Surface Rust

Thanks for remembering, I got one in the end, it was in a job lot on here. I gave it to my colleague who worked on their development and he was made up, as he can't afford a real one! I'll see if he'll forward me the photos from his development days.

I love these Pandas. There's one round the corner from me in that bright blue that I ogle enviously. I've noticed Sainsbury's sell the perfect colour matched paint for yours, handy for touch ups:

Maybe something wrong with me, but out of that line up the 940 is the one I'd most like to drive away in!

I did my own version of a hidden treasure Allegro quite a few years ago. It was for a mate and was a cruel reminder of his own car, languishing at the bottom of his garden! And the real thing: I actually did it from memory as I didn't have the pic, and I wish I'd spent more time getting the green slime right!

I repainted the body kit on my 900 aero many years ago and I'm pretty sure they were an anthracite colour.

That's much better than the Etsy effort! Not sure how these attach, but maybe worth having a captive screw thread in the rad so you can take it off easily when parked.

That's a crying shame. Probably no point putting another genuine one whilst it might happen again. This would probably fool most peasants as you sweep past majestically https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/253564741/winged-goddess-flying-lady-nymphmascot?ref=share_v4_lx

That's wonderful. Love the haze in the pics as well. Is the red trim on the wings correct? I think it slightly spoils the sleekness of the lines.

He was at least honest in acknowledging that the 205 was better in every conceivable aspect, and that the benefit for Ford would be the increased number of people buying 205 diesels and then assuming all diesels were that good.

Thanks, sort of what I imagined and none of that makes me want one any less! I suppose I'm a little disappointed you don't hate it and were looking to move it on...

I love this, it looks great anywhere! What were your driving impressions?

Fiat Uno

If a ham fisted idiot like me can do a head gasket on a DOHC engine (Saab 900), then anyone can. Just be methodical. It'll give you a great sense of achievement, after THE FEAR has long since vanished.

All through the eighties, nineties and noughties my dad used to average 30k miles a year for work. He used to change cars every 2 years roughly and used to try oddball choices for a bit of variety, interspersed with the typical sierras and cavaliers. He still maintains that the best car he ever had was a Sigma, a dark metallic blue estate with gunmetal grey alloys. It had the same 12v 3.0 V6 and. I remember it fondly too, and am very jealous of yours! If I'd been at Rustival I would have been all over it!

A great outcome. Hopefully you can persuade Dunc to photograph and document his efforts so we can enjoy vicariously. Though I think I've probably seen more of the innards of Invacars between AS and Hubnut than I've seen of my own cars!

Useless fact: tilt switches like these were the favoured method of triggering car bombs back in the 70s/80s.

This thread has a lot to answer for. Earlier I found myself standing in the toy aisle of my local Sainsbury's perusing their wares. I was initially excited at a Majorette multi pack, however my joy (as a Youngster of the 90s) was short-lived as the only car in set I could relate to was the Clio. I also thought it was a bit daft having two Corvettes in the same set. Anyway, I was molified by discovering these two which came home with me: I particularly liked the 2cv as it is the rectangular headlight model, just like the 1979 my parents had, and which forms my first motoring memories. BTW, does anyone have one of these they are willing to part with? Reason I ask is that I have a colleague who did a lot of development work on these and he is due to retire in a couple of months and I'd like to give it as a parting gift. Don't mind if it is in a card or not, and I can throw in the Proton above to sweeten the deal!

Thanks for revisiting it as it gave me a chance to read a fascinating story full of highs and lows. The standard of your work is admirable as well, I'd love to buy a car you had worked on! Right, I'm off to buy some castor oil for my Acadianes spring tubes. Every day's a school day here!

I'll see your Uno, and raise you an Uno+! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225998255451?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=2d71ylkdso2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=l2Wt-CQBQCy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

It'll be worth it in the end. Many years ago I rescued a friend who had a Volvo 760 with the PRV V6. The big valley hose highlighted in the pic had blown spectacularly and dumped all the coolant out almost instantly. Fortunately he stopped when he saw the steam, I imagine it might go unnoticed in a Delorean! I remember it being a right pain to find a hose of the right diameter, and having to rifle through the boxes 'out back' in my local parts emporium. Those were the days! Looking forward to seeing it back in action.

Plasticine mods are for increasing the mass for better performance in 'battle' scenarios when in vehicular combat with siblings. I may have performed similar mods to diecast and scalextric cars in my yoof. Best when hidden from view so your victim is unaware.

Did a double take when I saw that, but sure enough: Everyday's a school day etc.

Not convinced you'd see many service vans in those colours rolling round the Sperrins, but the Escort looks smart. There's just something so right about a MK2 rally car.

I'd be wary of the condition of the clutch master cylinder too. I had a slave cylinder fail in a recommissioned car, and the replacement failed soon after. The source of the crud was actually the master.