Soundwave

And owns an NFT, which shed 90% of its value* within 30 seconds of purchase. It's OK though, according to the 'alpha male' podcasts he listens to, NFTs will have their day again.

The green laner - usually possesses a 90s Land Rover product, with suspension far taller than needed for any off-road hazard in Britain. Obligatory "one life - live it" sticker, snorkel kit made from a piece of old guttering, wheels and tyres that wouldn't look out of place on a road roller. Tuned TD5 motor that throws soot out like a Victorian era factory, either has a hooky MOT or none at all. Calls themselves a green lane enthusiast but often drives over any private land that has the gates left open - doesn't know or care where actual green lanes are. Relaxed attitude to trespassing and poaching laws. Wears confusing combination of hi-vis jacket and camouflage trousers, making it unclear whether they want to be seen or not.

The wannabe baller - usually aged low to mid 20s. Very keen to project a wealthy "hustler" image to the world, despite actually being a part time Amazon warehouse worker. Wears a loose, probably fake, high end tracksuit that wouldn't be out of place in an early 2000s rap video. Drives an E-class or A4 with cut springs and a lurid coloured chrome wrap that cost as much as the car did. Usually has a £90 NI plate to hide the fact it's actually a 57 reg, and debadged to hide its base-model origins. Interior smells of fruit vape. Multi-fit chrome wheels optional. Usually has a sticker depicting a coat of arms or a crown somewhere on it.

I did consider doing the bushes as a pair, as the parts aren't expensive... but for the moment I'm glad I didn't! I'll probably take a look at it when the trauma from this one has worn off a bit. It was one of those jobs where everything that could seize did, and despite the HBOL's assertions, refitting was not necessarily the reversal of removal.

It's weird how the passage of time changes perspectives... I don't think anyone would have described a Vectra as "fun" back in the late 90s! Looks great though, enjoy!

What a load of flowery arse-gravy.

With the Saab currently "resting" while I gather parts, the MX5 about to enter winter hibernation, and the Beetle still being out of sight and out of mind, I turned my attention to the Rover. Despite all its problems and my decision to scrap it when the MOT is up... I've actually decided to see if I can squeeze one more winter out of it. So that means it'll need an MOT come the 20th, and that in turn means I'll have to sort the advisory from last year - the NS trailing arm bush. Mention the words "trailing arm bush" to most 90s Rover or Honda owners and they'll break out in a cold sweat - it's one of those jobs that's either a piece of piss, or hell on earth. Most of the time it's the latter, and that was the case here... Didn't take any "before" pics, but basically I got the suspension partly dismantled, being careful not to touch the adjuster on the compensator arm. That in itself was a mission - the bolt that attaches the trailing arm to the compensator arm was seized beyond even my impact gun's capabilities. Ended up turning it a fraction at a time with a ratchet and a scaffold bar. Managed to get the trailing arm down far enough to access the bushing, and spent a ridiculous amount of time beating the absolute shit out of it with a hammer. Tried it both from the inside and the outside... bugger all. Wasn't moving. I really needed to get the hammer on it vertically, where I could hit it harder - which would mean removing the arm entirely. I really didn't want to go through the hassle of taking the hub off, disconnecting the brake lines etc, so I managed to get the arm loose and then position it on its side, with a block of wood supporting it to avoid stress on the brake lines. More walloping with a lump hammer later... success. Old and new side by side... definitely seen better days! Then using slightly gentler hammer taps, got the new bushing into the arm, being careful to make sure it was the right way round and vaguely at the same angle as the old one... Reinstalled the trailing arm, which actually turned out to be nearly as much of a fucking arseache as getting it off in the first place. Everything is under tension and wants to separate, and trying to hold everything in position while I bolted it all back together was a nightmare. But... eventually it was in place and back together. Took it for a test drive, no suspension noises or suspect handling, so I'm reasonably confident the transplant was a success. Feeling quite pleased with myself, I genuinely think that one little bushing was more sodding hassle than the Saab's exhaust replacement. Just hope the MOT man doesn't give me an advisory on the other side this time...

Another project Prelude... no VTEC here though, y0. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309282461319

Whoa! We're going to Ibiza Whoa! Back to the Nineties Whoa! We're gonna need a new clutch Whoa! Within the next week or three https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202309192134638

And registered as a Sierra, presumably because there was no Mondeo option on the DVLA database at the time. Presumably cubed, as is usually the case for prototypes.

