I buy lemons : classic fleet
Discussion
Right. Im pretty crap at posting and getting on with stuff generally so this will be a stalinesque five year plan.
Anyhoo, have a:
1) Roary - Lotus Elise Cat C highly modified 1.8 K turbo 1998 bought 2013 for £9,800. Rough in parts, anazing in others.
2) Rupert - Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite 1958 early 9 pin windscreen model bought 2014 for £6,200 generally rough.
3) Rio - Ferrari Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet bought 2015 for £19,200 but more like £22,000 once i paid shipping and duties etc. Spots of rust, engine runs well. not registered.
4) Roquefort - Mystery Dadwagon, just paid for collect in three weeks £2,000.
5) Reinhardt - Mystery barge £4,000, currently being lusted at here in Sweden and likely to be purchased to also ferry my crap home whilst having a Euro trip via Denmark, Germany, Holland. Moving back to Blighty in 3 weeks.
Daily is a Renault Megane Megane CC 1.6VVC which has been faultless for 15000 miles except for switch of starter motor fuse from 25Amp to 30Amp during a moist/cold snap late Autumn - assume moisture was building in the starter motor causing it to resist. Bought (in Sweden) for £3700 shortly to be sold for £2500 in Sweden if im lucky.
The Mrs does not know about (4) and thinks we are just getting (5) although (4) was tentatively approved before (5) was revealed.
More later.
Im not talking about (4) or (5) in case I get gazumped.
The logic behind the spread will be revealed in the next post in a couple of weeks once Ive inspected (5) which is an hours drive.
Its at a dealers so i need to polish up the Renault (Rollo)*.
Yes, im a saddo who has names for the cars. All beginning with R.
Anyhoo, have a:
1) Roary - Lotus Elise Cat C highly modified 1.8 K turbo 1998 bought 2013 for £9,800. Rough in parts, anazing in others.
2) Rupert - Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite 1958 early 9 pin windscreen model bought 2014 for £6,200 generally rough.
3) Rio - Ferrari Mondial 3.2 Cabriolet bought 2015 for £19,200 but more like £22,000 once i paid shipping and duties etc. Spots of rust, engine runs well. not registered.
4) Roquefort - Mystery Dadwagon, just paid for collect in three weeks £2,000.
5) Reinhardt - Mystery barge £4,000, currently being lusted at here in Sweden and likely to be purchased to also ferry my crap home whilst having a Euro trip via Denmark, Germany, Holland. Moving back to Blighty in 3 weeks.
Daily is a Renault Megane Megane CC 1.6VVC which has been faultless for 15000 miles except for switch of starter motor fuse from 25Amp to 30Amp during a moist/cold snap late Autumn - assume moisture was building in the starter motor causing it to resist. Bought (in Sweden) for £3700 shortly to be sold for £2500 in Sweden if im lucky.
The Mrs does not know about (4) and thinks we are just getting (5) although (4) was tentatively approved before (5) was revealed.
More later.
Im not talking about (4) or (5) in case I get gazumped.
The logic behind the spread will be revealed in the next post in a couple of weeks once Ive inspected (5) which is an hours drive.
Its at a dealers so i need to polish up the Renault (Rollo)*.
Yes, im a saddo who has names for the cars. All beginning with R.
Ahh the abuse/attention.
In Gnesta / Västerås Sweden shipped my stuff home in a container for £1400 on a boat that left 5 miles from my flat in the middle of sweden (takes mainly timber to the UK, brings back rubbish to burn in the power station, all art of the carbon credits b
ks).
Yeah parking a Mondial for two years is a bit stupid but life etc. Starts virtually first key turn and idles perfectly.
I think these look like concept cars, eye of the beholder delusion.
Port of Hull, chaps were very helpful. They get wood a lot.
Fixing a twisted brake hose, remove caliper spin round, job jobbed. Problem identified by the MOT garage. They dont allow MOT garages to fix things over here so there is no motivation to find stuff - except the retest fees of course. The husband and wife team told me how to do it, I kind of knew but was grateful all the same and provided my best surprised face.
Shared a garage with a friend but was incredibly cramped so any fixes happen in the forest.
The legendary tourettes inducing headlamp bulb change on a Megane.
That'll do.
Dadwagon reveal once i get the V5 in the post. Tuesday
In Gnesta / Västerås Sweden shipped my stuff home in a container for £1400 on a boat that left 5 miles from my flat in the middle of sweden (takes mainly timber to the UK, brings back rubbish to burn in the power station, all art of the carbon credits b
ks).Yeah parking a Mondial for two years is a bit stupid but life etc. Starts virtually first key turn and idles perfectly.
I think these look like concept cars, eye of the beholder delusion.
Port of Hull, chaps were very helpful. They get wood a lot.
Fixing a twisted brake hose, remove caliper spin round, job jobbed. Problem identified by the MOT garage. They dont allow MOT garages to fix things over here so there is no motivation to find stuff - except the retest fees of course. The husband and wife team told me how to do it, I kind of knew but was grateful all the same and provided my best surprised face.
Shared a garage with a friend but was incredibly cramped so any fixes happen in the forest.
The legendary tourettes inducing headlamp bulb change on a Megane.
That'll do.
Dadwagon reveal once i get the V5 in the post. Tuesday
jamiebae said:
What have you done with an un-registered Mondial for 2 years? Where did you import it from?
My purchases seem to be net based and begin with mouth frothing / sense out of the window.My mrs has amazing very occasional grumpfests and once claimed i have sociopathic tendencies (hence the attention seeking thread).
Naturally miffed, googled classic traits of nutters.....one of them is financially irresponsibility and impulse purchases. Words can hurt.
Bought from ebay USA from a trader, was registered to a dude in the Hamptons new york. It still had some grass in the exhaust (fire risk, now removed) so good knows what happened. Googled his house and it was not next to the beach so hopefully wasnt a flood car from a while back, Hurricane something.
Right, given up with the Reinhardt idea for now due to financial pressure (got married two weeks ago/new management etc), so will be sticking to Roquey the dadwagon which we have had a three of weeks now. Its neoclassic/youngtimer, iconic and practical.
This picture will be expanded over time until someone guesses it.
Its running OK, but needs a going over, unfortunately have an urgent errand to run this morning 120 miles, yikes.
Done 300 miles since purchase OK, but there is a list of fairly urgent and low prio jobs as long as your arm.
Not least rattly exhaust hanger and a hose on top of the engine that looks 100 years old.
Edited by Hugh Jarse on Thursday 20th July 08:55
Panord wins the internet.
Series 1.
As transport its worth 50 quid.
So paid 1950 quid for the novelty factor.
Been on 'How many left' (fantastic website) and the pre facelift car has 6 on the UK roads.
According to Wikipedia A Pollock designed it but Im sticking to Geoff Matthews who gave me my first job.
Some French blokes at Matra also lay claim.
Anyway, its the first monospace people carrier supposedly, though not really cos the fiat 500 multipla and others.
The headlining has leprosy.
The junction between the A-pillar and door is hilariously bad,as someone who sat in meetings where automotive plastic panel tolerance adjustments of 0.1mm are routinely discussed, the junction brings pure joy with every glance.
S100HP said:
Forgive my ignorance, but what is the relevance of the 9 pin windscreen? Here is our froggy
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Nine pins are a more fiddly but show it as an early model, interesting tobeards! Great handling cars and receptive to tweaks.https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The beauty.
Left headlight backing has started to corrode hence the bozzeyed look.
So far have had tables and chairs, marquees, booze for awedding, hay bales as loads.
Not to mention people on a trip to Skegvegas.
Unfortunately one ofthe two barrels of craft brew beer carried exploded after the jiggly ride and flooded it with 70 pints of beer on the flat floor {also killing my laptop}. So the very filthy carpet got extra stickiness. Luckily the smell of old uncle was replaced by beer. Hmmm.
Handles pretty well, cruises at 70 at 2700 revs, East Anglia is generally about 55 to60 though.
Edited by Hugh Jarse on Saturday 22 July 16:41
Hugh Jarse said:
According to Wikipedia A Pollock designed it but Im sticking to Geoff Matthews who gave me my first job.
Some French blokes at Matra also lay claim.
Review : https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/jul/...
Full program : http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08xyq06
At 11 mins he shows the espace sketch.
Watching the video is a cold shower for people considering projects, we generally only hear about success stories.
Ive had a few stalled forever dormant projects myself though wouldnt risk remortgaging etc.
Had Chrysler gone with the project it would have come out in 1977/8 (hence the crinkly cornflake packet styling) so I claiming this fits the car collection sequence which has years
1958 (frog)
1968 (maybe coming doubt it)
1978 (espace fudge)
1988 (mondial)
1998 (elise)
Also 2004 Megane to be sold to a mate price agreed, but have to fit the cambelt though, got couple of weeks of work left in Sweden.
Mrs has a 2005 V70 D5 in bottlegreen metallic and filthy interior which Im hoping to replace with an Audi A2 (if poor) or a Vauxhall Ampera as our modern daily.
Bit shocked with the insurance prices back here in blighty, considering Ive never had points or an accident, but can only get two years no claims from my time in Sweden. So that leaves me with a dilemma of which to insure, Im guessing the mondial insurance will be pricey.
Currently sketching up an acrylic sheet encloure for either the Mondial or the elise (only have a double garage) as the torrential rain is making the carcover on the Ferrari look sodden. Think thats going in the garage, only got 5mm to spare according to my measurements.
For classic dadwagon fans the shortlist included:
Amazon estate
240 estate
CX Familiale
Panhard
Humber Sceptre estate
Volvo Duett.
Bentley Turbo
Austin Cambridge variants Estate
SAAB 900 (early one)
Corvair station wagon
Ford country squire
Im still vaguely in the market for something from the sixties, saloon like NSU, Merc W108, Jag XJ S1, Panhard, SAAB 9.3 2S shortnose.
I like cars that are aerodynamic, good looking and have some kind of technological featuring for the age.
All the cars have an interesting chassis and are lightweight,>
Frog - first monocoque sports car 620kg
Espace - Galvanised steel (30kg of zinc!) and GRP body panels 1300kg
Mondial - Galvanised steel box spaceframe 1300kg
Elise - Glued ally tub 780kg
Lovely RHD NSU in brown begging for an electric conversion just popped up, but the newly acquired spouse has not approved future purchases.
In the end though, because of the personal connection, and the incredible practicality, flexibility and iconic status, it had to be the Espace.
There's a series 1 facelift on ebay that looks juicy for anyone interested.
Amazon estate
240 estate
CX Familiale
Panhard
Humber Sceptre estate
Volvo Duett.
Bentley Turbo
Austin Cambridge variants Estate
SAAB 900 (early one)
Corvair station wagon
Ford country squire
Im still vaguely in the market for something from the sixties, saloon like NSU, Merc W108, Jag XJ S1, Panhard, SAAB 9.3 2S shortnose.
I like cars that are aerodynamic, good looking and have some kind of technological featuring for the age.
All the cars have an interesting chassis and are lightweight,>
Frog - first monocoque sports car 620kg
Espace - Galvanised steel (30kg of zinc!) and GRP body panels 1300kg
Mondial - Galvanised steel box spaceframe 1300kg
Elise - Glued ally tub 780kg
Lovely RHD NSU in brown begging for an electric conversion just popped up, but the newly acquired spouse has not approved future purchases.
In the end though, because of the personal connection, and the incredible practicality, flexibility and iconic status, it had to be the Espace.
There's a series 1 facelift on ebay that looks juicy for anyone interested.
Edited by Hugh Jarse on Tuesday 25th July 10:18
Done about 4 small fixes altely and 1000 miles. 32mpg average so far and 70mph cruise at 3200rpm in an overdrive fifth on the A1.
Camped in the back yesterday to for a frre night away. Happy with it.
Even the mrs likes it. The name Roquey has died and it is universally known as "the wedge".
Here it is wedging in Yorkshire.
Quite a few upgrades and fixes, a million to go though.
new fog lights, others had rusted through, naturally with frogladite yellow film added.
Funnily enough i had some fog lights already purchased in 2002 when i half finished a concept car in the sixth floor flat.
Been in a box ever since, turns out an exact match, yeehaa.
before
after
new fog lights, others had rusted through, naturally with frogladite yellow film added.
Funnily enough i had some fog lights already purchased in 2002 when i half finished a concept car in the sixth floor flat.
Been in a box ever since, turns out an exact match, yeehaa.
before
after
vsonix said:
All my BMWs have been named after birds.
It started with my blue 318ti - the BlueTi(t)
Then followed 'The Magpie' - 328i Sport, 'The Rook' - 318i cabby, 'The Osprey' - 328i coupe, 'The Peregrine' - 328i cabby, 'The Pelican' - 328i Touring, The Avocet - Z3 2.8, The Crow - Z3 2.8 (also known as Jeremy due to JMY suffix on reg). And, I'm now on my second E38 740i - both known as 'The Ostrich'. Ostrich #1 had a fairly short innings so I didn't feel like I had to think of a new name for its replacement. Why 'Ostrich'? Well, it's the largest of the birds and it can run very fast!
Nice.It started with my blue 318ti - the BlueTi(t)
Then followed 'The Magpie' - 328i Sport, 'The Rook' - 318i cabby, 'The Osprey' - 328i coupe, 'The Peregrine' - 328i cabby, 'The Pelican' - 328i Touring, The Avocet - Z3 2.8, The Crow - Z3 2.8 (also known as Jeremy due to JMY suffix on reg). And, I'm now on my second E38 740i - both known as 'The Ostrich'. Ostrich #1 had a fairly short innings so I didn't feel like I had to think of a new name for its replacement. Why 'Ostrich'? Well, it's the largest of the birds and it can run very fast!
my camera takes too large photos which makes uploading a pain.
So have switche to ppt format.
Octobers adventures:
Edit: engine is longitudinakl not transverse hence equal length driveshafts, might make an electric conversion easier in the distant future.
Edited by Hugh Jarse on Tuesday 24th September 17:15
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
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