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I'm turning into my mother. I can't remember who I've told what, so I just regurgitate the same stories over. If you've heard this one before, please just smile politely and hopefully I'll move on soon enough! Funny old year. Home circumstances changed and I'm now living on my own. It's actually ok you know?! I can laugh at my own farts, go to bed when I wish and generally not be stressed. I adopted a second hand cat who, like me, is overweight middle aged and unwanted. Here he is running his evil empire from his favourite Amazon box. Whilst I love my little house (it's mine - Bourgeois as fuck with a spare property) charging the Leaf is difficult as I am sans off road parking. There is provision at work, but with every month that passes more people get electric cars and getting a turn is increasingly difficult. There was a ruse where one of the chargers wasn't taking any money, so I had approximately 6,000 miles of free motoring. Kden. The Genie Point at Morrisons has also been Out of Action for six weeks now - a shame as the lady on the phone taught me how to get free charges out of that too (!). When I've been out of puff in the leaf, I borrowed my son's car for longer runs. As reported yesterday, it's just passed its MOT with flying colours requiring two rear shocks at £100. I snapped this in Bury St Edmunds during August I think - with fellow Yoda Brethren. Also saw this babe on the same day too! The T4 simply wasn't getting used, and the fairest and most sensible thing was to move it on before it deteriorated. Enter @dougstage north to drive down and buy it. I took his VW Beetle in Part Ex which has gone to a local family FoC. If it was an automatic, it would have gone to the Ukranian family in the village, but a couple of us found the (impossibly lovely) lady something else. (Why do I fancy 92.8% of female Eastern Europeans?) I was hoping to buy at 5 Door Rav 4 but got cold feet. I'm currently the highest bidder (at £1800) on a 3 Door Rav 4 but have got cold feet and already bought something else. Here's fucking hoping I don't win the bastard. I nearly bought this but the guy couldn't string two words together - but I think it was probably a good one as an armchair trader has it up at big money. Good luck to the guy. Last night I got tremendously drunk and bought a car. I can't get it yet for reasons various, but it should stop me having to take a 39 year old Sierra or a 22 year old Yaris on client visits when the Leaf is low on puff. Ps. Some legend at work has this. Winner.

And home. Dog back where he started the day - asleep on the sofa. Car ran perfectly and the journey was great. It's a nippy wee thing with great turn-in, so much fun to hustle over the Hartside Pass. As my surname is Catton I had to stop off here: Sits at about 3.5k revs at 70mph on the motorway but still feels nicely composed. I filled the tank before leaving Hexham (just over £60) and still had half a tank 250 miles later when I got home. Now I must confess I did cheat and remove most of the jeopardy of driving a 20 year old roffle prize home. The car only had a couple of weeks test so @loseronekindly dropped it off with @Jimbob McGregor who gave it a check over and service and put it through an MOT - I'm indebted to both of them. It now wants for nothing other than perhaps a new rear wiper blade. The rather small and off-set pedal box will take some getting used to, my size 11s only just fit and I have to be precise so as not to accidentally catch the brake when going for the accelerator or clutch! I'm counting my blessings and feeling very appreciative tonight - I'm lucky to have won the car and I'm grateful for being part of this automotive community. Cheers Autoshite!

Fucking hell, I should go on 'The price is right'

Thatwas nice - a day that went to plan First stop was my friends in Perth where the doors were aligned and the front wings fitted to my Disco 1 so that is now ready to go for paint. With that done, more tea was drunk then off to rainy Fife to meet up with @The Moog where he very kindly let me take his BMW i3 I think it is for a drive. I have to say for a modern, never mind an electric, it was very impressive. With that done, the purchase was loaded And back home I went, and apart from heavy Friday evening traffic in Dundee it was a pleasant run.

This guy is quite helpful in explaining how to spot crash damage. redditsave.com_my_dad_has_been_a_car_salesman_my_entire_life_he-bzkti899yds91.mp4

The last day was a bit of a grueller, with a 32 hour shift to end it off. Still home now. Yesterday was a write off as I kept falling asleep on the sofa and waking to a cold coffee! Today has been hectic. First, this can only mean one thing. Yes, tomorrow is a kollekshun day. The first of three I have organised today Tomorrows is local - only about 90 miles away. The second is next week, and is further affield at 320 miles away and will involve trains, overnighting and a drive back in a car I have not seen and has a reputation of being probably the most unreliable car on the road. The third will probably be next month and is a non runner in France. WCPGW?

Went away biking last weekend and came (literally, I love this kind of shit) across this little lot. Thought it may be appreciated here so here you go. Then out of there all left as found. Defying gravity and that.

Here's my Tekno D Series with my original Corgi Safari Beetle.The Beetle was £1.00 from a car boot a few years ago,the D Series was quite a lot more 😁

Got any pics? Would be a terrible shame if someone stuck them on his ads

It's one of those days again. That'll do Will get a go over underneath at some point in the future.

Next up the Civic that has done 6,000 miles since it arrived at the end of May. Quick oil change, it was obviously desperate to get it out so it made a bit of a mess. Then the top up. Then since I'd done some underbody cleaning today I thought I'd do a bit more. It looked a bit grotty and looks a lot better after. Think that is enough for a bit unles something falls off.

Apologies for being a bit slack on the lunchtime laptop diecast profiles this week - mainly due to being too flat-out for a proper lunch break, but also because I'm still mildly obsessed with this magnificent bastard from last week: Yup, the Kirk Mercedes Benz O.302 coach. I don't even care that it's so big it partially blocks the screen; it's just marvellous. I'm not even that into buses or coaches, generally; but this is something else. Weighs a fair bit too. Some fairly basic Google searches indicate that, interestingly, Kirk and Tekno were not one and the same company - rather, in 1958 Danish toymaker Kirk bought out a manufacturer called H. Langes Legetøj, who held a contract to produce diecast and plastic components for Tekno, amongst others. When Tekno then dissolved the partnership in 1969, Kirk went on to sell the same components they formerly supplied to Tekno as a retail kit, but with their own Kirk brand name now on the baseplate. It seems they had quite a range of models available, involving cars, trucks and buses. Some boxes were marked as Kirk, others as Model Products. The Tekno-designed Kirk models were withdrawn in 1972, the same year that Tekno went into liquidation - so that's a fairly narrow window of production, and marks this one out as being at least fifty years old. That's a new one for me.

A nice surprise this morning. Went to get the spare tyres @Jimbob McGregor had put in the boot and discovered three bottles of beer! Thanks to whoever provided those. Boot now pressed into what will be its regular role - somewhere for the dog to be while I'm at work.

All true, just annoying though, to be honest I sold it at what I think it's worth, the rear panel is rotten, there's a hole in the wheel tub on the offside as well as needing a new arch and the mileage is likely incorrect plus it was crash damaged and the tailgate was crooked and wiring damaged in the hinges It would make a good daily at £3300 but it's certainly no £5500 car without new arches, cambelt and back panel

Fleet update time! Well, no further update on the 2CV. I’ve had other priorities and this has retaken a back seat, in no small part due to the fact that it’s back in the garage with 2 other cars meaning I have to move things to work on it. Which is frustrating, as we’re really not far off. My plan is to book some time in next weekend to try and finish it off. Then book it a test. The Nova made some progress a few weeks back as seen in my other Nova devoted thread Main progress since last update has been Saab related: After several months off the road the shorter drive belt has solved the issue. Meant taking to to the Saab specialist in Wrexham as a special tool was required. Since then I’ve been using it most of all my cars. Mainly to shake it down before any big usage. But tbh I’d forgotten just how much I love it. And it will be taking the place of main daily for now. That’s today, on my way to conference in Llandudno. Also found an R-Reg friend in Tesco! Not all is perfect in Saab world though, there is a little tin worm… this is just under the boot lid. It’s not structural, but I may need to do something soon. A few little areas underneath are looking tired too. I’d love to have the money to have this restored properly. Keep trying the lottery! Others? 2CV continues to perform occasional use vehicle very well. The Pontiac has developed a misfire, I’ve not driven it since. I suspect the coil. Decisions on whether it’s a long term keeper need to be made. Here’s my favourite pic of it recently: 940 has Been a little out of favour since the return of the Saab. But it is so nice it’s hard to ignore it for long. That said I’ve not washed it since it died randomly in the car wash in the summer, so I should probably do that. MoT soon, then decide again it’s long term future, as I have other things I want to try. It is great at tip runs! TF: It’s fun, but I mainly use it for commuting, which is no way to use It. It needs to go, but no one wants to buy it. I may be forced into Facebook marketplace. Yugo: No change. It’s very much a stalled project now.

Knocked a frame up tonight, I need to re-do the uprights again as stupidly miscalculated my measurements and they are slightly off but I have enough wood so will do them tomorrow. Top and bottom is fine though and I jigsawed it so it fits tight to the slider on the window. Im not any good at carpentry so don’t judge, it’ll do the job! Just need to get some filler to cover the screw holes then I can stain/paint it. Rather than curtains I think I’m just going to grab a cheap roller blind, easy enough to fit.

Hold on there, I'm not sure about the considerably part!

Not sure how accurate it is, but I've turned up a list of Kirk models produced on Hobby DB: Kirk | hobbyDB Also a 1971 trade flyer for their Model Products line, marketing them as "The world's first take-apart/ assembly cars and trucks" The Ford D-Series trucks look great.

