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  • The 18-22 Series was the name given to the wedge-shaped Austin, Morris and Wolseley models launched in March 1975. Just 6 months later the badge-engineering was dropped and with minor tweaks all models became the more familiar 'Princess'. Top of the range was the Wolseley version shown here (priced at £2,838) which boasted a full length vinyl roof, velour seats with front centre armrests, push button MW/LW radio and a 2.2 litre six cylinder engine as standard, plus the famous illuminated grille badge. Just over 3,000 Wolseleys were built in those 6 months, making them incredibly rare today, and certainly the most desirable of all of the 'Princess' variants. It was also the last car to be badged as a Wolseley, a marque that had always been synonymous with luxury. The mouse mat itself is based on one of the original press ads and showcases that distinctive grille and oh-so-seventies shape and colour. The wording is as the original ad, in the authentic Goudy Old Style typeface with the super-tight kerning between each letter.
    Read the story of the 18-22 / Princess here on the excellent aronline website.
  • 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.
  • Asteroids T-Shirt Red man wearing asteroids retro gaming t-shirt
    Asteroids was a space-themed multidirectional shooter arcade game released in November 1979 by Atari. The player controls a single spaceship in an asteroid field which is periodically traversed by flying saucers. The object of the game is to shoot and destroy the asteroids and saucers, while not colliding with either, or being hit by the saucers' counter-fire. The game becomes harder as the number of asteroids increases.
    Asteroids was one of the first major hits of the golden age of arcade games; the game sold over 70,000 arcade cabinets and proved both popular with players and influential with developers. It was later ported onto Atari's home systems in 1981.
    The t-shirt features a distressed style logo for that retro look and is available in a number of colours.
  • Gildan Men's T Shirt Size Guide Honda HR-V Photo T Shirt Black

    Honda HR-V Photo T Shirt

    £17.50£18.50
    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!
  • Gildan Men's T Shirt Size Guide Ford Zodiac Executive T Shirt
    Officially named simply the 'Ford Executive' the subject of this t-shirt was the super luxury version of the Ford Zephyr/Zodiac Mk IV range launched in 1966.
     
    Befitting its upmarket moniker, the Executive featured automatic transmission, power steering and sliding steel sunroof as standard equipment, along with real walnut fascia, full instrumentation, a radio and the thickest leather-upholstered seating ever seen in a Ford.
    It also shared the Zodiac's 3.0 Essex V6, cavernous 'aircraft carrier' bonnet (a styling exercise rendered completely unnecessary by the models' range of V4 and V6 engines) and slightly dubious handling due to the independent rear suspension set up. Nevertheless its oversize proportions and transatlantic looks made for an impressive status symbol in 60s and 70s UK suburbia at a time when the vast majority of executive cars in the British and today's ubiquitous German marques were virtually unheard of, much less seen. The t shirt is is based on a period press ad and focuses on the lavish Executive interior for a change as it was the most impressive part of the car. 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!