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Matt

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Posts posted by Matt

    Matt's 1990 Reliant Robin LX

    in AutoShite

    Posted

    1 hour ago, HH-R said:

    Only Ford could make fuggin headlights rust!

    To be fair to Ford they were made by Lucas in this case, Ford probably just asked them to make sure they rusted!

    6 minutes ago, plasticvandan said:

    The top adjuster is a reliant made part and incredibly rare,so look after those.the door splay is likely to have been due to the rapidly deteriorated moulds Reliant were using by this point.there is a steel window channel riveted inside which if you drilled out you might be able to manipulate the door into a better shape and reattach.

    That's why I'm going to strip all this hardware back and repaint it, I'm half tempted to smother it all in grease once it's installed. Disappointing to hear that the door might be a manufacturing issue. Maybe I'll just have to stick a second seal along the top of the door.

    Matt's 1990 Reliant Robin LX

    in AutoShite

    Posted

    Some progress has occurred.

     

    The headlights that came on the car are in a pretty poor state. The reflector in the offside unit is rusting away and I know that the lower adjuster on the nearside has disintegrated at the very least. Judging by the amount of silicone sealer smooshed all around the front lighting I'm guessing that the rest of the hardware is pretty FUBAR, and it looks awful too.

    50026623468_00e919e18a_b.jpgHeadlights (1) by Matt S, on Flickr

    50027161716_d1a24e5755_b.jpgHeadlights (2) by Matt S, on Flickr

     

    I bought this pair of used units from a breaker in the Midlands via eBay and they even came with some free bodywork*! This has worked out very nicely as it means I've got a full set of mounting brackets, adjusters and hardware to replace whatever is left on the car. New headlights are available for the MK2 Robin but they don't come with adjusters or any hardware and seeing as all of that rusts away quite happily I feel that getting a pretty good used pair with all of the peripherals included for a little less than a pair of new units without any peripherals is a bit of a score.

    50027161786_4a28aa967c_b.jpgHeadlights (3) by Matt S, on Flickr

     

    Liberated from the old bodywork we can see that these aren't in bad condition at all.

    50026623063_568cab4979_b.jpgHeadlights (4) by Matt S, on Flickr

     

    It was a simple job to drill through the rivets in the old bodywork to remove the hardware. The breaker sliced into one of the rails a little but other than that all of this hardware is in great condition. I'll rub them all back with a wire wheel, paint as appropriate and apply anti-seize to the threaded parts.

    50027423352_3e00f0dda0_b.jpgHeadlight Brackets & Hardware by Matt S, on Flickr

     

    I have masked up the lenses & bulb apertures and rubbed the loose rust back with a wire brush. They are now ready to be wiped down and given some protective coats of primer and paint.

    50027423212_699cfb9e81_b.jpgHeadlights (5) by Matt S, on Flickr

     

    The tops of both doors are bent out like this for some reason. I'm not sure how I'm going to sort it but I'm going to have to as it lets rain water in which then drips all over the front seatbelt hardware. The bolts are no doubt stuck fast into the chassis and the mounting bracket on the reel for the passenger is so badly damaged that it's broke free of it's bolt entirely.

    50027423417_15b8eb8088_b.jpgDoors Bent Open by Matt S, on Flickr

     

    Happily Securon makes seatbelts for all sorts including the MK2 Robin so sourcing these on eBay was a piece of (expensive) cake.

    50027423447_33a5a270e9_b.jpgNew Seatbelts by Matt S, on Flickr

     

    Rear interior mostly stripped but the rear seatbelt anchors need something more aggressive than a socket and breaker bar to remove, as are the bolts holding the front seats in place.

    50026623338_8ce821ef74_b.jpgRear Interior Removed by Matt S, on Flickr

     

    The rear bench is going to need a few repairs before it can go back into the car, if I don't turn it into a van. Mice nested in the base foam at some point and the backrest has pulled away from the hinges that hold it in place.

    50027423977_4d8bf65020_b.jpgRear Seat (1) by Matt S, on Flickr

     

    A previous owner repaired this with a couple of screws and a strip of wood, no surprise that the screws pulled right back through the hardboard some point.

    50026623873_483f91062a_b.jpgSear Seat (2) by Matt S, on Flickr

    Matt's 1990 Reliant Robin LX

    in AutoShite

    Posted

    On 5/5/2020 at 9:15 PM, LightBulbFun said:

    while I was searching for something, I happened upon this thread once more

    and got me wondering what happened with this wee car in the end? :) 

    Not very much sadly. I got it moved into my sisters garage and was just about to have it moved to a workshop the get the chassis welded but that was scheduled to happen two days before lockdown started so had to call that off.  I went by that garage today seeing as we can meet other people outdoors now but they didn't seem to be open. I hope it get it sorted very soon!

    49402980123_04e2ac489e_b.jpg

    Garaged at long last! by Matt S, on Flickr

    Valeting / Detailing / two bucket wronguns

    in AutoShite

    Posted

    22 hours ago, Andyrew said:

    Any one want to give ceramic coating a go?

    Out of curiosty I bought 5 of these as a lot on eBay ages ago for about £15. I tried it on the disco bonnet 50/50 as a test against wax and it lasted very well a year maybe (think I put a post up about it earlier in this thread)

    I found it good on sealing headlights after polishing aswell. 

    Strangely there is counterfeit versions of this stuff but this seems to be genuine (doesn't ignite)  plenty of videos about this stuff on youtube.

    I've got one open and two spares and this should last me ages, I Really don't need 5 bottles. So i have two kits up for grabs for the cost of postage if any other shitters are curious.

    Does one little bottle do a whole car or is this more of a sample size?

