Car Show Classics: Everything From Mini to Brougham

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A week after the Volvo display I wrote about here, I went to another meeting in which the participants celebrated their friend’s 1961 Mini, having finished restoration. But as usual with Israeli classic car meetings, you get all sorts of classic variations. Take a look inside.

 

This meeting, taking place every Friday afternoon, prides itself in that it’s not related to any specific club- anyone with any classic car are welcome. That means many owners not finding their place at other meetings, often find their way to this particular place, so you get to see some cars not present anywhere else, with nice variety. Also, because of the organizers’ friendly nature, some clubs set their gathering point alongside this meeting, so you get to see yet more cars.

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Here’s the Brougham mentioned at the headline. A 1973 Mercury Grand Marquis Brougham. to be exact. Quite a barge, ain’t she?

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Next to the Mercury was this 1960 Impala, also at the top photo of this post. Note the JEEP in the background; its license plate has five numbers, which means it’s from the beginning of Israel itself (first vehicles had only five digits).

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Here’s one of the regular attendees, a Merc W108.

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While not far was this older W180.

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A very nice AMC Rambler. These always reminded me of early-Seventies Valliants.

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Remember this? You’ve seen it before.

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An SSK Replica, its real name is Classic Motor Carriages Gazelle.

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Another old JEEP, also sporting five digits on its license plate.

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Quite a few of these arrived in Israel at the time. And note the red SAAB.

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Here’s another. One of the clubs that gather alongside this meeting is the Israeli SAAB club.

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See the “68” at the end of the license plate? That means it’s a new import from recent years. It’s for sale, by the way.

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I think Paul might be interested in this…

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We slightly discussed the Israeli Susita before, and I’m still not satisfied until I’ve written a dedicated post about it. But for now, here are some photos of cars seen at the event. The one above is simply called Autocars Susita, and it’s from 1966. It was obsolete back then, which you can tell from its 1950s shape.

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Next generation Susita is seen on the right, and is called Susita 12. This is circa late Sixties. After the company changed hands, the name changed to Rom Carmel, and on the left is a “modern” one from the late Seventies. They simply called it Rom Carmel 1300.

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Finishing off the Susita section of this post is one of the last Rom Carmel cars, a pickup from 1981. No, the T/A scoop was not an option you could specify…

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Another one of the regular attendees. Looking at this DeVille I’m always reminded of 1970s films which showed pimps riding in such Caddys.

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Hmm, I’m not keen on the 4X4 look created by the huge wheels, but to each his own, as they say.

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Now that’s much more like it. This is a known car in the classic car’s circle and is of course, a replica.

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This V12 E-Type takes us to the back part of the parking lot, where mostly American cars gathered.

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Ok, not American but in its day, the E21 was also very popular in Israel- well, for its price, that is.

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The Israeli Corvette club was out in force. More photos:

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It wasn’t THAT hot, I don’t know why he’s airing out his belly.

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Seems every option available has been dropped on this Coupe Deville. While photographing it I heard a large V8 rumble outside the perimeter:

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Much better executed that that previous Chevelle.

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It was followed by this very impressive T/A.

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Here’s another late Seventies Firebird, and a 1973 Corvette.

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Some Subarus also turned up. Their club doesn’t usually meet here, but no matter. This was a once an extremely popular car in Israel, discussed here.

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Back to European cars. I believe this Renault 4 is the first ever true hatchback. This one is from 1984.

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The Renault 18-based Fugeo. I can’t believe they’re all gone, having seen plenty of them beck in the Eighties.

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Big bumpers? Yes, it’s a new import from the US.

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Well, it’s a classic too.

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Since the event was about a Mini, the organizers asked owners of British cars to attend. Starting off with this Jag 420.

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On the left, an infiltrator Spider.

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But the star of the show was a really a very impressive 1961 Mini Mk I, beautifully restored and looking immaculate.

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The day draws to a close, cars start to head home. I love this photo, by the way.

I’ll leave you with a video I shot at the event: