Nige's newest nonsense

[hairnet]

more stock than car craft......

[nigel bickle]

Fuck knows.   I don't count. 3.5 drawers of the filing cabinet though.

[chaseracer]

better stock than car craft......

EFA.

 

[vulgalour]

You know a man is a true enthusiast/mentalist/hoarder when he counts his cars not by numbers but by the space their documents occupy in a filing cabinet.  Truely an inspiration to us all.

[hairnet]

we count the cars nige counts the receptacles theyre in

[flat4alfa]

Renner 12 wagon spotted for sale

 

What's next?

[nigel bickle]

Its just in the way.

I've 2 other 12 Estates, (and a van) -so this one needs to go.  Its not bad, just looks terrible -and I hate paintwork.  Ill health & increasing age means that more will be going , when I'm well enough to get them out. 

[nigel bickle]

I've been convalescing (post op) in southern Belgium for a while , but  gradual improvements dictated a return to the UK yesterday. As my son was driving over to collect me, it seemed like the ideal time to introduce him to the art of A framing.  The Syrena, sitting close to France in the north looked like the ideal candidate.

 

So, t'was the reason we rocked up yesterday morning in the sunshine to collect this:-

 

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First order was to check our wheels fitted -as the owner swore the pcd to be 135.. it wasn't, thankfully, 139.7 slipped straight on, instantly elevating it to a rolling wreck..

 

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Looking better already!

 

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Free'd brakes and a good scrub later:

 

http://en is going to be

 

 

Damage to date is a very rusty bonnet -although the area all round it is sound, a broken missing driveshaft  with the other clacking like a whore's drawers. Guess that's what took it off road, originally. Replacing them is going to be interesting...... 

 

My overall impression is that its sound.

Sills seem to have fibreglass on them -but its a straight bar, so replacement (if needed) wont be hard, and the chassis & floors looks unblemished. Interior is in good nick, and the (Wartburg) engine (3cyl -2 stroke) is free.    Some of the lights are missing -but I think the rears are Fiat 600, and the others are generic..    Brakes we haven't touched yet, and steering is very stiff. 

 

Anyway -ready for the 'off' with a now very nervous novice A framer:-

 

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Who then towed faultlessly all the way home!

 

Last daylight pic at the tunnel, where we had to fend off Border Guards, Gun totting Gendarmes, & pretty Polish bus travellers (he didn't mind those!) with a shitty stick!    It created a lot of interest the whole trip - not least 4 Special branch Officers travelling home in a Police van  behind us on the train. Nice blokes & an unusual escort for the first few miles of the M20. They loved the A frame -and were full of questions.  Thankfully ,nothing but commonsense approval.

 

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Home without any real issue, and overall I'm pleased. We'll give it a damn good scrub & slap some rust preventative on the few small bare bits. Driveshafts , brakes and steering will need investigation, but I cant see it being too difficult.  

 

 

 

The blue Zaz is now home -and being a real pain.. Seems the engine &  box I bought is from a 965 -the smaller/older  Zapo. Now it'll fit ( I think) but the engine doesn't fit the box -being a few inches smaller. No probs, think I -I'll fit the box that came with it (successfully) only now to discover that my 968 driveshafts wont fit the box. All the seals, fitments, mounts are different -so now I have  to trace some 965 gearbox mounts/shafts -or accept defeat & start over -tracking down another engine.

Wiser now- I know the differences so will not be getting shafted like that again.. Anyone want a 965 engine?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sigmund Fraud]

Amazing work, once again !

 

Syrenas are brilliant, like a slightly larger, slightly more powerful, much nicer looking Trabant ! They seem to be pretty rare in the west as I've only ever seen them in 'captivity'. Looking forward to updates on this !

[Mr_Bo11ox]

That’s flipping brilliant, I always have a feeling that the more time goes on, the more A-framing turns from a beautifully sensible technology that just happens to work perfectly in the shiter’s favour, to a SOCIAL ILL that must be stamped out by officialdom, which I find very depressing. A story like this gives me a much-needed boost to keep the faith and KEEP ON ‘FRAMING.

 

[nigel bickle]

Agree Boll. I'm just an old luddite- and my son hadn't a clue.

 

As a total novice he found it easy ,even though the Syrena objected to steering.  Put a trailer n the back -he'd have been out of his depth. Car on top would have had him quacking..

[nigel bickle]

Should also add the Traf Pol  in a heavily battenburg'd  BM, gave us an damn good look at on the M26. Spent 2-3 miles travelling beside us, checking the rig, before lamping off into the distance..

 

Keep at it mate,

[michiel]

Syrena looks lovely. The name does remind me of those treacherous Greek Sirens, although I guess this ones singing voice won't tempt many men... just a few shiters.

[RedSparrow]

I have run out of ways to express my approval for this thread.

 

[hairnet]

fed approval

 

when you wake up does brain do must find rare tat even before ya breakfast

[Andrew353w]

Nigel,

 

I've been "working abroad" for a few months so have been out of the Autoshite loop for some time. I've been catching up on a whole hill of Autoshite stuff and your thread is of a class that defies description! Truly magnificent doesn't get near it! I've also read about your health problems and trust that the current Mrs. B and your good self are feeling better now.

 

After beating you to the Lada 1500 in north London I'm continuing my own urban "lock-up find" hunting and have found a Triumph TR7; parked up in the early 1990's, it has only recently come to light (as in "the light of day") after the publication of a friend's late Father's will, which bequeathed the lock-up (& contents!) to my friend. More anon as and when I have something to report. 

 

Keep up the good work, Nigel!

