mharrell Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 I was persuaded by someone who shall remain named in the subject line of this topic that I should set up an account and say hi, primarily out of a sense that my tastes (such as they are) in automobiles might fit here. So, by age: In many ways my most conventional vehicle is my oldest, a 1937 Plymouth P4 sedan. It's entirely stock and unrestored after 75 years of use, so although a bit rough around the edges and lacking in certain modern conveniences (such as turn signals or a second brake light), it's also my most reliable daily driver. Next would be the SAABs.... The red 96 with the roof rack and the white 96 are both two-stroke cars from 1967. The red one has a mixer engine, requiring oil to be poured into the fuel tank, whereas the white one has an injection system which delivers the oil directly to the main bearings, after which it is consumed along with the fuel-air mixture. The other red 96 is from 1968 and has a V4. Then there are the French cars: These are a pair of KV Mini 1 microcars, also two-strokes, with the tattier of the two (with racing stripes!) being from 1978 and the slightly less scruffy one from 1980. They are propelled by rollers which rub against the rear tires. A sympathetic description is here: http://clunkbucket.com/victoire-de-citrons/ Returning to the US, I've also got a three-wheeled cabin scooter known as an HMV Freeway, made in Minnesota in 1981: Oh, and inasmuch as this is a British site, it's appropriate to conclude with my 1982 MG Metro 1300, one of a handful in the States: as described here: http://bringatrailer.com/2010/06/25/bat-success-story-1982-mg-metro-hauler/ That's it. I either drive one of those or I have to hitch a ride or walk. I've also got a 1959 Ford Skyliner, but as it is disassembled, in storage as part of a restoration project that's been in progress through multiple owners since the 1970s, I don't have a good photo. I was told you offer calendars?
trigger Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Hello and welcome! Nice collection of cars you have there, The Metro is impressive but not half as much as impressive as this photo!
Lord Sterling Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Welcome to the site. Love the Metro, seems to wiered seeing one across the pond. If ever I leave for the Middle East I'd like to import something wiered and interesting like a Ford Fiesta or Metro.
gtd2000 Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Welcome along! The North West is a fantastic place for old shite. I was amazed at the condition of many old Japanese cars that would have simply disintegrated over here in Scotland before even their first decade of life passed. This time last year, I was freezing my nuts off in Clarkston but it looks like you may well be around Seattle judging by the MG Metro pic?
Alexg Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Welcome to the site and what a fantastic collection of unusual cars. I recognise you KV from Concourse D'Lemons. http://www.concoursdlemons.com/
michiel Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Whoa! is all I can say, a 1937 daily driver. Heroic. Oh, and welcome!
messerschmitt owner Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 your cars truly are shite, which makes me happy! Welcome. Campbell
ashmicro Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Welcome aboard! What a collection, and the Metro is fantastic.
Cavcraft Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Welcome along, ace collection and strongly impressed with the two strokes!
RedSparrow Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Wow another winner of a new member! Welcome! My God....
eddyramrod Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Once again, a new arrival shows a collection that outshines even my models! Top work sir, I hope you'll be very happy here.
dollywobbler Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Crikey. What a collection! The Metro tow job pic is a definite contender for the 2013 calendar!
Skizzer Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Excellent work sir! I particularly love the picture of the three Saabs. Welcome to Autoshite.
mharrell Posted February 13, 2012 Author Posted February 13, 2012 Thanks, all! I'm also fond of this photo, which I took in Wall, South Dakota, on my way to the 2010 Microcar and Minicar World Meet in Illinois: Metros are excellent long-distance tow vehicles; this trip was right at 4200 miles in total (or, if you prefer, 6760 km).
trigger Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Metros are excellent long-distance tow vehicles. I don't think i've ever seen that statement before in my life, you must be mad!
