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mercrocker

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  1. Like
    mercrocker got a reaction from LightBulbFun in The new news 24 thread   
    Bit of a fleet update......Not much happening so there aren't any juicy tales of newly found rust - least not until I get the toffee hammer out again.
    Just taxed the Minor for the first time without an MOT.    Did about 1000 miles since the last one which is quite shameful wastage.   Will get it tested some time over the summer but enjoying it for commuting at the moment.    This means the Fezzer is currently up the barn doing nothing and would be for sale if it wasn't so warmly re-assuring having a spare motor.     
    T25 is providing excellent sleeping facilities at various rock and roll clubs around the country and has just done a 500 mile run up and around the Peak District - it will be my mobile tea-room at work this weekend which means I don't have to listen to twattish conversations in the mess room Saturday and Sunday.    
    Cowley is doing the occasional work run but mainly being kept for longer journeys but did provide a great talking point outside the theatre last week where we saw Marty Wilde.    
    I would mention the 190E but I honestly haven't set foot in it for a month, I noticed it needed a clean the other day but if Mrs Rocker ever parks it for long enough...... 
    Nothing new to report otherwise.    Oh, there is a development - after 15 years of ownership the self-cancelling on the Minor has suddenly decided to start working but only on left-turns.   Its confusing the hell out of me - not least because I have been using the left flashers as reversing lamps in the car port for over a decade and they now switch off just as I start lining up!
  2. Like
    mercrocker got a reaction from BeEP in The new news 24 thread   
    Bit of a fleet update......Not much happening so there aren't any juicy tales of newly found rust - least not until I get the toffee hammer out again.
    Just taxed the Minor for the first time without an MOT.    Did about 1000 miles since the last one which is quite shameful wastage.   Will get it tested some time over the summer but enjoying it for commuting at the moment.    This means the Fezzer is currently up the barn doing nothing and would be for sale if it wasn't so warmly re-assuring having a spare motor.     
    T25 is providing excellent sleeping facilities at various rock and roll clubs around the country and has just done a 500 mile run up and around the Peak District - it will be my mobile tea-room at work this weekend which means I don't have to listen to twattish conversations in the mess room Saturday and Sunday.    
    Cowley is doing the occasional work run but mainly being kept for longer journeys but did provide a great talking point outside the theatre last week where we saw Marty Wilde.    
    I would mention the 190E but I honestly haven't set foot in it for a month, I noticed it needed a clean the other day but if Mrs Rocker ever parks it for long enough...... 
    Nothing new to report otherwise.    Oh, there is a development - after 15 years of ownership the self-cancelling on the Minor has suddenly decided to start working but only on left-turns.   Its confusing the hell out of me - not least because I have been using the left flashers as reversing lamps in the car port for over a decade and they now switch off just as I start lining up!
  3. Haha
    mercrocker got a reaction from Exiled_Tat_Gatherer in The new news 24 thread   
    Bit of a fleet update......Not much happening so there aren't any juicy tales of newly found rust - least not until I get the toffee hammer out again.
    Just taxed the Minor for the first time without an MOT.    Did about 1000 miles since the last one which is quite shameful wastage.   Will get it tested some time over the summer but enjoying it for commuting at the moment.    This means the Fezzer is currently up the barn doing nothing and would be for sale if it wasn't so warmly re-assuring having a spare motor.     
    T25 is providing excellent sleeping facilities at various rock and roll clubs around the country and has just done a 500 mile run up and around the Peak District - it will be my mobile tea-room at work this weekend which means I don't have to listen to twattish conversations in the mess room Saturday and Sunday.    
    Cowley is doing the occasional work run but mainly being kept for longer journeys but did provide a great talking point outside the theatre last week where we saw Marty Wilde.    
    I would mention the 190E but I honestly haven't set foot in it for a month, I noticed it needed a clean the other day but if Mrs Rocker ever parks it for long enough...... 
    Nothing new to report otherwise.    Oh, there is a development - after 15 years of ownership the self-cancelling on the Minor has suddenly decided to start working but only on left-turns.   Its confusing the hell out of me - not least because I have been using the left flashers as reversing lamps in the car port for over a decade and they now switch off just as I start lining up!
  4. Like
    mercrocker reacted to HillmanImp in The new news 24 thread   
    Went to Harewood Hillclimb yesterday for the first time. 
    Really enjoyed it. Wasn't sure how busy it would get so went early and watched more of the practice than the actual hillclimb. It was fine though, we could've gone later and will next time. 
    The proper hillclimb cars are proper weapons. Fantastic to watch.  Have some photos:

    Imp Jr was well excited to see an actual working Imp as opposed to the knackered one in the garage.... 
     