[Six-cylinder]

Nigel - Fantastic thread.

 

I love the A frame, there is a Visa West End (Leather Special edition) for sale in Pleurtuit for 650 Euros which I would love but hiring a trailer (mind was stolen) attaching it to a very thirsty Range Rover, driving it 1000miles and crossing the channel just makes the cost prohibitive.

 

How many of your wonderful collection are on the road? Which are your favourites to drive?  

 

Do you have any contacts in Eastern Europe, as I still need a boot lock for my Oltcit.

[Largactil]

Lovely stuff - Wheeler Dealers have a Syrena featured on the 8th of October show...

 

"Mike heads to Poland to sample the FSO Syrena - one of the rarest motors we've tackled and one of the most quirky. The Syrena looks and feels like a 50s car although it was built decades later. With such an oddball vehicle, that is virtually unknown outside Poland, how will Mike and Edd add value to it, and crucially, make a profit?"

[nigel bickle]

Andrew -good to hear from you. I'm OK-but needing at least one more spinal op to be able to function without enormous amounts of morphine. Mrs is substantially better -and to all intents/ purposes ,normal.   I was lucky -but she'd not have been here now if it had been down to the NHS (her employer!)

 

Good luck on the TR7. I've loads I've not been able to sort/collect, and some will inevitably fall by the way. So, this trip back was too good an opportunity.

 

6 cyl. The cost was tiny. My son was coming to collect me, but assuming the trip was solely to collect the car.  200 miles each way at 30 mpg. £30 out in the tunnel, £60 back. That's  the cheapest crossing booked a week ahead- then using their' facility' to move it either way by 2 hrs. So, £100 fuel, £90 trip.   Hope that helps? 

 

Cars on the road have been cut back -as I cant currently drive a manual, barely an auto...

In no particular order: Se6a(auto) Pintara(auto) Musso (auto) Gaz, Mk1 Ibiza, Regata, Strada, 2 Datsun 411's, Datsun U11,Ren 21t, 25, Fregate, Barkas, Croma, 2 Fiat  Coupe's(1in France) ,850 saloon,& a Honda Kinetic scooter (for when times really get bad & my legs don't work).

[Six-cylinder]

 

 

6 cyl. The cost was tiny. My son was coming to collect me, but assuming the trip was solely to collect the car.  200 miles each way at 30 mpg. £30 out in the tunnel, £60 back. That's  the cheapest crossing booked a week ahead- then using their' facility' to move it either way by 2 hrs. So, £100 fuel, £90 trip.   Hope that helps? 

 

Cars on the road have been cut back -as I cant currently drive a manual, barely an auto...

In no particular order: Se6a(auto) Pintara(auto) Musso (auto) Gaz, Mk1 Ibiza, Regata, Strada, 2 Datsun 411's, Datsun U11,Ren 21t, 25, Fregate, Barkas, Croma, 2 Fiat  Coupe's(1in France) ,850 saloon,& a Honda Kinetic scooter (for when times really get bad & my legs don't work).

I like the A frame costings, is that two cars back they charge you for in the tunnel? The question is I am a cowardly cowardly custard and towing a well maintained trailer with a 2.6 ton Range Rover is one thing but using a car to tow a wreck without brakes is another! Not sure I am that brave.

 

 

Cars on the road have been cut back I love your list, but I don’t know how you cope, we have about the same sized collection but I do reduce mind in the winter by cashing in the tax on some and letting MOTs run out on others. Then there are the projects about the same again, I will have to live to 137 to complete what we have.

[nigel bickle]

Yup -2 cars back. Actually car & trailer- but they ask nothing about the size of the trailer (other than under 1.83 high). It can be 2 ft or 20 ft long- one price.

 

The issue of brakes A framing is an interesting one. The car has a bigger chassis than any trailer -so the rust isn't really an issue. Brakes that haven't been used maybe- so if there's any doubt -I just whizz the drum off.  Then they cant cause a problem!  All 4 this time span quietly -indicative that the pedal hadn't been pressed recently -or whilst there was still fluid in the system.

[wuvvum]

Excellent stuff.  I've always liked the shape of the Syrena - definitely one of the better looking Eastern Bloc motors IMHO.  Good to see the Pintara's still earning its keep too.  Also glad to hear Mrs B is on the mend.

[Justin Case]

 I'm OK-but needing at least one more spinal op to be able to function without enormous amounts of morphine. Mrs is substantially better -and to all intents/ purposes ,normal......  

 

........,& a Honda Kinetic scooter (for when times really get bad & my legs don't work).

 

Hats off to you Nigel. I had a nasty accident in the home a couple of weeks ago and a deep cut  badly damaged my wrist, so no driving for a month or two. I now realise how impressive what you've done is, with your state of health. Hope that things improve soon.

[Jim Bell]

Excellent work. Always enjoy seeing this thread bumped to the top. Adventure!

[Six-cylinder]

Can't believe it, I have just seen the trailer for next weeks New Wheeler Dealer TV program and it features a Syrena!

[nigel bickle]

Excellent.

[Guest benno]

They asked me to value it before it went on eBay, I didn't have a clue. Went for 2.5k I think in the end.

[nigel bickle]

Bit of a margin in mine then!

 

Look forward to seeing it

[Guest benno]

On a side note the dvla refused to issue the v5 for the 125, I have to go through the re-registration process starting with letting hmrc know the car has returned to the uk. I shouldn't have to pay any vat as it was paid when the car was first registered.

[nigel bickle]

Bumma. Hardly suprising though,.

 

Cant be complicated as you can prove prev reg here...

 

Just a pain.