Aston Villa's circular badge was introduced for the 1973 season and remains a favourite with fans, with many calling for its return to the current kit. Its most famous appearance was in 1982 when Villa won the European Cup beating Bayern Munich 1-0 at the final in Rotterdam. It was firmly centre-stage and centre-of-kit that evening when, along with the players, it was immortalised forever. It was replaced in 1992 with the introduction of the current pennant shape.
The t-shirt features a distressed style badge for that retro look and is available in two colours - claret and blue, naturally.
-
"Shaw, Williams, prepared to venture down the left. There's a good ball in for Tony Morley. Oh, it must be and it is! It's Peter Withe." -
"Shaw, Williams, prepared to venture down the left. There's a good ball in for Tony Morley. Oh, it must be and it is! It's Peter Withe."Aston Villa's circular badge was introduced for the 1973 season and remains a favourite with fans, with many calling for its return to the current kit. It's most famous appearance was in 1982 when Villa won the European Cup beating Bayern Munich 1-0 at the final in Rotterdam. It was firmly centre-stage and centre-of-kit that evening when, along with the players, it was immortalised forever. It was replaced in 1992 with the introduction of the current pennant shape. This hoody features a distressed style badge for that retro look and is only available in claret with contrasting gold hood lining and drawstrings giving a very distinctive look. -
PersonalisationThe classic Mini was introduced in 1959 and soon became a truly iconic piece of British popular culture that is still recognised the world over. Alec Issigonis’ masterpiece had a price tag of just £497 and from the outset the Mini offered good economy, lots of space for its size and incredible handling. The latter was not truly exploited until the arrival of the famous Mini Cooper in 1961 and Cooper S in 1963. Equipped with a tuned version of the A series engine and front disc brakes, the Coopers enjoyed Monte Carlo Rally success and were immortalised on screen in ‘The Italian Job’ in 1969.The Mini was so well-loved that it found around 6 million buyers and remained in production for over 40 years – in time to see in the new millenium. In fact, it actually outlived the Austin Metro that was supposed to replace it back in 1980! The car featured on this t-shirt is the final version with those striking Cooper bonnet stripes, wide arches and 4 spot lights, in many ways the archetypal Mini Cooper. Personalisation The number plate area can be personalised with a registration, name or message for that extra personal touch. -
These 'Create Your Own' Ampersand T Shirts are a great way to express yourself and tell everyone what matters to you. Whether it's your favourite band, TV show, movie, footballers, cars or just anything that you really care about, we can print them on this t-shirt for you. The design features your chosen text in a more stylish 'ChunkFive' typeface rather than the more common Helvetica and has the ampersand (&) sign and full stop in our brand blue. You can choose up to 7 names, the size of the text is governed by the longest name which will be around 29 cm wide. If you need any more names complete in the 'special instructions' below) Important Instructions Place each name in the order you require them below. We will start each name with a capital letter (unless detailed otherwise in 'special instructions' below) and will print exactly as you input and spell, so please type carefully and double check. NB. As these are personalised items, no refunds can be given. -
As a proud Brummie I have fond memories of the WMPTE buses from travelling to school on the famous No. 11 Outer Circle route in late seventies and early eighties. The Outer Circle was the last route to still operate the front-engined buses with the open platform and conductor and I think my journey from the Fox & Goose to King's Heath was 12p back in 1978! These buses were then replaced by Daimler / Leyland Fleetlines in various guises, which were then replaced in turn by the MCW Metrobuses, built locally in Washwood Heath (all were usually powered by the legendary Gardner 6LX diesel engine). The single deck Leyland National was another very popular bus at the time, with their very distinctive noise, smell (and fumes) from the 'headless' Leyland 500 series engine. The West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE) was the public body responsible for public transport in the West Midlands metropolitan county from 1969 until 2016. The WMPTE logo featured here was current from 1969 until 1990 and the cream and blue livery of the buses was once a very familiar sight around Birmingham and the West Midlands.Join me on my nostalgia trip with one of these t shirts which features a distressed style logo for that retro look and is available in two colours that reflect the old bus livery - yellow haze with blue logo, or royal blue with cream logo. -
The Rover 75 was introduced in 1998 when the Rover Group were under BMW's stewardship and was a very well received, well-appointed executive car with a retro feel harking back to Rovers of old such as the P5. Arguably it was a much more successful execution of the retro look than the then-current Jaguar S Type and the interior in particular won many plaudits. Under the skin it was anything but retro, with front wheel drive and 4 cylinder, V6 and diesel options, a super-rigid shell and a ride that many modern cars would struggle to achieve! The 75 currently represents something of a bargain modern classic and is still very usable as an everyday car, but as more and more are taken off the roads, they can only increase in value as the last real Rover design. The Rover 75 had many fans in its day and still has a surprisingly large following.The car featured on this t-shirt is a Mk1 saloon and the design is such that the t-shirt colour makes up the colour of the car. It features a small iconic-ironic logo so you can help spread the word and it can even be personalised with your number plate if you wish. Personalisation The number plate area can be personalised with a registration, name or message for that extra personal touch. It will appear in a black UK numberplate typeface. If no personalisation is chosen the number plate will be white. -
Sale!
