local economy on what is otherwise traditionally a quiet day. 2022 was back with a bang however, with the hospitality trade opening their doors and the pubs selling plenty of beer. Importantly, both Vintage and Classic Stony act as a revenue generator for local charities so a bit of noise and disruption goes a long way to doing a lot of good.
We arrived bright and early to find the town centre already absolutely rammed with fabulous old tat, so were forced to park our own old tat on the edge of town and walk back in. However, the show seeps into every snicket and you can see just as much of interest abandoned down the side streets as you’ll find in the epicentre. A 1951 MG YB Saloon keeping a Saab 900 company on the kerbside? That’s nothing remarkable for Stony; there are vehicles littering every inch of the tarmac and a whole world of variety to be found. The main post-war attractions lurk in the Cofferidge Close Car Park and spill over onto the length of the High Street, which is the old Roman road otherwise known as Watling Street. You don’t need me to provide commentary on every photograph, and it being no longer New Year’s Eve I have some excessive drinking to catch up on, but how about some highlights? Well, if you insist…
Lorries are cool, as are the possibilities; being your own boss, the romance of the road, picking up attractive hitchhikers, eating Yorkie bars and widdling into a bottle in a windswept layby. Literally only the latter is probably true of driving a lorry but if I had to, I’d choose a funky old rig like a Bedford TL or a Ford Cargo. Lots of people preserve old cars but saving commercials requires a greater level of commitment, and quite obviously, space. I’m glad someone made the effort with these two, they really made my day.
The Cofferidge location provided a rich seam of 70s and 80s motors including two Triumph TR7s, the blue one badged as a Sprint. The TR7 Sprint boasted the 16-valve engine from the Dolomite, but it was only ever produced in limited numbers with total production running to around 60 examples. Whether it was a serious attempt to expand the appeal of the TR7 or just a fudge for motorsport homologation is debated, but the model was pretty much immediately dropped in favour of the TR8. This car is the right age to a be a genuine factory Sprint but DVLA data cannot be any more definitive than that, as the 8v and 16v motors are both identical 1,998 capacities. Having been pleasantly surprised by the driving experience of the standard car, I’d love to have a go in a 16 valver to see what difference it makes. I’ll also call out the pre-HE Jaguar XJ-S that was parked next to the Triumph. These things get better looking with age, and the early cars are particularly appealing to my eyes. I almost prefer it to the bodykitted XJ-Coupe, but my main question regarding the XJ-C is what fiery beast coughed into life directly in front of it to leave that enormous soot mark on the front bumper? Finally in this batch, an honourable mention for the brown over brown over brown Bentley T1. If I’d have been running a totally legitimate slot machine empire in the early 1970s, this is exactly what I would have cruised around in to collect the takings, and incidental protection money.
Stony always attracts a good showing from the American car contingency, so as a way of segueing seamlessly between the car parks and the High Street, check out this lot. First up, a hulking great green 1973 Plymouth Road Runner, complete with artistic rust and a rear bumper seemingly held on with cable ties. I’m not sure the cable ties weren’t just for effect though; everyone knows you should use the proper wide structural cable ties for such a job. But if that’s not enough, how about the deep blue Plymouth Sport Satellite, around 10 years older than its 1978 DVLA-assigned plate would indicate. Alternatively, if trucks are your thing the International Harvester Scout, GMC recovery truck, or slammed Chevy C10 may flick your switch instead.
Out on the High Street, we experienced a Vintage Stony tradition; each time we’ve visited the blue skies of New Year’s morning are shoved out of the way by heavy cloudbursts around 11am. This had the effect of thinning out a few visitors and cars, but it soon passed as we made our way to the Market Square. This is where the pre-war cars hang out, and their drivers (canine or otherwise) are hardy types. One car looked conspicuously alien so I’ll deal with it first; the spectacular 1941 Buick Super Eight. Whilst only around ten years newer than many of the cars that surrounded it, it looked like a spaceship in comparison. I assume this particular Buick rides on air, but a quick search of stock images shows it to retain its low flying stance when in operation, so if it does get taller on the turn of the key, it’s not by much.
The real pre-war stuff is always a delight and can be surprisingly good value for those looking to buy. The smart Morris grocer’s van was for sale at £11,950 which seems fair for something so attractive and useful. I was similarly taken by the boat-tailed Austin Seven which showed signs of having lived a life. I’ve done a few miles in a Ruby saloon, which is great fun but it must have taken a great leap of imagination to view one as the basis for a racing car. Of course, options were limited so enthusiasts worked with what they had, but the Austin Ulster is still very much on my “must drive” list. It was nice to see a lemon yellow Ford Y-Type; these things are a bit of a bargain due to them not being on the VSCC list of post vintage cars recognized for competition, for whatever reason. It’s not everyday you see a bright orange Model T either. Any colour you like, as long as it’s citrus?
The last pre-war car I’ll draw particular attention to is what I stupidly first thought was a Dagenham built Ford V8 Pilot, when in fact it’s a 1935 Ford Model 48. In my defence, the two models are closely related but the 48 was built for the American market. This example was imported from the States in 2014 and appeared as a yellow taxi in the 2015 Meryl Streep film “Florence Foster Jenkins”, which along with most films ever made, is a film I have never seen. You’ll note it’s no longer yellow, instead now sporting an attractive metallic blue which beamed through the Stony rain showers. During the car’s rebuild the original Flathead V8 was replaced with a General Motors 350 Chevy engine and automatic transmission, and the rod brakes were upgraded to power assisted hydraulic discs and drums. Heresy to some perhaps, but you wouldn’t know from the outside.
So, what was my personal Car of The Day, like you care…? I loved the steampunk hotrod which if I recall correctly was based on a Dutton chassis with a pre-war Austin body, Mazda engine, Viva front suspension and Sierra rear end. The chain steering wheel was unusual and is pictured here in the straight-ahead position, as were the spanner pedals and beer barrel tub seats. Elsewhere, I love a stacked headlamp Mercedes, a Chevette HS is pretty special and the Renault 4 on Gordini alloys looked good. I don’t know, there was too much to choose from. Frankly, it’s easier to nominate Dog of The Day, no debate about that one.
