I have transferred news of Teal activities, cars and Tealers to this Teal News page from Page 1 of the website to leave room there for new info. You will find lots of favourite Teal items here and on the three previous Teal News pages. I hope you may enjoy them….
Teal News 4 To July 2012
Transferred from Page 1
A baker’s dozen of Tealers (and Colin) one glorious summer at Moffat in the Scottish Borders (2009 photo)
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The March 2012 copy of Teal Spiel arrived happily, full of Teal news, articles, technical advice, stories, poems, cartoons, photos in b/w and colour, suggestions and details of future meetings and rallies over the summer and autumn. Our first get together is this weekend (31 March/1 April) at Bewdley, Worcestershire, with a dozen Tealers at least. Thank you Glen for organizing this, and to Suzi and Andy for the excellent Teal Spiel magazine, available to all Teal Owners’ Club (TOC) members. To join the TOC see the Teal Owners’ Club page of this website – the best £18-worth you’ll enjoy this year!
Teals on Tour
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Teal Type 35 B – Ex Philip Searle/John Williams
Danilo Beltrami’s Teal Type 35 four seater – ex Neil Bridges.
Teal Type 35B – David Williams (Ex Tony Williams)
Brian Crook’s Teal Type 35 (ex Henry Proctor)
” Teals have Soul “ Captain Sensible
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The Hawker Cygnet at the Shuttleworth Collection is a replica. So is the ‘Boler Bugatti’ of TOC member Barry Thompson – and they make a fine picture together. The Shuttleworth Collection of historic aircraft and cars is known to many Tealers, just off the A1 near Biggleswade, and happily it is also close to Barry’s home.
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TEALERS RENDEZVOUS AT DAVID WARD’S GARAGE –
on Tuesday 28th February
On Tuesday 28th February six Tealers with three Teals joined up in Egham, Surrey at Tealer David Ward’s MOT and Service Centre. Colin Andrews, Tony Davis, Andy Dutton, Angelo DeSouza and Brian Crook joined David for work on their cars and/or a good chat about Teals. Colin had a new cam belt fitted to his lovely new topless Astra (body by Bertone), Brian had his new Teal serviced from bottom to top by David, and Tony had his MOT and a satnav charging socket fitted discretely to his fine Teal four-seater. Angelo ‘Brooklands’ DeSouza dropped in from his busy work schedule – it was good to see him. We were all made welcome in the garage by David and his team, who we rate highly if you need work done on any car, very much including your Teal. More photos below show the garage, just off the M25 at Egham near Windsor, some of the cars, and (above) David’s local new number plate EGH4M…
David Ward brings the Tony Davis 4-seater Teal into the garage, while Colin and Tony exchange ideas
Colin’s fine Bertone body feels a bit up in the air; Brian’s Teal awaits the full Monty
Tony departs in his well-engineered (4C-2000 overbored MGB engine with twin 1 3/4 inch SUs) Teal Type 35 four-seater
Colin departs topless in his stylish convertible Astra
David Ward’s own purposeful Teal Type 35 (6C-1600 blown) boattail
If you would like work done on your Teal (or another car) contact David Ward at 01784 439 160 or email davidward186@hotmail.com or log on to his website at www.wardsmotandservicecentre.com and
use David’s contact form.
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1924 Bugatti Type 35
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En Route to Angouleme: the chateau at Saumur on the Loire – and six fine Teals
See Teal Tours schedule below, Rupert and Jean’s message, and Page 26 of this website (Angouleme) for a flavour of the trip…..
At Angouleme….
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More Tealers on Tour:
Dot and Phil on the Backbone Run 2010 – see below for dates of the new Backbone Run 2012
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Teals in Scottish Border country… Neil Ramsay shows us the way
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TEALERS AT BROOKLANDS – NEW YEAR’S DAY 2012
photo David Ward – thanks
!st January 2012 sees distinguished (and determined) Tealers at the New Year’s Classic Car meet at the home of British motor sport, Brooklands – what a great way to start the year – fresh air and classic cars….
