N19

Near Goodge Street, in this area there's a few older cars that seem to sit and seldom ever move. Presumably owned by somebody with enough money to live locally!

In:

I bought the Focus in May, in urgent need of day-to-day ULEZ compliance. A well kitted out competent car which is very well looked after and, although it had been laid up for 6 months before I bought it, had no problems getting straight into service.
 
Out:

A casualty of ULEZ, the Bluebird left in June. Definitely missed, was surprisingly nippy for pottering around town, there were some challenges with age and with parts being quite difficult to come by. In another world I'd have kept it and given it attention, but sadly not practical.
 
Staying:

The Capri's driven a grand total of a mile this year according to the odometer, but it's now solid and simply* needs painting to go back together.
 

Mondeo has survived the ULEZ expansion, there are a few trips I make which don't get counted, and I do fairly-regularly do long trips outside the zone which are much easier in this. Most useful for sitting on the motorway, occasional towing, carting around dismantled bits of car to/from lockup.
  

In:

I bought the Focus in May, in urgent need of day-to-day ULEZ compliance. A well kitted out competent car which is very well looked after and, although it had been laid up for 6 months before I bought it, had no problems getting straight into service.
 
Out:

A casualty of ULEZ, the Bluebird left in June. Definitely missed, was surprisingly nippy for pottering around town, there were some challenges with age and with parts being quite difficult to come by. In another world I'd have kept it and given it attention, but sadly not practical.
 
Staying:

The Capri's driven a grand total of a mile this year according to the odometer, but it's now solid and simply* needs painting to go back together.
 

Mondeo has survived the ULEZ expansion, there are a few trips I make which don't get counted, and I do fairly-regularly do long trips outside the zone which are much easier in this. Most useful for sitting on the motorway, occasional towing, carting around dismantled bits of car to/from lockup.
  

In:

I bought the Focus in May, in urgent need of day-to-day ULEZ compliance. A well kitted out competent car which is very well looked after and, although it had been laid up for 6 months before I bought it, had no problems getting straight into service.
 
Out:

A casualty of ULEZ, the Bluebird left in June. Definitely missed, was surprisingly nippy for pottering around town, there were some challenges with age and with parts being quite difficult to come by. In another world I'd have kept it and given it attention, but sadly not practical.
 
Staying:

The Capri's driven a grand total of a mile this year according to the odometer, but it's now solid and simply* needs painting to go back together.
 

Mondeo has survived the ULEZ expansion, there are a few trips I make which don't get counted, and I do fairly-regularly do long trips outside the zone which are much easier in this. Most useful for sitting on the motorway, occasional towing, carting around dismantled bits of car to/from lockup.
  

In:

I bought the Focus in May, in urgent need of day-to-day ULEZ compliance. A well kitted out competent car which is very well looked after and, although it had been laid up for 6 months before I bought it, had no problems getting straight into service.
 
Out:

A casualty of ULEZ, the Bluebird left in June. Definitely missed, was surprisingly nippy for pottering around town, there were some challenges with age and with parts being quite difficult to come by. In another world I'd have kept it and given it attention, but sadly not practical.
 
Staying:

The Capri's driven a grand total of a mile this year according to the odometer, but it's now solid and simply* needs painting to go back together.
 

Mondeo has survived the ULEZ expansion, there are a few trips I make which don't get counted, and I do fairly-regularly do long trips outside the zone which are much easier in this. Most useful for sitting on the motorway, occasional towing, carting around dismantled bits of car to/from lockup.
  

In:

I bought the Focus in May, in urgent need of day-to-day ULEZ compliance. A well kitted out competent car which is very well looked after and, although it had been laid up for 6 months before I bought it, had no problems getting straight into service.
 
Out:

A casualty of ULEZ, the Bluebird left in June. Definitely missed, was surprisingly nippy for pottering around town, there were some challenges with age and with parts being quite difficult to come by. In another world I'd have kept it and given it attention, but sadly not practical.
 
Staying:

The Capri's driven a grand total of a mile this year according to the odometer, but it's now solid and simply* needs painting to go back together.
 

Mondeo has survived the ULEZ expansion, there are a few trips I make which don't get counted, and I do fairly-regularly do long trips outside the zone which are much easier in this. Most useful for sitting on the motorway, occasional towing, carting around dismantled bits of car to/from lockup.
  