Just seen this outside my work* *it's my last day.

People can ask what they want for a price. Doesn't mean it'll sell at that of course! Classic car market especially has slowed right down. So much stuff is not shifting. Flipping classic cars is going to be a risky business at the moment. Especially at this time of year when the classic car market starts slowing down in the next month or so.

only just getting around to updating this from the weekend.... made a start on making a suitably shit(e) exhaust for this. now bear in mind im doing this with a stick welder, so it was never going to be pretty.... first up. ah. that wont work. time for a bit of dodgy cut and shut. and then a bit more couple more clampy bits and a suitably shite exhaust hanger. this is only temporary...

Awesome! I’ve so got the horn for these after admiring them at Goodwood. This one was on my eBay watch for a while. 😍

Hmm very tempted I did blow this months idiot budget on a c5 but I may take you up on that kind offer. To clarify Gzongenflatch

A few spare minutes today so I thought I would prioritise the work needing done. It hasn't been serviced in a little while so first off was take all this apart. New Stereo fitted, new pollen filter fitted and dash cam in place. Then I plugged it in Then before packing up I decided to do the oil change. This needed changed. Undertray off and back on with no bother. That's about it for today.

I went to a small car Gathering in Milton Keynes this evening. I took my Seicento as it was raining when I left home and found a friend to pose with!

https://www.subito.it/auto/fiat-regata-70-s-1987-storica-asi-30-000km-milano-459484971.htm

https://www.ebay-kleinanzeigen.de/s-anzeige/volkswagen-polo-treser-gt-1-hand-/2235315671-216-4910

The double track glass rubber has become the next challenge. After a lot of searching for track of 18mm width as per original I drew a blank and the best I could come up with was 20.5mm which didn’t even fit in the freshly made channel and so another search through various shed clutter began. Eventually I found the right components to fashion a gauge to enable me to shave down the track while clamped in the vice. I did at first try to slice off a slither with a Stanley blade but found a much better solution was to use a belt sander which left a near perfect finish and was much more controlled. The track now sits snuggly in the channel and should allow the windows to slide smoothly.

Found this rummaging in my late uncle's shed. Chuffed to find this,dates to around 1962/3.

That was quick. It's a bit better. I've not gone overboard obviously because I'm lazy.

Perhaps when it hasn't sold in a few weeks offer him a cheeky £3k then you'll have made £300 profit.

@Kiltox 4 grand, DVLA registered EV trike. https://www.gumtree.com/p/other-cars/electric-vehicle/1435600502

Here's the quarry. Obligatory pez shot. Hartside Summit coming over Teesdale on some ace driving roads. Car came pre-decorated for Halloween. Lovely to meet you @loseronethanks for making the pick-up so painless.

Took Boyo's Yaris for a test earlier on. At 21 years old, it's in rotty territory for an old Toyota - but another very pleasing day at the Test Centre. Next is a trip to the bodyshop to get the rear bumper sprayed up and the rest of it tidied. Happy Days.

I hope you didn't hurt my pet brick, I've had froggy-the-brick since I was a lad.

I wasn't going to bother but as a few of seem interested i thought I'd start a thread on the Capri that i bought last month. It all started when a lady in the village who knows my wife asked her if I'd be interested in her husbands relatives old Capri they have in a garage, both him and his wife have died of old age and they have inherited the property and this old Capri had been in the garage for 20 years since he gave up driving at 83 and it was now being a 'burden', her words, not mind. The car was over a hour away near Harlow so i shot down there to visit the ladies mother in law who was at the bungalow sorting it out, she gave me the key to the garage and told me to take a look whilst she made me a cup of coffee. This is was i viewed when i opened the up n over door. I admit i got a bit excited at this point! the story is what he bought the car new in 1986, used it up until 2003 where he got Parkinson's and was too ill to drive anymore racking up 95000 miles, whilst he maintained the car well he probably would have benefitted from parking sensors these days! The lady said she'd been offered £900 by a neighbour but thought it was a bit low, i offered £2000 and she was more than happy! a few days later by mate helped me collect it. Access wasn't great as it was at the rear garden with a short drive with no room for pulling the car out easily and onto a road that was rat run and blind pulling out on, nothings easy! fortunately my mates truck managed to drag it out with locked brakes and big hammers! we then dragged it backwards down the roads, swapped ends and pulled it into a nearby school entrance and onto the trailer on the way back we got lost and managed to go past the original dealers, Gates in Harlow so we pulled in a got a photo! eventually we managed to drag it into my garage, phew! that was hard work!

This blue Rover hatch started life as one of those My first Matchbox cars.

I think harrods have them next to the unicorn saddles.

