Shite Ron

My girlfriend had a White Cinquecento very similar to the one below it was quite a nice car, much better looking than the Seicento that replaced it.

This looks good for a bag of sand: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/145736799869?itmmeta=01HW0BDRBHF4DARB92RP45F4FK&hash=item21ee97167d:g:JcMAAOSwc25mJPUW&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwN9FZw9yxIXIUp6RuFaUMImLwQwvArsOAq2t8cxXQ4wAfWs1hOvTpncCjcm4gCL3pkI9zDkeJfy6u3wVQuQLzQGZuxVOz0nYsVy4F8%2Bq2csiiJIq97xmtKFuTandw8AFrFZphJgkZ86M3N8vvuwHuD%2FfUoEQdlDFxBcSzGkz9eNOExhs%2Fkup3FN9RNMkHiPBwMEcPIcFyENsG0VCEk3XvDyAgAowilk3RLwDeexlBLHsWbCarfzg8r1F6Q96cR%2Fc%2BQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR-yFt4vgYw

It is an L, the most obvious giveaway is the wheels are not painted black around the vent holes.

My Dad had a brand new 1.3L 4 door in 1980 as his first company car, it was a huge improvement on his Viva which got passed on to my Mum. Seven years later my brother bought a 4 door Popular Plus as his first car. He got it resprayed, fitted a black vinyl roof and front and rear spoilers plus 4 spoke Capri Laser wheels, it looked great. He was stopped by the Police for speeding over a hump back bridge with all 4 wheels off the ground, when they stopped him they asked why he was speeding, he said he was late for an appointment. They then told him that they had been watching him go back and fore the same stretch of road perfecting his jump. A few years later I bought a 4 door 1.3 Linnet off my next door neighbour for £200 just to sell on, all three in our family were 4 doors in Venetian Red.

I parked my Mondeo mk4 alongside my Volvo 740 when I first bought the Mondeo, I was amazed the Mondeo was taller wider and longer than the 740. Space in the Mondeo is good for a modern car but nowhere near as good as a 740 or E class. I have not measured the C5X yet but it seems similar to the Mondeo. Modern cars are crap. I do not currently have gates on the drive but when I did I usually only opened one as each one was 7’ wide, most cars went in and out easily, the Mondeo had 1 “ either side of the mirrors and barely fitted in parking spaces, they are ridiculous for what are just average cars.

An excellent choice of car and lovely colour too. A very different car to the Mondeo, I had a Mondeo mk4 and the E320 is a very much nicer car to drive and a lot more useful being an estate, these are one of the best modern cars if not the best I hope you keep posting updates and pictures.

I will be following with interest, I am starting to really want a proper Mini on 10” wheels and that looks like what is probably in my price range. Great to see progress on the Royale too, another interesting car and yours is in the best colour too. One day I hope I can attend a FOD event.

I don’t think the Princess of Wales drove anything interesting, it was the Princess Royal who had Scimitars. Whilst a Scimitar or even better a Gilbern are very good car choices it was stated no 2 doors. The best suggestions so far are from @NorfolkNWeigh the E320 estate would be my choice without doubt it is even in the best colour. The BMW 330 is also a good shout and a Rover 75 not bad, the rest of the suggestions are pretty grim.

The same auction as the Royale has a nice modern daily driver: Not too modern or too dull: https://www.swva.co.uk/classic-car/mercedes-benz-c32-amg-estate-2002/ Could be a bargain?

This could be a great buy if it sells near estimate: It gets better 😍 https://www.swva.co.uk/classic-car/vauxhall-royale-auto-1980/

I like this, low spec. but still nice and a good colour too, I prefer the look of the pre facelift model: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266758468046?itmmeta=01HTZQQCM3JYVE20TBYB38R1R3&hash=item3e1c0b31ce:g:r9AAAOSwPR1mEpMV&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAAwAaPwK6CHv%2FlxuKWiJPt21H5C8j2Md6r6EIpHp58LwD0tQ9loAZmH5dFQ7w1zhErwFhVomdg27pwVwWhIe9ltTVURy53eTQrZVFCy5LMLikL1b2IMnTWy9rIhMWEfsZWiyJm2VHSHhRC%2BajYQxHqLMfGRA1uRccg%2BudqZsVCPSawfzWkJ4wEQWWLB%2B4p3uliTdIsEJUU4j03CNWJ1dNtdvmWwfANDV91d0GIPUi8aJQBPlr9aoqttfLiqvWC%2BziTaQ%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR4rK3ffXYw

Oooof! This looks very nice, Meadow green is quite rare now and looks great with the tan interior. The wheels do not suit it but that is easily rectified: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315280496375?itmmeta=01HTZQ1BDDVRXCS57G3XDZ61QE&hash=item49682e96f7:g:6JUAAOSwjUVmFC1M&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA4BcBClSa7gyF9f%2BYNZ%2FcmDiR%2BBt2xrJA%2F0r3UY17592O%2FZWJd83vZg8XEszgGYEfflrp1gNQFR6mNKy5EeRbOs%2Fi4MykTMwIfAG6Tq5LpokeYcLNOtEHIEH8u%2FGSYawxvRsECQgkJ4f31Snm8a1uvJDsop0gQWL1RN4TZjwrFTEMZ5eXzIs%2FT8ybXXEGovXZFxGdHya93ZogYg%2FYgl1y4XlI9YtHj0PYJccakIMZeKk17rXaqEHEO40iT%2BFNT8pyga%2FQ3vrtyEUuRHBmmirBxyr4fCh11JPm7yUz5KVBlI%2Fc|tkp%3ABk9SR-K2hffXYw

