Jack Grover

Rather too keen on old Citroens. @ClassicBuyer Production Editor and one half of the @classicsworlduk podcast. Did a blog that's now becoming fossilised

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

We all need fantasies in life

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@adfinnes @MonikaH98014716 @PriyamvadaGopal @TomGuytonDay For example, when various govt ministers were criticising the RNLI for rescuing migrants in The Channel, the RNLI was able to just say that 'our mission is to save lives at sea - end of'. Imagine if the Home Office held the purse strings!

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@adfinnes @MonikaH98014716 @PriyamvadaGopal @TomGuytonDay The RNLI is not underfunded and has repeatedly said that it does not desire any funding or management from the state. It (rightly, imo) believes it can be a better lifesaving service free of govt (mis)management, cuts and politicisation.

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@Miller_Corner Potentially awkward answer: The dimmer isn't turned all the way down is it?

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@peterboroughtel I think your unidentified pic #4 (of the roads under construction) is Junction 16 of the A47 at Bretton Gate, looking east. The square building work in amongst the trees is going to be Bretton Centre/The Cresset

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@Psi50 @thecarfactoids @neilmbriscoe @t2stu @DarraghMcKenna @TopOfTheTower @StvCr @TriumphSSixClub @brownest_Ant @classicretromod Always thought this myself - Triumph had a much more relevant image and a suitable spread of names and models in its back catalogue to do what what was forced on Rover in the 1990s.

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@thecarfactoids @neilmbriscoe @t2stu @DarraghMcKenna @TopOfTheTower @StvCr @TriumphSSixClub @brownest_Ant @classicretromod I've always thought this was one of BL's better marketing strategies - the old Toledo/1500/1500TC/Dolomite stew was a mess, and putting them all as different specs/trims of Dolomite made much more sense. No one seems/seemed to care that a 3-Series could range from a 316 to an M3

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@thealso (L->R), 1939-1945 Star, France & Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-1945. So all fairly standard WW2 campaign medals. https://t.co/MUXPk6Ygz5

[Joe Miller @Miller_Corner]

The Classics World Podcast is HERE! In Ep1, @Balloon_Fish, @Phil100100 and I discuss MG, E10 fuel and "smart" motorways... https://t.co/Z8g995x2ft

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@Lexutavia @thecarfactoids Yep. An uncle was a painter/decorator/roofer/landscaper/all-round handyman and had a string of BX and Xantia diesel estates which spend their lives laden to the gunwhales with tools, equipment and supplies.

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@KuangEleven 100%. also I deliberately avoid any video, article, product, etc. that tell me how I'm supposed to feel before I've even clicked on it ("You won't believe it...!", "The most AMAZING...", "{Music} - BEST Performance", "This WILL make you laugh/cry" etc. Presumptuous + manipulative

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@Miller_Corner Interesting that the FE/RWD, 'basically a more refined Lotus Elan' one isn't a proper sports car, but the 'bits of Metro with hydraulic springs, EPAS and the worst gearchange of the 1990s' one is. Could it be that this is jingoistic bollox?

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@mrjaydeeem I think it's a VW 412 Variant - not a perfect match but none of them are due to the art style. I think the red estate is close enough in basic shape and proportions to be a 412V. It's as close to that as the yellow Mini is to an actual Mini, imo

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@KuangEleven Unfortunately seen a good smattering of fruit-loops online rejoicing that she's going, since she's either a WEF/UN stooge, a woke Marxist or an evil tyrant. Or all three. Many of them from the other side of the planet (literally and figuratively...)

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@Ed_Westby @Chris_Pickering More generally, when I was young and knew nothing about BMWs, I instantly took a liking to the E36 Compact simply because of its square, bob-tailed proportions. It looks like a rally homologation special. Then later I put up with lots of BMW fans telling me I liked the wrong car

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@Ed_Westby @Chris_Pickering I always found the criticism of the E36/5 because of its rear suspension a little odd - it's literally the same as the E30, which doesn't get critiqued for having trailing arms, and if it does, it's in a "just makes it more of an Ultimate Driving Machine" sort of way

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@mrjaydeeem A lovely building. 'City steam power' was centralised high-pressure steam supply, delivered to customers via pipes. Common in America for steam heating (hence the classic steam rising from vents in the sidewalk in old US city scenes) but also used for machine power

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@Chrisjameshorn Fairly sure it's a first-gen Mazda Capella Coupe. If it has/had a rotary engine it's what we'd know as an RX-2

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@KuangEleven I'm one of the other few. I've never been won over by hot hatches in general. The 205 is one of the best of the classic breed that I've driven, and I can rationalise why so many people like them, but it left me cold

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@thecarfactoids @neilmbriscoe @t2stu @DarraghMcKenna @TopOfTheTower @StvCr @TriumphSSixClub I will criticise 60s/70s Triumph strongly and often but I'll give it this: In an industry plagued by disjointed and confused model ranges they had one that was both extensive and cohesive, all with an identifiable 'house style'. Especially the interiors.

[Jack Grover @Balloon_Fish]

@Phil100100 The Princess was ahead of its time, but too unconventional for its target market and had some unforgiveable spec/marketing shortfalls. The SD1 was absolutely the right car at the right time, just let down by production + quality issues.