Engine Punk

Foxbat - wasn't that the code name for a Russian cold war fighter? Just a bijou follow-up-ette to my musings on the Jag shooting brake. Mr Valve Bounce left a comment and pointed me to the Bonhams website but there's still some mystery surrounding it.. Nobody knows who made it, although another existed back along (good Cornish expression). This car is thought to be the sole survivor and historians have suggested it was made as a competition tender for long distance motor sport events. It is properly known as the Foxbat. I'd spotted the badge on the rear door at the time but forgot about this when I uploaded the admiitedly rather dark pictures. I still say it took a genius to realise the concept of blending a Moggy with a Coventry cat. But how does that make a Foxbat? On my screen at home they don't look so murky but there's something fitting about this car emerging from the shadows.

From the side the lines almost flow nicely I went to the Goodwood Revival again this year and, despite the corporate hostility to the genuine enthusiast that's built into this event, still enjoyed myself tremendously. The racing was good the cars were amazing and there was a special dirtbike-heroes-of-yesteryear display, complete with classic scramblers and their riders. I particularly liked the way they had a burn up on the grass round the circuit. But out of everything, this is pne of the machines that intrigued me - difficult when it comes to four wheeled vehicular contrivances I know but bear with me. Parked by the entrance and exit, was this Jaguar XK150 shooting brake. As I'm sure you've guessed by now the rear end is Morris Minor Traveller. I was fascinated by it. It's something I would never have thought of doing and makes a lot of sense. Many woodies were produced in Britain during the late forties due to material shortages and Government restrictions...