In Dublin for just two days last week and among the modern buildings and re-development was a phenomena which I thought had all but dissappeared. The city centre garage. High rates and property prices have driven away many lock-ups and 'maintenance' sheds that were once a feature of railway arches and the less than salubrious parts of our cities. But here in a side road not far from Pearce Street is one such place. Gleaming at the back is a Fiat 500 surrounded by the detritus of the motor trade. The shot is not brilliant because as I was busy 'Litchfielding', a surly son of Erin arrived back after a test drive and I beat a hasty retreat lest I should feel the power of his mighty knuckles which definitely looked on the cards. I remember working late into the night in such dens trying to coax old bangers back to life or through a final MOT. There's something about the heady aroma of oil, petrol and residual carbon monoxide all bathed in stark neon lighting, that makes me think '"I'm glad I haven't got that corroded Ford Anglia anymore".
15 comments:
Hahah! What a pearler of a photo, on so many levels, but what I would give to see the video of Seamus's return! It frighteningly reminds me of one of the places that I dealt with in the early 90s...and which eventually resulted in some strange dealings via Messrs Sue, Grabbitt and Runne!
I've an e type buried in rubbish in a lock up at the moment...feel free to come and scrape your knuckles at any time!
Dig it out, lad, there's a recession on and people will be looking for somewhere safe to put their money...the hole that the E-type leaves should be sufficient for large amounts of cash. Seriously, though, is it still there?
I love this photograph. For me it brought to mind that Citroen man who toiled away under a Waterloo railway arch near Roupell Street. He did up Tractions and put them up for sale on Gabriel's Wharf next to London Weekend Television. One light bulb, many red boxes of original Citroen spares.
jag is still there (my poor old mum still moans about it!) series 1 coupe....beeds major work.
Oh Mr.A don't get me going on Tractions...sublime and yet fractured too. So French. I remember the very place...did he move into DSs later?
Before Spitalfields market had the character sandblasted out of it, there were 10 or so dusty Tractions lined up inside the main market hall. They didn't seem to be for sale, and they never moved. There was also a Ural Combi. I wonder what happened to them?
For all lovers of Les Traction Avant: BBC4 Saturday, 22.15: Maigret! Helas, not the original, je pense.
When I had my Light 15, I was habitually greeted by my chums with "Ah, Inspector Lucas" as I arrived to ferry us to the pub!!!
Lead me to those dusty Tractions! Rust though is a big killer and I remember test driving one in France a few years ago, it looked immaculate parked close to a wall, I drove it for a couple of kilometres and brought it back parking it the other way round. The near side of the car was a mass of dings and rust, and certainly beyond my means to repair. The vendors comment - "nothing is perfect is this less than perfect world" - a sort of misquote of Dr. Pangloss. Caveat emptor!
Oh original Maigret films. With Ewan Solon as Lucas not bothering to get into the Traction but riding on the front wing. You never see them do you; I bet the BBC have wiped the lot. Anyway, a relative of mine repaired that Rupert Davies' lawnmower once in Amersham. And he was in Witchfinder General. Rupert, not my cousin.
Poldark once cooked me Sunday lunch. Does that count?
And I was Kaiser Bill's batman...
Kaiser Bill's Batman was a hit for Whistling Jack Smith, who also did the theme tune for the film of Len Deighton's book Only When I Larf. And Ralph Bates was in Poldark. Was he cooked for too Fred?
Not many people know that Mr A.
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