Ever-constant is the Fabia. Despite its one foot in the grave moment in July at Shitefest. Still running, slightly better than it was before it was stuffed in a ditch. Although, the MOT is due in this coming February, so I've got that to look forward* to. Still hanging about for towing, and for stoating about places the Vectra isn't allowed to be in.

 

(Yes, the towing eye is still stuck in the front from July - I can't get it out)
In, the repmobile Vectra Arctic 1.8, which sort of wormed its way into being my daily. AVAS in action, and all that, but I love it.

Looking forward to 2024. Hopefully nothing else in, unless the MOT for the Fabia flags up anything massive, but I'm overly confident that it'll be fine.

In:

I bought the Focus in May, in urgent need of day-to-day ULEZ compliance. A well kitted out competent car which is very well looked after and, although it had been laid up for 6 months before I bought it, had no problems getting straight into service.
 
Out:

A casualty of ULEZ, the Bluebird left in June. Definitely missed, was surprisingly nippy for pottering around town, there were some challenges with age and with parts being quite difficult to come by. In another world I'd have kept it and given it attention, but sadly not practical.
 
Staying:

The Capri's driven a grand total of a mile this year according to the odometer, but it's now solid and simply* needs painting to go back together.
 

Mondeo has survived the ULEZ expansion, there are a few trips I make which don't get counted, and I do fairly-regularly do long trips outside the zone which are much easier in this. Most useful for sitting on the motorway, occasional towing, carting around dismantled bits of car to/from lockup.
  

In:

I bought the Focus in May, in urgent need of day-to-day ULEZ compliance. A well kitted out competent car which is very well looked after and, although it had been laid up for 6 months before I bought it, had no problems getting straight into service.
 
Out:

A casualty of ULEZ, the Bluebird left in June. Definitely missed, was surprisingly nippy for pottering around town, there were some challenges with age and with parts being quite difficult to come by. In another world I'd have kept it and given it attention, but sadly not practical.
 
Staying:

The Capri's driven a grand total of a mile this year according to the odometer, but it's now solid and simply* needs painting to go back together.
 

Mondeo has survived the ULEZ expansion, there are a few trips I make which don't get counted, and I do fairly-regularly do long trips outside the zone which are much easier in this. Most useful for sitting on the motorway, occasional towing, carting around dismantled bits of car to/from lockup.
  

In:

I bought the Focus in May, in urgent need of day-to-day ULEZ compliance. A well kitted out competent car which is very well looked after and, although it had been laid up for 6 months before I bought it, had no problems getting straight into service.
 
Out:

A casualty of ULEZ, the Bluebird left in June. Definitely missed, was surprisingly nippy for pottering around town, there were some challenges with age and with parts being quite difficult to come by. In another world I'd have kept it and given it attention, but sadly not practical.
 
Staying:

The Capri's driven a grand total of a mile this year according to the odometer, but it's now solid and simply* needs painting to go back together.
 

Mondeo has survived the ULEZ expansion, there are a few trips I make which don't get counted, and I do fairly-regularly do long trips outside the zone which are much easier in this. Most useful for sitting on the motorway, occasional towing, carting around dismantled bits of car to/from lockup.
  

In:

I bought the Focus in May, in urgent need of day-to-day ULEZ compliance. A well kitted out competent car which is very well looked after and, although it had been laid up for 6 months before I bought it, had no problems getting straight into service.
 
Out:

A casualty of ULEZ, the Bluebird left in June. Definitely missed, was surprisingly nippy for pottering around town, there were some challenges with age and with parts being quite difficult to come by. In another world I'd have kept it and given it attention, but sadly not practical.
 
Staying:

The Capri's driven a grand total of a mile this year according to the odometer, but it's now solid and simply* needs painting to go back together.
 

Mondeo has survived the ULEZ expansion, there are a few trips I make which don't get counted, and I do fairly-regularly do long trips outside the zone which are much easier in this. Most useful for sitting on the motorway, occasional towing, carting around dismantled bits of car to/from lockup.
  

In:

I bought the Focus in May, in urgent need of day-to-day ULEZ compliance. A well kitted out competent car which is very well looked after and, although it had been laid up for 6 months before I bought it, had no problems getting straight into service.
 
Out:

A casualty of ULEZ, the Bluebird left in June. Definitely missed, was surprisingly nippy for pottering around town, there were some challenges with age and with parts being quite difficult to come by. In another world I'd have kept it and given it attention, but sadly not practical.
 
