BorniteIdentity

7 hours ago, wesacosa said:

along with the good news on the Panda (see other post) the Favorit has also been woken from its post ULEZ slumber and moved onto the driveway for a pre MOT once over. Once the Estelle had donated its battery it fired up instantly. Poor thing is starting to look a bit worse for wear though

 

On the off chance you need a bit of encouragement, don’t worry about it ageing gracefully. I have this argument with myself with the Sierra almost endlessly, but it’s still alive - still a car and still doing its thing.

As a kid, we lived next door to a vicar who was evidently homosexual but the most gentle and warm man you’d ever meet. He had the exact same car as this. Fond memories (no, he didn’t) !

28 MPG vs the fun seems pretty good value. 

You could always run about in a 25 year old RAV 4 automatic which generates more heat than light when it comes to acceleration, and averages 28mpg.  

Well bought on the Saab.  I remember we had a brand new one on demo at the first radio station I worked at.  At 21 I felt like the king of the world driving that around. 

Spring has sprung, so it was time to awaken the Sierra from its slumber.  The usual challenges were awaiting; Petrol runs back into the tank after a few days and - on the basis it's been parked for a couple of months - many crankings were to be required.  This necessitated hooking up my mains powered charger, enabling BOOST function and giving 10 minutes before a bit of serious crankin' (no g). It started with relative ease once fuel reached the carb, settled quickly and within 5 minutes we were out and off.

Things have deteriorated with all four doors.  The two offsides will be replaced, but I'm hoping the nearsides can be wobbed and painted.  Initially, my plan was to just red oxide the doors and just let the whole car age gracefully.  However, these two offside doors are half the wrong colour and will need to be sprayed to avoid looking cunty, so it might as well have four doors in the right colour.

It will go to 'the man' just as soon as the Mini is back. I cornered him earlier and, quelle surprise, he's not started it yet.  Monday he says.  I will doorstep him again next week "just to see how you're getting on" and keep up the pressure.  I understand he's busy, but would just prefer people to say "Mate - I can't take this on" than "yeah yeah no worries".  I think he already regrets saying yes tbh, but hopefully he'll see it through.

3 hours ago, St.Jude said:

RIP, it's gone to heaven with Diana and all the angles. Let it be her Maj's and Sir Captain Tom's passion wagon now.

JDM Imports out for Harambe.

Does @Arthur Foxhakelike these too - or only Granvias ?

10 minutes ago, St.Jude said:

RIP, it's gone to heaven with Diana and all the angles. Let it be her Maj's and Sir Captain Tom's passion wagon now.

Tabling a motion to have something similar for December’s calendar image featuring all fallen soldiers of 2024

@GingerNuttzloves nothing more than a holey undercarriage 

From me then:

May 4th, 5th and 6th, East Midlands Steam and Country Show.  This is basically the successor to the incredibly succesful and much missed Rushden Cavalcade which I bloody loved.  https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=388249430530836&set=pb.100080373476985.-2207520000

May 5th - Ipswich to Felixstowe Vintage Vehicle Run.  This is a great show with military, buses, bikes and cars.  It's also a moving show with people starting in a large park in Ipswich, then driving the 12 mile route to park on the promenade at Felixstowe.  I would recommend this to ANYONE.  

June 15th and 16th - Bolnhurst Vintage and Country Show, Bedfordshre.  https://www.bolnhurstrally.org.uk/  It's quite a nice little gathering this one - plenty of interesting stuff. 

It's very much my aim to get my old heaps to lots of different events this year.  Not just car shows with the deckchair/picnic brigade - but genuinely interesting shows that are all over the UK but perhaps not known to everyone.

It'd be great if you could add anything in that you're going to, or that happens locally to you which you know to be interesting.  If the thread gets going, maybe it could become a sticky for the next few months.

Ta!

21 hours ago, Sunny Jim said:

@Zelandeth could your thread be used as evidence?

Zel - please be the first person in the history of the British judicial system to present evidence from 'popular automotive-subculture discussion board autoshite dot com' in a sitting court.  

1 hour ago, Mr Pastry said:

That sounds as though you have been "reported" by a busybody neighbour who has nothing better to do.  There's always one.   Do you know who it is?   Best not to respond, imo.  Engaging with the council is likely to make things worse.  They can easily check that all your vehicles are registered to you, so clearly you are not repairing them for others.  Let them work it out for themselves.  

Hmm. I don't know if the City Council CAN do vehicle look ups.  Maybe they're hooked up to the 'Special Tool' but I imagine they would have to write to DVLA and pay, which they won't want to do.

