Back in 1969 a friend had a Equipe GT - in white - which he kept for over ten years. It was easily maintained and did not rust. On the road a real looker.
Those prices adjusted for inflation seem very reasonable indeed, a lot cheaper than many new motorcycles ! My Dad used to tell a story about his father-in-law turning up one day in a 3 wheel Bond with polyethylene sheets for side windows. I don’t know how true that detail was but he used to roar with laughter telling the tale. If I was alive when the incident occurred I don’t remember it 🇬🇧
I had a Bond Equipe GT4. It was a terrible car, but also the only car I owned that I sold at a profit after about a year. This was in my native Sweden, so it had left-hand steering and was, supposedly, one out of 4 ever imported to Sweden.
Only speculate why they didn't base the Equipe mk3 on the Toledo & Dolomite instead the 2000/2500, perhaps part of it was them prioritizing using the Triumph Six that would have likely been too heavy for the Toledo & Dolomite platform? Fwiw there have been Toledo & Dolomite swaps done with Stag and Rover V8s.
I suspect it might have been because Triumph at the time were moving to FWD with the 1300 and 1500, which would have been unsuitable for the Bond sports car. It was only later that Triumph had a change of heart and returned to RWD with the Toledo and Dolomite using the same bodies.
@@cachebangwallop3482 Agree, yet Bond later Reliant must have caught wind of the upcoming changes due to their usage of Triumph parts prior to the post-BL merger chaos. More interested in how Reliant could have made best use of the Leyland parts bin in place of Ford.
Never heard of the Bond Equipe, let alone saw one in the wild, before watching this video. I wonder if this would have rivalled the Reliant Scimitar - undoubtedly, the parent company would have none of it.
Interesting video (I do remember seeing a Bond equipe a couple of times), have one question though, in your roundup of the Bond company you didn't mention the Bond 875 I've always been curious about these vehicles as they used Hillman Imp driveline, any chance of doing a video on these?
No matter how many ways is your look at them, they look like something that was thrown together from a long distance. The Herald and the Vitesse were much better all around
Now, Ruairidh, you are comparing it to Aston and Jaguar to wich I firmly disagree. This bucket can only be compared to the Israeli Sabra GT. Ugly as this and also a plastic bucket with somebody else's mechanicals. Cut and shut job. Zero quality, zero appeal, zero effort plus some canoe material.
Those panel gaps though... yowza.
Thanks again as always, and regards.
Cigarette paper? You can fit a cohiba in those gaps
That's fibre glass panels for you.
I think the same Guys latter worked for BL fitting the body panels on the Montego, should have gone to Specsavers 🤣🤣
Back in 1969 a friend had a Equipe GT - in white - which he kept for over ten years. It was easily maintained and did not rust. On the road a real looker.
Triumph made some beautiful looking cars.
From childhood, I pronounced it E Kwip! But I now know I was wrong. How do I get back 60 years of failure?🤣
Those prices adjusted for inflation seem very reasonable indeed, a lot cheaper than many new motorcycles ! My Dad used to tell a story about his father-in-law turning up one day in a 3 wheel Bond with polyethylene sheets for side windows. I don’t know how true that detail was but he used to roar with laughter telling the tale. If I was alive when the incident occurred I don’t remember it 🇬🇧
Excellent video, good to hear the full story including Reliant’s failed strategy due to the formation of BL
Say i never knew of this model.....very interesting,,,thanks
Thank you for your videos. Nice simple little cars.
I had a Bond Equipe GT4. It was a terrible car, but also the only car I owned that I sold at a profit after about a year. This was in my native Sweden, so it had left-hand steering and was, supposedly, one out of 4 ever imported to Sweden.
Interesting and almost forgotten cars 👌😄
The founder of the company was Sean Connery's father.....
Nice to see your own work included in the video.
Thanks for your great videos.
Only speculate why they didn't base the Equipe mk3 on the Toledo & Dolomite instead the 2000/2500, perhaps part of it was them prioritizing using the Triumph Six that would have likely been too heavy for the Toledo & Dolomite platform? Fwiw there have been Toledo & Dolomite swaps done with Stag and Rover V8s.
I suspect it might have been because Triumph at the time were moving to FWD with the 1300 and 1500, which would have been unsuitable for the Bond sports car. It was only later that Triumph had a change of heart and returned to RWD with the Toledo and Dolomite using the same bodies.
@@cachebangwallop3482 Agree, yet Bond later Reliant must have caught wind of the upcoming changes due to their usage of Triumph parts prior to the post-BL merger chaos. More interested in how Reliant could have made best use of the Leyland parts bin in place of Ford.
It wasn’t comparable with the Spitfire. It was associated with the Herald/Vitesse
Never heard of the Bond Equipe, let alone saw one in the wild, before watching this video. I wonder if this would have rivalled the Reliant Scimitar - undoubtedly, the parent company would have none of it.
To this day, this company still exists, making cars for the MI6
"crashing"
Must admit, it was a bit hard hearing Michelotti said like that. Great looking cars though, love the long bonnet.
He has an Irish cousin you know, Mick O' Lotty, he live in Cork these days.
Sadly, despite the Venture into four wheeled Vehicels, no Bond Car ever became the Movie Version of the Bond Car.
Not sure I'd say the Bug was that popular, they sold about 10 a week.
Spotted one near Brooklands this week.
Interesting video (I do remember seeing a Bond equipe a couple of times), have one question though, in your roundup of the Bond company you didn't mention the Bond 875 I've always been curious about these vehicles as they used Hillman Imp driveline, any chance of doing a video on these?
A really interesting story.
What about the Bond '875', which used the engine and rear drivetrain of the Hillman Imp?
My mom had an Equipe in baby blue
Are those panel gaps or is that where you park your other car.
Rory, have you any interest in airships? Because I would LOVE to see the Ruairidh MacVeigh video on the R-100 or R-101!
Beautiful on one side but the front reminds me of Jensen’s Interceptor
The name's Bond. Auto Bond. Popular in Germany, or so I understand.
In 2025 15K won't buy much of a (new) car!
Gud vid.
No matter how many ways is your look at them, they look like something that was thrown together from a long distance. The Herald and the Vitesse were much better all around
It's interesting but not a looker.
1st
Now, Ruairidh, you are comparing it to Aston and Jaguar to wich I firmly disagree. This bucket can only be compared to the Israeli Sabra GT. Ugly as this and also a plastic bucket with somebody else's mechanicals. Cut and shut job. Zero quality, zero appeal, zero effort plus some canoe material.