The classic Mini was introduced in 1959 and soon became a truly iconic piece of British popular culture that is still recognised the world over. Alec Issigonis’ masterpiece had a price tag of just £497 and from the outset the Mini offered good economy, lots of space for its size and incredible handling. The latter was not truly exploited until the arrival of the famous Mini Cooper in 1961 and Cooper S in 1963. Equipped with a tuned version of the A series engine and front disc brakes, the Coopers enjoyed Monte Carlo Rally success and were immortalised on screen in ‘The Italian Job’ in 1969.The Mini was so well-loved that it found around 6 million buyers and remained in production for over 40 years – in time to see in the new millenium. In fact, it actually outlived the Austin Metro that was supposed to replace it back in 1980! The car featured on this t-shirt is the final version with those striking Cooper bonnet stripes, wide arches and 4 spot lights, in many ways the archetypal Mini Cooper. It is a two colour screen print, with highlights are represented by a subtle translucent white. Personalisation The number plate area can be personalised with a registration, name or message for that extra personal touch. It will appear in black lettering with the t shirt colour as the background. -
The Rover 75 was introduced in 1998 when the Rover Group were under BMW's stewardship and was a very well received, well-appointed executive car with a retro feel harking back to Rovers of old such as the P5. Arguably it was a much more successful execution of the retro look than the then-current Jaguar S Type and the interior in particular won many plaudits. Under the skin it was anything but retro, with front wheel drive and 4 cylinder, V6 and diesel options, a super-rigid shell and a ride that many modern cars would struggle to achieve! The 75 currently represents something of a bargain modern classic and is still very usable as an everyday car, but as more and more are taken off the roads, they can only increase in value as the last real Rover design. The Rover 75 had many fans in its day and still has a surprisingly large following.The car featured on this mug is a Mk1 model and the number plate can be personalised with a registration or name if you wish. Personalisation -
Matchbox toys were introduced in 1953. The brand was given its name because the original die-cast Matchbox toys were sold in boxes similar in style and size to those in which matches were sold. Subsequently, the brand would encompass a broad range of toys including larger scale die-cast models and various other lines of toys, such as plastic model kits and action figures.The t-shirt features a distressed style logo for that retro look and is available in a number of colours. -
Bostin! We're celebrating our proud heritage with our new 'Made in Birmingham' range featuring familiar phrases from the second city. In fact these t-shirts truly are brummie through and through; they are designed and printed here and all utilise the Baskerville typeface that was created in Birmingham back in the 1750s by John Baskerville (1706-1775). The shirts feature a retro distressed look on the design and the Iconic Ironic logo on the left sleeve. Let everyone know that you're a proud brummie with these stylish t shirts available in 6 different colours. After years of being mocked, the time has come to celebrate our unique accent and dialect! -
Chrysler Europe came into being in 1967, encompassing the Rootes Group brands in the UK including Hillman, Humber, Singer, Sunbeam and Commer. Apart from the 180/2 Litre, UK cars were not badged as Chryslers until 1976 when the distinctive 'Pentastar' logo found its way onto the existing Avenger, and Hunter, as well as the new Sunbeam, Horizon and Alpine. Chrysler Europe was taken over by PSA Peugeot Citroën in 1978 when all models were rebadged as Talbots in the UK. Despite the brand's short life in the UK, the cars proved quite popular and well regarded (with the Alpine winning European Car of The Year in 1976). Unfortunately, like many other cars from the 70s, they were not known for their rust resistance and whilst they were once a common piece of 'street furniture' very few survive today. Thankfully their memory lives on with this retro t-shirt. The t-shirt features a distressed style logo for that retro look and is available in a number of colours. -
Ta-ra a Bit! We're celebrating our proud heritage with our new 'Made in Birmingham' range featuring familiar phrases from the second city. In fact these t-shirts truly are brummie through and through; they are designed and printed here and all utilise the Baskerville typeface that was created in Birmingham back in the 1750s by John Baskerville (1706-1775). The shirts feature a retro distressed look on the design and the Iconic Ironic logo on the left sleeve. Let everyone know that you're a proud brummie with these stylish t shirts available in 6 different colours. After years of being mocked, the time has come to celebrate our unique accent and dialect! -
Alright Bab?
