We are inviting ANY MEMBER of PCVC to submit their interest in showcasing their vehicle at future meetings.
July 2022
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JUNE 2022
Once upon a time, long, long, ago (well the 1970s actually), in a land far, far away,(eh….England), there lived our hero, Graham. Like most young men of 19 years of age, Graham thoughts were full of the usual things, such as winning the FA Cup, young ladies, becoming a millionaire, and, of course, young ladies. However he also dreamed of a sleek, swift, topless Italian, the Alfa Romeo Spider sports car. His father owned one at that time but as a teenager Graham was never allowed to drive it! Fast forward to 2018, Graham and his wife Jane had just sold their MG Midget and discovered in the UK a low mileage, original, 1985 Mark 3 Alfa Romeo Spider, which they promptly imported into Cyprus. This is clad in a beautiful Pininfarina styled body in metallic mint green, which contrasts well with the burgundy red leather interior. The car is powered by the 2.0 litre DOHC, twin carburettor, petrol engine which produces 126 BHP through a 5 speed manual gearbox. Well, was it worth the wait…… Graham says the car is so well balanced and the engine has such a magnificent over run burble that he cannot help smiling ever time he goes for a drive. Graham and Jane`s Alfa Romeo Spider will be featured at the PCVC meetings throughout June. Full details are available on our Facebook page and Website or Telephone 97760997.
May 2022
Grace, Space, and Pace” was how the ad men described the Mark 2 Jaguar, if you were to add the word “Beauty” then you will have the perfect description of our Classic of the Month. This Jaguar Mark 2 is owned by Penny and Alan Wood and was imported by them in 2017 from the UK, although the car had spent 25 years in the USA. The car was manufactured in 1964 and is powered by a 3.4 litre petrol engine that smoothly produces 210 hp through a 4 speed gearbox with overdrive, giving a top speed of 120mph. The interior is, of course, well appointed with red leather and walnut trim. The immaculate Golden Sand paintwork clads what is considered, by some, to be the best looking saloon car Jaguar ever produced. You may recognise the style, as the Mark 2 was the car favoured by Inspector Morse and extensively featured in the TV series.
April 2022
We would like to introduce you to Humphrey, a 1938 Austin 7 Opal which is our Classic of the Month for April. The car was gifted to Richard Corbett in 2019 by his brother and a good friend, as they noticed his hands were, unusually, too clean. The car is also identical to the first car he owned, which he had bought from a scrapyard for £15, over 60 years ago ! The Opal is the 2 seat tourer (open top) version of the Austin 7, which was also produced in many other versions. The 4 door saloon was called the Ruby with the cabriolet version being known as the Pearl. The Austin 7 was the car which introduced affordable motoring to the UK with nearly 300,000 being sold between 1923 and 1939. The Opal is powered by a 747cc side valve engine, producing 10hp through a 4 speed gearbox. Richard says that Humphrey is happiest trundling along the coast road between Paphos and Peyia at 35/40 mph and definitely does not like the hill up to Kathikas !
March 2022
1963 Ford Zephyr 4 mark 3 as our Classic ofthe Month. The American styling includes rear wing fins, a front bench seat, column gear change and plenty of chrome. The car, which was manufactured in Dagenham but immediately exported to Cyprus, is now with its third owners, Ken and Anne Hughes, and still carries its original registration number CE 581.The original owner was a Cypriot contractor who worked on the Sovereign British Bases, and Ken still has some of the 1980s security passes for the vehicle. Powered by a 4 cylinder 1703 cc petrol engine that produces 68 bhp through a 4 speed gearbox, it will still effortlessly cruise at a comfortable 65 mph. When new this model cost £846-00 on the road. Ken joined the PCVC at its second meeting and is our longest standing member. He and Anne have campaigned the Zephyr at numerous rallies and shows, amassing an impressive collection of plaques and trophies, during their 14 years of ownership. Ken says that spare parts are still available but it sometimes takes extra effort to find them. He has found that one successful area of search is New Zealand as the Zephyr was also produced there by Ford, and some reproduction spares are still made.
February 2022
The Toyota Supra, currently owned by Alison and Neil Wishart, also founding members of our club, dates back to 1991. It came to Cyprus in 2013. The Toyota was originally owned by a banker from Fleet Street in London, and Neil and Alison are the third owners, having acquired it from a friend who did not like the car. Neil admits that the car can be quite powerful, as it has a 6 cylinder 3.0 litre turbo charged petrol engine, produces over 230 bhp. The Supra was advertised as an affordable supercar and was then the fastest production car manufactured in Japan, with an acceleration of 0/60 in 5.6 seconds, and a top speed of 165 mph! The car has many high-tech features and is resplendent in its bright red 1980/90's wedge-shaped body, and its pop-up headlights.
