A Sad Day For Big Yel

A Sad Day For Big Yel

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Discussion

rick.e

Original Poster:

768 posts

272 months

Saturday 10th May 2003
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You know how each region has the odd TVR known to all, usually by virtue of registration? Well in Scotland, one such was Griff "Big Yel", owing to its bright yellow colour and matching registration - B16 YEL - just made for the car. TVR owners could be heard uttering phrases such as "Big Yel is for sale again" or "I spotted Big Yel the other day". Well about a year ago it was sold on, but its Peebles owner kept the registration. Big Yel was re-born as a white Porche, why, is a mystery, but things have got much worse. Today I saw Big Yel in Peebles again, reborn as a copper coloured Volvo estate! How the H**l could anyone split up some a perfect combination of car and registration?

>>> Edited by rick.e on Saturday 10th May 19:18

Ballistic Banana

14,698 posts

268 months

Saturday 10th May 2003
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was offered this plate once but couldnt afford(want to pay) what they wanted for it.
Didint it go on a green Audi at one point to.

Ahh well prehaps it will end up on something appropiate in the future.

BB



>> Edited by Ballistic Banana (moderator) on Saturday 10th May 23:14

Captain Pugwash

79 posts

285 months

Sunday 11th May 2003
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How the H**l could anyone split up some a perfect combination of car and registration?


Greed / money

RUF 3

240 posts

268 months

Sunday 11th May 2003
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As the culprit I am happy to explain. Yes, it was a well known car and plate. It was also not the best car having been hammered relentlessly by its original owner, and finally disposed of in his liquidation sale, as it turned out. I lost a load of money on that car (several thousand in a very few months, not aided by considerable repair costs). In a short period that car had discs and pads all round, rebuilt diff., starter, alternator, exhaust manifolds, wishbones, clutch and flywheel, plus the normal servicing. In the time I owned it, the cost was over £5 per mile ! When I sold it the next owner was happy for it to lose its past identity. So, what would you do - just add to the loss by handing over a plate of some value to somebody who didn't want it anyway, and would simply have sold it, or keep it, and ,as I did, offer it in appropriate circles. Maybe now it is a good, well sorted car, although three months after I sold it, it was sold again, and, I heard, a few weeks later the next owner would happily have parted with it. It is all very well to pass judgement, but it should only be done with the knowledge of the full facts. If somebody wants the plate, make me a sensible offer and you can have it.

julianhj

8,750 posts

263 months

Sunday 11th May 2003
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I for one hope RUF3 and BB can come to some arrangement - sounds perfect for BB's resurrected monster!

rick.e

Original Poster:

768 posts

272 months

Sunday 11th May 2003
quotequote all
RUF,

Apologies, I meant no offence, and I guess there but for the grace of God......
I was in the market for a Griff at the time yours was in having its Diff rebuild and if it hadn't been for the timing of disposing of my S3, BIG YEL may have been mine. I was assured that mechanically it was one of the best examples around!
Hope you have more luck with the Volvo.

RUF 3

240 posts

268 months

Sunday 11th May 2003
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rick.e, no offence taken. At the time of the Diff Rebuild there was no reason to assume it was not mechanically fine, however, within 300 mls it snapped a wishbone (less than 4 yrs from new) alternator, starter, clutch and flywheel all needed done, and to add final insult the windscreen also cracked from top to bottom. All in all it is perhaps as well you had not sold your own car !! The Volvo is simply a towcar for my Pilbeam, and, now with 300 bhp it is very entertaining, and bits do not fail and drop off !! It is also quite big, and is a shade of yellow (saffron) so the plate is not entirely misplaced ! I advertised the plate for months in PH ads and Noel at V8 knew I had it and would sell it, so I guess at least it is still within the community, should anybody have the desire to stick it on a TVR.