Riviera Classic Car Show
Members of Torbay Old Wheels Club are delighted to announce that we are going ahead with the Riviera Classic Car Show on Paignton Green once again this year. It will look a little different because we have to keep everyone safe with fewer volunteers to run the show than in the past. Some of us are just a little less agile than we used to be! We'd like to thank everybody who has supported us over the years and hope you will be with us once again on
Sunday 27th July 2025.
The email for show entries is towc.carshow@icloud.com.
Member's car of the Month
1981 VANDEN PLAS 1.5 MARK 3 PRINCESS SAG 31W
Based on the Austin Allegro it was introduced in 1974 as a replacement for the earlier
Austin Princess. It has a 1485cc (Maxi) E Series Overhead Cam engine and twin SU
Type H1F4 carbs increasing power to 77bhp at 5,750rpm. It is fitted with Hydrogas
Independent suspension. The car was driven from Bognor Regis to Exeter in mid 2022.
We purchased just after.
Finished in Denim Blue Metallic with a Deep Olive Interior. It is largely unrestored with
original paintwork and interior and was first registered 15 January 1981. Current
mileage being about 28,000.
The Mark 3 1.5 has a twin carburettor and a manual gearbox. It differed from the Mark 2
having a flat bootlid, side indicator repeaters on front wings and rear foglight under rear
bumper. Inside a radio and front head rests were fitted and picnic tables were also fitted
to the rear of the front seats.
The Vanden Plas factory at Kingsbury closed in July 1979 with all remaining cars being
finished at MG Abingdon. Production of the Mark 3 ceased in August 1980 after a
production run of 752
John & Jill Read
Last Wednesday in every month
We are currently meeting at Torquay Rugby Club usually on the last Wednesday of the month at 7.15 pm. If you would like to come please contact us beforehand to check the date of the next meeting.
Our Activities
We enjoyed visiting lots of shows in our old vehicles throughout 2024. We’re still out and about through the darker months with breakfast get-togethers and occasional organised drives using our old cars if the weather’s suitable.
We’re now looking forward to more fun in the sun this summer.
