Federation update
I recently attended the launch of the Guidelines for the Care of Larger and Working Objects, created by the Association of British Transport & Engineering Museums. It is the result of more than four years’ work and available to view at www.abtem.co.uk
At the event, two case studies were presented: one covered the Matilda II tank restored by the Tank Museum at Bovington, and the second was the Crosslé MKIII racing car from the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum.
The latter whetted my appetite to visit the museum while spending a few days in Belfast. Split into two sections, the transport area kept us occupied for two or three hours and covered railways, buses, commercial vehicles – including quite a display of fire appliances – and, of course, motor cars.
There is a 1952 Austin A125 Sheerline delivery van that served the Belfast Telegraph for many years and, with its Belfast heritage, it was no surprise to see three De Lorean DMC-12S: one of the first off the line; a prototype rolling chassis with all running gear constructed in stainless steel; and a full-sized Italdesign styling buck, designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and showing slightly different features on either side of the car. It’s well worth a visit!