Nige's newest nonsense

[nigel bickle]

Bocanegra hunting today, in the land of the Sprout.

 

Back later, hopefully!

[nigel bickle]

Well, it was wet. Torrential, from the moment I left home to the ferry terminal at Calais on the way back.

 

 

This caused numerous accidents, jams, slow moving or stopped traffic and so many diversions or village hoons, that I lost count.

 

Anyways, I have it.

 

 

 

Seems to be everything stated, although Im suspicious that all the missing parts are indeed in the car. Full itinerary in due course,

 

I whipped the plugs out, fitted an ignition switch and used the starter to crank it onto the dolly, so the engines not seized. Did need a BIG battery mind, but it was wet, I was tired, owner(?) wasn't much help so brutality was the order of the day!

 

A 20+ mile jam in the Brussels ring (other direction thankfully) meant a cross city, cross country journey out -always trying to tow in the opposite direction to the traffic. Seemed to work, as I was clear, on side to the other, in less than an hour.

 

It came with proper paperwork, but I think he bought it from his next door neighbour!  (His nickname is Wolf, incidentally!) if you look at the original ad

 

 

It appears to be at the top of the drive next door!  There was another elderly gent hanging about, but shunned me when I tried to engage in conversation. Soaked -I probably looked fearful!

 

Obligatory pez shot 1

 

 

And 2, at the Belgian/French border (cheaper in Belgie)

 

 

and then home late evening.

 

Lots of interest from multiple Belgium Feds (as dollies have been banned there) but with GB plastered everywhere, and the filthy weather, I had no trouble..

 

So, evaluation as soon as poss, then a gentle recommission, MOT  & registration. happy days

 

Back shortly for the Malaga

[RedSparrow]

Amazing!
These things look really cool. Like a design proposal that wasn't meant to make it into production.

[Parky]

Awesome work Mr B - is the nosecone in the car?

 

What are these things like mechanically? Ex Fiat I presume?

[Volksy]

Excellent news. You're becoming a full on Seat perv!!

[nigel bickle]

I was told the nose one and back bumper were in it, but the interior is such a mess...

I'll know, in a few days. Today is morphing induced rest day, or I'll seize up completely.

 

Does seem to be a Fiat, and the Belgian certificate of conformity is from Fiat! The chassis plate mentions Fiat Belgie, so let's hope Doovla don't get too confused..

 

Seats? This is now no4, the Malaga will make it 5. That's too many, really.

[320touring]

I was told the nose one and back bumper were in it, but the interior is such a mess...

I'll know, in a few days. Today is morphing induced rest day, or I'll seize up completely.

 

Does seem to be a Fiat, and the Belgian certificate of conformity is from Fiat! The chassis plate mentions Fiat Belgie, so let's hope Doovla don't get too confused..

 

Seats? This is now no4, the Malaga will make it 5. That's too many, really.

Even with all the family round you can get a seat at your hoose:)

[Jon]

Glad you've picked up what must be one of the Spanish holy grails without having to travel to Spain! Living in a country that borders no others, has no others nearby and is even divided in two itself makes me wistful of living in the UK but not being more adventurous in travelling, let alone picking up old cars. It's great to live vicariously through your posts, Nigel!

 

I know others have done it and travelled over to the EU to pick up stuff but I think it'd have to be a bucket list thing for me if ever I come back to live. Let's get some others doing this, as I bloody love reading about this stuff. However, take heed of Nigel's preparation skills, as he's obviously got it down to a tee. The most intrepid collection I've done was trailering a 205 GTI through busy Auckland traffic and over the harbour bridge but it was a piece of cake with a relaxed driving attitude and an Audi 200 turbo quattro as a tow car, which did the job effortlessly.

[Lord Sterling]

Sigh, all this talk of Belgium makes me miss it more. I really wantbto live there and drive around in a White low-spec early W124 200D exactly like the one in your 2nd pic.

 

Great pics/story, liking the private plate on the Renault. Was it very expensive? As I'd like a similar one myself, to have that 'old-money' look. Good luck with the car.

[nigel bickle]

It's not difficult to collect cars from Europe, apart from the "what happens if" mentality. But if the cars sound.....

 

All my working cars need private regs, because of the Company I am forced to keep during working hours. To my colleagues, 3 years old is ancient, so the thought of 25 + years doesn't compute. Most haven't a clue, enabling me to travel as I prefer, without the need for depreciation & huge monthly finance. The 25 is in favour simply because the seats suit my weak back right now.

 

The Boccanegra came off the road for welding. One side is done,( adequate, not great) the other untouched ,but needs inner/ outer sill and a bit of floor. There are a few non structural holes in the boot, but looks an easy save.

Mechanically I suspect it's going to smoke, judging by the condition of the air filter, plugs etc etc. I think it'll fire without too much work, then we'll see. Minimal oil pressure cranking on starter ( plugs out).

Brakes non existent, to be expected. Wheels are obviously scrap swop outs as the wheel bolts are too long, spaced with ordinary nuts! Exhaust borked, looks like 128 copy.