HMC Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 That must have been quite a roadtrip- you should do a write up for the forum!
mharrell Posted February 13, 2012 Author Posted February 13, 2012 I don't think i've ever seen that statement before in my life, you must be mad! My previous tow rig was much too large and powerful to do a proper job of it: In contrast, the Metro qualifies as a minicar by US standards, so I was allowed to enter both it at the KV in the show upon reaching Illinois. When attending a microcar/minicar meet, it seems appropriate to bring one of each.
eddyramrod Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 That must have been quite a roadtrip- you should do a write up for the forum! Absolutely! When I do an American trip I rent the biggest thing I can lay my hands on - last time was this Chevy Suburban:- and it's not difficult to feel intimidated on the highways, even in that! Taking on such a trip in a Metro, with less power than a Suburban's heater fan, and towing too.... defies imagination. Brave, brave man. Point taken about entering the Metro into the show too though, good work.
AnthonyG Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Great stuff. I love the Plymouth and the Metro! LS, if you go the Middle East, you could look out for a Montego, they were sold in Bahrain and the UAE (and perhaps Jordan and Saudi as well) back in the day. The aftermarket air-con did reduce the power output of the 1600s I'm told! - (by an ex AR employee, he had brochures as evidence).
Mr Lobster Posted February 13, 2012 Posted February 13, 2012 Four-thousand-two-hundred miles in a Metro. Towing. You must be mental. You'll fit right in then. Hello and Welcome!
gtd2000 Posted February 14, 2012 Posted February 14, 2012 Metros are excellent long-distance tow vehicles; this trip was right at 4200 miles in total (or, if you prefer, 6760 km). I wouldn't worry about metric over here - we only use it when it suits us. All our road signs are in MPH and Miles. We normally quote height in feet and inches Buy our beers in pints (20oz not those tiddly US 16oz efforts!) We do buy our fuel in Litres (not Liters) and then convert to Gallons (which are not 3.8 Litres) in order to figure out our MPG About the only thing I do with metric consistently is measure things. But now and again something comes up easier in inches
John F Posted February 14, 2012 Posted February 14, 2012 Metros are excellent long-distance tow vehicles. That's possibly the most wrong thing I've ever read on the Internet.
mharrell Posted February 14, 2012 Author Posted February 14, 2012 Four-thousand-two-hundred miles in a Metro. Towing. You must be mental. Admittedly when I got to the meet someone asked me whether I had come via South Dakota, as a friend had reported seeing something that looked like a Yugo towing a refrigerator heading east on Interstate 90....
RoadworkUK Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 Admittedly when I got to the meet someone asked me whether I had come via South Dakota, as a friend had reported seeing something that looked like a Yugo towing a refrigerator heading east on Interstate 90.... I'm so glad you're here, man...
Luxobarges_Are_Us Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 Bloomin'eck, that's EPIC! Welcome to AS!
Lord Sterling Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 Metros are excellent long-distance tow vehicles; this trip was right at 4200 miles in total (or, if you prefer, 6760 km). Wow man! Only the brave can do such a thing. I've been towed in a Metro from Worcester to Bromsgrove avoiding motorways which wasnt too bad. Mind, I guess wide American highways are much better than Britain's narrow pothole-ridden stress-inducing roadways.
cobblers Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 Mind, I guess wide American highways are much better than Britain's narrow pothole-ridden stress-inducing roadways. Americas roads (Well, california's anyway) make ours look absolutely brilliant in comparison! And as for stress - You know when you're in a 50mph limit with average speed cameras, and there is traffic in every lane, doing the same speed? That's what all the highways are like, pretty much all the time - People don't seem at all interested in staying to the left (or right) unless overtaking. And everyone drives so very slowly. I'm getting stressed just thinking about it! Mega kudos for tackling a Metro on those roads!
scooters Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 Vast respect for that crazy trip - how long did it take you? 4 days?what a hoot - irresponsible road trips in shonky old chod are a must on here - write ups with photos including sights, chod spotted en route and the inevitable roadside scene (waiting for the towtruck) are appreciated! The distances outside Western Europe/UK are what we find truly staggering. Anymore than 400 miles and I start to think about flying!
Pete-M Posted February 15, 2012 Posted February 15, 2012 Welcome. You're obviously nuttier than squirrel shit, so you'll fit right in. The Metro towing adventure.... madness. That cabin scooter thing, tell me more. That looks like a most excellent way to kill yourself. I want one.
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