It's tricky territory, and we had it with that Fiat chap on here a few years ago who had a millionty cars all in a row.  The council didn't just say "Mmmkay" and disappear. @For Fiats Sake I think it was.

I'd absolutely be engaging with the council and trying to help and reassure them that you're simply a vehicle enthusiast and they're all taxed/sorned and in your name.  There should be no conflation between the two (completely separate) issues of the planning and the boundary.

My recommendation to anyone dealing with a local authority is be polite, be transparent, do everything in writing (don't accept any calls - ask them to write to you) and be helpful.  Try to remember: this isn't personal; they are just investigating something and are on a fact finding mission.

EDIT - found the thread, and @rantingYoof's excellent appraisal.  

1 hour ago, SiC said:

£6k down, £35k balloon.

Tempted.

 

A gentleman of the classic car fraternity with whom I mince about has one. His weekend toy is a fully refurbed ‘Kermit Gear’ but he absolutely loves his Alpine. 

He’s promised me a whizz in both of them this summer, and I’m very excited.

If you can, and this is as good as the deals get, then I would. 

Perfect for Caribbean Banger racing 😏

Honestly, it was the best morning I've had in ages.  It completely erased the disappointment of there being NO bear claw pastries in Waitrose (and - for those who don't know me - food is life).  

There are a couple of 70s/80s cars that I still wish to own.  One is a pre-facelift MK2 Granada in low spec like this.  Another is a Saab 900i.  Finally, a MK4 Cortina.  Unfortunately, none of these are a weeks' pay anymore - but still, it's nice to dream!

Quite the morning!  I had a client meeting in Ely which is always a pleasant jolly.  Once completed, I decided to take a middle-class deviation to Waitrose for a Bear Claw pastry and orange juice following a productive appointment.

Then, I spotted something out of the corner of my eye.  I was so excited, I abandoned my car in a bus stop and forgot to put my handbrake on in a fluster! 

Communications were sent to @Skizzerand @Cheggers, with whom - via Whatsapp - we share our love of the unloved.

Things then took a very quick change of direction as I pulled into Waitrose

This is the best thing I've spotted in years. Actual years.  A Pre-facelift MK2 Granada 2.3 L in full 'Euston Films/Minder' condition and spec.  Just. Simply. Amazing.

These still look so bloody good.  I wanted it, there and then.  

I've had to come home for a sweet cup of tea and a lie down.  

PS - this is a maximum 2 hour car park, so it's definitely being used.  Fair play to them too.

Great stuff - good on you for keeping it.

I'd stick some VMAXDERV in it from Shell too.  Run any fuel treatment a bit stronger than it suggests too - then second gear up the longest hill you can find!

Is it still for sale? 

There's a couple who send their daughter to the same school as my youngest son.  Usually, they rock up in a green 1994 Defender 90 with a few splodges of red oxide on it.  However, it looks like they've got some new wheels!

I don't ever remember seeing one in AS Bronze.  Tabling a motion to have it included in the new Autoshite logo.  Mega.

The thing is, it’s pointless having a discussion with a dealer about how a car needs an MOT to get a plate off. 

If I’ve managed to work out how to get a wonky ticket (no comment, your honour) then someone in the trade DEFINITELY can. You might as well go and shout at a wall than try and correct their thinking. 

Plates moving cars has always happened and always will happen. It just needs a Gallic shrug and filing under ‘disregard’. 

I struggle to get cross about plates being taken from cars. In other countries plates go from car to car constantly and stay with the owner. It’s just how it is.  

Lovely car, Dicky. Hope to see it soon!

1 hour ago, worldofceri said:

I’ll certainly do things a bit differently if I do go back to it.

21 minutes ago, grogee said:

See you in a week, you dreamer. 

£1500 for a that with 12 months tax seems more than fair. 

D701 Sierra madness

Pretty sure this is the one my dad bought brand new in 1980 from the fourth owner who won it in a bet from an old lady called Desmond. 

42 minutes ago, rattlecan said:

My other ayf’s nephew went to football training last night at a club not too far from us. Some total twat there didn’t bother to lock the barrier gate in the open position. Nephew drives in with two other mates in his car (so 3 up, as it turns out luckily so). Wind blows gate closed as he’s driving through. They were all ok, but it’s a wonder one of them wasn’t killed let alone injured

I can’t for the life of me work this out. It looks like it’s pierced the car, rather than swinging into it. 

That’s definitely a near miss. Goodness me. 

3 minutes ago, barefoot said:

Glynis Barber also starred in 'the wicked lady' and has particularly memorable nipples.

68 and still looks tighter than a drum. She turned up in Hollyoaks a couple of years ago - still got a “phwoar”