Correct on Cobalt blue, a lovely colour only available for one year. The trim spec is even more rare, York fabric was only used in GL trim for a month or so before the ‘81 model came out with a much more luxurious Durham and crushed velour trim. My dad had a 1.6 GL in midnight blue with blue York trim PBF 617W. I loved it as it was a huge improvement on the 1.3L Escort it replaced.

X reg Escort is not that unlikely as X reg is 1981/2 The Escort could have been unregistered for a year after production stopped which is not too unlikely but more likely is that it was re-registered. If a car was written off and rebuilt it got the latest registration until 1984 when the Q plate came out.

I would think this would be a good joint purchase for @Six-cylinder and @Angrydicky lots of useful parts and that interior is fantastic.

It states no subscription and 6 month standby, it seems good especially if it is possible to replace the battery, this is not so clear. I am tempted to try one. If they were any good I would buy several.

TX keys were on earlier Ford’s, the Sapphire had the fancy new Chubb locks as below https://www.rarespares.net.au/rarespares/buy/f2524/key-blank-ford-xf-xg-xh-ea-eb-ed-ef-el-au-to-0599 I remember swapping a few passenger side to driver side door barrels in these as after a few years use the barrels failed and you could not get in, unlike the TX locks which you could open with anything when they become worn. My dad had an E reg Escort company car which the company extended the lease on, by 4 years old both the driver side and passenger side locks had failed and we had to climb through the hatch to get in. My dad was not impressed by this and the car went back, we had a hired 405 until his new Orion arrived. Edited to include a better option: Looks like I was wrong, these are Tibbe which in turn were replaced by Chubb. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116079506736?itmmeta=01HRD12XH23NK07P6RGKCFPJXB&hash=item1b06e0b530:g:dzMAAOSwjcJhEXYD&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAA8IvMHye1MdR9vaQFYFRyQfQrfctWAHvlehtu4XQEU1n8YX1QMNLeEIAabDQxfkZoHFFV1erFWks7ydA6apYnX2KormkiarX4CgsI8x5%2FpGhe2TAQ3GoXPKoSmP%2BkXI62A1ZQtrn%2BqSneQSQSNF1aiOqyw%2FyEPVxG7ALvbqwLsgDM1WfZCEc3Xo6ezxNGisn9u%2BWMQGX67qneKkqlXxUjBdt0npIgBsgjNL2dy9fDU9KDqO3v0rqHvBnv%2FPMDQrVlTsg5rZTVaDXh2faSlIG3f1o1qH%2FHatY5nMKpnsazbZovftoGo%2FgpPoq3CpBkZ4GKKg%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR87Yi6HDYw

Has anyone tried these? they sound a good option at a sensible price. https://sheertrends.com/products/best-magnetic-mini-worldwide-gps-tracker?currency=GBP&variant=48236358500687&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&stkn=348320a9b4a8&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIterittbihAMVsZRQBh2xTgXqEAQYAyABEgJ94_D_BwE

This car is a South African import but Superspeed or Race Proved (Jeff Uren ) would have built one for you if you had lots of money and good taste.

They look like Swiss vignette. They are for Swiss toll roads, I have them on some of my Cortina’s from our trips to Italy.

I think it is more than a hunch, there is a very strong likelihood that we will have a change of government to one that has no sympathy for our interests or a person who has worked hard all their life. I do not want to get into a discussion on politics but the facts from recent history are clear.

If I win the Euromillions jackpot on Friday I will be pressing buy it now on this: The perfect Rolls Royce in my opinion. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/315155612570?itmmeta=01HPHJNZABA11CJ4QTG962MPT4&hash=item4960bd039a:g:0q4AAOSwwPRly3LK&itmprp=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwDDdxz4F4Ui1oxtvBk%2FJDMikk60fJJ4el50CZqag4QlKLhITb4NjwQqNsg1WxDcfOJmVsBc1dXHBBsQixN%2FPXQfmDO4YGaBWdUYiF%2B%2Bb3%2B4Rst0%2Bj3CInHqzz7x0w8YVZsBi%2BO%2B12%2BW1VkD6H7BtERLmQ9I20DJyWdyn4zOTGWVj9oIwhDRt5tgPVPL746IaxwjYOfRLkm4jVYJGEXDIE7ACn%2FMDqrPw6c4pAQXEzT2hzbL9Ad9%2Bys1tKZn2ggS1HA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR6D117K0Yw

If she is painting the car brown or orange she could be multitasking and painting the car and getting a spray tan at the same time.

Forest Green, there were two 2.3 Ghia saloons near where I lived when I was young in Forest green. 2.3’s were quite rare especially GL estates, I used to prefer Crystal green but Forest green looks great, your Dad’s car would have looked fantastic.