Beirut's Classic car show

[lebanon]

A classic car show was held at the end of 2013 in Beirut.

I will start sharing daily the photos I took of a number of cars.
You will notice that cars were either behind either an acrylic fence or rope fence, this made taking photos a bit difficult.

The first set belongs to a little red car built in 1957

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/743.jpg

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[Pedro_The_Swift]

is it an Isetta?:o

[jerryd]

is it an Isetta?:o

I believe so :) I had a ride in one of those about 50 years ago :eek: Very strange little car.

There was also the "Heinkel" version

[Jojo]

Yep, it is an Isetta. First pic was a giveaway already. Cool vehicle, I'd like to have one now, as they are quite unique. The Heinkel was a competitor, but a different vehicle, as was the Messerschmidt Kabinenroller... I'd take any of these (to complement the Land Rovers, not replacing them).
Cheers

[3toes]

Not sure which brand it was think BMW but not sure was imported into Australia in the fifties by my grand father. He even imported a German mechanic to look after the maintenance. Did not work out though as although information from the Transport Department before import was that they would register them as motor bikes when it came to do it they changed their minds and wanted to register as a car. This added a lot of tax and made them far too expensive.

[lebanon]

Info about the BMW Isetta.

Isetta is an Italian-designed microcar.
Produced in post-World-War II years, a time when cheap short-distance transportation was most needed, it became one of the most successful and influential city cars ever created.
The entire front end of the car hinged outwards to allow entry. In the the event of a crash, the driver and passenger were to exit through a canvas sunroof. The steering wheel and instrument panel swung out with the single door, as this made access to the single bench seat simpler.
The Isetta caused a sensation when it was introduced to the motoring press in Turin in November 1953.
because of its egg shape and bubble-type windows, it became known as the "bubble car"

The displayed car is a 1953 model.

[lebanon]

A 1958 MGA

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/700.jpg

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[lebanon]

MGA 1958 info.

Inspiration for the MGA originally came from a special body which MG built for a T-series model race at Le Mans in 1951. This new design was more spacious and it was an elegant leap into the future.
Sitting on a new, squat and very sturdy chassis frame, the new MGA body was the first all-new MG styling since the arrival of the Midgets in the 1930s. Guilt entirely from steel pressing (though wooden floor boards were retained), it married a sloping version of the familiar MG grille with a flowing shape.
The MGA not only looked beautiful, but also had a soft ride, very good road-holding, and seemed to be stuffed full of 'Abingdon magic'

[lebanon]

For today's post, it is another elegant British car built in 1968.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/656.jpg

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[camel_landy]

The Morgan +8... Built a stones throw from Eastnor.

I had a day out there a couple of weeks ago. I think ultimately it'll end up being a very expensive day out as I've fallen for the Aero 8!!!

M

[lebanon]

I learned that these cars have wooden body tubs, how they were made to withstand the wet British climate? Was only paint that preserved the wood?

[jerryd]

I learned that these cars have wooden body tubs, how they were made to withstand the wet British climate? Was only paint that preserved the wood?

I think there's a bit more involved than a sheet of plywood to make the body tub :D

My favourite morgan's are the three wheelers :) Here's a bit of an insight to the factory.

Morgan Motor Company - MotoMan Builds a Morgan -- Part One - YouTube

[lebanon]

I think there's a bit more involved than a sheet of plywood to make the body tub :D

My favourite morgan's are the three wheelers :) Here's a bit of an insight to the factory.

Morgan Motor Company - MotoMan Builds a Morgan -- Part One - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fFToJm-fpo)

Any details?

[lebanon]

Some info about the Morgan Plus 8

Built between 1968 and 2004. Its instant and enduring popularity has been credited with saving the company and keeping it famous during the 36 years of its manufacture.
Among Morgan enthusiasts, it is deeply associated with Peter Morgan, the owner-chairman behind its design.
All Plus 8 engines were based on the Buick 215 which had been bought by Rover. Morgan was the first of a succession of sports car makers to use the engine, which Rover had only made available in the P5B saloon.

[BMKal]

Morgan still produce some nice gear.

A 2010 Morgan Aeromax. Photos taken on Sunday ...............

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/523.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/524.jpg

[jerryd]

^^^ Did you get a shot of the green 50's model in the middle ??

[jerryd]

Any details?

If you meant details on the three wheeler morgan this show gives a good idea about them :) I remember watching this show when it was first aired on tv.

A friend in the uk is lucky enough to own three of these

Morgan 3 Wheeler - YouTube

[BMKal]

^^^ Did you get a shot of the green 50's model in the middle ??

No - it appears in the background of a couple of other pics, but I didn't specifically photograph that one.

[Chops]

Didn't spot this until just now. Thanks for sharing, really nice cars in that era.

[lebanon]

Yet another lady in red.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/499.jpg

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https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/501.jpg

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[lebanon]

The Triumph TR4 1961

The Triumph TR4 is a sports car built in the UK by the standard Triumph Motor Company and introduced in 1961.
Code named "Zest" during the development, the car was based on a chassis and drivetrain of the previous TR sports car, but with a modern Michelloti styled body.
40,253 cars were built during production years. The TR4 proved very successful and continued the rugged, "hair-chested" image that the previous TRs had enjoyed.
the TR4 became a celebrated rally car in Europe and the UK with a number of racing successes in America during early to mid-sixties, and various replicas are still campaigned by privateers in vintage rally events throughout Europe.

[lebanon]

Another stunning car in British green livery

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/311.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/05/312.jpg

[lebanon]

Sunbeam Alpine 1964

The original Alpine was launched in 1953 as the first vehicle from Sunbeam-Talbot to bear the Sunbeam name alone since the 1935 takeover of Sunbeam and Talbot by the Rootes Group.

the car was derived from the Sunbeam- Talbot 90 saloon and has since become colloquially known as the Talbot Alpine. It was a two-seater sport roadster initially developed as a one-off rally car.

This 1964 Sunbeam Alpine belongs to the IV series. The lower output engine option was now dropped with convertible and hardtop version sharing the 82 BHP engine with single Solex carburetor. A new rear styling was introduced with the fins largely removed.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/06/1312.jpg

[lebanon]

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[lebanon]

Ford Mustang 1965

The Ford Mustang created the "pony car" class of American automobile, sports car-like coupes with long hoods and short rear decks and gave rise to competitors such as GM's Chevrolet Camaro, AMC's Javelin, and Chrysler's revamped Plymouth Baracouda. It also inspired coupés such as Toyota Celica and Ford Capri, which were exported to the United States.

Executive stylist John Najjar, who was a fan of the world War II P-51 Mustang fighter plane, is credited by Ford to have suggested the name. He was involved in design work on the prototype Ford Mustang.

The Ford Mustang is the only original pony car to remain in uninterrupted production over four decades.

[lebanon]

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[lebanon]

Chevrolet Corvette 1978

C3 Silver Anniversary

Chevrolet Marked Corvette's 25th Anniversary in 1978 with extensive redesign of the car since the introduction of the C3 body style in 1968. The new Corvette introduced a large fastback style rear window and the interior was also significantly redesigned along with the speedometer and tachometer.

A glove box was added on the passenger side to replace the pocket. The door panels were also completely new and included screw on arm rests to replace the molded style that has been standard since 1965.

1978 Corvettes featured special 25th Anniversary emblems specific to that year.
All 1978 Corvettes wore the "25th Anniversary" badges, however only few cars, such as this one, were the actual Silver Anniversary Editions with a unique Charcoal Silver/Silver Metallic two-tone Anniversary Paint "B2Z"

[lebanon]

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[Cobber]

I'd quite fancy a Caterham one day :cool: