The Ladybird - a proper rumcar hunt then

[richard]

Surely you will have the recording Dave ? If not you are free to borrow it with Rex's interview ?

[DaveMiller]

Surely you will have the recording Dave ? If not you are free to borrow it with Rex's interview ?

I've seen the 3 parts of the John Peel "Classic British Cars" on YouTube, but not a Rex interview (or were you thinking a Colonel Gray interview?).  If you have more on the A and on Rex, then yes, I'd love a copy!

[richard]

I am awfully sorry I think you must be right

[richard]

Here is probably the best photograph of the missing second prototype , this time from Whatever Happened to the British Motorcycle Industry an excellent book which I would recommend  to anyone interested !

[richard]

I am sorry to deviate a little but to put a bit of perspective on things here are two other BSA/Triumph prototypes from the same period that were also not pursued  and yes thats Bob Currie editor of MCN that wrote the article that started this topic

[milnes]

Great video clip, the ladybird looks better on screen, lovely looking car.

[Big Al]

And could have been the British answer to the Fiat Jolly following interest, and physical presence, never backed up from at least one Carabbian Hotel Island/resort. It was not pursued after testing, but I think there were overheating problems with the otherwise rather good 250cc engines in the warmer climate. The same issue was not unknown in the scooters, after all. A shame as the 250 unit would have graced a bubblecar well, if sorted out. But to late on the scene to make any difference, it had nothing to be fitted too other than an ill mannered scooter out of its depth against Lambretta.
Maybe the Jolly was a better package for the deal on offer to the Hotel, as that is what was used in the end. Its amazing where stuff ends up, though.

[Bob Purton]

For a hotel run about surely the Fiat Jolly would have won hands down if only on the basis that it was a four seater.

My first job straight from school was as a barristers clerk and one of the barristers in my chambers was a young and up coming Alexander Irving later to become the Lord Chancellor [he of the £59,000 hand printed wallpaper scandel fame!] . I would sometimes have to carry his books and robes over to the High Court with him and I remember him going on about how great his old Triumph Tigress scooter was, he said that they were very fast and had great memories of tearing around Scotland on his as a student. As a Lawyer and polatician who pupiled Tony Blair and Cherie Booth, it must be true!

[Big Al]

Oh, they were fast. But the handling was not to clever.

[richard]

Don't anyone get mixed up on this , Bob and Al are talking of the 250 4 stroke engine shown above and used in the ladybird . The other photos used the Triumph Tina engine which was ok once sorted but was awful upon launch by Triumph too early in development

[Bob Purton]

I had a Tina for a while, it wasnt a great scooter but the belt and cone transmission worked well so considering all the modern scooters adopted the principal it was ahead of its time in that sense.
By no means the first though. The idea goes way back.

[Big Al]

Yep, the Tina was a bit of a crib of another machine, I forget. Garelli Capri? It had a go at Automatic cone drive. The design improved into the T10. Which some say found a home in Peels more firmly than others. Mike Dann had a pick up version of the Triumph for some time. I seem to recall it attending a few rallies. I had a Garelli Burki and they had similarities, but were not the same.

[richard]

is it just me ? or have the headlamps shrunk over the years ? perhaps the MKI's were smaller still a beautiful car , the Mark I

these youtube clips dont add a lot but its nice to see it out and about in 2006 , and in the company of several members of this forum ......
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF_hfvp3OlE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYZdFRtuqp4