1988 Honda Acty..
Discussion
I rear ended a Transit in mine. Trapped my legs.
Pulled them out, kicked everything back into a semblance of its former self then continued on my journey from London to Swindon and back.
I was a van courier so didnt want to lose the money for the job.
Poor van wasnt very good at turning left after that.
Pulled them out, kicked everything back into a semblance of its former self then continued on my journey from London to Swindon and back.
I was a van courier so didnt want to lose the money for the job.
Poor van wasnt very good at turning left after that.
MXRod said:
And it appears the van is still in production , well updated I would think though
Not really updated.... In rural Japan they are absolutely everywhere, most farmers are smallholders and they all have the pickup. The markets are like a convention of white pickups. I have always fancied getting one. 
bigaoi said:
I wonder if a Scooby flat 4 could be persuaded to sit under the bed and drive the rear wheels ?
I love this so much. 
I had a look at these on Google Images (because I want one now) and it looks like I came across the previous owner's build thread for your truck:
http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/177707/1988...
You might have seen it already, but just in case.
I had a look at these on Google Images (because I want one now) and it looks like I came across the previous owner's build thread for your truck: http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/177707/1988...
You might have seen it already, but just in case.
Yeah that's the chap. Real nice bloke and not that old. His lockup he shares is absolutely rammed with amazing projects.
He's currently building a road-going Formula Ford type vehicle and behind that was his first car - a red top mini
He purchased a bike to put the engine in this van. That is probably still going to happen in the future.
He's currently building a road-going Formula Ford type vehicle and behind that was his first car - a red top mini
He purchased a bike to put the engine in this van. That is probably still going to happen in the future.
Interesting on the radio speaker placement.
Reminds me of our courier Actys in the 80s. Radio attached with a bracket bought from the local car parts shop and speaker holes cut in the cards of the rear of the van.
Meant that on van change day, happened yearly or sooner if in an accident, you swapped the cards over.
The Luton Ford I had previous had to make do with a transistor radio belted into the passenger seat with the aerial poked out of a gap in the window
Reminds me of our courier Actys in the 80s. Radio attached with a bracket bought from the local car parts shop and speaker holes cut in the cards of the rear of the van.
Meant that on van change day, happened yearly or sooner if in an accident, you swapped the cards over.
The Luton Ford I had previous had to make do with a transistor radio belted into the passenger seat with the aerial poked out of a gap in the window
I learned to drive in a Honda Acty!
My dad had a couple of milk-rounds and he had Honda Actys which he built a frame back for (welded steel frame and a wooden bed) for putting the crates of milk on. They were brilliant things, they were even alright in the snow (we lived in the Peak District) as long as you fitted studded winter tyres and made sure they had plenty of weight on board they never missed a morning (unlike the Bedford vans he had before that, they were always in bits).
Alas they stopped importing them in the mid 90s and he had to switch to Daihatsu pickups (one of which I wrote off when I hit a Transit van).
My dad had a couple of milk-rounds and he had Honda Actys which he built a frame back for (welded steel frame and a wooden bed) for putting the crates of milk on. They were brilliant things, they were even alright in the snow (we lived in the Peak District) as long as you fitted studded winter tyres and made sure they had plenty of weight on board they never missed a morning (unlike the Bedford vans he had before that, they were always in bits).
Alas they stopped importing them in the mid 90s and he had to switch to Daihatsu pickups (one of which I wrote off when I hit a Transit van).
Digby said:
Just noticed this thing for sale on ebay...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aixam-Mega-500cc-diesel-...
500CC Diesel!
These are built to meet some slightly obscure French rules which somehow EU membership hasn't managed to kill off yet. The engine comes from a mini-digger (yes, seriously) and is as staggeringly unrefined and nasty as you would imagine http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aixam-Mega-500cc-diesel-...
500CC Diesel!
jamiebae said:
Digby said:
Aha! Ta for the info
They're usually driven by elderly alcoholics, and used primarily to go for their morning Calvados/Pastis, or to go to church. Rural France is awash with them and their hideous soundtrack.Also, they cost more than a Skoda Citigo or Hyundai i10
Shakermaker said:
Are these the ones that you don't need a licence to drive either, but can only do about 25mph?
No, those have broadly died a death thankfully. Apparently if someone was banned for drink-driving they'd buy a VSP (voiture sans permis) until they got their license back. The VSP would then be handed around the regulars in the bar as and when each of them was caught driving home in their Renault 4 after a few too many glasses of pineau. It's an extremely French type of law!These are 'quadricycles' and can be driven on some kind of motorbike license (à la Reliant Robin). They're exempt from normal car safety and emissions rules so are not only noisy and badly built they're also lethal if crashed.
jamiebae said:
No, those have broadly died a death thankfully. Apparently if someone was banned for drink-driving they'd buy a VSP (voiture sans permis) until they got their license back. The VSP would then be handed around the regulars in the bar as and when each of them was caught driving home in their Renault 4 after a few too many glasses of pineau. It's an extremely French type of law!
These are 'quadricycles' and can be driven on some kind of motorbike license (à la Reliant Robin). They're exempt from normal car safety and emissions rules so are not only noisy and badly built they're also lethal if crashed.
Worrying These are 'quadricycles' and can be driven on some kind of motorbike license (à la Reliant Robin). They're exempt from normal car safety and emissions rules so are not only noisy and badly built they're also lethal if crashed.
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