Michael Seaword

@michaelseaword

Environmentalist. Buddhist. Yorkshireman. Cars and music.

101 Following202 Followers1,749 Posts

YouTube Bluesky

Is this your profile?Claim it and michaelseaword.dirty.social is yours.Claim profile

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· 4h

My weekend is beginning with the first part of my trip southwards.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· 2d

#ToyCarTuesday Realtoy MINI Cooper (R50)

Elevated front three quarter view of the MINI Cooper (R50) which was marketed as being by TESCO/Realtoy. Mine is blue with a white roof which has a mod target on it.

Rear shot of TESCO/Realtoy MINI Cooper (R50), which is surprisingly well detailed with lights and badges, including the high level brake light.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· 9d

#ToyCarTuesday Husky Shelvoke and Drewry refuse lorry

Elevated front three quarter view of the Husky models Shelvoke & Drewry refuse lorry with light blue cab.

Rear image of the silver refuse body on the Husky Shelvoke & Drewry model from the mid 1960s.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· 16d

#ToyCarTuesday Hotwheels Porsche 930 Slantnose.

Elevated front three quarter view of the Hotwheels Porsche 930 (911) Slantnose. ‘80s Hotwheels tended to be more caricaturish, but I think this captures the shape of the car really well. It lacks details like mirrors and everything is body colour, but underneath is basically a good model.

Rear view of the Hotwheels Porsche 930 Slantnose. Everything is painted red but there is some light detail and the tea tray spoiler is an accurate shape.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· 17d

Wolseleys at Ripon Old Cars show yesterday. Great to see four pre-war cars together. Mini Hornets are rare, but there were two. A couple of ‘Farina saloons here too; 18/85 Landcrab and a 16/60 amongst the 15 Wolseleys on the field. #weirdcarbs

A line-up of four 1930s Wolseleys.
L-R Nine, 12/48, New Fourteen, 12/56 on the field at Ripon race course yesterday. The cloudy sky looks quite threatening but we had only one short downpour at it was mostly sunny.

Two MKIII Mini Hornets parked together. Both are red. The one on the right has a cream roof. The lower grilles are slightly different. I am not sure if the one on the left is incorrect, or if they changed during that production year as both cars are F registered. You do not see many Hornets, so seeing two together is a rare sight.

An 18/85 ‘Landcrab’ in a shade of brown. To the right you can see the two-tone body of a 6/110.

A two tone 16/60 parked on the field. A very attractive colourway of sandy biege and rose taupe (I think although it looks more of a brown shade in this shot).

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· 17d

I drove this car there and it performed beautifully, despite my occasional mistakes.

Wolseley New Fourteen that I took to Ripon Old Cars show today.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· 17d

Ripon Old Cars today. Here’s a selection that appealed. #weirdcarbs

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· 21d

Post the best selling phone from the year you were born. Something like this… Ours was mustard coloured and my dad put stickers on it about how expensive calls were and to be brief. I was frightened of the thing and didn’t enjoy talking on the phone even when I was a teenager.

Typical rotary dial telephone from the 1970s.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· 23d

#ToyCarTuesday Corgi Citroën 2CV6 #weirdcarbs

Elevated front three quarter view of the Corgi Juniors Citroën 2CV6 in red with an image of two daisies on the driver’s door. It has square headlights.

Rear view of the Corgi Juniors Citroën 2CV6. All over red with a daisy image on the boot.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· 25d

Had a fun afternoon… No, I haven’t bought it but I did fall a little bit in love. My wife was keen for us to get it, but I don’t think we can justify £20k, particularly when it’s range (probably 120 miles+) is so low. I can see me getting a second hand one though. #SuperN #EV

A black Honda Super N plugged in charging at the showroom.
Some might consider it a bit cheap looking, but I love it’s practical simplicity.

Rear three quarter view of the black Honda Super N. Very practical low entry point in the boot and the magic rear seats fold almost flat giving a decent space. Honda should have made this car 4 years ago instead of the gimmicky ‘e’.

Love these front seats in the Super N that pay tribute to the classic Honda City Turbo II

Going for a test drive. There are four drive modes; Econ, City, Normal and Sport. I found City was pleasant with strong regen. Sport turns it into a hooligan, making fake engine noises with a rev counter and gears. It’s not gonna out-accelerate much on the road but it feels fun.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· 27d

It’s the weird Honda corner. CR-X del Sol and Insight ZE1 parked together. #weirdcarbs

A black Honda CR-X del Sol with roof open parked next to my Honda Insight this evening.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jul 14

#ToyCarTuesday Matchbox Porsche 911 Turbo One of the many colour variations on this model.

Elevated front three quarter view of the Matchbox Porsche 911 Turbo in white with PORSCHE and a large Porsche badge in green on the bonnet.

Rear view of the Matchbox Porsche 911 Turbo. Like many of the models at the time it has a towbar, but is hardly an ideal towing vehicle.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jul 13

The advantages of a low car. There aren’t many, but getting pole position in the car park under a shady tree despite being the last to arrive counts as a win. #HondaInsight

My Honda Insight parked in the first bay of the work car park, that others have left empty because the branches of a tree would scratch their taller vehicles.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jul 7

#ToyCarTuesday Siku Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport

Elevated front three quarter view of the Siku Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport in red with black lower body. The model has a black grille but the show car on the previous picture had a silver grille. The Grand Sport has an open targa-type top body.

