Estates/Shooting Brakes/Station Wagons Gallery (Originals are best)

[NewcastleFalcon]

Its a while since I started a new topic but just in case 4,755 topics in this section of the forum are not stimulating enough to elicit an active response here is a 4,756^th to try.

With the bar on its lowest ever setting I would regard 2 active posts with appropriate images as a runaway success for the new thread.

Define it how you like but just get the thread started, make a contribution.

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Sunday June 4th 2017 Borders Vintage Automobile Club show at Thirlstane Castle. Same car currently up for sale as posted by Mick on the Classics thread.

L.Falcon own Work.


Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Now Chris (White Exec) hasn't been active for a while on the forum pretty much coinciding with his planned return to the UK from Spain. He did make many excellent contributions to the forum and was particularly knowledgeable about all matters Rover P6 in particular which I took advantage on on a few occasions, and he kindly sent me a DVD on the P6 when I was considering one to purchase.

So archive digging here is Chris contribution following on from my own spot of the Rover P6 Estate at Thirlstane, and perfect for today's newly started thread.

The rare P6 Estates did not come off the Solihull production line...

"It was principally the British Leyland takeover in 1967 which killed off production prospects for the Rover-commissioned 'specials', but the estate variant was built in limited numbers, albeit as an aftermarket conversion by FLM Panelcraft, not a production model by Rover. Briefly known as the Panelcraft Estoura, the car was at first marketed exclusively by Crayford Auto Development (and these cars had the Crayford badge), then by Hurst Park Automobiles of East Molesey, Surrey, and after 1970 by H.R.Owen, when it became known rather misleadingly as the 'Owen conversion'.
Conversions were available on used as well as new cars and after 1968; a 3500 version could be obtained. The 2000 and 2000TC estates remained rare because they were too expensive for a market well covered by Triumph's 2000 estate. The 3500 estate was a success, however, and before [P6] production stopped in 1976, a few 3500S estates with manual transmission had been built.
Exact figures are not available, but it seems that between 150 and 160 P6 estates were built."
- from James Taylor's The Classic Rovers 1934-1977

Visually - and practically - the elongated estate conversion was not particularly successful, principally because the designers were hooked into following the rearwardly descending roof line...


...severely limiting load height and access, not to mention ruining the standard saloon's elegant rear end.

Some conversions were more successful in this respect...


One of the best, though, was Rover's own prototype for an SD1 Estate. They made about four, of which two survived. This one was run for some time by BL CEO Sir Michael Edwards, in its eventual experimental colour of Midas Gold - not without some irony there.


I think Rover were mad not to put it into production, at a time when there was huge appetite for Volvo 244/246 estates. By this time, Triumph's own 2000/2500 estate had been killed off to make way for SD1 (initially RT1), so there was no product overlap, no excuse.

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

I have had a fair collection of estates over the years so I can present this gallery of my estates. Half of the photos are my originals so I will leave it to the viewer to decide which ones they are!!

[MattBLancs]

I'm only in my first try at an estate car, had hatchback 5 door (mk2 Golf and Citroen C4) saloon (306 Sedan) Coupe (406) and hatchback 3 door (306) so quite a few body styles tucked off the list!

Also, occasionally, available in black and at a normal ride height...

How did you find the Rialto? They seem so "different" I'm sort of keen to try one, one day! Quite nippy ~400kg and ~30?bhp(??) I'd guess

[MattBLancs]

P.s. like both the P6 and SD1 estates pictured above

[NewcastleFalcon]

Apologies all...misspelled the title (used break instead of brake)

With some assuming that a two door "estate" may be properly referred to as a "shooting brake" this goes close,

A Triumph Herald

Neil

[mickthemaverick]

How did you find the Rialto? They seem so "different" I'm sort of keen to try one, one day! Quite nippy ~400kg and ~30?bhp(??) I'd guess

I bought mine brand new and had to wait 6 weeks for delivery with the spec I ordered. I found it extremely capable and frugal as well. You do need to have a different driving style but I used to be able to get it round the lanes almost as quick as my mini. I can't remember the power but being light it was nippy and capable of leaving most family saloons in the 80s in its wake away from the lights!! I cruised down to Devon many times averaging 60-65 on the M4 and still got 55+ mpg. In normal use around town it returned over 60mpg and coped with all the tasks I set it, including bringing home a 6ft chest freezer!! I'd have another one if I could find one!!

[NewcastleFalcon]

P.s. like both the P6 and SD1 estates pictured above

I think your recent tale of the 2 door Escort Estate may have pre-primed me into starting the thread Matt, along with Micks posting of the P6 Estate on the Classics thread

viewtopic.php?p=752809#p752809

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

Bringing this into the fold, from a previous spot.

This is an Austin A95 Westminster, Estate

Looks like with hinges at top of the rear window, and bottom of the "boot", the rear end opens up like a mouth.

What an odd and rare spot. The owner was nowhere in sight, and it was just parked up in a rough layby, and was generally in excellent condition there was a layer of dust on the bonnet It was a nice day so maybe it was out for a run in the countryside, conked out or the owner was off taking the dog for a walk. I had a free enough hand to mooch and take photos!




Regards Neil

[mickthemaverick]

The first 'live' pic of the thread! Spotted this, the taxi on the right, in Maidstone on our way down to Benenden today!

Own work
Own work

[NewcastleFalcon]

After spotting a Mini Countryman of the large modern variety and probably rejecting it, I wondered whether the 60/s 70's Mini's ever badged the Mini as an estate. I would definitely allow myself the leeway should I spot a Mini Traveller to click the shutter and load it up here with no qualms, but did wonder whether they badged some versions of the Mini Clubman as Estates. The large modern Mini with the vertical opening back doors may well still be being branded as the "Clubman".

To follow Mick's live spot, here's mine of currently the only EV Station Wagon, "live" in the car park today. Peugeot are coming up with another shortly the e-308 Estate.

Neil

[moizeau]

Ever seen anything like this

[NewcastleFalcon]

Ever seen anything like this

No but we have now!
------
It turns out I was bang on about the Clubman.
First we have the old small Clubman Estate a very presentable bright colour and some fake wood.



Then the large modern vehicle bearing the clubman name again in a very acceptable colour.


2017 Mini Cooper S Clubman Automatic 2.0
Vauxford, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Neil

[NewcastleFalcon]

The all important badge...nice raindrops too

British Leyland Mini Clubman Estate, rear detail, c1976 by Dale Chappell, on Flickr

Neil