Here are my vehicles along with some family history & our other cars

Leaving barge building at Conyer Grandfather had the first lorry in there carrying haulage from the wharf. Pictured here Billy "Chips" Carpenter & friend in 1928, opposite the coast guard cottages built in 1829 that he lived in all his life

Orchard Garage at the Norton crossroads on the A2 started by my Grandfather in the 1930's & in the family until 1963. He's pictured centre in 1936, the petrol pump & fruit stall sold produce grown in his orchard behind the house below

The first workshop

Post war years even then the A2 was horrendously busy, a mother & child wait to cross from the Teynham. The orchard is behind the white building that was the workshop, garage with pumps is centre, the big house, & the cafe to left of the coach

Coaches galore watering at Grandmother's busy Cafe

485 KT my Fathers 1929 Riley Special at the Butter Market opposite the Cathedral Gates in Canterbury in 1948

Orchard Garage shown here in the 1952 before the M2 was built. The Austin Commercial near the pumps was red & good enough to negotiate the Thanet Way in the great floods of 1953

Grandfathers pride & joy, a new top of the range 1954 Dagenham built Ford Zephyr Zodiac purchased soon after he'd bought Stains Farm Harbledown outside Canterbury & Sunset Orchard, now the Sherwood Estate in Whitstable

Based on a motor tricycle a similar Reliant van to the one my cousin & I drove as boys at Stains Farm

Just before I rolled it my Fathers 948 VKO a Fiesta Yellow 1963 Morris 1100 at "Downbury" Sunset Orchard in 1966

Had to include this one, JKO 948 my mates 1947 900cc S4 SV Morris 8, in Black of course the wartime officers runabout taken in around 1966. It was one of the last of 20,000 produced between 1939-1947

How most ended their days, a picture of a broken & abandoned like this one on Seasalter marshes in 1967. There's more here on the Austin 8 Oldtimer Picture Gallery or from the picture above

Picture of an Austin 8 in non-standard blue being shown at the Faversham Classic

I wonder if you could help me. My father wants an Austin 8, I can't find one any where. I have found a Morris 8 which looks very similar to me, is it the same? & do you know of any Austin 8's that are for sale? Regards - Richard Wilding

Hi Richard

Best way to begin is through Austin 8 Club/Register. The cars can be seen at a number of events during the summer: classic car/agricultural & county shows. Everyone who owns a classic is keen to talk about them, so you'll get the information you'll need to keep a classic Austin first hand. On the main road to Eastbourne there's a garage that always has classics, not many weeks ago he had an Austin 8.

The Morris isn't the same but similar. By today's standards the cars are slow about 40-45 tops, & quite an interesting drive. Very small tyres & steering with a mind of its own!

Hope this helps - Good luck

JPM 158 a Grey 1953 Morris Minor 803cc Van in 1966

For the Morris Minor Owners Club link here or from the logo above

Morris Minor convertable The Tourer had same running gear as the saloon, but needed minimal strenthening when it lost its roof

The pre-war model with side valve engine was underpowered, with the merger of of Austin & Morris in 1952 the same 803cc engine as used in the Austin A30, by 1961 the 1098cc engine was fitted & stayed until production ceased in 1969

The above picture by John S Smith suggests Clacton Pier, Essex with Billboards advertising excursions on the Medway Queen to Margate, Kent

The first of my dozen Mini's 13 XKJ a 848cc a Willow Green 1963 former East Kent Packers Morris Mini Van in 1968

See the British Mini Club here or from the logo above

FKN 344D an 848cc Island Blue 1966 Morris Mini Saloon in Cornwall in 1967

YUL 986 mates 1960 Blue Bedford CA Caravanette in 1972

WYN 435G a 948cc Blue 1969 Morris Mini Van in 1972

EJG 179C a Blue 1965 Austin A55 Van in 1972. No picture available this example is a similar A60 van courtesy of the Austin Cambridge/Westminster Club see their website here for more information or click on their banner below

CFN 311B a 848cc Siesta Yellow 1964 Morris Mini Estate in 1973

143 MMM a mint Black 1958 Morris Minor Saloon in 1973

For Morris Minor Mania link here or from logo above

WPM 513 a Midnight Blue 1963 Morris Mini saloon in 1974 with Austin Mini-Cooper in more detail below

396 GGC a Green & White 1964 Austin Mini Cooper in 1974

The British Motor Corporation (BMC) Mini-Cooper based on the Alec Issigonis designed standard mini saloon, the Cooper was the work of John Cooper & made the 60's inconic car even more desireable

2868 FN Beige 1961 Morris Mini Pick-Up in 1974. No picture available

1963 Blue & White Hillman Husky Estate in 1974. Sadly no details or picture survive, but the above identical in the the right colour courtesy of Rootes. See the history of Hillman Cars here or on the picture above

VFN 622J a Blue 1971 MK 1 Ford Escort Saloon in 1975. No picture available the above courtesy of Classic & Sportscar Magazine

1937 MD a White & Black 1962 Morris Mini Saloon in 1976. No picture available this picture illustrating the paint style is the first Mini-Cooper of 1961 courtesy of the British Motor Corporation

KGF 830 a Beige 1948 Austin A40 in 1976. No picture available this line drawing courtesy of Austin Works

See the history of Austin of England Cars from 1947-1952 here or from the picture above

570 TPB a Red 1961 Morris Mini Minor in 1976. No picture available this 1964 example courtesy of the British Mini Club here or from the banner below for more information

137 HKJ a Siesta & Red 1959 Bedford CA Caravanette with Tracy the Labrador Bull Terrier cross in 1976

GPP 974G a plastic pig of a 1969 Reliant Supervan in 1976

Links to our other MotorMania features are at the foot of Cars & Motoring Part 2