JANUARY 2022
Our first Classic of the Month for 2022 is the iconic, and quintessentially English, Morris Minor 1000. The car in question, which dates from 1968, is called “My Baby” by her owner Debra Innes and was purchased by her husband Chris as a birthday present. Chris found the car in Emba and, in secret, had it fully restored over a period of 5 years. However when he went to collect the finished Moggie he discovered that it had been painted an authentic shade of green, Debra`s least favourite colour. A full repaint was ordered to a stunning shade of baby blue. Debra was obviously delighted with her birthday present and, what else could she call her “new” car, but “MY BABY”. The Morris Minor was one of the most popular family cars in the UK in the 1950/60`s with over 1.6 million being produced between 1949 and 1971. The car was designed by Alex Issigonis, who also designed the Mini and 1100, and was produced in saloon, convertible and estate (Traveller) versions. The Minor 1000 was powered by a 948cc A Series engine producing 37 bhp. through a 4 speed gearbox. Top speed was advertised as an astonishing 75 mph but the 0-60 time is 30 secs! My Baby will be featured at our events throughout January, full details of which can be found on our Facebook page or Website (www.paphosclassicvehicleclub.com) or telephone 97760997. Everyone attending PCVC events must comply with all current Covid 19 regulation.
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Classic of the Month- November 2021 Here is an American Beauty of a 1958 Ford Custom 300 that was purchased by Lee and Leona Chellingworth in 2008 and imported into Cyprus ten years later . The Custom 300 was designed by the Ford Motor Company as an economical fleet car and found favour with many USA taxi companies and police forces in the late 50s and early 60s. Lee and Leona`s car has been fully restored and is resplendent in its green and white paintwork with white wall tyres and vinyl roof. Motive power comes from a 4.2 litre, straight six, petrol engine which deliveries 148 bhp through a 3 speed automatic gearbox. Lee has fitted, for safety sake, power assisted disc brakes to the front wheels, and, although the car is not be equipped with power steering or air conditioning, it has the 1950/60 style and charm you cannot find in a modern SUV. When in the USA their Ford Custom was owned by a Texan eccentric who would often take his pet jaguar for a drive. Lee and Leona do not have an exotic big cat but do have an usual passenger in the rear seat. Why not come and discover his identity and inspect this and other classic cars at one of the Paphos Classic Vehicle Club events. Details can be found on our Facebook page, or Website (www.paphosclassicvehicleclub.com or click on the QR code), or Telephone 97760997. Paul Gannon .
JUNE 2021: BSA Bantam d14b, 175cc
The club contains motorised vehicles that were manufactured more than 30 years ago; this includes motorcycles and commercial vehicles as well as cars. Our Classic this month is a beautifully restored 175cc BSA Bantam d14b motorcycle which was first registered as ODD 75F in the U.K.in 1968. Bantams were manufactured by the Birmingham Small Arms Company from 1948 until 1971, producing over 250,000. They are powered by a two stroke engine fuelled by a mixture of petrol and oil ,which was originally 125cc then 150cc and finally 175cc capacity with power being increased from 4 to 12.6 BHP.
ODD 75F is owned by Annabel Jarvis ,a birthday present from her husband Pete and is a replacement for her first bike which she purchased back in 1980 . She used this to become a motorcycle instructor for the RAC/ACU and BMF at the tender age of 20. Unfortunately when the bike was purchased it needed a considerable amount of rebuilding ,in fact the engine was so badly seized it was soaked in Irn-Bru (a well known fizzy drink ) for 2 years .However Pete did set to work and over a period of 6 years fully restored the bike just in time for their wedding in 2016 . Sprayed pearlescent white, the Bantam carried removable plates which read “BRIDE “before and “MR and MRS ”after the ceremony.
Ian Frith
MAY 2021: Mercedes 230E
The following is an interview with its owner and our Chairperson, Steve Wilkinson.
Steve is a retired Senior Financial Advisor who relocated to Cyprus with his wife Marilyn 15 years ago from Manchester, and now lives in Anavargos..
Why do you drive a Classic Vehicle? “There is nothing like cruising along in a classic car: it is so relaxing. The driver is more involved, and the Classics have a character lacking in modern cars”
Why a Mercedes? “I have owned many classic cars including a beautiful but expensive Rolls Royce Silver Shadow, a Fiat 124 which I wrote off, and a bright yellow (temperamental) Lotus Elan. However, my favourite was a 1965 Mercedes Coupe which I owned for 40 years . I drove it across Europe in the 2010 Commemorative Monte Carlo Rally. We only changed it for our current W123 because I decided we needed a Classic with minimum maintenance but with performance, comfort ,elegance and style”.