Thread resurrection... found this while on a walk, by the side of the road. It's a 30mm, with "Calor Gas" engraved on the handle - I assume it's for removing regulators from gas bottles? Has a bit of fresh road rash on it, so I'm assuming it fell off a passing vehicle. Also note the gnarly lacquer peel on my Rover's tailgate...

When Cadillac decided to produce the fifth generation Seville in RHD form and enter the UK market, they briefly entertained the idea of renaming it the Saville to increase sales. Associating the car with a much-loved national treasure would be sure to endear the British public to the car - options were said to include a shell-suit fabric trim and a cigar holder in the glovebox. However, even as early as 1998, rumours were swirling that old Jimmy might actually be... less of a national treasure than initially thought. So the original Seville name was retained, and the car launched to critical and commercial indifference. Despite disappointing sales, the car did still capture its core target demographic of failing nightclub owners, second division footballers and small time drug dealers.

Twingo. Simple, utilitarian, characterful, affordable brilliance in a dull marketplace. Never came to the UK though... ... until they did finally decide to bring it here. At which point it had become a fairly nondescript small hatch. Alright I guess, but nowhere near as cheeky and basic as the original. And then this thing came along. Some bonus quirkiness points for an RR layout, but it's a pain in the arse to get at the engine, and it's trying to be upmarket, neither of which befits the utilitarian brief of the original.

Mk1 Scenic. It's a tired cliché, but these really did just disappear overnight, didn't they? https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308291330389

Made the mistake of sitting down and trying to tot up my various automotive expenditures - servicing, MOT dates, insurance renewals, taxation, storage, upcoming parts costs, jobs to do etc. Actually trying to do it properly, with a spreadsheet and everything. Feeling a bit overwhelmed with it all, and thinking I might need to thin the herd a bit. Not sure how you serial collectors do it, I'm only on 5 and things feel like they're spiralling!

Be like me, except with better torque characteristics, less rust, lower mileage, fewer owners... not jealous, honestly... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266384329728?

The A47 autojumble and classic car show at Thurlaston. https://davidfreerevents.co.uk/a47-auto-jumble/

It's cheap. It's local to me. It's a car I've always wanted to try. But I haven't got the room... I'm so frustrated I could Puma pants. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308221056141

Not sure about a Punto, but I hear Charlie has a slightly dented white Uno squirrelled away somewhere...

Interesting pic on that listing. Is this a high-speed action shot of someone's jeans crotch? Did they mean to post it here? I have so many questions...

I'm supposed to be working, but I can't help but delve into little bits of this history for a bit of a nose. Apparently, it was a company director's car when it was bought new! How the mighty have fallen... from being a company director's personal transport to being passed around a beige internet forum for relative pennies. It was first registered using the company's address, so I'm guessing Mr Director probably used company funds to buy it. Makes you wonder why he went for the base model if he was using someone else's money... "Delivered on 05/06/1989 to a Mr Ian Gilmour, production director at Glencast Ltd, a foundry and steelworks based in Leven. The company would later go on to be known as ABC-Naco Europe Ltd from 1999 onwards, before its dissolution in 2011." If I ever decide to sell it and go full White Background Wanker™, that's going to be my opening advert line.

Today, I had another package land on the doormat. As you can see, it contained important things: The package was from @filthyjohn, one of the Saab's previous owners. I'd tracked down the car's history file to him, and asked if he could send it, and he very generously obliged, so thank you! And here it is, the Saab's history pack... I love stuff like this, even if it doesn't actually make any physical difference to the car itself! Manuals, service records, old MOTs and V5s, receipts going back decades, it's all here! I've added in some of the more recent receipts received from @grogee when I bought the car, to make a pretty comprehensive history. There's also an address book and a map of some dealers which don't exist any more: And here's an interesting little nugget... way back in '89, someone part ex'd a Montego for a brand new Saab. Must have been like stepping into an entirely different world.... It's weird, none of this changes the work that lies ahead on the car, but I feel like finding the car's history pack makes it feel more complete somehow.

Nice little 1.0 povvo Lupo, and doesn't seem too heavy on the scene tax either. https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202308180936035

You should tell him that Princess Anne had one, I expect he's never* been informed of that before.

The fact he tried to back out rather than haggle suggests that McCunt here either had sudden buyer's remorse or was one of those compulsive time-wasters that seem worryingly common in classic car circles.