18335 replies to this topic

[binhoker668]

Shit. Just realised that that was a lie.Now I don't know what to believe anymore.(time to exit forum and do something else instead.)

[Mr_Bo11ox]

we've all heard the story about Mk3 Cortinas being compressed at the rear door shuts for the Japanese market.

I haven't! How was that done then Mr Welfare? Bodies put in an enormous vice on the production line?

Exactly that. Strange but true. I have no idea how many they sold in Japan either, probably 37 or less, which makes the idea even more ridiculous. Hope they squeezed 'em before paint, but knowing how much the Mk3s rust, it probably wouldn't have made much difference.

What story is this then? Sounds interesting.

[r.welfare]

I read it in a book called "Ford In Britain" IIRC, basically Mk3 Tinas coming down the Dagenham line that were destined for sale in Japan were compressed by some vice-type jobbie on the rear wheelarches/door shuts to ensure they were narrowed by however many millimetres were required to get 'em through the Japanese tax laws for a 2-litre saloon.I didn't know that Ford even sold anything in Japan in those days, let alone Mk3 Tinas, but that's what it says.

[155V6]

I didn't know that Ford even sold anything in Japan in those days, let alone Mk3 Tinas, but that's what it says.

There's the Police Mk 3 in the Pink Panther film(can't remember which one)in the chase with the Mercedes Limo & the Datsun or Toyota Taxi.Think that was Hong Kong,but near enough .

[xr1984]

Or indeed these, I can't see too many of them getting shipped over here alongside all those Skyrines and Cericas tho

[andrew e]

Right in David Burgess Wise "Ford at Dagenham", p178 I quoth:

Because Japan has the same rule of the road as Britain, the small number of European Fords sold there were shipped from Dagenham rather than Cologne. However the Japanese road tax system was based on width because the roads were so narrow, and the standard MKIII bodyshell was marginally too wide across the rear wheel arches to slot into a particular tax bracket. The ingenious workers on the body line at Dagenham devised a "Heath Robinson" device whichcould be fitted between the rear wheel arches of a bodyshell before it recieved its final welds and tightened up by opposite-threaded screws to pull the wheel arches together by the requist amount. Tack welds were then applied to hold the bodyshell at the right setting: if it sprang back too far when the screw device was removed, it was just put back on the line for domestic consumption and no one was any wiser.

[r.welfare]

Ah yeah, that's the one I read first. Then I bought "Ford In Britain" by Martin Rawbone because the press photos of all the old Ford shite were better

[wuvvum]

Wot a stunnah!

[155V6]

I reckon that(the Sunbeam) has been spoilt but not ruined.The worst bit is the front grille,wouldn't be too hard to sort out.Nothing wrong with a Pinto on twin 40s,& Alleycat wheels are cool.I've actually got a soft spot for Sunbeams,a mate had one in about 1983,& my Dad had a Ti which I used to borrow in about 1991.At least this one's not a Ti or Lotus.Mind you,the exhaust is just silly

[pogweasel]

http://cgi.ebay.co.u... ... 0333639345

[pogweasel]

Look at this Sid & Doris spackamatic special! £400!


http://cgi.ebay.co.u... ... 0292404159

I would drive UP TO 87 MILES in order to 'hit that'.

[r.welfare]

Hey, that Senator is Torsten's isn't it?

[retrogeezer]

Astra is a bit of a steal at £400 squid with a years ticket surely?

[Torsten2001]

bang on! buy it eh?

[wuvvum]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PEUGEOT-404-UXD-diesel-pickup-LHD-NO-RESERVE_W0QQitemZ120365329734QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?
http://i11.ebayimg.com/08/i/001/2b/c6/13...

That is:

a) French
rare
c) diesel
d) gorgeous
e) eight miles from me.

I feel a bid coming on.

[wuvvum]

Yes, it's a Twingo. But...



...it's been converted to RHD. Looks like a pretty good job too. If only I weren't skint...

[whitevanman]

The Carlton, senator and the 120Y are all floating my boat................might have to sell the mondy TD estate

[colc]

Wot a stunnah!

http://i19.ebayimg.com/03/i/001/20/e2/63...

A man of exquisite taste! Back in the days when I could afford to run Yanks , I had the pleasure in owning a boat tail. Blue, white vinyl roof, white interior, but with a low rent dashboard that Moskvitch wouldn't have dared to let pass the factory gates. Towed a caravan with it, which got some looks, but depleted the already ruinous fuel consumption down to about 8 mpg!

[Milford Cubicle]

http://i5.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/2b/fa/e92...
http://cgi.ebay.co.u... ... 0333639345

Those things are ruinous if not running LPG - an ex-colleague had a 190E 1.8 slusher and we worked out it was doing 20-22mpg.

[Father Ted]

Look at this Sid & Doris spackamatic special! £400!

http://i15.ebayimg.com/02/m/000/a1/65/be...
http://cgi.ebay.co.u... ... 0292404159

I would drive UP TO 87 MILES in order to 'hit that'.

Holy shit on a stick.

Designed using ruler only - check
unpopular colour - check
Spartan inside -- check
Small pushrod donkey - check
Slushmatic - check dingalingalingalingstoptheclock

£98.10 train fare to Ipswich

Cock.

back to negotiating on that Saab then.

I will get an affordably priced automatic shitter.

[Mr Lobster]

http://i20.ebayimg.com/05/i/001/2a/d0/5d...

Yes, it's a Twingo. But...

http://i18.ebayimg.com/01/i/001/2a/d0/6c...

...it's been converted to RHD. Looks like a pretty good job too. If only I weren't skint...

I remember having a look at that very RHD Twingo back when I was a Twingo owner. Was a very good conversion. IIRC a guy in Ireland had done a lot of research into converting Twingos to RHD, produced this one as a demonstrator and then tried to sell the concept on a number of specialists.

Trouble was, Twingos are only small so LHD is not an issue and cost was about £3500 to convert to RHD if memory serves.

My Twingo was almost exactly the same as that. Miss it
At some point I will have another.

[155V6]

Unusual Granada,number's 180322854190 if someone can do the link

[Mr_Bo11ox]

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...em=180322854190

[Volksy]

My Twingo was almost exactly the same as that. Miss it At some point I will have another.

Always liked these.. are they that good?

[Mash]

Look at this Sid & Doris spackamatic special! £400!

http://i15.ebayimg.com/02/m/000/a1/65/be...
http://cgi.ebay.co.u... ... 0292404159

I would drive UP TO 87 MILES in order to 'hit that'.

Holy shit on a stick.

Designed using ruler only - check
unpopular colour - check
Spartan inside -- check
Small pushrod donkey - check
Slushmatic - check dingalingalingalingstoptheclock

£98.10 train fare to Ipswich

Cock.

back to negotiating on that Saab then.

I will get an affordably priced automatic shitter.

Still seems like extremely good value even with that factored in though. It has got some T & T after all.

[pogweasel]

look!!!!



A 3-year-old mile-munching blandage-bus for £1300?
VALUE.

[outlaw118]

I'm sorry but, I quite like that.....NURSE!!!!!!