Why are you a member of Paphos Classic Vehicle Club? “The Club is not just the vehicles, it is also about the people. We have enthusiastic members with a wealth of experience who share a common passion for keeping Classic Vehicles where they belong : on the road!”.
If you would like to meet Steve and other members of the club we normally have a Classic Breakfast meeting at Tea for Two, Geroskipou (near Gabors Restaurant) from 9.00am on the first Saturday of the month and again at Periklis Taverna in Nata village from 3.30 pm on the 3rd Saturday of the month ( Periklis pending Govt. announcement)
Safe Motoring, Ian.
April 2021 : 1985 Sirocco Mk11
Classic cars are not all exotic sports cars or weird and wonderful vehicles, but ordinary cars and motorcycles that were once a common sight on our roads 30 years ago .These were the vehicles we or our parents drove every day, but are now rarely seen. Ans and Alex Driest chose their 1985 VW Sirocco Mk11 for that reason and because they wanted a classic car that was easy to drive and maintain in running condition . They found this GT-S car in Nicosia, where it had been in storage for over 12 years and is possibly the only one on the roads in Cyprus. They bought the car sight unseen, as they were living in the USA at the time, and whilst Alex had to carry out some restoration work to bring the car up to its present condition, they now have a usable car to be proud of and returned a Classic car to where it belongs: back on the road.
Ans and Alex attend most of the Paphos Classic Vehicle club meetings, outings and road trips. They advise “get a running classic vehicle ‘,join the Club and come and enjoy being part of the PCVC.
March 2021 2CV
Meet Florence, she is a Citroen 2CV owned by Sheeiagh and terry Tearne, who are long standing members of the club.
The 2CV was designed in France in the late1930`s but did not go into production until after the 2nd World War. It was conceived as a “people`s car” with the remit that it had to carry 4 adults in comfort over a ploughed field ,or with the rear seats removed,2 bales of hay or a prized pig !
These cars are unique, being of simple construction but incorporating many innovative features, a legendary suspension system and are considered to be a design icon .Powered by an air cooled 602cc engine the 2 CV`s is not the fastest car on the road but has a top speed of 63 mph (downhill with a following wind).
Florence was built in 1986 and imported by Sheelagh and Terry in 2005 . She was originally white but now is resplendent in pink and blue, decorated with flowers and butterflies. Come and meet Florance,Sheelagh ,Terry and the rest of the members of the Paphos Classic Vehicle at our next meeting.
FEBRUARY : MERCEDES-BENZ S-class 500 SEC
This month (February) Classic is a Mercedes-Benz S – Class 500 SEC which belongs to Ann , and Ian who is the clubs archivist.. The car was imported from the U.K. in 2019 and so began a yearlong restoration/ preservation project to bring the vehicle up to the standard it is today.
The W126 the Mercedes code name for this vehicle was manufactured 1988 and was coincided by many as the “Best Car in the World” given its price tag of around 120 thousand euro`s in today’s money it was expensive to buy and in the 1980`s was the chosen car of many Government ministers and also with celebrity owners such as F1 legend Ayrton Senna.
Classic Vehicle Of The Month. JANUARY 2021: LOTUS Esprit SE Turbo
The picture shows not James Bond and Anya Amosova with “Wet Nellie” but Paul and Dianne Chadwick and their 1989 Lotus Esprit SE Turbo. The car was designed by Peter Stevens the famous McLaren F1 designer and featured the 2.2 litre . 910S engine with a multipoint fuel injection system. This produced 284 BHP ,with a nought to 60 MPH acceleration time of 4.7 seconds. You may remember that the Esprit gave an underwater performance in the Bond film “The Spy who Loves Me and was then rebuilt for and featured in “ For Your Eyes Only”.
Below is a selection of events and photos now archived
Paphos Homemarket Promotion Day
On Saturday 27th October 2018, PCVC was invited by Paphos Homemarket to take part in a promotion day. The customers enjoyed a day of discounts in the store, demonstrations, a free barbecue , wine, music from Rock FM and a raffle. It was so successful that it could become an annual event. Below are photos of some of the club's classic cars in the store's car park.
Photos taken by Don and Trisha Sainsbury of the Harbour Display, 2017 Below
Photographs from the Episkopi Garrison Fete, 23rd September 2017, taken by Ian Frith.