Cliff, Angelo, David and Andy show the Teal flag at Brooklands – 1 Jan 2012
VITAL STATISTICS
On 1st January 2007 the
www.skyblueteal.co.ukwebsite was launched
On 1st January 2008 there had been a total of 2000 hits
On 1st January 2009 there had been a total of 8000 hits
On 1st January 2010 there had been a total of 18,800 hits
On 1st January 2011 there had been a total of 29,600 hits
On 1st January 2012 there had been a total of 42,100 hits
The latest total is shown on the hits counter at Page 1; thank you for your interest and your loyalty to the only website dedicated to the remarkable Teal marque
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Teal Refurbishment
Tealer David Ward is carrying out a major rebuild of his fine Teal Type 35, which he bought earlier this year and drove on a number of Teal runs, including the Sussex Ramble; luckily David is the owner of Wards MOT and Service Centre in Egham, Surrey, so has all the facilities to hand… This is David’s second Teal, and he’s carrying out a thorough engine and clutch out, chassis-up restoration. His Teal has the unusual external gear linkage seen below, and a straight-six supercharged Triumph motor, also totally rebuilt this past month.
David takes on all Teal work; next month he will be casting his expert eye over Brian Crook’s new Teal, and if you would like any work done on your Teal you can contact him on 01784 439 160 or log on to the website at www.wardsmotandservicecentre.com or email davidward186@hotmail.com It’s good to know that we have our own garage where an expert knows, owns, loves and understands Teals.
Below we see David’s own Teal Type 35 (left) and that of colleague Angelo de Souza in David’s garage before a happy run to Brooklands for a classic car auction.
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Another excerpt from the wise sayings of Captain Sensible, Glen Ibbotson: ‘…Old motorbikes are a bit like Teals. People are much more interested in them than they are the latest,supa dupa, all singing all dancing, got everything vehicles. I think it’s because Teals have soul. They remind us of a lost time when life was slower and simpler. A time when pushbikes were never locked, when 12 policemen could control a crowd of 40,000 people at a football match, the union flag was not worn as a pair of shorts, and kids could play in the street until it was dark….. ‘
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PHOENIX
A few years ago, Neil Bridges of Sheffield owned a lovely green four-seater Teal with white leather seats. But that was sold, and Neil missed his Teal greatly. Then early this year Neil spotted, bought and restored a sporty two-seater Teal Type 35, which he brought on the Welshpool and Chester runs; now he and Pam have done it again, picking up a fine Teal four-seater (Phoenix) painted in Oxford and Cambridge blue, which he has been checking out with Keith and Bob in Cheshire. Congratulations, Neil….
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A Scots Beauty
Neil and Vicky Ramsey’s lovely Teal Type 35 ‘Vital Spark’ in the Lake District; recently Neil and Vicky led the way to Skye and Harris for Colin Andrews’ jacket run, where Tealers ranged north and west onto the islands to enjoy Colin’s search, fitting, tailoring and purchase of a fine Harris Tweed jacket, a lifetime dream for young Colin. Luckily, there were these couple of Tealing Scots, some sensible Yorkshire folk (Maggie and Glen), some Lancashire travellers ( Dot and Phil) all under Irene’s watching brief to ensure a happy outcome…. look out for a smart Tealer in a subtle shade of blue.
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The Tealers Are Back From France…
Photo: Neil Bridges – thanks Neil
Our colleagues and friends spent a busy week in the Dieppe area and touring, returning home at the weekend (17/18 September). The full story will be in our Teal Club magazine Teal Spiel, but here’s a glimpse of the elegant line up, with the crews tending to their fine machinery (Glen and Maggie (also top) , Neil and Pam, Rupert and Jean in a fine -looking Grasshopper, Dot and Phil, and Chris and Yvonne in their stylish TR8. One question: has Glen gone over the top with the beret look? Or is it sensible in Normandy? Below: Jean and Rupert enjoying their lovely (and powerful) new Teal ‘Grasshopper’ in Dieppe…
Photo: Dot Massey – thanks Dot
Photo: Maggi Ibbotson – thanks Maggi
Dot and Chris admire a fine 1925 Amilcar in Normandy on Belgian plates
Photo: Maggi Ibbotson – thanks, Maggi
Three each? Phil and Neil survey La Manche in a tranquil frame of mind after a full day’s Teal touring in Normany – September 2011.