Staying:

The Capri's driven a grand total of a mile this year according to the odometer, but it's now solid and simply* needs painting to go back together.
 

Mondeo has survived the ULEZ expansion, there are a few trips I make which don't get counted, and I do fairly-regularly do long trips outside the zone which are much easier in this. Most useful for sitting on the motorway, occasional towing, carting around dismantled bits of car to/from lockup.
  

Near Goodge Street, in this area there's a few older cars that seem to sit and seldom ever move. Presumably owned by somebody with enough money to live locally!

Near Goodge Street, in this area there's a few older cars that seem to sit and seldom ever move. Presumably owned by somebody with enough money to live locally!

2nd pic, a Mk5 Cortina, 1982 1.6L in Caribbean blue! Oh, the memories of my first car:

Passed my C+E today. Zero minors. To say I am happy is an understatement.

Mr 'One life, live it'.  Extolls the virtues of LandRovers. Spends almost  every waking hour welding/repairing/rewiring his shit-tip Discovery. Big winch on the front bumper for 'recovering shit Japanese 4x4s' but actually used to drag his own car out of 3 inches of water. 22" wheels with ridiculous knobbly tyres. Drives and handles as well as riding a Hungdo Quim Trim 49cc scooter off the top of Niagara Falls with a spunk stained mattress strapped to your back. Just like Mr V DubBore will tire your bollocks off in front of your eyes  as he tells you how great 'Landys' are.  Wears camo trousers and a reflective mud stained jacket year round. Desperate to pull someone's broken down car back from the Co-op so he can dazzle half of Europe with the wanky lightbar cable tied to the grille, so he can post it all over the internet.  When driving on the road it sounds like a swarm of thousands of hungry bees and a tank that's about to explode at the same time. Has another  half stripped Discovery and fifteen broken gearboxes in his front garden.  Uses £300's worth of diesel driving to his job working nights as a security guard watching Gilf videos on PornHub, instead of watching the monitors in the yard. Offers to help looking for missing goldfish with his mates from the off-road club. Posts 10 years old memes from Britain First and believes everything they say.

Minicab driver. Mid 40s-50s, lanyard, polo shirt to comply with the 'must have a collar' rule, wears earbuds constantly chatting away to somebody (unspecified). Half asleep as his shift started at 3am doing an airport run and he's been sitting in the industrial estate for half an hour waiting for another fare to come through. Phone blurts out directions via Waze to anyone listening, he listens religiously and does exactly what it says - "turn left" = cut across four lanes of traffic and nearly get skewered by a number 94 bus. Directional knowledge suspect, would happily drive from Chelsea to Cricklewood via Enfield if that's what the sat nav reccomended. Buys a couple of Little Trees every fill up.  Boot contains multi pack of water and some tissues. Empty lucozade bottle under drivers seat that we're better off not asking about.

A couple of other things I just thought of, I`d recommend spraying waxoyl or similar on the foam you put on the tank straps (on the tank side), again, to reduce the chance of rust in the future, & I don't know what your bodywork guys done about the inside of his repairs, but I`d also recommend injecting primer then paint into the sills/pillars/rear arches etc now the weldings been done, if it hasn't been done already, using a waxoyl type injection setup, ideally with POR15 coating if you can afford it, or normal etch primer followed by a thick coat of whatever single stage celly the local paint factors have mixed wrongly & is trying to get rid of.. (I use L.E. Went in Cricklewood for single stage paint, & they usually have quite a few tins of mis-mixes or uncollected orders going for cheap). Tape up the drain holes before doing this, to make sure the excess paint fills the lower seam, then remove the tape after half an hour to allow the excess paint to flow out & give a nice, smooth route out for water, Wipe off the excess paint  round the drain holes after, then give the drain holes themselves a couple of coats of primer to reduce the risk of reaction with the outer coat when that goes on.. Proper rustproofing can them commence properly a week or 2 after its received its paint.

I haven't touched a 70`s era Ford for years, but IIRC, the rubbing strips were largely double sided on around that time, with locating studs/nut on each end on the doors & quarters? They shouldn't be too much of an issue to re-fit after paint (assuming none of the studs ripped off during disassembly), although I`d use rubber washers on both sides of the studs to seal the holes & reduce the risk of rust in future.. I`d fully expect to drop at least 1 nut into the sill on reassembly, so have a magnet on a string ready...