A3 60092 Fairway backs into Newcastle Central on 9th May 1964.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1134321383848679

There was a 2019 Range Rover Sport on the hard shoulder. Flat tyre? Engine explosion? Nope, the factory rear spoiler had fallen off on one side.

This just exactly why I hate this thread so much and try not to look at it. When I was a kid, I wanted one of those so much and asked for it for Christmas, the local toy shop only had the German police car version and that's what I got. I never liked it (although I do still have it). Anyway I saved up my birthday money and pocket money hoping to buy the safari one they by now had in the shop window. Guess what? by the time I'd saved enough money, the shop had sold it and never had it in again. They did have another police one in the window though just to rub it in haha! Anyway I'd still love one and thanks for showing us that replica with your original...

forgot to add - new brake calipers arrived yesterday - standard mini ones for now, just so i can crack on until i sort out the bleed nipples on the 4 pot metro units. i am waiting on the hoses, and i ordered a new brake flaring tool, as i wasn't totally happy with the double flares on the current one. this new one looks much better, so fingers crossed. ive also got a load of new crimp bullets coming, so i can crack on with the front light wiring. after that, it is a case of wiring in a reversing light, fog light, the compressor, and a USB socket for phone charging and a mini usb maplight i have. then finally it will be sorting out the timing and mixture, then i should be in a position to road test it! fingers still firmly crossed for the beginning of november. nothing much happening this weekend, as i am doing the edinburgh trial in the Rickman. hopefully i wont break anything on that, or i will have even more blockers.... Lee

My nickname down the Red Lion #LADZ

speaking of Model 70 oddities and differences, the chap above was wondering where he could source some replacement wing mirrors from, and I remember @Six-cylinder mentioning there where 2 different head sizes, so I decided to look into a bit deeper when I came across this web page (I knew they where Desmo wing mirrors, but I never knew much beyond that) https://minorpartsofoxford.co.uk/desmo-wing-mirror/ and very interestingly it also mentioned that there where 2 different arm lengths as well and this got me wondering, what do Model 70's have? and it seems to be* a right miss match! obviously exhasibated by the long life these vehicles had and probably adaptions to a specific users needs and in fact While REV and Dolly both have 2 wing mirrors REV has a long pair while Dolly has a short pair! I wonder if this explains why I dont have any vision/blind spot/mirror problems but @dollywobbler does? as its worth noting that TWC has a short arm mirror fitted (and so does TPA but she has a different seat as well) *most Model 70's until an unknown point in time (1975 or 76-ish?) seemed to have shipped from the factory with a plastic version of the short arm Desmo mirror, but it seems like these quite quickly got replaced with Metal ones in service, as I understand they where very fragile, and often broken hence being very rare today im also still researching to determine if how many Mirrors fitted to a Model 70 was something done at the factory according to the first users need or if they all shipped with 1 and where tweaked after the fact, and if how many mirrors the default was changed over time or not (for example most later Model 70's do have 2 mirrors, but @AdgeCutler's final contract Model 70 only has 1 but who knows if thats how it started out life as or not!) (you can also see nicely the plastic Desmo Mirror on Brian )

When I was a kid in the early 1980s, all my cars came from either a newsagents, a general store, a toy shop or the toy department at John Lewis in Glasgow when we went to meet my granny. I remember especially the Matchbox wall cabinets (not a carousel on this occasion) and the Majorette carousels which felt like it contained about fifty thousand items! All proudly displayed which made me want a new toy car all the more. The common theme was that, for various reasons, there was pride in the premises. Whether it be cascaded from the top at John Lewis's or an independent proprietor making sure his or her customers were not put off. Supermarkets and big toy stores don't have that same sense of pride.

Just got back from westest Wales with green Favorit. 553 miles in four days, real mixture of roads from the M4 (which is much longer than most people realise) and fast A roads to single track coastal roads. It's the longest trip I've done with this car since I bought it in April. No problems as such but the offside rear tyre started rubbing on the arch very slightly. I recently swapped the Team Dynamics wheels for the Ronals that I took off the Felicia and they must be very slightly wider. It hadn't been an issue before but I guess as we were loaded up with all our stuff and the dog (and he's 42.5kg) it was just that bit lower. It's only the tiniest rub but somehow the acoustics amplify the noise. It's hard to get the potatocam to photograph it properly but you can just see the left hand side is a little darker where it's skimming. That's after 500 miles so there's no real damage and it's rarely that heavily loaded but we will need a longer term solution. One other slight problem. It took six hours (including breaks) to get home and it rained the whole way and times was torrential. But when I selected second speed wipers it set the washers off at the same time. It never used to do that but I haven't used fast speed for a while. It must be something simple, probably in the switch. These wheels were all shiny four days ago. That's 500 miles of brake dust and general road detritus. And this is the main reason I think the tyre was rubbing. He is a bit of a lump.