We're celebrating our proud heritage with our new 'Made in Birmingham' range featuring familiar phrases from the second city. In fact these t-shirts truly are brummie through and through; they are designed and printed here and all utilise the Baskerville typeface that was created in Birmingham back in the 1750s by John Baskerville (1706-1775). The shirts feature a retro distressed look on the design and the Iconic Ironic logo on the left sleeve. Let everyone know that you're a proud brummie with these stylish t shirts available in 7 different colours. After years of being mocked, the time has come to celebrate our unique accent and dialect! -
Tiswas (an acronym for Today Is Saturday Watch And Smile) was a children's British television series that originally aired on Saturday mornings from 5 January 1974 to 3 April 1982 and was produced for the ITV network by ATV Network Limited. It was famously hosted by Chris Tarrant, John Gorman and Sally James and also featured Lenny Henry, Jim Davidson, Jasper Carrott and Bob Carolgees with Spit The Dog. Another infamous character was the Phantom Flan Flinger who became synonymous with the show and later was part of the classic 'zig-zag' logo, which was designed by Stuart Kettle in 1977. The t-shirt features a distressed style of this logo for that retro look and is available in a number of colours. -
Sale!
This MG ZT Mk2 (or facelift model) t-shirt is offered as a two colour screen print, with the t-shirt colour making up the colour of the car. Highlights are represented by a translucent white which allows the colour of the shirt to show through. This highlight effect is subtle on lighter t-shirts and more prominent on darker ones. Personalisation The number plate area can be personalised with a registration, name or message for that extra personal touch. It will appear in black lettering with the t shirt colour as the background. -
Birmingham City's monogram badge with the intertwined letters was first introduced in 1971 at the same time as the 'penguin' home shirt (as worn by Trevor Francis, Kenny Burns, Howard Kendall, Dave Latchford and their peers) which has since become something of a seventies icon. This shirt was unchanged until the 1975/76 season when the shirt was changed slightly to have a collar and v-neck, but still featuring the monogram badge. For the following season the badge was replaced by the familiar 'globe' design that is still used to the present day - this design was actually the result of a competition to design a new crest in local paper, The Sports Argus, in 1972, although it didn't appear on the shirts until 1976. The monogram badge did make a brief reappearance in the 2016/17 season to commemorate the club's 140th anniversary. This t-shirt features a distressed style monogram badge for that seventies retro look and is only available in royal blue with white collar and sleeve cuffs, naturally. NB: These Fruit of the Loom t-shirts are smaller than the Gildan ones elsewhere on the site. If in doubt, order a size up. -
The MG ZR was a hot hatch that was developed from the Rover 25 and was produced at Longbridge from 2001 - 2005 . It was MG Rover's best selling car at the time. Considering that the Rover 25 was based on the Rover 200 and as such was already 6 years old, the car's handling and general fun factor was a revelation. The car is a credit to the then MG Rover management who created something very special from a shoestring budget having famously bought the company from BMW in 2000 for just £10! The range-topping ZR 160 was fast too; going from 0-60mph in 7.4 seconds and capable of a top speed of 131 mph!The car featured on this t-shirt is a MG ZR Mk1 and the design is such that the t-shirt colour makes up the colour of the car. It features a small iconic-ironic logo so you can help spread the word and it can even be personalised with your number plate if you wish. -
Who could forget the classic scene when David Brent goes through big Keith's appraisal form in the classic comedy mockumentary 'The Office'? Keith's general disinterest and lack of any worthwhile answers during the Q&A session still strike a chord with office workers around the country, epitomising the time-consuming and often futile office appraisal process. Brent tries to hide his frustration but eventually cracks when he has to repeat the same multiple choice options for the 4th question; 'NOT AT ALL, to some extent, very much so or don't know'. You can watch the whole cringe-worthy clip here. This t-shirt is a text-based design based on Keith's consistent reply to those very options and is printed in white and blue on a choice of 7 different colours of t-shirt with selected colours available up to 5XL. -
