Events : LEJoG in a Princess – day one

Finally, our AROnline team’s adventure started officially when we were flagged off at Land’s End.

Words and photography: Alexander Boucke

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Please excuse these grainy mobile phone pictures, but they are currently the only way I can show you the impression 13 ADO16s leave when lined up in front of the Land’s End hotel. The international section of the 1100 Club was represented very strongly with four cars from France and one from Germany (ours)  present at the starting line. The variety is great, from a humble Morris 1100 to a few Vanden Plas 1300s and including an Innocenti I5.

Cornwall was bathed in sunshine in the morning hours. Sadly, though it did not take long for the first rain showers to appear and, as we reached the location chosen for the lunch break at Drogo Castle, near Exeter, the showers turned into torrential rain. We did not dare to venture any further than the tea-room, whilst the cars were thoroughly tested for leaks in the parking lot.

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Soon everyone continued in small groups heading for Bradford-on-Avon, today’s final destination. An impromptu ford on one of the small roads in Devon’s countryside caused the ignition to stutter again – but, this time, it cleared itself without the need to have a look under the bonnet.

When unloading the car in front of our chosen B&B I found out that it did fail seriously on the water ingression test...
When unloading the car in front of our chosen B&B I found out that it did fail seriously on the water ingression test…

When doing a little evening walk around Bradford tonight, we counted 13 ADO16s parked close to the evening meeting point in the town centre…

When doing a little evening walk around Bradford tonight, we counted 13 ADO16 parked close to the evening meeting point in the town centre…
When doing a little evening walk around Bradford tonight, we counted 13 ADO16s parked close to the evening meeting point in the town centre…
Alexander Boucke

8 Comments

  1. “When unloading the car in front of our chosen B&B I found out that it did fail seriously on the water ingression test…”
    Ah yes , hope it wasn’t the plenum chamber !!

  2. Saw a couple of ADO 16s on the A34 on Saturday, veering off towards Henley from the (blocked) M42. I wonder if they were on the way to the meeting! Sadly didn’t see the models as I was heading in the other direction, but they did spot the people in a bright yellow SLK staring at them near the roundabout I think…

  3. Great to see some pics of these great BMC cars. A rare sight on a public road, especially 2 MG 1100 mark 1’s.

  4. I do have a soft spot for ADO 16’s especially VDP’s 1300 2 door GT’s
    Shame there is not much of a following. I guess because most have rusted away 🙁

  5. For a moment there I was sure you meant Bradford west yorkshire, I can assure Bradford is not nearly as pretty as those pictures as I soon realised 😉

  6. @2: yes, that was me in the light blue one! (1969 Austin 1300 4-door)

    Approx. 3 miles further on, the other car (Limeflower 1100 Mk3 2-door) expired with two lost compressions and an unhealthy internal rattle in the engine 🙁

    Recovery home to Cambridgeshire followed, while I continued down to Lands End in the 1300.

    The following morning, we were amazed to see the crew of the 1100 waiting for us at the start line in their ‘spare’ car: a beige 1964 Austin 1100 4-door 🙂

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