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SAFETY MESSAGE FOR OWNERS OF TEALS
WITH WIRE WHEELS
Recently Tealers who have taken their cars to Longstones, the classic car tyre specialists, to be fitted with new inner tubes or new tyres have been advised that the spokes of their wire wheels require urgent attention. It seems that over the years of hard pounding, spokes can lose their tension, or come loose at the internal attachment point, or corrode badly, making them less than safe on the road. The wheels have been sent away for re-spoking and returned in much improved condition – Glen praises the performance in France this month of his newly-reconditioned wheels. Tealers may wish to consider a close look at each spoked wheel and possible remedial action. Keith Lidgerwood (TOC Vehicle Information Forum/Technical Adviser) and Glen Ibbotson would be pleased to advise.
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(more photos on the TEALS FOR SALE page of this website)
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TEAL RUNS – SPRING/ SUMMER 2011
Spring and Summer 2011 were full of Teal events, rallies and get-togethers, official and unofficial, at Welshpool, Blackpool and Chester, on Skye, in Sussex, at Uxbridge and in Normandy to name a few. Here are some more pictures of those Teal events…
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TEAL CHESTER RUN
We’re back from three happy days in Chester – 24 Tealers, a dozen cars at different times, glorious routes, splendid stopovers, cheerful social events, castles, canals and car museums, Thomas Telford and terrific Teals. Details will all be in the next Teal Spiel, but thanks Glen and Maggie for researching, guiding, and seemlessly (!) integrating this happy Teal meet. Above are Teals at Chirk Castle on the sunny Sunday, and below Neil Bridges beams with pleasure as he and Pam take off for the day’s adventures in their recently-restored Teal..
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TEALS AT UXBRIDGE
Andy Dutton writes:
A pleasant day was had by four Tealers at the Uxbridge Auto Show on Sunday 17th. Ernest Neil could not come after injuring his leg (get well soon) but his son came in his car. DavidWard and partner Sharon with daughter Leah, Angelo de Sousa and son Antonio and my good self. The Teals caused the usual stir, and if I had had a pound for every picture taken then I could have had cheap a evening down the pub!
Thanks to everyone for coming.
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TEALERS AT BLACKPOOL, JUNE 2011
Half a dozen fine Teals (and a lovely Lagonda) lined up at the annual Blackpool meet on Sunday 26 June 2011. Among the Tealers were Jeff and Mary Turner, Ron and David Stamp, Bob Mills, Neil and Pam Bridges, Dot and Phil Massey, Mr and Mrs David Williams, Richard Frazer, and Stuart Whitworth with his Rolls Royce (at the end of the row of Teals, with boot open. Stu’s probably finding his sandwiches – or camera…
Neil Bridges fine ‘new’ Teal (foreground) joins Dot and Phil’s elegant dark blue Type 35 in their garage before Blackpool 2011.
Before Blackpool, Phil ensures that Neil Bridges’ Teal is spick and span for the line up; Phil would probably valet your Teal too, if asked nicely…
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Tealers gathered in West Sussex on the weekend of 1st, 2nd and 3rd July for a happy tour of the South Downs based at Bramber. The photo above of Andy, June,Dave, Sharon, Rupert, Jean, Brian and Francesca was taken at the Wiston Steam Fair on the Sunday, and earlier we had visited the delightful Amberley Museum of country skills and technology, in the chalkpits beween Arundel and Storrington, The Devil’s Dyke on the high South Downs, and driven happy miles through sunlit country lanes, with the Teals the centre of attraction wherever we stopped (and also when we didn’t!). Thanks to Rupert and Jean for reconnaissance, lovely routes and stops chosen,happy meals together and cheerful and efficient organization. The full story for members will be in the September issue of Teal Spiel…
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Can’t find your favourite photo that was on this page? It may now have been transferred to the Teal News 3 page to make space for fresh info on Teals. Worth a look!