Little progress in these parts. Fuel tank was fine, everything nice and tight and running well, gauge works - chucked a couple of gallons of 4* in (at great expense) and it registered (even showing empty on the tank, before taking the old one off, I drained about 2 gallons out).
The old tank itself is still kicking around, I offered it for free online, it's got surface rust but it is intact and perfectly servicable.
Paint wise, I've contacted a couple of other painters that I've had recommended, and one is coming to have a look at the car next week. Hopefully, that will mean some progress!
I'd no idea it'd be quite this long (but I suppose that's the nature of a project like this) and feel a bit silly given that others can work miracles in half the time.
I popped down today for a bit of a tidy up, and to have a looksee at some shiny parts ready for refitting, as some form of motivation. And to figure out the fixing holes for the side rubbing trim which is supposedly a complete cow to get back on! The longer runs have studs along the middle and some sort of clip should be inside for them to locate on. Hmm!

Opportunistic (or magpie-like) as ever, I found an old coat hook board and re-used it as a fan belt storage unit...

Meanwhile, the Mondeo had a further tart up with a couple of coats on the front bumper.

Foam strip arrived and fitted:

 
The back of the speedo had a repair a few years ago - one of the connectors was iffy and I previously soldered some foil to make contact. Maybe need to upgrade - pie tin foil?!
 

 
Mondeo had a wash and a speed-wax this afternoon, which seldom happens.

In October 2003 I purchased this Zodiac after seeing it advertised in Classic Car Weekly,  a MK3 Zodiac was my first car in 1985 and they’ve always been a bit of an obsession.
KMG 769B has been very easy to live with for the last 20 years, only needing a bit of metal surgery on the NSF suspension strut mount and lower front valance, replacement track control arms, front brake pads, rear brake shoes, clutch assembly, electronic ignition conversion, spin on oil filter conversion and proper yearly servicing schedule.
I’m very lucky to own an example of a dream car, I love the old thing and never tire of driving it and just looking at it. 
 
Part of the family this flash Essex motor! Had her out today after a good few months sat in the garage, fired up first time and was cruising easy at 70 MPH shortly after!

I figured that I have been filling News 24 with posts about my fleet of tat and should probably start my own thread to keep it all in one place. I'm N19 (Tom), a cynical shiter from north London (though originally of farther northern extraction).
 
So, fleet is as follows...
 
1979 Capri 1.6L
 

I've owned this for about 7 years now. It was always my ambition to own a Capri one day... and I haven't looked back! For a while, I lived in inner London (see username!) and used the tube or bus to get around most of the time - so it was my only car for the duration! It's had a fair few trips in my time (from London, to Aberdeen, Bristol, Norfolk, Brighton, and lots of places in-between), although the last year has been much quieter due to lockdown. Always garaged, but never a queen - it'll still go out in the wet, just looked after and dried.

It's a pretty original car; the first owner had it for 20 years, it then passed through a number of keepers until I bought it. Therefore it managed to avoid the abuse of boy racers in the 90s! It seems that the first owner was a giffer who, from the mid-80s, only did 2k miles a year. (Yes the paintwork is original - it's an unusual colour, only used on Capris for one year as far as I can tell).

In my ownership I've essentially been trying to keep it reasonably neat. Manual everything - steering, radio knobs, choke, windows... comes with the extra options of a heated rear window and a parcel shelf. Perish the thought! It's currently off the road having had welding repairs completed to various bits, mostly the A pillars and sills. 
 
2000 Ford Mondeo 2.0i Ghia X Estate
Purchased from this very forum, when I realised that I now relied on a car for commuting and putting the eggs in the basket of one car was tempting fate. Plus it came at a good time when I was post house-move and needing to sort out a heck of a lot of stuff, so the estate comes in very handy.
 

It had a few challenging times, especially with the cooling system. It took a few months to finally get to a stage where it wasn't an incontinent old thing, and I didn't need to carry a gallon of mixed antifreeze in the back. One memorable occasion saw it towed home by the Bluebird (which resulted in the battle scar covered over by gaffer tape on the bumper).
A high end executive car of its time, and it carries the 180,000 miles well. Most things still work - the central locking is a bit temperamental sometimes, but the other toys are all there - heated seats, heated windscreen, air con, cruise control, electric seats, etc. Very good over winter cos of the heated bits, and in the height of summer cos of the air con. You can fit loads of stuff in the back, it's very useful for lugging stuff around. Towbar fitted, although seldom used.
 
