Modifications U (Don't) Like

[medieval]

Webasto sun roof anyone?

[85Carrera]

medieval said:

Webasto sun roof anyone?

Hate them but they are a period modification, albeit a misguided one

Don't understand the vitriol over minilites though. Am thinking of getting some for the TR4 for the winter as they are a period wheel and will be easier to clean than the wires.

[jamieandthemagic]

Not a mod.......but.....

Matching caps in a soft top

[Yertis]

85Carrera said:

Hate them but they are a period modification, albeit a misguided one

Don't understand the vitriol over minilites though. Am thinking of getting some for the TR4 for the winter as they are a period wheel and will be easier to clean than the wires.

TR4s look good on minilights, IMO.

[85Carrera]

Yertis said:

85Carrera said:

Hate them but they are a period modification, albeit a misguided one

Don't understand the vitriol over minilites though. Am thinking of getting some for the TR4 for the winter as they are a period wheel and will be easier to clean than the wires.

TR4s look good on minilights, IMO.

I agree but it seems other don't and I'm not quite sure why. Will be interested to know why, but mine is getting them for the winter months anyway (and they may stay on all year round as they're so much easier to keep clean and suspect I will prefer them to the wires once they're on).

[droopsnoot]

medieval said:

Webasto sun roof anyone?

I've got one in my Firenza, and had one in my previous Sportshatch. Both were fitted by previous owners, probably in period. I must say that I like the ability to open the roof and get some fresh air when weather permits it, but I don't really like the scuttle shake that I probably wouldn't get if the roof was complete. I am restoring another Sportshatch, debated whether to stick a Webasto in it, but decided against cutting a hole in the roof for a host of reasons.

At least they suit the car much more than a cheap glass sunroof would. If I weren't obsessed with originality, I'd be trying to find a tilt/slide steel sunroof that matches the roof profile.

As for other stuff, I think I'm in favour of modifications that make the car better to drive in modern conditions, as long as it doesn't radically alter the vehicle in an irreversible manner. I'm planning on fitting an overdrive box to the hatch, as it will help keep the noise down on motorway journeys. I've tried to improve stuff like sound deadening, and when I had my drivers seat re-trimmed I asked them to firm it up a bit, but strictly without altering the appearance.

[lowdrag]

Wire wheels are fine all year round - if you buy painted and not chrome, and I prefer painted anyway. A rinse with a clening product and a blast with a high pressure washer is all it takes.

[vixen1700]

medieval said:

Webasto sun roof anyone?

I always liked Webasto roofs on the MGBGTs I had in the '80s, but I can imagine the dislike for them.

Had the sunroof on the Vixen filled in this year, hopefully it won't be too claustrophobic when it gets back on the road.

[uk66fastback]

52classic said:

Definately the black/silver plates...... Especially since they are the in period 'luxury' ones with reverse engraved characters.

Definitely - they look the dogs danglies.

[terenceb]

Good read is this, on the subject of number plates (the lotus looks "right" on the black plates) why oh why do people put up with a scotish number, ie, one with an S in? A friend had a tr4with a plate starting YSL , and yes they were reflective!!! Looked bloody awful.
Most restored classics have a Heritage certificate? Cert should give original area of registration, so a quick call to the areas licencing office should provide an age related plate-dont accept a SCOTISH plate !!!!!!!

[Talkwrench]

terenceb said:

Good read is this, on the subject of number plates (the lotus looks "right" on the black plates) why oh why do people put up with a scotish number, ie, one with an S in? A friend had a tr4with a plate starting YSL , and yes they were reflective!!! Looked bloody awful.
Most restored classics have a Heritage certificate? Cert should give original area of registration, so a quick call to the areas licencing office should provide an age related plate-dont accept a SCOTISH plate !!!!!!!

Why oh why do people spell 'Scottish' wrong. How hard can it be? Still, its better than Scotch, I guess.....
I'm really hoping that you're joking about this. You must be. Tell me you are.

[droopsnoot]

terenceb said:

so a quick call to the areas licencing office should provide an age related plate

I thought all the area licensing offices had been closed down and everything centralised to Swansea now?

