Sunday, 2 March 2014

Bygone Bodge

Clocked this classic Robin Reliant outside the most pleasant cafe No. 12 Easton, Bristol. Most steel cars of this era have long been sent rusting to the scrapyard, but the 30+ year-old fibreglass on this was no longer sea-worthy either. On closer inspection, what made me smile the most was the coat hanger ariel up-grade. I haven't seen one of those for ages! Do modern cars with digital radio even need an ariel at all? BP
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8 comments:

  1. Unknown2 March 2014 at 09:25

    Arial on modern cars is often built into back window or is a much shorter affair optimised for FM (shortwave) radio, whereas in the days of the Reliant Robin, LW (longwave AM radio) ruled the roost. Digital (DAB) radio has never really taken off as the quality is crap and the bubbling mud sound of a poor signal is very distracting.

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  2. Sideburn Magazine3 March 2014 at 00:51

    Is that a West Country police car? G

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  3. Kirk3 March 2014 at 07:23

    As long as the villains don't make any sharp sudden turns (or go very fast) it's perfectly serviceable. The coathanger arial is classic though, usually saw those on a Holden Kingswood or a Mark IV Zephyr...

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  4. Sideburn Magazine3 March 2014 at 09:25

    ....The Robin Reliant actually formed the basis for the prototype Concord cockpit so don't knock it.

    (On related matters). There is a complete Concord stood on the side of the runway at Filton, north Bristol, where it was built. But as they don't have the decency to house it it one of the many dilapidated hangers there - or build it a new dedicated one, it's rotting away & will soon end up looking like this sad Robin.
    :(
    BP

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  5. Kirk3 March 2014 at 15:54

    That's amazing Ben, there's seriously a Concord sitting there in the open? Seems like some air/space museum would want something like that. Start taking it home bit by bit, it's better off in your hands than left on the side of a runway.

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  6. theoneandonlymin3 March 2014 at 16:29

    Still running a coathanger on my 85 Merc , compliments the Blaupunkt tape deck . Bent into a pigs tail at the moment.

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  7. XXL19607 March 2014 at 15:51

    I hate "Robin Reliant" You dont drive a "Focus Ford" do you.
    Its so simple....

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  8. Sideburn Magazine9 March 2014 at 21:05

    XXL1950
    No, but we love the sound of Manx Nortons.
    G

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