08-07-2017

The Gartell Steam and Vintage Show is held at the Gartell Light Railway's site near Templecombe in Somerset, these photos are of the 2012 event.  Photos of the railway are on Gartell Light Railway

First one is a Ford Zephyr from the early 60s, it rather dwarfs the Morris beside it!

Next a Morris Marina Campervan!  I didn't know such things existed, it would so much easier to park than my motorhome but with rather less room inside.

An Austin A35 Estate from the late 50s - don't think the wheels are original - the A30/A35 shared the A series engine with the Morris Minor but otherwise were very different unlike later "badge engineered" models.  The A35 had the 948cc version, the earlier A30 the 803cc one.

A look under the bonnet at the 803cc A series engine in the Morris Minor next to the A35.  There's so much spare room around the engine compared to modern cars!

This is a Series II version of the Minor with the A series engine in place of the earlier side valve unit and a split windscreen, these were produced from 1952 to 1956 when the Minor 1000 appeared with a948cc engine.

The predecessor to the Minor was the Morris Eight.  They had a side valve engine similar to that fitted to the early Minors.  This one is a 1938 2 door, sliding head Series E, these were built from 1938 until 1948.

A 1972 MGB which has a 1798cc B series engine, the MGB was one of the last of the great tradition of British sports cars they were built from 1962 to 1980.

Next to that was a 1967 Rover P5 3 litre Mark III, this has a straight 6 3 litre engine, one of the last to feature this unit, later cars were fitted the the 3.5 litre V8.  Again this is one of the last examples of a British tradition of luxury cars in their time used by Cabinet Ministers and the Queen.

This Wolseley 1500 was part of a sales stand, the 1500 (and the almost identical Riley 1.5) were built from 1957 to 1965, they were fitted with a 1489cc B Series engine, I suppose their place in the BMC range was as an upmarket equivalent to the Minor and A35.

A 1936 Austin Light 12/4 Ascot a model that was produced from 1933 to 1939 with a 1525cc side valve engine.

A Citroën 2CV van, this French classic was in production from 1948 to 1990, this example is from 1975.  The flat twin engine was by this time of 603cc, 29bhp.  One of the design criteria famously was to be capable of driving over a ploughed field without breaking eggs it was carrying!

I've no details of this Alfa Romeo, I suspect it is pre-war but would welcome any details of it.

A Ford Thames E83W 10cwt pick-up from 1953, this has an 1172cc side valve engine.  The 2 digit phone number caught my eye - it's not just cars that have changed.

A Mark I Austin-Healey Sprite which has a twin carb. version of the 948cc BMC A series engine, the Mark I was made from 1958 to 1961, they are often referred to as Frog Eye Sprites due to the position of the headlights.

A Morris Minor 1000 van obviously still in commercial use!  Beside it is a 1974 SAAB 96, now another "lost" marque.

An elderly Foden lorry arriving at the show - complete with starting handle!

The Foden lined up with a GMC, a Land Rover and an Atkinson.

A 6x6 GMC used as an agricultural lime spreader.

An open top Land Rover with its screen down alongside a hefty looking Atkinson lorry.

This Ford Thames Trader wasn't well place for photography, it is the last type of normal control Trader that Ford built.

Some of the motorbikes on show including a BSA Bantam and a Norton Commando.

On to the steam and starting with a miniature complete with chimney extension while raising steam as the owner relaxes.

The only full sized steam was this roller, unfortunately I can't remember the maker.

A working scale model Showman's engine.

A Burrell with its trailer which looks to be used as a water carrier.

Two more scale traction engines, one has a chimney extension to help with draughting while raising steam.

A scale Burrell in action around the showground.

This one had a very young "trainee" on board.

This Burrell had a crane fitted passing the Showman's engine.

A close up view of just how well detailed miniature traction engine is.

Gleaming copper and brass on this beautiful miniature Burrell traction engine.

There were several stationary engines on display alongside the Gartell Light Railway's line on which a diesel loco was passing.  More pics of the railway are on Gartell Light Railway

A line up of 10 tractors, 4 Fordsons, 2 Massy Fergusons and 4 Ferguson T20 "little grey fergies".

Two of the Fordsons, the nearest being a Dexta.

Two Massey Ferguson 35s flank a Ferguson T20.

More pics of the railway are on Gartell Light Railway

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