    RADWood is coming to the UK! (Goodwood House, August 11th)

    in AutoShite

    Posted

    I have been hoping for a RADwood event in the UK for a while after watching and reading about their events in the US. After emailing the organisers to express an interest in such an event a little while ago they confirmed to me before officially announcing it that a UK event was in the works! For those that haven't heard of RADWood yet Mercedes Market article "RADWood and Why It Matters" explains it well, here's a truncated overview:

    Quote

    RADwood is a new car show phenomenon that began in June 2017 with the first RADwood Car show in the San Francisco Bay area. RADwood celebrates the cars and culture of the 1980s and 90s and it’s making an impact on the enthusiast car community [...] Organized by a handful of guys who wanted to do something different, they wanted a car show, no, more than that, they wanted to create an event celebrating the cars, clothes and pop culture of the 1980s and 90s. [...] RADwood events encourage people to not only bring a car from 1980 – 1999, that’s all that’s allowed, but to dress up in period clothing. Whether that’s dressing up as Magnum P.I. or Sonny Crockett from Miami Vice or just wearing random 80s and 90s clothing, it creates a fun, casual environment.

    The cars at the US events have ranged from anything from and between Ferrari's, period modified Mercedes, Volvos, weird Japanese imports to mint condition examples of yesteryears mundane cars. Period clothing and celebrations of pop culture aside these events look like they would be right up Autoshite's alley. I haven't been to the Festival of The Unexceptional but I expect that it will be similar but with a wider range of cars on display. I strongly suggest you have a look at photos and videos of previous US events to get an idea of what it's about.

    It will be held at Goodwood House on August 11th.

    Have you heard of the US events? Would you like to go to the UK event?

    What the fox is this thing?

    in AutoShite

    Posted

    Just got off the phone with Mike who owns the yard and he says it'll likely end up in a museum. They got it from an engineering firm not far away from their yard. It seems they've had it for many years and may have been the same company that built it back in the day. I've got a number and contact name for them and they'll be able to tell me more.

     

    He's planning on contacting the likes of the British Motor Museum, Beaulieu and possibly the Lakeland Motor Museum to see if any of them would like to take it on.

    What the fox is this thing?

    in AutoShite

    Posted

    I wonder how many they built, or is that one it?

     

    The link LS posted on page 1 is literally the only thing I've seen about it and contains the only photo I've seen other than my own from today so I think it's very likely that this is the only one.

    What the fox is this thing?

    in AutoShite

    Posted

    I've dropped the yard another email asking where they found it, what the plan is, given them some information from the article Lord Sterling found and said that I would really like to see it preserved.

     

    I'm going to wait and see what they say. Sounds like there is some community interest so perhaps it could be partly commissioned via crowd funding a-la Dollywooblers 2CV year before last? Who knows, Nissan UK may even sponsor it considering their generous involvement when it was built.

     

     

    I'd love to see it saved, and would happily chip in, but think there needs to be a bit of realism at what would be involved - the issue of finding (no doubt needed) replacement batteries, issues about whether it could be road registered and the obviously needed fibreglass repairs etc. Unless someone wants it as a static piece?

     

    The batteries are probably old tat anyway and more efficient ones could be sourced. I can't imagine they are anything custom in any case. Probably couldn't be road registered as it's a custom frame. The guy I bought my Robin from has a van, trailer, space and reguiled me with tails about fixing a Reliant that he rolled (he was also a Reliant dealer) so I'm guessing he has fiberglassing skills. I also live by the coast so I'm sure some boat builder / repairer could be brought on board to patch the bodywork up.

    What the fox is this thing?

    in AutoShite

    Posted

    Fox Composites Limited

    High Grains

    Bewcastle

    Carlisle

    Cumbria

    CA6 6PT

     

    Incorporated: 21/03/2000

    Dissolved: 16/03/2004 (voluntary strike-off)

    Last accounts made up to: 31/03/2002

    Nature of business: Hairdressing & other beauty treatment (?)

     

    People:

    Allison Jane Roberts - Secretary (17.11.2001 to 16.03.2004) & Director (17.11.2001 to 16.03.2004)

    Jeffery Frank Harrison - Director (17.11.2001 to 16.03.2004)

    Richard Owen Roberts - Director (17.11.2001 to 16.03.2004)

    Susan Quincy Roberts - Secretary (21.03.2000 to 10.12.2001)

    Peter Armstrong Mawdsley - Director (21.03.2000 to 10.12.2001)

     

     

    https://www.companieslist.co.uk/03952615-fox-composites-limited

    What the fox is this thing?

    in AutoShite

    Posted

    Anyone? Found outside a scrappy, clearly electric powered and I'm guessing the stalks & gauges are from someones parts bin. Says Resort Sport on the back.

     

    Google isn't helping.

    Yes I've asked if they will sell it.

     

    46641082515_5563fa77a9_b.jpg

    Fox Resort Sport EV 1 by Matt S, on Flickr

     

    47503745882_7a6cdb9358_b.jpg

    Fox Resort Sport EV 2 by Matt S, on Flickr

     

    46641081825_c595744234_b.jpg

    Fox Resort Sport EV 3 by Matt S, on Flickr

     

    47503745192_70a4380a13_b.jpg

    Fox Resort Sport EV 4 by Matt S, on Flickr

     

    47503744952_b9b4bac212_b.jpg

    Fox Resort Sport EV 5 by Matt S, on Flickr

    Matt's 1990 Reliant Robin LX

    in AutoShite

    Posted

    You cannot fit anything other than the standard steel wheel on the front... It's vital to the steering as the centre of the rim is on the centreline of the kingpin.

     

    Interesting, I'll be sure to leave that well alone then. Someone on Facebook has suggested that there used to be a dealer in Kilmarnock but they don't recall the name. Does it ring any bells for you?

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