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.
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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 mouse mat is based around an original press photo of the HR-V plus the distinctive logos. -
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 is based around an original press photo of the HR-V plus the distinctive logos 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 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 mouse mat 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 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! -
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. -
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. -
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 hoody 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! -
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! -
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 mouse mat 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.Read the story of the Morris Marina here on the excellent aronline website. -
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. -
MG Head Gasket T Shirt As a lover of old cars, I'm in quite a few related FaceBook groups and, much as I enjoy these, there's plenty of tired old clichés to be found in the comments section, repeated over and over. One of the most common has to be the old 'head gasket' jokes on anything featured that is even remotely Rover/MG. This is despite the fact that it only affects some 4 cylinder 'K' Series engines (not diesels, V6s etc), and is relatively cheap to fix. Blown head gaskets are also a common issue for quite a few other brands too, but somehow they never seem to be targeted. A more informed write-up on the revolutionary K series engine can be found here. As a Rover/MG owner myself, rather than let it frustrate me, I thought I would channel my energy into something more productive, so I came up with these t-shirts. They come in a choice of 6 colours with some available all the way upto 5XL and are a great way to deflect the jokes before they even start. They may well become part of an occasional 'car cliché' series, along with other favourites such as; any Jaguar - 'it's just a Mondeo', any Italian exotic - 'It's an MR2 kit', Reliant Scimitar - 'Princess Anne had one' etc, etc...