This Car Tax Disc Retro Birthday Year & Month T Shirt makes a quirky and original present for a loved one who is celebrating their Birthday or Father's Day, especially if they're a petrol head! Whether it's for a special 40th or 50th celebration, Father's Day or just any old birthday, these t-shirts are a unique and stylish keepsake. Better still, for that extra personalised touch, there are 3 lines that can be be customised with their name, favourite car, hobby, band, or anything you wish. The design is based on the UK car tax disc that had to be displayed on every car windscreen until the system was computerised in at the end of 2014. The style used here was current from 1961-1978 in various colour formats, you can read more details here. The layout features their birth month and year as the main heading, their full date of birth at the top, plus personalised details on the 3 lines provided underneath in hand-written style. It is printed with a full size image with a distressed style effect over the image for that authentic retro look. If you prefer a smaller, more subtle left chest design please go to this product. Important Instructions We will print exactly as you input and spell, so please type carefully and double check. NB. As these are personalised items, no refunds can be given unless faulty. -
The British Leyland Princess was introduced in March 1975 as the '18/22 Series' with Austin, Morris and luxury Wolseley versions. The badge-engineering was dropped in September the same year, when all models became simply the 'Princess' The car was launched to critical acclaim and had a very distinctive 'wedge' shape designed by Harris Mann which divided opinion. The package was surprisingly roomy, comfortable and quite technologically sophisticated with front wheel drive and Hydragas suspension. Sadly, in common with many BL products of the time, the Princess gained an unwelcome reputation for unreliability that it struggled to shake off throughout its 6 year life span.Looking back over 40 years later the styling is still certainly the Princess' most distinctive feature and in many ways now epitomises mid Seventies car styling. This is also true of the colours with browns and beiges being a popular choice for both interior and exterior.The t-shirt design has a retro feel too and features a brown HLS model with the obligatory vinyl quarter panels, with a slightly distressed look to add to the vintage feel. We've even added some distinctly 70s colour choices for the t-shirts! -
Football's Coming Home! Euro 96 holds great memories for many of us from the spine-tingling rendition of Baddiel, Skinner and the Lightning Seeds' 'Three Lions' by England fans, to Gazza's spectacular solo strike and dentist's chair celebration against Scotland. Ultimately England didn't progress beyond the semi-final at Wembley against Germany, where they lost 5-6 on penalties after a certain Gareth Southgate had his saved, leaving everyone heartbroken. No matter, for a few weeks it felt like one big party with England's official song topping the charts and players such as Paul Gascoigne, Stuart Pearce, Alan Shearer and Paul Ince securing their places as footballing legends. The shirts feature a retro distressed-look version of the Euro 96 logo. NB: These Fruit of the Loom t-shirts are smaller than the Gildan ones elsewhere on the site. If in doubt, order a size up. -
The Commer FC van was produced from 1960 to 1976 when it was developed into the very similar Commer SpaceVan which soldiered on right up until 1983 under the Dodge name. It was a very distinctive van with its rounded profile and inset partially-enclosed front wheels, the latter due to its Humber car-derived front suspension. Its forward-control set up meant that the engine was placed between the front seats; great to work on in the rain, but less so if it had to be taken out, which necessitated removal of the front windscreen to enable it to be craned out of the passenger door! These were a familiar sight on UK roads for many years in their Post Office and British Telecom livery and there were a number of camper van conversions such as the Commer Highwayman - a more interesting and distinctly British alternative to the ubiquitous VW camper. Engines capacity started out at 1500 but were later upped to 1600, then 1725cc but even then, with a 70mph top speed and 0-50 time of 25 seconds, it could hardly be considered as spritely.The t-shirt itself is based on a contemporary press ad from December 1963 and focuses on the Commer's large load capacity. The print has a slightly distressed, retro feel to it and the t-shirt is available in sand or white, with the latter available up to 5XL. -
The 'coke bottle' Cortina Mk3 was introduced in October 1970 replacing the more boxy Mk2 and bringing with it a swoopy new design language inspired by the products of its US parents. Engines ranged from the 1300 'Kent' cross-flow up to the 2 litre 'Pinto' overhead cam unit and five trim levels were available from base up to the twin headlight GXL. This gave the car a plethora of body, trim and price point options that helped the Cortina (in Mk3 and Mk4 guise) become the best-selling car of the 70s. The car on the t-shirt is possibly the Mk3 in its purest form, a 2 door 2000GT with the iconic four headlamp grille, Rostyle wheels and high back seats (in black vinyl, of course). The distressed-effect wording and type style is taken from an original press ad advertising the forthcoming 1970 Motor Show at Earls Court. The high contrast style of the image means that it is only available in black, but the good news is that sizes go all the way up to 5XL! -
