The Photography of Dr. Jeff Harper

I have been a very frustrated 'Car Guy' in Scotland!  Even though I have a pretty nice high performance street car (a Juke NISMO), I do not have any other car related involvements . . . like I am used to.   So . . . I applied, and was accepted as a Volunteer at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford, Scotland (20 miles from my home in Aberdeen).  I'm Happy now. I participated, as a Marshal, at my first GTM event last week-end.

The Grampian Transport Museum hosted a very unusual event, and first of its kind: a car show and display for cars that have fewer than 500 of the particular model actually registered for operation in the UK.  Very cool idea.

The museum has a listing from the UK MOT that shows how many of every model ever made are currently registered and approved for road use.  Although there may have been many hundreds of thousands of these Singers made in 1958, there are less that 10 currently operational.  I love the grill!

There are very few of these old Saabs still on the road, but the proud owner was able to share his treasure with other enthusiasts of rare, but once plentiful, cars.

Records showed only five of these are registered in the UK.

A rare, and perfect, NSU Prinz.  Some cars were collector cars in their own rights . . . perfectly restored to original condition.

Another car show ready NSU.

Once ubiquitous, the Anglia is now a rarely seen car on the streets of the UK.

I am not sure what this van is . . . a Hillman?

There were only a few expensive exotic collector cars there, like this Morgan . . . and . . .

. . . and this wacky Marcos.

The collection of cars was extremely varied.

I was a Marshal at the 'Car Rides':  people took turns taking a couple laps as a passenger in various cars, including this Ferrari.  When people got out they had a huge smile on their faces!  "Now I can say I rode in a Ferrari."  Cool idea.

This car won the trophy for the rarest car in the UK!  Although there may have been a million Austin Allegros manufactured, this is THE ONLY ONE (2-door) still registered for road use in the UK!  Amazing!

The pride and joy of their owners.  Rare car owners toil in anonymity, no one knowing of their singular obsession with keeping their Loved One running and on the road.  Most participants said they had never met other car enthusiasts with their same passion. abut 135 rare cars were represented.

The beloved cars took parade laps around the museum's test track.  I had a wonderful day . . . and ended up staying late to talk American cars and drag racing with a nice family of American car buffs.