Ignition switch and wiper/ light switch combo missing- no idea why that was all taken off. I'll prob have spares.

No keys meant I had to break the fuel cap off, weird flush fit type ive not seen. Prob rebuild. Likewise door keys etc. just aggravation , nothing difficult.

All in all , very pleased.

Anticipate on the road late Spring.

[Pillock]

Wow, I don't think even my mum would think a R25 was a new car just because it had an ageless plate. Still, at least you get away with it - I remember a chap on RR who ended up with a 300C in the desperate compromise between "not a grey Audi" and "can't be more than three years old"

[nigel bickle]

Aaaah, but yOu know what a 25 is, to most it's just an androgynous car. Age indeterminate.

[Parky]

Hopefully all the Bocanegra service parts are standard Fiat - with luck that will include things like ignition barrels and such. Surely the Spanish wouldn't have designed and made bespoke items when they had a huge box of Fiat 124 and 128 bits lying around in boxes?

 

Hopefully the welding wont prove too onerous!

[Cavcraft]

Lovely stuff, is it going to need absolutely loads of work, or hopefully a fairly simple job?

 

Ps: That (Renault) reg number would look ace on my 306!

[nigel bickle]

Open to ridiculous offers....

[wuvvum]

Nice work!  I hope the boca negra does turn out to be in the car as I can see sourcing a replacement being a bit of a challenge...

[HMC]

There's lots to like about this recovery trip, but by far my fave bit of the whole thing is the tow car.

 

Doing it in style mr B!

[mercrocker]

Yes, reading stuff like this is why I joined this forum.   Awesome.   My euro-chod shuttling days are over (and were very shortlived, too) but I still like to see this sort of thing going on.   I can believe the plate fools the necessary people enough of the time too.   Coach operators would never be able to herd OAPs onto 25 year old Neoplans, otherwise!

[nigel bickle]

Well, it's good and bad. Whoever 'dismantled it' clearly had no intention of putting it back together again.

 

Good news in both bumpers are there, it's been welded up, one side ( adequately) the engine looks like it's going to run OK, and it all seems mechanically sound.

 

Drivers side sill, floor and a few other bits need replacing. Although still there they are paper thin, so patching isn't an option. Thankfully I have something to copy! Rear valence has huge chunks missing and a lump cut out, shouldn't be difficult. explains why the interior is out, so I'll be refitting the pass side asap, to get it out of the way/ stop it getting damaged.

 

However, the bumpers are a real mess. They seem to be rubber encasing unpainted steel , so they have blown ,disintegrated, then torn/split when they were forcibly removed, often with valence still attached! Just yanked off their seized solid screws,no attempt to dismantle any of them.

If they weren't unique, they'd be hopeless cases, but I've no option but for surgical repairs. Investigation on the front one has commenced, with the steel internal remnants being gently extracted. I think I'm going to need to fillet it to get the crap steel out, once I've sorted the splits sufficiently to allow such surgery. The built in indicator units were in a real mess but the important bits are saveable & getting refurb'd now.

 

Air filter and plugs suggest it's a smoker.. I did get a low oil pressure reading, but it's not great, frankly. Just under 140km , say 90,000 miles seems about right for a tired lump.

I've overhauled the distributor, worn and tired, and replaced most of the fuel lines, so when I've sorted the dash I'll give it a spin. I doubt it's a deal breaker, but it's similar to the 128/ Yugo range so probably cross compatible if forced?

Not yet worked out why the switches and ignition switch are missing, but have spares which I'll fit over the break.

 

Wiper spindle has been snapped( looks similar Fiat 1100), the berk that replaced the ( presumably) alloys with old steels seems to have used too long 12x 1.5 bolts ( should be 12x 1.25) so most of the hubs have stripped threads. Oh joy!

Glad I didn't know that before I towed it back!

 

Brakes look like they were working Ok, but will warrant investigation before it goes far!

 

Paintwork is borked, but will have to suffice for now. It may have been silver originally, since that seems to be the underlying colour breaking through on seams, below 2 totally differing shades of gold. If I love it enough, it'll get a bare metal, methinks.

 

Screen is cracked on pass side. Not an MOT fail ( to a generous tester) but it's going to spread. Unsure what I'll be doin there, other than measuring 70s Fiats, cos I really doubt it's unique!

 

So, overall, pleased. I'll be getting it running, bumpers ready to reattach, before I start on the welding. No revision on late Spring for its first fail.

 

Happy days!

[406V6]

Always a pleasure to read about your ramblings Nigel. It's full-on Autoshiting to a level that many of the rest of us couldn't get close to.

[Tayne]

If you can't find another screen this lot will take a mould from your cracked one and make you an mot-legal new one in Lexan.

 

http://www.plastics4performance.com

 

They don't charge for moulding so it may only cost you a couple of hundred.

[nigel bickle]

Thanks Tayne, that's worth knowing.

 

It's not at the top of the agenda, but def on the 'to do' list, if I keep it.