As a proud Brummie I have fond memories of the WMPTE buses from travelling to school on the famous No. 11 Outer Circle route in late seventies and early eighties. The Outer Circle was the last route to still operate the front-engined buses with the open platform and conductor and I think my journey from the Fox & Goose to King's Heath was 12p back in 1978! These buses were then replaced by Daimler / Leyland Fleetlines in various guises, which were then replaced in turn by the MCW Metrobuses, built locally in Washwood Heath (all were usually powered by the legendary Gardner 6LX diesel engine). The single deck Leyland National was another very popular bus at the time, with their very distinctive noise, smell (and fumes) from the 'headless' Leyland 500 series engine. The West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE) was the public body responsible for public transport in the West Midlands metropolitan county from 1969 until 2016. The WMPTE logo featured here was current from 1969 until 1990 and the cream and blue livery of the buses was once a very familiar sight around Birmingham and the West Midlands.Join me on my nostalgia trip with one of these hoodies which features a distressed style logo for that retro look which is matched to the contrasting hood and drawcords. -
This MG ZT Mk1 t-shirt is offered as a two colour style print, with the t-shirt colour making up the colour of the car. Highlights on the bodywork are represented by a white tint which allows the colour of the shirt to show through. This highlight effect is subtle on lighter t-shirts and more prominent on darker ones. Personalisation The number plate area can be personalised with a registration, name or message for that extra personal touch. It will appear in a black UK numberplate typeface. If no personalisation is chosen the number plate will be white. -
This MG ZT Mk2 (or facelift model) t-shirt is offered as a two colour style print, with the t-shirt colour making up the colour of the car. Highlights on the bodywork are represented by a white tint which allows the colour of the shirt to show through. This highlight effect is subtle on lighter t-shirts and more prominent on darker ones. Personalisation The number plate area can be personalised with a registration, name or message for that extra personal touch. It will appear in a black UK numberplate typeface. If no personalisation is chosen the number plate will be white. -
This Best of British Rover P5B t shirt celebrates the story of this iconic classic car which was introduced as the Rover P5 saloon in September 1958 and was Rover's first foray into unitary bodywork construction. A significantly more modern design styled by David Bache, it featured a traditional wood and leather interior. It was dignified and well appointed but was hardly sporting with around 115bhp from a 3 litre version of Rover's inlet over exhaust straight six engine at introduction. A coupé version was introduced with the Mark II in 1962, still retaining 4 doors but with a lower, more rakish roofline, but the big news came in 1967 with the introduction of the P5B featuring the now famous 3,528cc all aluminium Rover V8 developed from a Buick engine. This gave the P5 a much needed power boost, giving the car excellent performance for its time. The P5b or 3.5 Litre became a much-loved mode of transport for government ministers and was a familiar sight carrying Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher to and from 10 Downing Street well into the early 80s, some ten years after it was discontinued in 1973. In recent years, the Rover P5B has become a much loved classic car, epitomising all of the best aspects of the British car industry, and this t-shirt graphic highlights this perfectly. The car featured on this t-shirt is from a hand-drawn ink illustration, transferred onto my computer and digitised. It is a three colour print, with highlights on the bodywork represented by a white tint which allows the colour of the shirt to show through, making the colour of the car's bodywork. You can read more about the Rover P5's history at the excellent aronline website. You may also be interested in our personalisable Rover P5B T Shirt. -