    Oh well. 
    Some of these things were going through the speed trap at 130mph. Fucking nuts. The speed they came down the straight past the farmhouse was fucking scary. 
    I've been trying to upload a gif but its not having it, probably too big a file at 13mb? Have this instead. 

    Am definitely going again. Well worth the £10 per head entry fee. 
  5. Like
    mercrocker reacted to Cavcraft in The grumpy thread   
    Car park, 8.00 M8. Winner takes all.
  6. Like
    mercrocker reacted to Stanky in The grumpy thread   
    Shedenvy, I can't help with most of it, but look at WPS Office - its free for non-business use (just tick 'personal' and it never bothers you again) and is all but identical to the MS Office suite. It opens normal .xls and .xls spreadsheets (and all the other extensions) and can save back down to them too. It looks identical to Office 2015 and has all the functions.
    There is literally no point getting MS Office.
    It has spreadsheets, Word Processor and presentation programs - So Excel, Word and PowerPoint respectively.
     
  7. Like
    mercrocker reacted to Joey spud in Hammond Microcar collection   
    Yes good point,well made.
    The inlet manifold is indeed situated way down the cylinder block much like a 2 stroke engine design.
    And the distributor looks to be driven by the crank rather than a cam shaft which would suggest 2 and not 4 stroke (unless it is geared down to half engine speed).
    But then again the block is made from pig iron,it looks like it has an oil sump and it is water cooled.


    It was behind this mildly distressed honey,maybe they go together??
  8. Like
    mercrocker reacted to Joey spud in Hammond Microcar collection   
    It was a good run out thankyou Mr Egg for organising it.
    The little twin cylinder two stroke engined Daihatsu was a surprise find.



    The underside looked like it had been sitting somewhere salty.

    Ten inch cross ply remould tyres for extra win.

    The bmw 600 was bigger.
    Some randoms..







     


    This engine (3 cylinder side valve ?) was in the far left corner of the building,anyone know what it comes from.
  9. Like
    mercrocker reacted to Joey spud in Hammond Microcar collection   
    The info sheet on it did say it was imported by Heron Suzuki and used for parts delivery so it's got to be the same one i reckon.
  10. Like
    mercrocker reacted to SierraMikeHotel in Hammond Microcar collection   
    That was a cracking day out, thanks again Egg for organising!  The owners were lovely too, and I think they really enjoyed having some genuine enthusiasts of the odd and the unloved to show around.

    Egg admires a Stirling.  I wish now I'd taken a note of all the little information panels; I thought this looked like a really nicely-proportioned miniature sports car though.  Cool little thing.  Fiat 500 looks oddly huge in the background.

    Most of this stuff was from the 50s and 60s, in times of austerity and fuel crisis, but there were some (appropriately) tiny companies still churning out these oddities into the 80s.  I reckon Bamby looks quite cute.
    Flipper matches the forum colours perfectly, and when I expressed my surprise that a 49cc engine would be capable of propelling a bodyshell and two passengers, the museum owner pointed out an extra foot-pedal that could be pumped to add one more person-power!
     

    I've already forgotten what this green goddess was called, but it was quite appealingly poorly made.  Just a total lack of design; box with a seat in it, and started by a kick-start that's on the opposite side of the car from the single door.  That impressive penis-extension bonnet merely houses the front wheel, no massive engine.

    The Ultimate Driving Machine.

    These Vespa trucks were still very common when I was living in Italy but I have to forcibly remind myself that that was getting on for 20 years ago.  I wonder how many are still supplying the market stalls now.

    This red machine was, believe it or not, an Allard (I forgot to get a shot of the front, but it had a very appealing face and rather nice lines).  The owner had a good story about taking it to an Allard event and being asked to leave, which is probably what would happen if Autoshite ever put on a stand at a proper classic car show.

     

    I've read about Velorexes but never expected to see one in the flesh!  This one was driven here from Poland in an act of extreme bravery - before the wall fell.  Petrol tank?  Airbag?  You'd never know...
     

