Fox & Pheasant: Sunday Breakfast with The Petrol Heads

Name: Fox & Pheasant
Address: Stoke Poges

jktallallc
Jun 21
3 min read

This morning I took the Rover to a small breakfast meet, run by "The Petrol Heads".

It's a short drive, about 8 miles to the Fox & Pheasant, a pub in Stoke Poges. It's a pub, not road kill, by the way.

It's been a hot few days in London, today it's nearly 30 degrees (86F). All my windows are down and my feet vents give a cooling breeze as I drive.

Something I've become accustomed to is all the tooting from other drivers. Very unnerving when I first got the car. But usually it's just a wave or a thumbs-up as I pass or sit at traffic lights.

I'm playing some Rock' n' Roll through a modern, hidden Entertainment system that also lets my phone connect and use hands-free.

Parking up, the car park already has some interesting vehicles. The Petrol Heads have a varied collection of member cars, from very old to more modern performance vehicles, which are a little rarer on UK roads.

It's a warm welcome by all before we head inside for a Sunday morning Full English Breakfast (small, got to watch my figure) and a cup of tea.

Through the open windows, you'll hear an arrival before seeing it, and there's a slow stream of cars now parking in the overflow carpark, which is basically the pub garden.

No crowds or audience today, just owners having a natter about the oily bits and the next big Summer show n shine.

I take a few snaps as always, thank goodness for these modern phones.

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So what caught my eye today?

You can't fail to be impressed by an absolutely stunning 1990 DeTomaso Pantera GT5S. I'd seen the car before at another show; this time, I managed to get a chat with Colin, the original owner. Yes this car has one owner from new.

This Pantera is believed to be the only one-owner RHD GT5S from new worldwide.

Purchased from Emilia Concessionaires of Silverstone, at the time the sole UK importer for DeTomaso.

This Pantera, in Bordeaux paint, had every factory option fitted and is a numbers-matching vehicle, with a fully documented history. It just can’t be beaten this car.

On the track too, of which it has graced many, home and abroad. From Silverstone, Goodwood and Castle Combe to Spa, LeMans and the Nurburgring.

The mid-engine power plant is a US Ford Windsor V8, tuned by Peter Knight to 408 ci and 458 HP. For a mind-blowing punch 0-60 in 4.1 sec.

Inside is something special too, although completely original it still looks like it came from that very showroom this morning. Colin informs me the car is used often and in all weather, and why not I say.

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Taking up most of the field was a gorgeous 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 LX 352 a tidy motor all round.

Mustang Sally, a 65 white convertible,

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A 68 Mustang in blue, shadowed by one nearly 50 years younger (2016).

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A rare 1972 Dart Demon, and something I'd not seen in the flesh before was a 1974 Javelin AMX.

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If I were taking something home with me today, it would be purely because of the beautiful weather. The Mercedes 280 SL Convertible fits the bill perfectly.