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Classic Photo
We’ve all known Teals that need fixing now and then; and Bugattis are no less in need of TLC – in fact rather frequently; but they’re worth it.
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March/April 2012
THE BEWDLEY TEALERS’ MEET
31st March/1st April/2nd April 2012 saw up to 24 Tealers at Bewdley, Worcestershire for an early season social meet. Here Neil, Glen, Colin, Pam and Dot admire John King’s Teal Type 35 (ex Neil Bridges) before boarding the Severn Valley Railway (Thomas the Tank Engine’s own line) for Bridgnorth. They don’t look too bad, considering the night before.
Keith and Colin enjoy the Spring sunshine on April 1st – with a Teal to hand
Keith, Neil, Phil and Aaldert have a closer look at John King’s Teal engine (MGB 4C – 1800)
All Aboard – Tealers board the Thomas ‘express’ for Bridgnorth. It is thought that this engine is in fact one of Thomas’s friends. All info gratefully received.
Varied transport in the carpark of The George, Bewdley: Brian’s MG TF, Aaldert and Elselies’s Morgan from the Netherlands and Neil Bridges’ Teal Type 35 four-seater ‘Phoenix’…
On their way to Leominster, Neil and Pam visited Berrington Hall, where they were asked to park in front of the manor, and treated like royalty. Looking at their magnificent Teal Type 35 (Phoenix) you can see why:
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Waiting for the Oban Ferry – Vicky and Neil Ramsey take shelter from the storm…
Vicky, Neil, Vital Spark (and Colin’s Puddle Jumper) at John O’ Groats, after the Spider Run, photographed by John Chalmers, Keith’s co-pilot
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Early May
The skies cleared of rain for a few hours, and shafts of sunlight lit up the Wiltshire countryside on Tuesday 8th May; in common with Tealers everywhere, I thought: here’s a chance to take a spin, breathe the air, listen to the wind ….
I wound up at the Calne Motor Museum (Sporting Bentley, Alvis, Riley, etc), and then The George and Dragon at Rowde…
And I dreamed that Spring was really here, and summer close behind……. Happy Tealing, colleagues, everywhere
(PS: did you notice I took the big split-screen off, leaving just the little Brooklands screens? It changes the look of the Teal considerably, doesn’t it? Reliable auntie to sexy cousin? )
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Ian and Lavinia’s chairs; Farne Islands, low tide
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Not all Teals
Have wheels
Photo: Glen Ibbotson -thank you
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Keith’s round the bend on the Backbone Teal Pennine Tour, driving Teal Number One (now christened Le Mistral), the very first Teal ever built (1984), originally owned by the founder of Teal Cars, Ian Foster, and now rebodied in aluminium, and fully restored.
Keith in the cockpit of Le Mistral on the Backbone Run, wearing one of his tasteful Aussie shirts. Many Tealers will know that Keith is at the very heart of the Teal community, having built Teals, restored Teals and repaired Teals for other Club members. His workshops are extensive and admirable; all Tealers receive a warm and courteous welcome at Teal Centre North, and generous hospitality – and a bit of Aussie banter too… good.
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Jeff and Mary Turner (Sale-based Tealers of fine standing and great enthusiasm, and good friends of Bob Jones) round the bend on the Teal Backbone route across the northern Pennines.
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Racer in the Making
Johnny, David Ward’s great nephew kitted out for Teal racing (see below)
Flat Out: Teals driven by Ian Hutchinson ( foreground) and Ben Trumble neck and neck after two laps of the Old Reims Grand Prix Circuit… (Ben says that he would have won if his handbrake hadn’t stuck on. Hmm. )
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Interesting Photos
Wimbledon Ladies’ Tennis Champion Maria Bueno and….
… her (?) Teal Type 43 four-seater
(If anyone can cast light on the origins of this photo, I’d be delighted to know – thanks b.c.)
The Teal Type 35 Boat Tail is quite a long car which presents a rather sleek appearance;rather like our daughter Kirsten, behind the wheel…
You could not call this early Bugatti Type 13 sleek, but it’s certainly impressive and beautiful – as is the Belgian pooch. Their lucky owner appears to be wearing my prep school cricket cap.
