I buy lemons : classic fleet
Discussion
t ones. Our kitchen appliances dont have names.
If anybody thinks of cars as only appliances, which they are of course, then why come on here. Hey ho.
So the final fifth classic is purchased, was very nearly something else.
Reinhardt / Rolf has been paid for. Only we wont be using those names as both have dubious connotations.
W108 "good runner" but rough around the edges and scabby interior.
White sterring wheel, mahoosive sunroof 4.9m length. Off white.
The styling is strangely seductive, almost understyled compared to the lovely Jag XJ but somehow, I like the three box simplicity and big interior.
Not a big fan of the rear swing axle but there are some choice mods apparently to reduce the crapness of that.
Ditto if go RHD later, then new steering rack from a later car can get rid of the crappy worm gear steering.... still its not a racecar.
Nothing new seat covers, door cards and carpets cant freshen up.
The V70 will have to go in Spring. Or whenever I cant start relying on the other cars.
Up until a month ago it was gonna be an Avantime.
French people carrier, German barge, Italian GT, British classic roadster and British sports car.
Also 1958, 1968, 1978*, 1988'* & 1998.
Still hve to offload the Megane Cab currently in a boat garage waiting for spring, battery on charge.
If anybody thinks of cars as only appliances, which they are of course, then why come on here. Hey ho.
So the final fifth classic is purchased, was very nearly something else.
Reinhardt / Rolf has been paid for. Only we wont be using those names as both have dubious connotations.
W108 "good runner" but rough around the edges and scabby interior.
White sterring wheel, mahoosive sunroof 4.9m length. Off white.
The styling is strangely seductive, almost understyled compared to the lovely Jag XJ but somehow, I like the three box simplicity and big interior.
Not a big fan of the rear swing axle but there are some choice mods apparently to reduce the crapness of that.
Ditto if go RHD later, then new steering rack from a later car can get rid of the crappy worm gear steering.... still its not a racecar.
Nothing new seat covers, door cards and carpets cant freshen up.
The V70 will have to go in Spring. Or whenever I cant start relying on the other cars.
Up until a month ago it was gonna be an Avantime.
French people carrier, German barge, Italian GT, British classic roadster and British sports car.
Also 1958, 1968, 1978*, 1988'* & 1998.
- well 1987 but designed in 1978 so looks older than it is.
- 1987 but im adding ABS to make it an 1988 spec!
Still hve to offload the Megane Cab currently in a boat garage waiting for spring, battery on charge.
Edited by Hugh Jarse on Friday 12th January 13:13
Fantastic collection. I saw an original espace this morning and remembered my first time.... seeing one. It was red too. Personally it is the best of your collection especially as you have the original wheels. Keep it forever and replace the engine with an electrical powertrain when the mechanicals eventually fail. With your Geoff Mathews design background and an electric truck battery in the boot 
you will indeed go far....
you will indeed go far....Nobbles said:
Fantastic collection. I saw an original espace this morning and remembered my first time.... seeing one. It was red too. Personally it is the best of your collection especially as you have the original wheels. Keep it forever and replace the engine with an electrical powertrain when the mechanicals eventually fail. With your Geoff Mathews design background and an electric truck battery in the boot you will indeed go far....
cheers. Funnily enough I did come up with a hybrid in 2002. you will indeed go far....Not being a paypal billionaire does limit possibilities.
Took it to a few manufacturers with predictable response.
Still Im patient and one day...............
I bought the website title www.elclassics.com so they will all go electric probably, just dont hold your breath.
The procurement phase has ended so begins a period of consoildation for a couple of years, then beautification after that.
Hope to enjoy the journey as much as the end destination.
For any erman speakers out there W108 at launch.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyaMaO12W3o&t=...
W108 picture fest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92a4F50nv6g&t=...
And a Daimler promo video especially highlighting the sunroof, and the driver pulling a bird whilst driving like a twunt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftM8IOjkcg8
S-classe history lesson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gEVkFahYH4&t=...
A more sensible promo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37oOS5yZSdE
oh and the most important one, that convinced the Mrs :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-zPKYvvYsk&t=...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-zPKYvvYsk&t=...
Time for a monthly update, lots happening in my life, mainly positive, some Scuderia Limone related
Will offload the Renault Megane cab hopefully https://www.blocket.se/vi/77862251.htm
Bought some lovely parts slipper pistons etc for the Frogeye, including carbon fibre quarter leaf springs that look like they will fit (now they are received, unrefundable import and freight charged PHEW!!)
Not quite as light as i imagined by will save a few kg where it matters. Speaking of a fit, that was the first time the Mrs questioned the buying wisdom, she has a point, but every car has to have a halo component right? Off to collect the Mercedes W108 next week, with merc forum expert method of installing rear seatbelts researched and retro style seatbelts purchased to take with us on the flight. Managed to get six months Euro insurance for £200 on that result.
