Can a Townsend be Vintage, or, a Classic?

[tyred]

The industry defines it as such, particularly insurers. The sales side also use the distinction as an excuse to charge ,ore.

But enthusiasts see it differently. Simply being old alone does not make a classic. There needs to be significance of some sort aside from simple age, benit historic, social, provenance, etc.

A sheet car today will simply be an old sheet car in 50 years time. However, a sheet car owned by The Queen, or used in a famous bank robbery, or that appeared in a much loved TV series, might have an argumentnfor being a classic.

Where does the Morris Marina Owners Club fit in?

The huge majority of cars (or bikes) to have come off a production line are pretty mundane and just built to do a job. That includes many of the old cars that are considered desirable today such as a MK I Escort. The sports models may have been thinly disguised rally cars but made up only a tiny percentage of sales.

If it's loved and cherished and old enough to be rare, then I would consider it a classic.

 

[MichaelW2]

Reasonable looking frame quality. Check for alignment using a bit of string.
Sensible features: rigid fork, rack and mudguard eyelets.
Brakes coukd benefit from an ugrade, there must be squillions of good cantilever brakes out there somewhere.
A solid everyday rider worthy of a set of good tyres.

 

[mickle]

To qualify as a classic an item has to have some measure of rarity, value, quality or historical significance. This is not a classic.

 

[Tebb1t]

Didn’t Townsend do a more upmarket brand, called Oberon or something. I remember a lad turning up to a CTC run on once and couldn’t understand when we told him not to sprint off the front during the early stages of the day. I don’t think he realised that the Pennines are a little steep. He was somewhat tired and a bloke called Ernie had to get him home.

 

[tyred]

Didn’t Townsend do a more upmarket brand, called Oberon or something. I remember a lad turning up to a CTC run on once and couldn’t understand when we told him not to sprint off the front during the early stages of the day. I don’t think he realised that the Pennines are a little steep. He was somewhat tired and a bloke called Ernie had to get him home.

You won't see many but Townsend made 531 framed road bikes. I tried to buy one once as I thought it would compliment my mtb in my stable but it wasn't to be.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

It's impressive that a sensibly designed basic bike like that could easily give 50 years service with just a little TLC every 10 years.

I compare that with a neighbour's 3 year old full suspension bike from a well known high street shop that is scrap because of its unnecessarily complicated design.

That's why I refuse to have anything to do with suspension MTBs and only own fully rigid ones. I'll rob bits off a scrap sus bike if they will fit one of mine, but spares is all they're fit for, IMHO.

One step up from a BSO but should be a reliable work horse for the next couple of decades or so. Vintage classic? No chance I'm afraid.
These sort of bikes are meat and potatoes to SkipdiverJohn

As far as I'm concerned, any bike well enough made to be fit for purpose and fully functional can be considered vintage or classic, with the passage of two or three decades. I don't regard expensive bikes as any more worthy of classic status than cheap ones.
Townsend were one of the brands used by the Elswick Hopper/Falcon operation. A lot of their bikes were basic cooking grade stuff but they weren't BSO rubbish. I would regard that Townsend as a classic rigid 26" design and would be happy to own and ride one.
Not really much different to the base model Raleighs of the same era with 18-23 hi-tensile frames. The fact that many 30 year old rigids have survived whereas a lot of the much younger suspension stuff has been junked after only a few years use tells you all you need to know about their usefulness.

 

[Oldbikefan]

It was a Townsend Town and Country bike that got me back into cycling 12 years ago. It cost me a tenner from a neighbour who was a keen cyclist. He had saved it from the local tip and was using it to go into town because the local scallies were paying too much attention to his more exotic bike.
It was a good bike and I did quite a few miles on it. Eventually I got a modern Dawes Mountain Bike. The neighbour bought the Townsend back for a tenner because he said he'd missed it.
Maybe not a classic but the earlier ones were decent basic bikes and worth saving. And they get up the noses of bike snobs. Always a bonus

 

[Oldbikefan]

It's impressive that a sensibly designed basic bike like that could easily give 50 years service with just a little TLC every 10 years.

Good work!

I compare that with a neighbour's 3 year old full suspension bike from a well known high street shop that is scrap because of its unnecessarily complicated design. Incidentally it probably weighs twice as much as your Townsend @BoldonLad

That's so true I replaced my Townsend with a Dawes XC 2.2 Mountain Bike. Hydraulic disc brakes, front suspension all the right kit. Weighed a ton.

 

[DCBassman]

And they get up the noses of bike snobs. Always a bonus

My mix-and-match steeds would certainly do that.
Nothing quite like a "go your own way" bike!

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

My mix-and-match steeds would certainly do that.

Triggering the bike snobs is almost reason enough by itself for me to ride a beaten up old Apollo MTB. The front and rear tyres don't even match, and nor do the pedals either now as when one disintegrated I just changed that side. They are visibly not a pair!

 

[Drago]

Where does the Morris Marina Owners Club fit in?

The huge majority of cars (or bikes) to have come off a production line are pretty mundane and just built to do a job. That includes many of the old cars that are considered desirable today such as a MK I Escort. The sports models may have been thinly disguised rally cars but made up only a tiny percentage of sales.

If it's loved and cherished and old enough to be rare, then I would consider it a classic.

Morris Marinas are old. Eventually they may survive to be old enough to become vintage, but they will never be classic.

 

[biggs682]

Morris Marinas are old. Eventually they may survive to be old enough to become vintage, but they will never be classic.

I disagree Marina's were classics the moment they rolled out of the factory . I had a 1.8 it went well in a straight line

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

I disagree Marina's were classics the moment they rolled out of the factory . I had a 1.8 it went well in a straight line

Disappointing in handling terms compared to a Morris Minor though. I know neither car is exactly quick, but a Minor has delightfully neutral steering which feels very precise. Push a Marina a bit too hard though and you get loads of horrible understeer.

 

[Oldbikefan]

Can't believe I didn't mention this bike. A Townsend Colorado: Reynolds 501 frame, Shimano Altus groupset and decent wheels. A £10 special bought on the memory of the bike that got me back into cycling. It just needed a new headset and tyres and a good clean.

It fitted me well and rode really nice. At the time I had no knowledge of supposedly good or bad brands. Unfortunately I went on another forum to show it off and got a load of negative responses which took the shine off it.

Sold it in the end and bought a Marin that was too big for me really but it was acceptable to the crowd.

Wish I'd kept it. A valuable lesson was learned. If a bike feels right and you're happy with it ignore what the so called experts say and just enjoy it.

 

[tyred]

I've now covered over ten thousand miles on my Townsend since I refurbished it and tweaked it as a touring bike a few years. I've enjoyed spending the money I saved by not buying an expensive bike on tours and nice beers and whiskies!