I'll just leave this here...

[nigel bickle]

Well -ones back safely:-

 

 

 

No real dramas -just a bit heavier than expected!

[Vin]

That does look wonderfully shabby.

[hairnet]

tell me again why exactly would you want a vw camper

[nigel bickle]

I dont want a VW camper.

 

Thats why I bought a Peugeot

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Ace recovery skills!!! Tell us a bit about your dolly, is it a foldy-up one? Braked or unbraked? heavy duty tyres?

[nigel bickle]

Cheers Boll - I hadn't anticipated the damn van was so heavy -burst a tyre!

 

Its an old RAC version -4 8inch wheels, unbraked with a manual winch. Ancient but tows well, cant tip (stabilisers) & feels good at speed

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Nice one! I used to have a dolly which took 2 x little tiny tyres like what you get on a motorcycle trailer or one of thse shitty halfords tinplate trailers. Totally unsuitable really. Eventually i found somewhere selling double-thickness heavy duty tyres in that size which were a bit better but cost twice as much, and you could wear a set out in a day if the towed car was not bob-on central on the dolly. 4 tyres is much more satisfactory.

[Cavcraft]

Brilliant Nigel, and a sure fire calendar shot. Excuse my rubbish eyesight please, what did you tow it with and how on earth did you clear that car port?!

[fiatdaft]

Nigel is that a real golf rallye or a golf with a kit on it?

[gricer]

Peugeot J9 remained in production at Karsan in Turkey until the end of 2010.

 

 

Now replaced with a hideous thing called the Karsan J10, which I suspect is just a disguised J9

 

[nigel bickle]

Its a J7, 1966. A really early one (confirmed by the small seperate rear lights, 70's onward they got much bigger one piece square units). Kitted out as a campervan, its not seen the road in at least 10 years. Owners found it in a barn & bought it but didnt even start the resto -so its just sat for 3 years.. Looks fairly easy -and solid, despite appearances to the contrary. No perforations anywhere, and the metals thick. very thick. Got it for a snip..

That is indeed a Golf Rallye -and negotiations have commenced. Similar scenario as the J7. He's a bit of a shite french wheeler dealer. I've given him a list...

 

The tow car is a Mitsubishi Legnum (ex Dez off RR -with with re-modified to nearer original suspension) -effectively a personal import Galant estate. This seems to be the only 1800cc in the Uk -every other has VR4 mechanicals, so we can only surmise htat it was a last minute contaier filler it makes no sense to import an 1800; but there you go. So -its not especially quick (but the ''Barry's'' dont know that) but it is economical,comfy & a good cruiser.

 

Getting the Pug out was indeed 'fun'. Winching it up the garden, then up the ramp knackered my winch- shedding teeth. Additional ratchets & straps got it on OK, after the Mitsi had waved its arse clear of the ground. Getting out, uphill on wet grass was also fun but successfully sorted with added, giggly teenage 'weight' sitting over both front wheels.

 

Bollough- I had one of those 2 wheel dollies- and loathed it. It always felt really unsafe, and unpleasant to tow. I was convinced that a sharp turn would flip it over. It was sold on -fast. This one, which I've had several years, although quite heavy -is great. Low to the ground, 4 inline 8 inch trailer wheels with decent tyres. The only real issue I've had is replacing the 2 inner wheels -they have to be physically assembled 'in situ' -ie wheel on, tube on, tyre then fitted. Any other route is too wide to go in the gap. The loss of one tyre (80 miles from home) -manifested as a vibration above 55mph, was simply sorted by towing at 53! The wheel spins gently -or remains off the ground, the other 3 carrying the load. Once the Pug is off I can simply tip it on its end and swop rims (its an outer). 10 mins work.

 

Dolly's are my ''least favourite'' towing medium, but the J7, on a trailer would have meant 4wd- (expensive ferry & fuel) and I felt an A frame prob too much of a risk -as I couldnt get hold of a set of replacement wheels (%x190!) -and I'm not changing tyres on site, like you. I'm not that good.

 

I've been quite poorly for a while, and had been putting off collection till I felt well enough. Frankly it knackered me (-2 days flat on my back) but the sense of elation overwhelms the pain. So shiters, I' m back in biz, next collection is the Pug 505Gti estate, then a REALLY rare Renault that has been agreed in principal with that great God Godfrey. Happy days

 

Just got to get them roadlegal now....

[STUNO]

Interesting recovery Nigel.

I posted this a while ago . Are these rare or just seriously unloved ?

 

Renault 21 4WD Turbo by stuno602, on Flickr

 

Glad you are better too !

[nigel bickle]

They're great fun.I've a series 1 21turbo -the ordinary two wheel drive version. Absolute blast to drive- but difficult not to flex the right foot. A quick way to lose your licence.

 

They've lttle value here, most have no idea of their pedigree

[wuvvum]

I really like that - tax exemption is an added bonus. I tend to forget how much wider than an Estafette these were. I have to confess to eyeing up a few later J9s on leboncoin - for some reason I rather like the '80s plastic-grilled version - kind of like France's answer to the Dodge Spacevan I always think.

[michiel]

Do like those J7s, I played a lot with my little plastic 'Police' van when I was a kid. How I loved the sliding doors.

Curious what that Renault will be & hope your back gets better soon!

[skoda_fan]

That's so nice!! I too had forgotten there was a Turbo. Do you own all the cars listed in your sig?? If so you must be in competiton with Mr Glover, sometimes of this parish!! (Makes my collection, which I'm always being told is "too many", look pathetic!!)

[nigel bickle]

Sadly ,I own a good deal more than those listed.Theyre just the ones in use- or at home.

 

Here's my 21t:-

 

Michiel its a VERY rare Renault, but i dont want to count my chickens...

[michiel]

Sadly etc

 

 

Let's leave those chickens uncounted then, I'll be patient!

[HillmanImp]

I think thats just the tip of the iceberg of your collection isn't it Nigel? Just from general goings on here for the last few years and some photos, I suspect Nigel might pip Sam to the post but I cant say for sure.

 

I was lucky enough to be shown round Sam's aircraft hanger the other week and its amazing, I was just walking around pointing saying 'Look its a....', 'OMG you have a......' 'WTF is that, I have never seen one of those before' etc etc.

 

Unfortunately due to some unfortunate incidents in the past it not going to happen with Nigels mental collection which is for personal viewing only these days, although I suspect his neighbours do get to see them all over a long enough period of time. Whether they are as enthusiastic as I would be about this I am not 100% sure.

[barrett]

Nige, is there an update on the Bellel situation? I think when I last saw you you still hadn't sorted out shipping, I guess enough time has passed for it to be in transit or even landed by now?

I found another little tidbit of UK Isuzu history that I'll dig out and post up here a bit later, you may have already seen it but it was anew one on me