The demister fan does not work which could be a ballache but replacement is five hour job appaently so wont be doing that until summer, towels at the ready.
HAve been lusting after this Chevette HS but realise that more than five cars is getting stupid, and the Mondial can do pretty much every role the HS could. Still a hatchback would have complemented the line up. Still, modest driveway is full.
frilly doors and replaced sills hmmmm
screw point fr the seatbelts, the other screw points exist.
Will offload the Renault Megane cab hopefully https://www.blocket.se/vi/77862251.htm
Bought some lovely parts slipper pistons etc for the Frogeye, including carbon fibre quarter leaf springs that look like they will fit (now they are received, unrefundable import and freight charged PHEW!!)
Not quite as light as i imagined by will save a few kg where it matters. Speaking of a fit, that was the first time the Mrs questioned the buying wisdom, she has a point, but every car has to have a halo component right? Off to collect the Mercedes W108 next week, with merc forum expert method of installing rear seatbelts researched and retro style seatbelts purchased to take with us on the flight. Managed to get six months Euro insurance for £200 on that result.
The demister fan does not work which could be a ballache but replacement is five hour job appaently so wont be doing that until summer, towels at the ready.
HAve been lusting after this Chevette HS but realise that more than five cars is getting stupid, and the Mondial can do pretty much every role the HS could. Still a hatchback would have complemented the line up. Still, modest driveway is full.
frilly doors and replaced sills hmmmm
screw point fr the seatbelts, the other screw points exist.
Edited by Hugh Jarse on Tuesday 24th September 17:20
Road trip well under way, Lady Regina Von Turkheim cruises nicely and for a 5m bus turns on a sixpence London taxi stylee. Vague steering and no speed machine but hums along at 100kmh (60mph) kein problem. which is 10kmh faster than trucks which means we dont have to get mixed up with those guys. The headlamps are atrocious and one blew last night menaing we got flashed by well meaning folks. Selling chap dumped a load of spares in the boot including a spare headlamp hooray. The winter tyres are seriously chunky and we just had a load of snow so thats good but i think these are illegal in Germany wit the spikes. Summer tyre are in the boot but im not keen to change. Taking a long ferry tonight from Göteborg to Kiel, bit pricey but saves enormous amounts of driving. The 3 month old has a cough so less time in the car, still will jhave 8 hours driving tomorrow so only two hours today will be good for the kids who, including the wife, have behaved impeccably so far. Managed to offload the Renault yesterday for a fair price (£1800) considering the MOT needs doing and it needs a jolly good service, cambelt etc. I included the cambelt with the car but of course didnt get round to it. Quite mild here but still havent got the seatbelts in the rear so Mrs and five year jangling about unseatbelted in the back which is far from ideal. Easy day today two hours driving so hopefully get this in whilst snow man building and sledging. Car is solid enough, rough interior but pretty ok and running sweetly enough though misfiring on one cylinder probably. done 500km so far on 50 litres which is about 23mpg, not bad at all even if mainly cruising.
Stayed overnight here in Lidköping beside Europe's biggest lake (i think) Vänern
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lidk%C3%B6ping
BigMon said:
I love that Mercedes. Would like one myself someday (currently scratching my slab sided Volvo itch).
RHD one coming up tomorrow, virtually identical except auto and better equipped, does say rust though, but Australia so cant be bad !!.http://www.manheim.com.au/damaged-vehicles/Item/It...
ps i have a spare manual gearbox
Edited by Hugh Jarse on Thursday 22 February 07:12
another w108 on the retro barge 5-10k thread, looks good for that price (12k) and RHD, red leather etc.
Starting to really bond with mine and commuted this week with it. Unfortuntely failing brake lights spoiled the experience.
Engine has got very tappety of late so will need looking at.
The fuel lines are extremely cracked but braided lines just arrived this morning to shortly be chopped to length.
We made it home via Germany and the Netherlands with only minor issues some stories to tell next post.
saw this coachbuilt estate, looks great
Starting to really bond with mine and commuted this week with it. Unfortuntely failing brake lights spoiled the experience.
Engine has got very tappety of late so will need looking at.
The fuel lines are extremely cracked but braided lines just arrived this morning to shortly be chopped to length.
We made it home via Germany and the Netherlands with only minor issues some stories to tell next post.
saw this coachbuilt estate, looks great
Given the relatively cheap price for this (£4500) plus cost of travel (£800) ive lashed out on some tyres and 15" bundt replica wheels. 235 profile should increase safety and grip but worsen fuel economy. However its a 27% increase in circumference which radically changes the revs and possibly the speedo reading (depending on if it overreads or not currently). These have now arrived and will hopefully being going on soon once mounted and balanced. Being a nerd, naturally a spreadsheet was used to investigate. May or may not add wheelspacers.