     

    I absolutely loved this.  The design spec was on the display board "Intended for a French peasant to carry one pig to market" and it was as basic as a vehicle can possibly be.  You get a camping chair, a home-made steering wheel, and a tiny speedometer.  Brilliant.

    And finally, just one of the car park.  I've always had a soft spot for these little Triumphs, and RobT's Metro just fills me with nostalgia - I spent a lot of my late teens in these, and drove them a lot, so it's always a pleasure to see one.  Modern Merc tries to hide out of the way ( I really should have brought the brand new one but I didn't think you lot would let me in).
  11. Like
    mercrocker reacted to nacho man in The new news 24 thread   
    Took a trip out to Bicester this morn and there was some lovely stuff there.
     

  12. Like
    mercrocker reacted to Spottedlaurel in The new news 24 thread   
    The little Datsun 1200 was left at the garage last weekend for an MoT-type lookover. For various reasons it didn't go into the workshop at all last year and, despite now being exempt, I felt it really ought to have someone check it over even though it seems to be running and driving well enough.
    It obviously didn't need much attention, as they gave it a proper MoT and it went straight through with no advisories. Nice to keep the bill down, at some point the Camry needs to be put through an MoT but that can wait as having three cars to sort within a month is a bit silly/painful.
    Apparently I've done just over 1200 miles since it was last tested in 2017 and a bit under 2000 since buying it in 2015. Can't see it doing that many this year - I'll try and use it as often as possible, but work is just 10 miles from home so even if I take it in once or twice a week it still won't go up that much.
    Archive photo of it at another local garage when the previous owner had it:

    1973 Datsun 1200 2dr (B110) c.2000 by Spottedlaurel, on Flickr
  13. Like
    mercrocker reacted to Yoss in Lazy spotters thread   
    French van chod. There was a beer festival at Bursledon Brickworks, where I keep the bus, yesterday. This was outside selling pizzas. 

    I took the picture from this side so it still looked more like a van. It's still on French plates. I started chatting to the owner and he brought it back from France eight weeks ago and it was converted from a mobile deli so it already was a food van so it hasn't been completely bastardised like the legion of Citroen H vans you see trying to sell coffee on the South Bank. 
     
    Then went to the pictures this afternoon and parked next to this. 
     
  14. Like
    mercrocker reacted to kinkersaab in Lazy spotters thread   
    Not so much a spot. This is my ex father in laws merc. Owned from new. 68k 2.0 carb. Never had a radio fitted windey windows etc etc.    Love it. 
     

  15. Like
    mercrocker reacted to Amishtat in Lazy spotters thread   
    Saw this beauty rolling in to the petrol station, wandered over for a gander (waiting for the AA to pick up a very unwell Freeloader) and realised it's the same car I went to have a look at up in Doncaster either in 2003 or 2004. Still got the photos I took at the time somewhere. Anyway, what a pleasure to see it not just surviving but evidently cherished. 


  16. Like
    mercrocker reacted to Amishtat in Lazy spotters thread   
    Something for everybody (assuming that by everybody we mean DC, Lord S, egg and Zel) 








  17. Like
    mercrocker got a reaction from mk2_craig in MINIATURE SHITE HOARD DISPOSAL. Mods - does this thread need to be moved?   
    Minor here too, many thanks for excellent packaging!
  18. Like
    mercrocker got a reaction from motorpunk in What shite would you be driving in 1979?   
    The thought of driving stuff like this around in the 1970s reminds me how antiquated my fleet must look to modern eyes today....

    1915 Morris Cowley.   I have chosen a Cowley to illustrate the 40+ year lifespan of the model name.   However, in these years the Cowley was actually a dearer version of the Oxford rather than the other way around (that change happened in 1920).   This year's model came with an American Continental engine.

     
    Er, another Morris Cowley - this time a 1923 model.   Comparatively little change in a decade, considering the rapid development of cars generally in the pre-and-post Great War years.   There was no Morris Minor until 1929 so I cannot accurately cast my net back  to reflect my present day '63 Minor 1000.     By 1923 the Cowley had become the cheaper of the two Morris models and this one would have used the licence-built Hotchkiss engine. 

