Amazon: New (to me) 1963 Volvo 122

[Othen]

Originally Posted by ITSv40

As a bit of a giggle, I suggest Alan uses the Cottingham Road out of Corby as the level, straight, road to test the accuracy of the speedo against the GPS. By the time he reaches Wilbarston he will have a very accurate reading. Return home via the Welland valley and approach Corby via Rockingham hill - that would give a good comparison between driving on a level road versus a steep gradient.

Wonderful. The hill at Rockingham Castle has a 12% slope - I cycle up it occasionally, by the time I get to the sign the world has gone into reverse as I fight against gravity so I have plenty of time to read it!

The hill wouldn't make much difference to most GPS receivers though. Generally they will be set up to measure the slope distance (and measure the z coordinate by triangulation to the constellation) rather than the distance over the geoid.

:-)

Alan

[Othen]

... almost the correct attire for driving an Amazon (I should be wearing a collar and tie of course):



:-)

[Snow White]

You should be in a period detective drama! So typical and totally appropriate. Is that David Bailey working around here again?

[john.wigley]

Very smart, Alan! Why not go all the way and make it a Dickie Bow? Eat your heart out, Morse! J.

[Splinelube]

[ ]Very smart, Alan! Why not go all the way and make it a Dickie Bow? Eat your heart out, Morse! J.[/QUOTE]

Is it not unfortunate that Morse had to settle for a Jag?

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by Splinelube

[ ]Very smart, Alan! Why not go all the way and make it a Dickie Bow? Eat your heart out, Morse! J.

Is it not unfortunate that Morse had to settle for a Jag?[/QUOTE]

It depends which side of the steering wheel you are. For Morse, he wouldn't have had anything but a Mk2 Jag, anything else wouldn't have been quintessentially British in his view. Also it was one of the fastest (if not the fastest) mass produced cars of its time, ideal for chasing the bad guys (usually also in a Mk2 Jag because they were fast back then) who chose it for the "pace, grace and space" - pace to outrun the rozzers, grace to hold the road and outdrive them and space to hold the loot and a few shooters incase things got a bit heavy.

Perhaps if Morse was Swedish he might have had a 123GT instead or maybe a P1800 but that had already been associated with Simon Templar aka "The Saint" but which also metamorphisised into a Jag XJ-S in the "Return of the Saint".

Then again, the actor who played Morse was seen ~10-15 years earlier hoofing round the streets of London in a Granada in a different detective series so who knows?

[john.wigley]

There is an apocryphal tale that the TV company first approached Jaguar for the use of an 'E' Type when planning the first series of 'The Saint'. Jaguar, thinking that they had little need of the product placement, declined, whereupon they approached Volvo, who were more than happy to provide the P1800. The Saint has since been linked inexorably with the latter car, and Jaguar missed an invaluable opportunity. The provision of an XJS was a belated attempt to redress the balance, but with limited success.

Regards, John.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by john.wigley

There is an apocryphal tale that the TV company first approached Jaguar for the use of an 'E' Type when planning the first series of 'The Saint'. Jaguar, thinking that they had little need of the product placement, declined, whereupon they approached Volvo, who were more than happy to provide the P1800. The Saint has since been linked inexorably with the latter car, and Jaguar missed an invaluable opportunity. The provision of an XJS was a belated attempt to redress the balance, but with limited success.

Regards, John.

I've heard that one as told by Roger Moore and he bought one of the first P1800s used in the series and kept it. There was a TV program a few years ago interviewing him and this was mentioned.

[Snow White]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

I've heard that one as told by Roger Moore and he bought one of the first P1800s used in the series and kept it. There was a TV program a few years ago interviewing him and this was mentioned.

This is true, The Producer of ‘The Saint’ tried to get a Jaguar but they couldn’t supply any for a couple of months and a car was needed within a week for the filming schedule .
When an alternative car was sought the Producer said “His heart skipped a beat, when he saw the P1800.” ( An emotion I can quite relate to!).
The P1800 was bought, at full price, from the Volvo London Agency and within days filming commenced within the week.
Roger Moore was so enamoured with the P1800 he kept them as his personal cars for many years. All, of course, had a halo! 😇

[Splinelube]

Roger Moore must have been quite a high class - not socially - straight forward individual. I have viewed many many of his interviews from both side of the Atlantic and in not one instance did he indicate a leschievious (sp?) lifestyle unlike so many others. He had and has my respect.