2003 Ford Focus 1.6

Purchased recently from this forum, a very competent (and ULEZ compliant) 1.6 Focus. It is very clean and very well looked after, and features AC and heated windscreens (extra features that actually matter to me!). I intend on keeping this clean and using it for trundling around town.
 
Former Vehicles
 
1980 Nissan Bluebird 1.8GS

I bought this as a result of a chance discussion with a guy from the motorfactors who was selling it. At the time I was feeling bad about using the Capri for mundane things, so when this was up for sale I gave into temptation and a low price, and picked it up.

Again, quite an original car. Would I call it dull... not quite, it's very good at being an car, it's not the most exciting thing you'll ever drive, but is pretty practical. It's also usually bombproof and reliable. Reasonably easy to work on, very comfortable and easy for the driver; you can understand why so many of these were minicabbed in the 90s! I sadly had to sell this car in June 2023 due to the impending expansion of the ULEZ into my area.
 
 
 
 
 
The Capri lives in a lockup garage where I do minor tinkering and spannering. I'll do most jobs on the Capri myself, except anything welding related or needing a ramp. I have a good local garage who are sympathetic to old stuff and don't charge much, especially as I'm never too pushy on timescales.
 
and, because I'm sad- err I mean pedantic, I keep notes in a book for each car...

... oh, and all three cars have cassette players - who says I'm stuck in the past?! I did for a while organise the collection into the era of each car, but that got too messy.
 
So, that's me, that's the fleet, now for updates...

Right then, this is the ex @SmokinWaffle and @StinkwheelBX that was free in the summer but I paid £250 for last month. Im not too much of a story teller but want to show what's been done and any updates etc for those interested. I've not owned a Citroen for 15 years and that was a *normal one so jumped at the chance to save this beauty. She was rough, slammed to the ground and left everywhere covered in LHM piss. When @SmokinWaffle messaged to say he was struggling to get it off his drive I honestly thought what the f*@k have I let myself in for 😆 
@worldofceri delivered her on time and was very helpful throughout, almost like hes done it before. 

And a huge relief when it fit into the garage fine 

I'd been briefed the leaks were likely plastic return pipes which they were but also weren't. First tackled the "small octopus" which handles all the return lines and literally disintegrated on contact. 
Managed to bodge improvise a repair until a more permanent solution be found. Not pretty but it's done the job. The next leak was found to be the NSR brake pipe which was sourced for about £40 from ebay and got this fitted. Surprisingly straight forward to do! 

All fitted along with a few return pipes I thought I was home and dry, filled her with LHM and up went the front end shortly followed by the back. Brilliant until......another pipe burst. This was a long front to back line and covered a load of the cars underside aswell as the garage floor. 
Was a bit disheartened as the price of this pipe seemed to be anything from £65 up to £138 which had me questioning if it was worth doing. I managed to find a local Citroen specialist near me and asked if he could help. He made up a pipe for me while I waited with right flares and connectors for £15, absolute hero. 
I fitted it back home no problem and was certainly a lot easier than taking it off.
She's now able to rise and fall and without drenching everything in LHM....yessssss 
Next up was the nicer to do bits, x2 tyres which were included were fitted 
Door lock and card replaced easily enough and inside looking much nicer now although the ICE probably isn't up to much - a job for another day 


Did a mini service on here, probably at least 8/9 years since she's had new oil and filters so had to be done. Definately looked ready.

Sounds like she's running alright tho....
https://youtu.be/NEQMb4BUzv4?si=AGBXNIWV9FZuz6zd
Had an interesting time sorting out some bodgery in the rear light clusters mainly due to when the towbar was fitted. Dad thankfully helped fix a couple of connections I couldn't manage to trace the fault. Changed a few bulbs, cleaned up connections etc and a bulb board. Here is the donor car at the specialists (new best friend) I mentioned earlier...🤣


I was warned about a bad clutch cable/clutch but adjusted the bite point and seems to be holding up at the moment.
After sorting out a washer jet for her I booked an MOT and packed a few breakdown essentials. 


Only a short distance to the garage but noticed a blow from the exhaust unfortunately en route. We stopped for fuel and love the way she looks back out in the wild again
I've never seen the boys show so much interest in a car going for an MOT....😬


All was going well until we found a bearing/Bush loose but not the end of the world so....

After 8/9 years in a barn to only need a bush, exhaust patch and brakes adjusting I'll take it. Absolutely buzzing 🥲
Booked in with my Citroen guy on Wednesday so should have some news by end of week fingers crossed 🤞