Classic in winter and I don’t care
Classic in winter and I don’t care
Author
Discussion

vpr

Original Poster:

3,892 posts

259 months

Sunday 2nd January 2022
quotequote all
Who uses their classic in this manky winter weather?

I had enough editing for summer that didn’t happen this year and now faces with a long winter.

I’ve had enough of polishing and have decided YOLO and I am thoroughly enjoying it though definitely no salt. I only wish I could stop water ingress so running without carpets etc.





Shocking design here though


DBSV8

5,958 posts

259 months

Sunday 2nd January 2022
quotequote all
vpr said:
Who uses their classic in this manky winter weather?

I had enough editing for summer that didn’t happen this year and now faces with a long winter.

I’ve had enough of polishing and have decided YOLO and I am thoroughly enjoying it though definitely no salt. I only wish I could stop water ingress so running without carpets etc.





Shocking design here though

top man


yep those early series 1 lights are a bugger to keep clean in the winter ,

biggrin

great driving in the winter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8u_V_59CDM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlYS-THNnX8


Mr Tidy

28,864 posts

148 months

Sunday 2nd January 2022
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What a fantastic car!

Fair play to you for using it regardless of the damp. bow

akirk

5,775 posts

135 months

Sunday 2nd January 2022
quotequote all
I do - but it is a classic range rover, so rather expected of it smile

well done on having the e-type out!

vpr

Original Poster:

3,892 posts

259 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
quotequote all
DBSV8 said:
top man


yep those early series 1 lights are a bugger to keep clean in the winter ,

biggrin

great driving in the winter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8u_V_59CDM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlYS-THNnX8
Is that you? Good work.

Something very energising about it.

It’s dawned on me that we are a long time dead.

sixor8

7,545 posts

289 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
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I was pleasantly surprised with the underside condition of my 1975 Triumph Toledo when I finally got it on a ramp in November, so I've carried on using it through the winter. A bit hairy in some corners with a live rear axle, and the condensation inside is a bit annoying with the heated rear window kaput but I get warm air out of the heater within 1 mile of starting off. It had a roller paint job from the previous owner (which I repeated in silk instead of matt NATO green) so is no pristine thing to be pampered anyway. smile


vpr

Original Poster:

3,892 posts

259 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
quotequote all
Yeah I’m finding keeping the glass condensation free is the biggest issue.

I’ve had the squirters fixed twice, new ducting to the screen vents and just about to fit upgraded heater components which I doubt will make any difference.

HJG

556 posts

128 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
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Yes couldn't resist a new years day trip to the seaside! It's easy to keep track of the gritter online here and hasn't been out since 22nd Dec : )

lear

393 posts

228 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
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Definitely! Interceptor out during worst of yesterday’s rain storms; I get a wet knee from the webasto at 75 but otherwise fine. Lack of heating is never an issue as it’s usually trying to self-combust so windows stay clear. Salt absolutely but never really understood the not driving them when it’s wet thing.

NDNDNDND

2,546 posts

204 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
quotequote all
HJG said:
Yes couldn't resist a new years day trip to the seaside! It's easy to keep track of the gritter online here and hasn't been out since 22nd Dec : )
That's a beast of a thing! Can you tell us a bit about it?

I've been keeping up to do date with gritting activities on twitter and I've managed to get out in a couple of windows of opportunity. My concern is I don't really have the means to keep on top of the additional maintenance required by driving my potentially rusty old things in winter...

vpr

Original Poster:

3,892 posts

259 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
quotequote all
HJG said:
Yes couldn't resist a new years day trip to the seaside! It's easy to keep track of the gritter online here and hasn't been out since 22nd Dec : )
Nice. I have a 66 427 but can’t use that when n it rains as it leaks like sieve, gets under the carpet them smells like an old minge (so I’ve been told)

HJG

556 posts

128 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
quotequote all
NDNDNDND said:
That's a beast of a thing! Can you tell us a bit about it?
Sure....it's a '69 big block 427 (7.0L) Stingray. At some unknown point in history it has had a front clamshell conversion giving it fixed headlights similar to those used by the Le Mans Corvettes at the time. I was looking for an original car but this is so unique that I couldn't turn it down. I was also looking for a small block but there was no going back after experiencing the torque from a big block. It's a close ratio 4 speed manual box and surprisingly it is one of the best manual boxes I've used. No power steering and no power brakes make the car a full body workout. Straight line performance is borderline terrifying party because of the torque and the noise, but also because you're acutely aware that it's gonna take some effort to stop it again. I recently wrote a large piece on the car, here's a snippet from the article which should give you an idea of what this Yank brute is like to drive.

PomBstard

7,630 posts

263 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
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No garage queen for me either, was belting down in this pic…



Was used in all weathers and for commuting in heavy traffic

aeropilot

39,277 posts

248 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
quotequote all
vpr said:
HJG said:
Yes couldn't resist a new years day trip to the seaside! It's easy to keep track of the gritter online here and hasn't been out since 22nd Dec : )
Nice. I have a 66 427 but can’t use that when n it rains as it leaks like sieve, gets under the carpet them smells like an old minge (so I’ve been told)
rofl


droopsnoot

14,004 posts

263 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
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I had to use mine in the week before Christmas as my daily was having some trouble, but I'd forgotten that I have a problem with the dash lights not working. And the light boxes in the nosecone are only fixed in along the top edge, so the lights - while better now that I've put a relay in the circuit - bounce up and down on the awful roads around here. And I wished I'd decided to use the one where I've put a more modern wiper motor in, as the original one is awful.