This Car Tax Disc Retro Birthday Year & Month T Shirt makes a quirky and original present for a loved one who is celebrating their Birthday or Father's Day, especially if they're a petrol head! Whether it's a special 40th or 50th celebration, Father's Day or just any old birthday, these t-shirts are a unique and stylish keepsake. Better still, for that extra personalised touch, there are 3 lines that can be be customised with their name, favourite car, hobby, band, or anything you wish. The design is based on the UK car tax disc that had to be displayed on every car windscreen until the system was computerised in at the end of 2014. The style used here was current from 1961-1978 in various colour formats, you can read more details here. The layout features their birth month and year as the main heading, their full date of birth at the top, plus personalised details on the 3 lines provided underneath in hand-written style. It is a smaller version of the Large Tax Disc Birthday Year and Month T-Shirt and the printing appears on the left chest for a more subtle look. Important Instructions We will print exactly as you input and spell, so please type carefully and double check. NB. As these are personalised items, no refunds can be given unless faulty. -
Defender was an arcade video game developed and released by Williams Electronics in 1981. A horizontally scrolling shooter, where the player must defeat waves of invading aliens while protecting astronauts. Development was led by Eugene Jarvis, a pinball programmer at Williams; Defender was Jarvis' first video game project and drew inspiration from Space Invaders and Asteroids. The t-shirt features a distressed style logo for that retro look and is available in a number of colours. -
The Honda HR-V was introduced in 1999, an early example of a compact SUV, initially available as front wheel drive but subsequently available with four wheel drive. Power was provided by Honda's super-reliable and revvy D16 engine in standard or VTEC format, both with a single overhead cam and sent to the wheels by either a 5 speed manual or CVT automatic gearbox. Honda's ingenious Real Time 4WD system used a dual hydraulic pump rear differential which only activated when the front wheels lost grip. Never a huge seller in the UK but the HR-Vs had funky looks that have aged well and are certainly more distinctive than the second generation models which appeared in 2013 after a seven year HR-V hiatus. The HR-V boasted funky advertising too, focusing on a fun, lifestyle image based around the 'Joy Machine' strapline, as can be seen here. The t shirt itself features a HR-V graphic plus the distinctive logos printed on a contrast varsity style hoody in black with contrasting red inner hood and draw cords. -
The Triumph Dolomite range was introduced in 1972 as a luxurious, well-equipped sporting saloon aimed at the emerging compact executive market. The Sprint version that followed in 1973 was conceived in order to remedy the gap in performance between the Dolomite 1850 and competitors such as the BMW 2002. The Sprint's cylinder head was revolutionary for a mass produced car, featuring a multi-valve arrangement with all 16 of them operated by a single overhead camshaft. This clever design gave the car a 0-60 time of just 8.4 seconds and a maximum speed of 119 mph, very impressive for the early Seventies. The car also had alloy wheels as standard; a first for a British production car. All of this came at a launch cost of just £1,740, which compared very favourably with its other sporting rivals. The mouse mat itself is based on one of the original press ads and shows a Dolomite Sprint in the launch colour of Mimosa Yellow with black vinyl roof. The period correct typeface is used. The high contrast style of the image means that it is only available in black, but the good news is that sizes go all the way up to 5XL!Read more about the Triumph Dolomite and Sprint range here on the excellent aronline website. -
Total Control Racing (TCR) was a toy brand from Ideal which appeared in the late 1970s, but unlike Scalextric, operated on a slotless track.The plastic track contained lanes of three metal strips about 2mm wide, which made contact with a configuration of two brass pads on the underside of the cars, providing power. The plastic track had two such lanes, and cars could change lanes with the flick of a switch on the controller. TCR sets came with "jam cars", a slow moving drone which both racers had to avoid crashing into. Like Matchbox's Powertrack, some cars featured lights.TCR was withdrawn from the market in the mid 80s and sets are now very collectible.The t-shirt features a distressed style logo for that retro look and is available in a number of colours. -
This Rover P5B t shirt celebrates the story of this iconic classic car which was introduced as the Rover P5 saloon in September 1958 and was Rover's first foray into unitary bodywork construction. A significantly more modern design styled by David Bache, it featured a traditional wood and leather interior. It was dignified and well appointed but was hardly sporting with around 115bhp from a 3 litre version of Rover's inlet over exhaust straight six engine at introduction. A coupé version was introduced with the Mark II in 1962, still retaining 4 doors but with a lower, more rakish roofline, but the big news came in 1967 with the introduction of the P5B featuring the now famous 3,528cc all aluminium Rover V8 developed from a Buick engine. This gave the P5 a much needed power boost, giving the car excellent performance for its time. The P5b or 3.5 Litre became a much-loved mode of transport