Rear view of the Siku Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport in red and black.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jul 5

I’ve not seen a Super N or Prelude in the metal yet, so I popped round to my local showroom after work yesterday. Unfortunately they had the gate across and I could not see what was behind the glass. Here’s a banner… #Honda

A banner showing the new Honda Super-N, declaring “Small Car. Big Fun.” Outside the Honda showroom in Stirling.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 30

#ToyCarTuesday Corgi Juniors Fiat X1/9 #weirdcarbs

Elevated front three quarter view of the Corgi Fiat X1/9 in white. This model was sold in plain white, but my example had previously had stickers on the bonnet and doors (I think race number 4).

Rear view of the Corgi Fiat X1/9 with the engine lid open to reveal a silver engine beneath. There is some rear light and number plate light detail, but everything is painted white.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 28

Such a good show at Moffat today! The last twice I have been there it has been spoilt by extremely wet weather, but today after a wet night we had some sunshine. #weirdcarbs

I took this Wolseley 1500 MKIII which a friend kindly lends me.

Rear three quarter view of a Clan Crusader.

Front three quarter view of a pre-war BSA open sports car.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 28

The sun is out at Moffat! Here’s a few vehicles on the field of over 750. Always a joy to talk to a fellow Insight owner. #weirdcarbs

Front three quarter view of a Buick Electra parked on the grass field at Moffat car show.

Rear three quarter view of a Lambretta Scooter.

Front three quarter view of a rally Peugeot 205.

Rear three quarter view of a Honda Insight ZE1 in citrus. This one was imported from Japan in 2015 but is so similar to mine.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 27

Incredibly uplifting evening watching the Phoenix Choirs at the Usher Hall.

Four choirs that make up the complete Phoenix Choir in Edinburgh, performing at the Usher Hall this evening. My friend John is performing a solo at this point.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 23

#ToyCarTuesday Husky ERF LV 6 wheel cement mixer.

Elevated front three quarter view of the Husky ERF LV cement mixer. The cab and body is yellow and the barrel is red.

Side view of the Husky ERF LV cement mixer lorry.

Elevated rear three quarter view of the Husky ERF LV cement mixer lorry.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 21

Today’s #carparkspot a 22 year old Renault Clio looking very tidy. #weirdcarbs

Rear three quarter view of a 2004 Renault Clio in grey, parked in a supermarket car park.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 20

Robot mascot of the Japanese band Kaminarigumo.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 19

Looking for a hybrid crossover SUV type thing made by Chery but cannot decide between the Chery, Omoda or Jaecoo brands? Here’s the Lepas L8… Are Chery attempting to break the BL record of how many competing brands they can offer in the same crowded segment? #weirdcarbs

Promotional image of the front of a Lepas L8 (but if I told you it was any number of other Chinese brands you’d believe me, or if you just glanced I could have said it was an Audi and you wouldn’t have questioned it) coming to the UK this Autumn.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 18

Blue cars, grey sky. A few of took our classics out for the ‘bring your vehicle’ night at Gartcosh this evening. #weirdcarbs

An interesting lineup of five cars in shades of blue. Rover Metro, Lexus Convertible, Mitsuoka Viewt, Alvis TA21, Honda Insight ZE1.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 16

#ToyCarTuesday Unknown make Porsche 959

Elevated front three quarter view of the Porsche 959 which has no indication of manufacturer.
It is cerise pink with three white stripes and 959 on the bonnet.

Rear view of the unknown make Porsche 959. The distinctive rear spoiler is there although it is a separate piece rather than part of the main casting. There is little detail in terms of lights or air intakes.
Of the 350 or so 959s made I doubt any were ever painted cerise pink, but as you may have seen from previous postings, very few of the 959s in my collection resemble real vehicles.

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 13

3 years of ownership, 36,500 miles, more unanticipated expense than I care to calculate. I do enjoy having a car that people like, that I can take to shows and that is really engaging to drive, but was it a good idea? I’m not sure. #HondaInsight

Front offside three quarter view of my Honda Insight ZE1 parked outside the Honda specialists (again).

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 9

#ToyCarTuesday Edocar Porsche 959 Rijkspolitie

Elevated front three quarter view of the Edocar Porsche 959 in Dutch Police livery.

Three examples of the same casting of the Porsche 959 with roof lights that flashed when you pushed the top of the car. (The pace car is my only example where that still works.). L-R Pace Car marketed by Corgi, Rijkspolitie marketed by Edocar and Polizei marketed by Corgi. I know there was a Belgium SOS livery (which I’m sure I’ll get at some point). Where there any others…?

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 8

This grinning idiot is back at the garage again. A failed MOT due to corroded brake lines (complicated by connecting to aluminium) was not unexpected and I can deal with, but suddenly losing all his gears as I drove from the garage with that news was… erm, annoying.

The grinning face of my Honda Insight ZE1. Parked in a college car park this morning where I was delivering a presentation, before limping it back to the garage (mostly in 2nd gear as finding other gears was often impossible).

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 7

Today would have been my mother’s 80th birthday. Whilst looking through some stuff that I recently found at my parents house I found these two lovely letters from 1961. The first, commending my mum for being a prefect (I never knew that until today), the second from her first employer.

A typed letter from the Headmaster of my mother’s school in 1961. It writes how she and some other girls who were also Prefects, were “cheerful, hardworking and most pleasant of approach” and “placing the interest of the school always before the interest of self”.

A typed letter from 1961 written to my Grandmother from my mother’s first employer, John Barran & Sons Ltd, Leeds. It states on her first day she should “bring with her a knife, fork, spoon, cup and National Insurance cards.”

Michael Seaword@michaelseaword· Jun 7

Some more pictures from these old fanzines. Billy looks quite Morrissey with a cockatoo quiff on the left. Morrissey was of course a fan and the picture on the left was edited and used for the cover of “Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me”. @billyfuryarchive.bsky.social