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Many will know that our friend and fellow Tealer Keith Lidgerwood has not been well over recent months. He wants us to know that his first session of chemo knocked him back considerably, resulting in a need for several urgent blood transfusions, but that he hopes to be back on the chemo next week when his platelet levels have recovered sufficiently.
Keith wants to thank fellow Tealers for the terrific support he has received, and says ‘ the caring thoughts of members is very nourishing to my hopes and resolve – DEEP THANKS from fellow Tealer fkl.’ Keith is also planning to attend the Teal Owners’ Club Centennial events…
We wish Keith a sound and sustained recovery, so we can rib him remorselessly once more about the faded glories of Aussie cricket, his dodgy dietary advice and all things Antipodean. The trouble is he responds rather too well, and even gets in a sharp dig or two at us – the Poms. The annoying yet rather heartwarming thing is that it’s all done with respect and great affection on both sides. Keith has been at the very heart of Tealing for very many years, owning several Teals, building a splendid Type 35B, and working on dozens of Teals and Bugatti replicas. We look forward to having you in formation again soon, Keith, and stop taking the damn lead (and the piss).
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Anyone for drinks at the chateau?
Next week (27 May) a Company of Tealers embark for Normandy under the redoubtable leadership and guidance of Captain Sensible and Maggie. The Normandy run has become something of a tradition, with locations of interest to visit, fine foods and wine to enjoy, and a happy French hostess and hostlery to return to, with covered parking for the Teals if required. In previous years friends have been made with a wide range of Normans, Teals being admired by aristocracy and workers alike. Teal – the people’s car! We wish the Tealers God Speed and a fair wind to Normandy (and back again).
Teals parked high and dry at happy accommodation
Prennez-vous un petit verre au terrasse? Tealers relax amid French aristocratic hospitality …
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More Adventures Abroad
Tealers on Tour
A Teal pause for refreshment in the Pyrenees, en route from Angouleme to northern Spain, attracts the interest of passing local residents.
Tealers on Tour : home comforts. The Teal boat tail, supplemented here by a boot rack, provides useful storage space for tools, pot, kettle and clothes.
and Baguette came too, as a warm companion to Stuart
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Where The Teal was Born
The Pack Horse Inn at Affetside, Near Bury, Lancashire, where Ian Foster first drew up the outlines of what became the Teal Type 35 project
Early Teals (briefly in 1983 and early 1984 called and badged Worsleys)
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Many Tealers were in Hampshire and Sussex last weekend on the South Eastern Ramble (see below) with Jean and Rupert Quested, and next weekend we’re based in Tewksbury for a Welsh Borders Meander and visit to the Morgan factory at Malvern guided by Maggie and Glen Ibbotson, followed by points north. Tealers never rest (well, hardly ever).
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Teals Below Sea Level
Stop Press: The Teal South-Eastern Ramblers are back, after a happy three days based on Petersfield in the South Downs – and the Tealers survived driving below sea level round Bosham Harbour in Sussex – fortunately the tide was out, but the seaweed completed a neat bidet job on the underside of the cars.
Friday 22nd was a bit wet and windy as most Tealers met up in Surrey and headed down via the Devil’s Punchbowl to Petersfield. Jean and Rupert were leading in Grasshopper, there were Glen and Maggie from Yorkshire, Colin and Irene, David and Sharon, Brian and Francesca (who wimped out in all the Wiltshire rain, and came in a comfy MG), Harry and Carole in their Ruska, and Angelo and his son arrived on Sunday.
Saturday 23rd was a great hit, as Rupert had planned a winding route through rural lanes and woodland in the south downs with a happy pub coffee stop at The Three Horseshoes (don’t forget the chickens!), and a visit to the lovely 11th century Cocking church (and intriguing deserted farmbuildings), to Chichester for lunch (Colin disgraced himself with cherry pie and ice cream, but he seemed happy, and I was able to nick a piece too) and the majestic cathedral of St Richard; and in the afternoon Itchenor and the Bosham harbour estuary after tide tables had been closely consulted (I hope). Then a glorious run back to the hotel through the downs for a jovial Tealers’ supper.