    On to the Mercedes, now.   Direct equivalent to my 190E would have been the W136 170V model which represented the sole model with the three pointed star until the Ponton range appeared.   Like many 1950 cars it was a post-war warm-over.    
     
    My 1987 T25 would have had no direct comparison in 1947, the original "Bulli" was no more than a scribble in Dutch importer Ben Pon's notepad.   My previous camper was a converted Bedford CF ambulance so 1979 would probably have seen me fitting some Army Surplus camping gear into the back of this.....
     

     
    1947 Bedford KZ 
     
    Of course, I would have needed a modern car to offer all the creature comforts my 2000 Fiesta Ghia has.   There was no Anglia Super in 1960 so I would need to be satisfied with the heater and screen-washer in a de Luxe Anglia.    By 1979 it would have probably looked like this.....
     

     
    I would have been extremely happy with that lot back in 1979.   In reality, I was smoking this lot around...Or not, usually...

     
    A fucked Mini

    Company Renner van 

    Suzuki T200 Invader 
     
     

  19. Like
    mercrocker reacted to anonymous user in What's this car then   
    Rene Bonnet? 

  20. Like
    mercrocker got a reaction from egg in Shite in Miniature II   
    The sucked-Werthers hue of that AMI Break takes nothing away from it's awesome-ness.   Lovely!
  21. Like
    mercrocker got a reaction from Amishtat in What shite would you be driving in 1979?   
    The thought of driving stuff like this around in the 1970s reminds me how antiquated my fleet must look to modern eyes today....

    1915 Morris Cowley.   I have chosen a Cowley to illustrate the 40+ year lifespan of the model name.   However, in these years the Cowley was actually a dearer version of the Oxford rather than the other way around (that change happened in 1920).   This year's model came with an American Continental engine.

     
    Er, another Morris Cowley - this time a 1923 model.   Comparatively little change in a decade, considering the rapid development of cars generally in the pre-and-post Great War years.   There was no Morris Minor until 1929 so I cannot accurately cast my net back  to reflect my present day '63 Minor 1000.     By 1923 the Cowley had become the cheaper of the two Morris models and this one would have used the licence-built Hotchkiss engine. 

    On to the Mercedes, now.   Direct equivalent to my 190E would have been the W136 170V model which represented the sole model with the three pointed star until the Ponton range appeared.   Like many 1950 cars it was a post-war warm-over.    
     
    My 1987 T25 would have had no direct comparison in 1947, the original "Bulli" was no more than a scribble in Dutch importer Ben Pon's notepad.   My previous camper was a converted Bedford CF ambulance so 1979 would probably have seen me fitting some Army Surplus camping gear into the back of this.....
     

     
    1947 Bedford KZ 
     
    Of course, I would have needed a modern car to offer all the creature comforts my 2000 Fiesta Ghia has.   There was no Anglia Super in 1960 so I would need to be satisfied with the heater and screen-washer in a de Luxe Anglia.    By 1979 it would have probably looked like this.....
     

     
    I would have been extremely happy with that lot back in 1979.   In reality, I was smoking this lot around...Or not, usually...

     
    A fucked Mini

    Company Renner van 

    Suzuki T200 Invader 
     
     

  22. Like
    mercrocker got a reaction from Datsuncog in Shite in Miniature II   
    That yellow Monz-alike is actually,  I think, meant to represent a 1983 Plymouth Turismo.   Dunno who the diecast-er is, though.
     

  23. Like
    mercrocker got a reaction from eddyramrod in Shite in Miniature II   
    Ah...clarifies the grille difference nicely, thanks Ed....I had forgotten about the Omni but have a brochure on the Plymouth so that was the one that sprung to mind.
  24. Like
    mercrocker got a reaction from egg in Shite in Miniature II   
    That yellow Monz-alike is actually,  I think, meant to represent a 1983 Plymouth Turismo.   Dunno who the diecast-er is, though.
     

  25. Like
    mercrocker got a reaction from morrisoxide in Shite in Miniature II   
    If those little hardback Motor Car books are still about - and cheap - they are worth picking up for the great illustrations of often unusual vehicles.   Early "partworks" they were issued both for sale through book sellers but also printed up for Spar groceries and Sunday Times etc to sell.   They date to around the 1959/61 period.    I have a full set somewhere but didn't find them last time I looked....!
     

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