What has not been checked is if this combo actually fits, though not too worried as the arches are mahoosive. The 160mm diameter change is "only" 80mm on the radius so should be OK. (having said that the pic below from a brochure has got me fretting as the wheels dont seem to be in the middle of the arches!!). The 70mph motorway revs should plummet from 4000 revs to 3150 revs, a boon and more than recovering the extra fuel needed for rolling resistance. This means i will have to make sure the 140 horses, many of whom were made into Pedigree chum years ago, will need to be reincarnated. There is of course no blooming rev counter so i have little idea except referring to the chart shown below of what revs 70mph is. A rev counter from an old E class has been purchased £25 ebay and with some chrome rings (not the one shown), will hopefully be disguised as old. I will somehow shoehorn the left hand multigauge in between the speedo and the fakeold rev counter, and the nonfunctioning clock moved elsewhere. Didnt fancy paying the £600 for the Pagoda rev counter of similar vintage.
New seat covers have also been purchased amongst a host of random sensible parts such as a mileometer speedo and two rabbit headrest, mainly from fleabay, bringing another spend of £1000, ouch. Went for blue because the door cappings and armrests are moulded in blue and the wife &I have settled on a future colour of very pale metallic sky blue. The current interior is also blue. Quite fancied toffee or green interior but too much hassle sourcing door pulls in those colours. K.I.S.S. as the wise say.
A well known mod is to change the rear diff to a 4.5 v8 one (see graph) but they are getting rare and pricey, and given the possible electric conversion, sometime never, ill leave that. Another option is the also rare five speed, though Im wondering if a later (read cheaper) five speed is possible direct fit. The current gearchange feeling is vile and sloppy due to stretched wires and links, though according to Youtube wheezebag Kent Bergsma, he does a bushing kit (respect his knowledge, but not the video editing skills). The bodywork is pretty solid and i can now genuinely say its solid and Im happy. The faint smell of petrol suggest that the perished rubber fuel hoses in the engine bay are matched under the car where the lines attach to the tank. TBI asap.
What has not been checked is if this combo actually fits, though not too worried as the arches are mahoosive. The 160mm diameter change is "only" 80mm on the radius so should be OK. (having said that the pic below from a brochure has got me fretting as the wheels dont seem to be in the middle of the arches!!). The 70mph motorway revs should plummet from 4000 revs to 3150 revs, a boon and more than recovering the extra fuel needed for rolling resistance. This means i will have to make sure the 140 horses, many of whom were made into Pedigree chum years ago, will need to be reincarnated. There is of course no blooming rev counter so i have little idea except referring to the chart shown below of what revs 70mph is. A rev counter from an old E class has been purchased £25 ebay and with some chrome rings (not the one shown), will hopefully be disguised as old. I will somehow shoehorn the left hand multigauge in between the speedo and the fakeold rev counter, and the nonfunctioning clock moved elsewhere. Didnt fancy paying the £600 for the Pagoda rev counter of similar vintage.
New seat covers have also been purchased amongst a host of random sensible parts such as a mileometer speedo and two rabbit headrest, mainly from fleabay, bringing another spend of £1000, ouch. Went for blue because the door cappings and armrests are moulded in blue and the wife &I have settled on a future colour of very pale metallic sky blue. The current interior is also blue. Quite fancied toffee or green interior but too much hassle sourcing door pulls in those colours. K.I.S.S. as the wise say.
A well known mod is to change the rear diff to a 4.5 v8 one (see graph) but they are getting rare and pricey, and given the possible electric conversion, sometime never, ill leave that. Another option is the also rare five speed, though Im wondering if a later (read cheaper) five speed is possible direct fit. The current gearchange feeling is vile and sloppy due to stretched wires and links, though according to Youtube wheezebag Kent Bergsma, he does a bushing kit (respect his knowledge, but not the video editing skills). The bodywork is pretty solid and i can now genuinely say its solid and Im happy. The faint smell of petrol suggest that the perished rubber fuel hoses in the engine bay are matched under the car where the lines attach to the tank. TBI asap.
SHutchinson said:
You live a different life to so many folk on here. I applaud you for it, but please get those seatbelts sorted!
Cheers, but do I? Took three days holiday for the scandi trip, but otherwise I have a mortgage dominated modest income and family commitments like most.Seatbelts in and look nice in blue grey, pics one day soon.
Came home from work to this.
Not looking good for the tyres, not looking good at all - even though Ø740 (radius addition about 75mm).
They seem about 210 wide and ony 180 wide at the tread. The 15 inch bundts look quite meaty in width.
Vredestein classic R15 235?80 though on the tyre it says 106H whatever that means..
Alloys are nice though.
So i now face a choice:
a) Mount one and try it round the car.
b) Return untried and get a sensible size.
c) Wait till its above zero and wildly position the tyre in the wheel well.
Looks good for the front, but the back arch at the base ofthe rear door looks very dodgy.
I'll rule out hammering metal to make them fit, obvs.
Edited by Hugh Jarse on Thursday 1st March 11:34
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