 

Appreciated

[hairnet]

respec

 

as mo said plate on ren ult is class

[DSdriver]

I think the lexan screen would definitely be a last resort, its not going to stand up to the windscreen wipers rubbing grit into it for long. OK if you don't go out in the rain of course. 

Nigel, I am continually amazed at your ability to find and purchase cars that I have never heard of. There can't be that many left on your list. 

Don't tell me what you are searching for and I won't tell you what I haven't heard of. That way I'll keep getting nice surprises.

[Parky]

Well, it's good and bad. Whoever 'dismantled it' clearly had no intention of putting it back together again.

Good news in both bumpers are there, it's been welded up, one side ( adequately) the engine looks like it's going to run OK, and it all seems mechanically sound.

Drivers side sill, floor and a few other bits need replacing. Although still there they are paper thin, so patching isn't an option. Thankfully I have something to copy! Rear valence has huge chunks missing and a lump cut out, shouldn't be difficult. explains why the interior is out, so I'll be refitting the pass side asap, to get it out of the way/ stop it getting damaged.

However, the bumpers are a real mess. They seem to be rubber encasing unpainted steel , so they have blown ,disintegrated, then torn/split when they were forcibly removed, often with valence still attached! Just yanked off their seized solid screws,no attempt to dismantle any of them.

If they weren't unique, they'd be hopeless cases, but I've no option but for surgical repairs. Investigation on the front one has commenced, with the steel internal remnants being gently extracted. I think I'm going to need to fillet it to get the crap steel out, once I've sorted the splits sufficiently to allow such surgery. The built in indicator units were in a real mess but the important bits are saveable & getting refurb'd now.

Air filter and plugs suggest it's a smoker.. I did get a low oil pressure reading, but it's not great, frankly. Just under 140km , say 90,000 miles seems about right for a tired lump.

I've overhauled the distributor, worn and tired, and replaced most of the fuel lines, so when I've sorted the dash I'll give it a spin. I doubt it's a deal breaker, but it's similar to the 128/ Yugo range so probably cross compatible if forced?

Not yet worked out why the switches and ignition switch are missing, but have spares which I'll fit over the break.

Wiper spindle has been snapped( looks similar Fiat 1100), the berk that replaced the ( presumably) alloys with old steels seems to have used too long 12x 1.5 bolts ( should be 12x 1.25) so most of the hubs have stripped threads. Oh joy!

Glad I didn't know that before I towed it back!

Brakes look like they were working Ok, but will warrant investigation before it goes far!

Paintwork is borked, but will have to suffice for now. It may have been silver originally, since that seems to be the underlying colour breaking through on seams, below 2 totally differing shades of gold. If I love it enough, it'll get a bare metal, methinks.

Screen is cracked on pass side. Not an MOT fail ( to a generous tester) but it's going to spread. Unsure what I'll be doin there, other than measuring 70s Fiats, cos I really doubt it's unique!

So, overall, pleased. I'll be getting it running, bumpers ready to reattach, before I start on the welding. No revision on late Spring for its first fail.

Happy days!

Get RatDat on the case, he'll have that all done in an afternoon!

[Tayne]

I think the lexan screen would definitely be a last resort, its not going to stand up to the windscreen wipers rubbing grit into it for long. OK if you don't go out in the rain of course. 

I read about P4P on Johnny Smith's flux capacitor blog.

He cracked the original Enfield screen ( which usually writes these things off) but discovered a typically British cottage industry business that could help him.

P4P make their money doing lightweight "glass" for WRC / BTCC etc but decided to waive the mould fees for anything they don't already do to build up a glass library ("we did a Bizzarini last year and I didn't think we'd see another but we've had two more orders")

They can do heated, anti-fog and windscreen wiper compatible.

I can't link directly but if you'll scroll down you'll find the windscreen post.

 

http://www.flux-capacitor.co.uk/blog.php

[nisfan]

Funnily enough i have some shite graphics and im sure theres malaga ones there.

[nigel bickle]

No idea if I need any yet, but if you do trace them ,pm me pleaseM

[nigel bickle]

Thought you might all like to meet my new best buddy?

 

I met 'Grolsch' outside a bar near Lisbon; clearly uncared for, unloved, pissed as a rat and thin as a rake; a few weeks back. We bonded instantly, and has hardly left my side since.

 

Mucho moola, numerous checks, jabs, teeth sucking and pointless bureaucracy has now rendered him mine, with a Portugese passport - and he landed in the UK this weekend.

 

 

A happy chappy, daft as a brush and a damn good drinker, The family love him, so all's good.

 

Cars?

 

Well, lots been going on but I'll not be talking about them here a while.

 

You'll recall that I've been the victim of excessive vandalism, & it s been confirmed I have acquired a stalker locally, who has been studying my mutterings on this august forum. Hence the ongoing silence.

 

I'll talk further once everything is safe, and he's been dealt with. Right now thee are still too many exposed.

[Volksy]

You seem to have the worst luck Mr. Bickle. 

Hope you get things sorted soon, I miss (being jealous of) seeing what new additions appear in your fleet.