Add 117 to make 3!

[Mash]

Hurrah!

[nigel bickle]

Ok -so I've got it; home on the A frame nice & safe:-

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb290/nigelbickle/isuzu%20117/DSCN0906.jpg

 

Owner was indeed a total prat -possibly the worst seller I have ever come across. He admitted he lied to force 3 dy collection -garage wasnt closing!

He refuses to hand over any of the history ('gonna sell it on Ebay') or the spare key -I threatened legal action if he planned to sell that...

He'd have taken the air out of the tyres if he thought there was cash in it!

 

Insisted on a test drive -which consisted of him brutallizing a cold engine at valve bounce, tyres screaming, with a BIG red 'Brake failure' light up on the dash. I wanted to climb into the back -and damn near did.

 

Only once paid -in front of witness' did he realise I was A framing it -and then told me he was going to call the Police. When I (quietly) pointed out that I thought it was illegal for MOT testers to pass their own cars (last MOT -expired Jan) -did he 'see reason'. A truly awful man.

 

Anyway -its saveable. Its got a fair amount of surface rust where the paints damaged, microblistered and peeling lacquer means an eventual respray - but hammerite will stop that perforating whilst I sort the mechanicals.

Brakes (inc handbrake), exhaust and very rich running, plus consumables-wipers etc etc. Damn good wash and polish should see it looking a load better.

I hadnt realised the alloys are etched '117 Coupe' -as is the (original) key. Class.

 

I'll run it up the road when its dark to see how it feels -but guts say its a 'good un'.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Superb work Mr Bickle. I have to say, thats one of the best buys I have ever seen on UK ebay, I salute you. The guy sounds like a complete mong and to be honest I thought it seemed too good to be true, I was sure either the car or the seller would somehow scupper the sale.Interesting that he'll take it for an un taxed + un-MOT'd test drive (presumably on the road) then comes over all law abiding when you want to a-frame it away. Give him a big fat neg - he cant neg you back any more! Cheers eBay! Also sign him up for the obligatory free samples of Supa Tenaladys.

[pogweasel]

Great work, Bicklator!Are you going to give him a brutal negging just for a lawk then or what?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

What was his reason for not giving you the spare key then? 'NO - YOULL HAVE TO PAY £3 TO GET YOUR OWN SPARE KEY CUT' Bizarre.

[Spottedlaurel]

I'll echo the above, that's top work in getting it - probably more hassle than some of your foreign purchases? But definitely worthwhile!Be interesting if much is shared with GM cars of that era - I think it originally came out before they got involved with Isuzu but by this time I believe the General had stuck his finger in.Is the engine related to that in the Piazza?

[mouseflakes]

What a nasty, bitter little turd he sounds. Sounds like he was genuinely trying to damage the car he'd owned for so long just out of spite - hope he didn't manage to. So he's an MOT tester? Hadn't caught that before. Strange that he would have let the car deteriorate like that if he has the facilities to fix it.Well done Mr Bickle!

[retrogeezer]

Superb.....chuffed to bits that it is in your hands and look forward to seeing it sometime.Great looking car too..

[nigel bickle]

I've about 10 days to 'sort' it -before the Bellett arrives- not space for both right now.(DONT ASK!)I didnt neg him -cos the car IS pretty much as stated. But -whilst leaving a pos -I did leave a 'pretty clear' message as to his honesty/decency.The key -my guess is that he thinks he's going to get it back again one day- as on 2 or 3 prev occasions. not this time though -in the barn -if need be.Interior immaculate, floors solid, sills tatty but sound. Exhaust attached with cable ties. Boot locked -lock seized and the interior release wont work -he couldnt get in -but the rear seat folds to clearly show an alloy spare- and no rust. Clean up over the weekend and paintwork damage limitation -then sort out the appalling tickover- he seems to have 'tinkered' with the airflow meter... I'm beginning to like it....

[MrRegieRitmo]

Superb.....chuffed to bits that it is in your hands and look forward to seeing it sometime.Great looking car too..

It does look good, I was just sat on a bus outside Nigel's & spotted it parked up (and Nigel plus dog about to venture out in a Kia Pride). I was planning on coming back & posting in Nigel's direction that 'he got it then!' but he beat me to it.

[MrRegieRitmo]

I've about 10 days to 'sort' it -before the Bellett arrives- not space for both right now.(DONT ASK!)

So will you have to toss a coin in 10 days time & the loser goes into the barn?

I'm beginning to like it....

Don't you decide that before you bid? Anyway well done for securing the future of a unique vehicle (and for not hitting the oddball, who sounded like a really childish individual. He must have known you were a genuine enthusiast, why behave so beastly towards you??)

[Ross_K]

Pffft. That bloke appears to be a right knob end and no mistake.You were very charitable in not negging his ass into oblivion.I don't think I'd have been so restrained...

[MrRegieRitmo]

Ending at 7:35pm tonight.....http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1-43-Scale-ISUZU-117-Coupe-1968-green-Diecast_W0QQitemZ300229078441QQihZ020QQcategoryZ223QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[r.welfare]

Heroic stuff Nigel! Great to see such a significant car rescued.It's a shame the seller had to be such a total arse about it, really. I've telephoned/e-mailed sellers before who have come across as total tools - but then been absolutely fine when you meet them in the flesh. I had hoped this bloke would be like that too. Obviously not.Still - takes all sorts to make a world, and all that.