[Slidingpillar]

terenceb said:

Good read is this, on the subject of number plates (the lotus looks "right" on the black plates) why oh why do people put up with a scotish number, ie, one with an S in? A friend had a tr4with a plate starting YSL , and yes they were reflective!!! Looked bloody awful.
Most restored classics have a Heritage certificate? Cert should give original area of registration, so a quick call to the areas licencing office should provide an age related plate-dont accept a SCOTISH plate !!!!!!!

That plate is a Swansea 'age related' plate, all the plates they give have an 'S' in them. Import or the car has been raped for the original plate.

If you want a better plate, you'll have to buy it.

Yes I do think old plates look best on old cars, not a modern tin box.

[lowdrag]

Slidingpillar said:

That plate is a Swansea 'age related' plate, all the plates they give have an 'S' in them. Import or the car has been raped for the original plate.

If you want a better plate, you'll have to buy it.

Absolute rubbish if I may say so. I suggest you look here:-

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/registrations/reg-l...

Many years ago areas such as London had hardly enough plates to register cars, which is why the "new" system was introduced in 1963. But areas in Scotland didn't use even half the numbers allocated, hence the use by the DVLA to give age related plates. Clackmannanshire had only got up to GSL when the new system was introduced, so the rest are used for revived or imported classics which have not enough documentation to reclaim the original number.

[52classic]

What's wrong with Webasto roofs then? One of the coolest 'in period' extras going IMHO.

Great thing is that when fitting one, the open headlining lets you fit an Elpico roof ariel centre above the windscreen - They're pretty cool as well. Yer Mini, MG1300, Dolomite, 'BGT and several others I can think of, would just not be complete without a Webasto or a Britax Weathershields roof.

Edited by 52classic on Friday 3rd October 18:31

[//j17]

The only modification I don't like is people with pre-1970's homes who haven't put the original lead water pipes and electrics back in.

If you live with leathal electrics and pipes that poison your water to keep your 1930's semi original then, and only then may you complain about the modifications I've made to my car because 'it's not original'.

[Hooli]

//j17 said:

The only modification I don't like is people with pre-1970's homes who haven't put the original lead water pipes and electrics back in.

If you live with leathal electrics and pipes that poison your water to keep your 1930's semi original then, and only then may you complain about the modifications I've made to my car because 'it's not original'.

Can I complain your car isn't original as we've got no plumbing at all (currently) in our circa 1640 cottage?

[uk66fastback]

lowdrag said:

Slidingpillar said:

That plate is a Swansea 'age related' plate, all the plates they give have an 'S' in them. Import or the car has been raped for the original plate.

If you want a better plate, you'll have to buy it.

Absolute rubbish if I may say so. I suggest you look here:-

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/registrations/reg-l...

Many years ago areas such as London had hardly enough plates to register cars, which is why the "new" system was introduced in 1963. But areas in Scotland didn't use even half the numbers allocated, hence the use by the DVLA to give age related plates. Clackmannanshire had only got up to GSL when the new system was introduced, so the rest are used for revived or imported classics which have not enough documentation to reclaim the original number.

Surely if a pre-63 car is imported and registered or a valuable plate is sold off a car and a new plate is issued in each case then that is the the letter YSL xxx

If the car requires a letter suffix at the end then up to recently with the local DVLA offices you got a local reg - my coupe got an FAV (AV being Peterborough where I live. Now with the centralised position and no local offices, I don't know what reg I'd get if I registed the car now ...

[Slidingpillar]

lowdrag said:

Absolute rubbish if I may say so. I suggest you look here:-

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/registrations/reg-l...

Many years ago areas such as London had hardly enough plates to register cars, which is why the "new" system was introduced in 1963. But areas in Scotland didn't use even half the numbers allocated, hence the use by the DVLA to give age related plates. Clackmannanshire had only got up to GSL when the new system was introduced, so the rest are used for revived or imported classics which have not enough documentation to reclaim the original number.

You can say rubbish, but I'm a bit mystified why the second part of your email then goes on to back up what I said. Each to his own I suppose.

[V8 FOU]

Cobra "replicas". with the aforementioned walnut dash, piped leather, chrome crap etc.

Did anyone mention glass sunroofs / sunrooves? Horrible leaky things.

And as for those people who take a perfectly good Bentley turbo r and strip it out for track use......