A Teal would smell as sweet by any other name
David Ward’s beautifully-detailed Teal Type 35 (Triumph 6C-1600) and (below) ‘Grasshopper’, the lovely Teal (Nissan 4C-1800) of Rupert and Jean Quested, our leaders and guides for this happy Teal Ramble.
Glen and Maggie Ibbotson’s stylish and well-patinated Teal Type 35 four-seater (below), our leaders for the next ramble, the July Teal Tour starting at Tewkesbury and moving northwards…
Sunday dawned brighter than feared, and after a leisurely run eastwards through Midhurst and Petworth we arrived at the Hollycombe Steam Museum near Liphook, where the Teals enjoyed celebrity status, alongside a fine Triumph Club turnout of Stags, Spitfires, GT6s and Triumph 2.0/2.5 and TR4s/6s. The steam engines were fun, we all went for a ride, and then enjoyed the fairground attractions before heading for home under a drying sun. Thank you to Jean and Rupert for recce, guidance, happy company and admirable routes.
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Teal at Ashton Court, Bristol
This was the first Teal in which I ever rode; Tony Williams was kind enough some years ago to give me a spin round Ashton Court in his powerful Type 35B (6C/2500 Triumph), and from that moment I was hooked. Tony’s gone now, sadly, but Margaret has passed on the Teal to Tony’s brother David Williams, TOC member in Cheshire. Incidentally our website had an email this morning (20th June) from a chap wanting to get his Teal back on the road; it had been left to him by his father, who had received it from this chap’s grandfather. Heritage indeed! Good.
B.C.
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Teal Type 43
Stop Press 21st June 2012: Aaldert is going to paint his Teal Type 43 black with red accents; and the entry in the top of the boot is an aperture for loading tools and luggage into the boot tail. Aaldert will send us photos once the paintwork and upholstery are finished…
Teal Owners’ Club member Aaldert has just picked up his Teal Type 43 from the workshops of skilled craftsman and engineer Mike Hall. She’s a beauty, and ready for painting. What do you think of the treatment of the rear end of the car ? Does it have a genuine classic feel? Here’s another angle…
and the front end, and the doors…and Mike Hall
We look forward to seeing the final, painted Teal Type 43 (possibly indigo blue) , and hope she can join us on our cross-country rallies. Congratulations, Aaldert and Mike for bringing a lovely, unique classic Teal back onto the road.
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Jubilee Teal
Angelo’s Teal flies the flag on the Brooklands Jubilee Run
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The best view in Britain? David Ward steers his attractive and powerful Teal Type 35 boat tail to the Brooklands Jubilee Meeting.
Back From Normandy
Ten adventurous Tealers have returned from Normandy, where they had a happy week cruising in the sun (mostly), eating well, and visiting Cap Blanc Nez and the Cupola V2 site. There were a few unplanned mechanical events, but all returned safely, Neil and Pam Bridges directly to Sheffield, since further foreign trips were imminent, and Neil, Vicky, Glen, Maggie, Dot, Phil, Irene and Colin via the Seven Stars at Bottlesford, Wiltshire, where they met up with Fanny and Brian for a pub lunch, and a five-Teal wander through the Pewsey Valley, up past the chalk White Horse, through Marlborough and onwards to Burford, while Fanny and Brian peeled off back to Devizes.
The full story (well, nearly) of the Normandy Nomads will be in Teal Spiel for TOC Members
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Angelo at the Brooklands 1940s weekend
Angelo de Souza is a regular at Brooklands, and uses it very much as his private club, enjoying many events on the historic airfield, race track and museum in his fine Teal Type 35, often accompanied by David Ward, Tealer and garage owner who many TOC members will know and will have read about in TEAL SPIEL and often on this website. David’s powerful restored Teal is shown here at Brooklands with an early prototype Harrier – two classics.
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Last Updated on 6 months by David Brown