4rephill

5,119 posts

199 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
quotequote all
I wonder how many people who are happily using their classics in the Winter weather and not caring, are serious long term owners (10 years to lifetime owners), who will deal with the future corrosion issues that will eventually occur, and how many are short term owners (just a few years), who are using the cars now, but will sell them in a year or two, leaving the future corrosion issues to be someone else's problem?

It's all to easy to buy a classic car, use it in all weathers, including when there's salt on the roads, look like a hero to other classic car owners, knowing full well that you'll never be the one footing the bill when the car needs serious rust repairs, because you'll be selling it on before that happens.



If you're a genuine long term owner, who doesn't have an endless supply of money to rebuild their car every 10 years or so, or isn't into doing DIY restorations (according to some on here - The type who shouldn't own classic cars at all!rolleyes ), then parking your classic up over the winter months is simply the most sensible thing to do, in order to be able to enjoy your classic car for many more years.

As far as I'm concerned, that doesn't make you a lesser owner than those who are happily driving their classics in all weathers, accepting that they will have to carry out corrosion repairs in the future.

Those owners though, who are happily using their classic cars in all weathers, knowingly causing them future corrosion problems that they will pass on for someone else to have to deal with - Now that's a different matter!


CDP

8,017 posts

275 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
quotequote all
4rephill said:
I wonder how many people who are happily using their classics in the Winter weather and not caring, are serious long term owners (10 years to lifetime owners), who will deal with the future corrosion issues that will eventually occur, and how many are short term owners (just a few years), who are using the cars now, but will sell them in a year or two, leaving the future corrosion issues to be someone else's problem?

It's all to easy to buy a classic car, use it in all weathers, including when there's salt on the roads, look like a hero to other classic car owners, knowing full well that you'll never be the one footing the bill when the car needs serious rust repairs, because you'll be selling it on before that happens.



If you're a genuine long term owner, who doesn't have an endless supply of money to rebuild their car every 10 years or so, or isn't into doing DIY restorations (according to some on here - The type who shouldn't own classic cars at all!rolleyes ), then parking your classic up over the winter months is simply the most sensible thing to do, in order to be able to enjoy your classic car for many more years.

As far as I'm concerned, that doesn't make you a lesser owner than those who are happily driving their classics in all weathers, accepting that they will have to carry out corrosion repairs in the future.

Those owners though, who are happily using their classic cars in all weathers, knowingly causing them future corrosion problems that they will pass on for someone else to have to deal with - Now that's a different matter!
He did mention keeping it out of salt which is the worst thing for a classic. Other than that a classic can have far better rust protection than when it was new; especially if allowed to dry properly after use.

vpr

Original Poster:

3,892 posts

259 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
quotequote all
4rephill said:
I wonder how many people who are happily using their classics in the Winter weather and not caring, are serious long term owners (10 years to lifetime owners), who will deal with the future corrosion issues that will eventually occur, and how many are short term owners (just a few years), who are using the cars now, but will sell them in a year or two, leaving the future corrosion issues to be someone else's problem?

It's all to easy to buy a classic car, use it in all weathers, including when there's salt on the roads, look like a hero to other classic car owners, knowing full well that you'll never be the one footing the bill when the car needs serious rust repairs, because you'll be selling it on before that happens.



If you're a genuine long term owner, who doesn't have an endless supply of money to rebuild their car every 10 years or so, or isn't into doing DIY restorations (according to some on here - The type who shouldn't own classic cars at all!rolleyes ), then parking your classic up over the winter months is simply the most sensible thing to do, in order to be able to enjoy your classic car for many more years.

As far as I'm concerned, that doesn't make you a lesser owner than those who are happily driving their classics in all weathers, accepting that they will have to carry out corrosion repairs in the future.

Those owners though, who are happily using their classic cars in all weathers, knowingly causing them future corrosion problems that they will pass on for someone else to have to deal with - Now that's a different matter!
Well it’s not a car that I’m ever planning to sell, put it that way. I’ve owned it 6 years and had many Etypes previously inc cars I’ve restored to perfection but had to sell through fear of seeing it deteriorate after my hard work.

I also dragged one out of a barn where it had sat for 20 years. Rebuilt all the mechanical bits to concours std leaving the body and the interior looking exactly the way it did when I discovered the car. Great fun.

I have zero internet in modem cars.
I have quite a few classics, some I would never dream of driving in the wet as I’m am well aware of the damage our damp climate can inflict on our old cars.

BUT, I am so bored with waiting for the summer that never happened. My life revolves around cars day in day out. It’s my one passion.

So this Etype, not mint but a solid user, never lets me down so I’ll use as I’m 58 now and could be brown bread tomorrow.

If I’m still around when it’s dot cotton then I’ll invest the money and restore it and start again.

Thx

jeremyc

26,793 posts

305 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
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Less problems with condensation if you can get the roof down. wink

I'm a big advocate of using classics all year round. thumbup


fourfoldroot

657 posts

176 months

Monday 3rd January 2022
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I run my TR4 throughout the winter but I do avoid going out if the roads are salty. Usually the rain clears them within a few days. This pic was taken in April 2013 and about a mile further on the snow on the road was so deep I ground to a halt. I must get some wheel arch liners fitted to make cleaning the arches a bit easier.