for government ministers and was a familiar sight carrying Harold Wilson, Edward Heath, James Callaghan and Margaret Thatcher to and from 10 Downing Street well into the early 80s, some ten years after it was discontinued in 1973. In recent years, the Rover P5B has become a much loved classic car, epitomising all of the best aspects of the British car industry. The car featured on this t-shirt is from a hand-drawn ink illustration, transferred onto my computer and digitised. It is a three colour print, with highlights on the bodywork represented by a white tint which allows the colour of the shirt to show through, making the colour of the car's bodywork. You can read more about the Rover P5's history at the excellent aronline website. You may also be interested in our Best of British Rover P5B T Shirt.Personalisation
The number plate area can be personalised with a registration, name or message for that extra personal touch. It will appear in white in the correct Pre 2001 UK numberplate typeface. If no personalisation is chosen the number plate will have the 'iconic ironic' logo as in the photographs. -
The Honda HR-V was introduced in 1999, an early example of a compact SUV, initially available as front wheel drive but subsequently available with four wheel drive. Power was provided by Honda's super-reliable and revvy D16 engine in standard or VTEC format, both with a single overhead cam and sent to the wheels by either a 5 speed manual or CVT automatic gearbox. Honda's ingenious Real Time 4WD system used a dual hydraulic pump rear differential which only activated when the front wheels lost grip. Never a huge seller in the UK but the HR-Vs had funky looks that have aged well and are certainly more distinctive than the second generation models which appeared in 2013 after a seven year HR-V hiatus. The HR-V boasted funky advertising too, focusing on a fun, lifestyle image based around the 'Joy Machine' strapline, as can be seen here. The t shirt itself features a HR-V graphic plus the distinctive logos and is available in a number of colours, a few brighter ones similar to those of the the car itself. -
The stylish first generation Honda Prelude was launched in Japan in late 1978 and subsequently introduced in the UK and Europe during 1979.Loosely based on the 4 door Accord, the Prelude was a sleek 2 door coupe that was a very well equipped car for its time, featuring electric sunroof, electric aerial, integrated radio, remote boot release, tinted glass and a distinctive dashboard with rev counter needle sweeping inside and on the same arc as the speedometer. It was available with standard 5 speed transmission or the 'Hondamatic' auto. Also standard was typical Honda reliability, although a high price in the UK and a propensity to rust means that very few examples remain. In fact the first generation was the 'Prelude' to a stylish and distinctive coupe that evolved through five generations and 23 years, becoming ever more sophisticated with later models featuring Honda's legendary V-TEC engine and 4 wheel steering. The t shirt is based around original press advertising and features a retro distressed look to the graphics. The high contrast style of the image means that it is only available in black, but the good news is that sizes go all the way up to 5XL! -
The Morris Marina, introduced in April 1971, was mechanically very simple, powered initially by the venerable 1.3 A Series and 1.8 B series engines, with a 4 speed gearbox, rear wheel drive and a live rear axle. This simplicity was at odds with other front-wheel-drive Leyland products of the time, but it meant that the Marina could compete in the conservative fleet market dominated by the likes of the Ford's Escort & Cortina, Vauxhall's Viva and Hillman's Avenger and Hunter. They were turbulent times at Leyland and money was tight so there were some compromises to be made, not least in the simple suspension set up that was based on the ancient Morris Minor and endowed the very early cars with woeful understeer, particularly in more powerful twin carb 1800 format. This was later improved, though the Marina could never be described as a sharp handler. Ironically funds also didn't stretch to stretching the doors on the 2 door coupé version. The original aim was for it to compete with the sporty Ford Capri but those saloon front doors just didn't really cut it. The Marina has since become much maligned and the butt of many lazy jokes, but the truth is that it wasn't a bad car, just a bit too staid in both styling and execution, and it's easy to forget that it was the third best selling car in the UK in the seventies. The t-shirt is based on a contemporary press ad and while it could be argued that the original wording might be pushing it a bit, the sporty 1800TC Coupé featured has definitely earned a certain retro cool now.The high contrast style of the image means that it is only available in black, but the good news is that sizes go all the way up to 5XL! Read the story of the Morris Marina here on the excellent aronline website.