[nigel bickle]

Yep something HAS to give in 10 days (15 if I squeeze the max stay at the docks). Might be the 124 estate -(recently arrived from Oz) thats getting 'tuned' and alloys.Could be the Fiat 850 thats getting another engine change- I got shafted by the only ''specialist'' in these. (Litigation about to commence)or the Fiat 1100r -needing leaky carbs & linkage probs sorting. Could be the Taunus Transit -currently being re-invigorated, or the Mk1 Transit pickup -mid weldathon. Or hows about the Fregate- awaiting the return of its interior?If I want a real shuffle around -in the garage a Standard Pennant halfway thru a running gear swop to 1500 & o/drive. An FSO (ex Thorsten) that REALLY doesnt want to live, a Renault Caravelle awaiting paint, a Renault 12 van that has just had its 4wheel drive rear axle installed -awaiting completion of the gearbox and prop, or a Simca Aronde Estate mid weldathon (1 side done -other started)Think I've got enough to do?

[nigel bickle]

Reg- watcha doin' on the bus? Bust the Alfa?Need one of the others sorting for a ticket?

[r.welfare]

I would be long divorced if I even attempted 1/100th of what you get up to!

[vicsmith]

Looks a fantastic machine, glad it turned out to be a good un, I had a feeling it would be. I would quite look forward to seeing how this cleans up, had a bit of a fascination with these ever since I saw a feature on Japanese cars in Classic & Sports car in the early `90s - the 117 wasnt mentioned, but in a collage of brochure pics I could just about see the front half of this really handsome looking red thing, and could just make out the car`s name on the brochure cover. I`ve only just recently found out what the back half of a 117 looks like.

[carlo]

Really pleased you prized it away from the loon, Nigel. Sounds like you must have used up all your patience on him. What on earth was the test drive for, to make you think it was knackered and make you change your mind? And what on earth was his beef with A framing it?? Takes all sorts I suppose. Is that the character shown in the pic?

 

Meanwhile, what a stunner that shape is. Just found this one on google.

 

 

Your mission is to preserve this car!

[MrRegieRitmo]

Reg- watcha doin' on the bus? Bust the Alfa?Need one of the others sorting for a ticket?

Just awaiting the fitting of the new disc brakes I bought last weekend. Sister's b/f was going to help me fit them but we ran out of time. So I took Tuesday off from work for the purpose but the weather was crap, so we binned that idea. Should be happening tomorrow afternoon. It wasn't urgent at the time as the car was still driving fine, albeit with a bit of noise & vibration but we weren't unduly concerned by it as we knew there would be a bit of friction between the new brake pads & the old worn discs. The discs were so worn that the front driver's one had a thick ridge around the perimeter carved into it, so since the new pads were fitted for the MOT about a month ago (the pads were a failing issue, the discs just an advisory but there was no sense only sorting the pads as the discs would wear them out again shortly), in the past week the noise & vibration began but we took it the pads were beginning to 'bed in'. So I would just keep driving it till tomorrow, however earlier this week the friction noise & vibrations were gradually getting louder & louder. By yesterday I decided I couldn't really use the car till we changed the discs because the noise was truly awful & I was concerned encase any damage might be occurring. The vibrations could be felt through the seat as well as the steering wheel. The rear view mirror was shaking so much that cars in view were being blurred! I had visions of the drivers wheel beginning to smoke & catch fire so I decided it wasn't worth the risk. As much as I hate using the bus.Fortunately I've got people who I can arrange lifts to work with on the whole. Living in the middle of nowhere & working in the middle of nowhere doesn't make things easy!Thanks for the offer. There's something else you may be able to help me with soon though.

[Jazzy Jeff]

That's gorgeous I have to say. I love wing mounted mirrors. I think it's about time they came back into fashion.

[pandamonium]

Nigel, if you do decide to sell the 124 estate, I'd like to be considered, as I absolutely love them (Would prefer the Lada version tho).

[Guest]

I reckon now you should go down to Halfords and get some rattlecans made up in the same colour, respray some utter rotbox of a Mondeo or something, have it crushed into a cube then leave it on his doorstep and ring the doorbell.

[MrRegieRitmo]

Now there's an idea. Also attach a post-it note to the cube saying 'Care to try your spare key?'

[pandamonium]

Or someone do a photoshop of it being banger raced!

[pompei]

Another GR8 car for your collection. Nigel.Does he know where you live? I hope he's not thinking of stealing by in the night and stealing the car "back".

[vicsmith]

I reckon now you should go down to Halfords and get some rattlecans made up in the same colour, respray some utter rotbox of a Mondeo or something, have it crushed into a cube then leave it on his doorstep and ring the doorbell.

Or alternatively, respray his doorstep in the same colour, have his doorbell crushed into a cube, leave it on a rot-box Mondeo, then ring his hang on this won`t work.

[Split_Pin]

Damn didnt read 2nd page of thread ,lol

[MrRegieRitmo]

Damn didnt read 2nd page of thread ,lol

What's up?

[Split_Pin]

Lol I only read the first page, and thaought that he should tell the owner to forget it, betting that the sellers arsey attitude would hamper the sale, and that it would come up for grabs again a week later Glad its gone to a good home now!