Camry future pondering + Bluebird has landed

[Rocket88]

Octavia Estates are surprisingly vast, much more load space than a Beemer 5 series touring.

[Spottedlaurel]

Really, the Camry is a big old thing. Near vertical tailgate too, and wider than mid-size family cars. The spare takes a bit of space, but if it lived under the floor like in the 5-seat versions it'd be fine. It's really well thought-out too, the way the seats fold and the neat little touches like holes for the rear headrests to mount on when the seats are tipped up. Obviously designed as a proper estate, not just a saloon with a bit more convenience.Anyway, as Pog says what else am I going to get with twin rear wipers? (Apart from Cedrics and Crowns, but they wouldn't exactly be a viable daily with current fuel prices.)

[Guest]

I found the most imposing thing about your Camry was the width. There's one like yours at a petrol station in Dewsbury, seems to be there most of the time. 2.2 in white, looks alright, just some bumper scrapes (presumably because of the width)!

[mk2_craig]

what else am I going to get with twin rear wipers?

 

[pogweasel]

Be a few years before the Bini Cuntman makes it to Autoshite territory for inclusion in the official A-S top trumps. It will though, on account of it's utter pointlessness, like some kind of post-milennial Matra Rancho.

[r.welfare]

Yep, I can just see SL in a Bini Clubman...hang on, what am I saying?!!

[Spottedlaurel]

No way, how dare they steal my twin rear wiper thunder with that! A ‘proper’ Clubfoot estate is the only British-badged car I have ever owned, and my first estate. It wasn’t great, nor I imagine would one of those new ones be for collecting bags of plaster, 8’ lengths of timber etc from the local merchants. Probably OK though for not squashing those oversize paper bags that fashion shops sell clothes in.

[Richard]

The Bini will fall out of favour very soon. By 2015 they will be featuring in a one-make banger racing series.

[Spottedlaurel]

Gah! Despite accepting my order, after I'd rung the bloke to confirm they could get them ("if it's listed, then it's in stock"), I've now received a refund as that particular item is no longer available. Looking at another site, they say an awful lot of Camry exhaust bits are also obsolete.So, quick bodge to get it through to MoT time then I'll see what needs doing, for the exhaust it'll either a more permanent bodge (looking in the direction of a nearby 'shiter ) or maybe stainless if the car still has some life in it.Still no other 2.2 estates come up other than the 230k jobbie down in Southampton. Just rung about that one, MoT's up in December so it offers little benefit to me at the price they're asking (£489). If it was cheaper it would have been of interest, but they've reputedly had a fair few calls on it so that's unlikely.

[ChinaTom]

I know it's a long way to come, and the condition will be frightening, but if it's 2 rear wipers you want, then consider this rarity parked outside Qiqihaer Railway Station this afternoon. Lack of plates means it has been abandoned (one takes one's plate with you here)

 

 

Is this a Camry with an imported name from somewhere, or something even bigger? It was enormous.

[Spottedlaurel]

Scepter is what they call it in Japan, it was still built in the USA as their version of the Camry was narrower. Mine is the same size as that one, but I don’t have the V6.

[Spottedlaurel]

Camry situation either clarified or confused by the apparent purchase of this highish-spec, low mileage Bluebird:

 

 

Ratdat’s fault for posting it on OJC! Click the pic for the listing.

 

At £295 with MoT until next August and some tax, the bonus of a towbar and it being local I don’t think I can go too far wrong. It’ll always have some value to the banger racers, so knock off the value of the tax and it’s a pretty cheap car.

 

By the time the MoT’s due on the Camry in Jan/Feb I imagine the Laurel will be off the road, and that isn’t the ideal winter hack anyway, so if nothing else the Bluebird will buy me some time while I get the Camry sorted and it will still have a decent amount of MoT left if I sell it on again next spring.

 

Service parts etc should be less hassle (and cheaper) than the Camry, and there’s a few stashed away in a local yard for racing so anything more major shouldn’t be much of a problem. Cam belt has been done some 20k miles ago, so that’s not an immediate concern.

 

In an ideal world it would have been a hatchback for materials hauling versatility, but I’ve just been talking to the well-spoken seller and it does have a fold-through rear seat plus it’s got the towbar so I can always get myself a trailer.

[r.welfare]

Great colour! Really, I get confused with all the different trim designations the T12 and T72 seemed to have over their lifetime...mind you, only the "Premium" runout jobs were basically-equipped; my 1.8GS was, to a 21yr old RW, a real "executive-spec" motor for the money...

[Guest]

I had a look at that auction, looks a bit of a piece doesn't it! Very smart.

[Spottedlaurel]

With help from Scrapman, I’m going to collect this tomorrow night.Contrary to what the listing says, trim level is SLX, which is pretty decent but the lower of the two models available with the 2.0 engine, equivalent to a GL in Ford-speak. ‘Ghia’ spec was the SGX, until fancier models came with the facelift in late 1987. If the brochure is to be believed, this could be the first car I’ve had with manual windows since my 1973 180B.I wonder if this will be the case though, as it seems to have a sunroof yet my brochure doesn’t list that being available even as an option. It’s either an aftermarket job, or Nissan fiddled with the equipment levels as they brought in the proper UK-built models.Whatever, it should make for a comfy hack and perhaps I can pick up a bit of sub-contract airport run work off Hirst?

[MrRegieRitmo]

What spec were the sporty models, usually in white with spoilers & side skirts? I always quite liked the sporty hatchback ones

[TheScrapman]

Hmm, I look forward to seeing the Bluebird tomorrow... Will aim to be at yours just before 8pm. Will be in the bland-o-benz probably as the Mazda is safely wedged in at the back of the drive behind the rest of the fleet.As for the Camry exhaust, we'll have to arrange you bringing it over sometime soon, and I'll weld it back together. Can re-skin if needed. Should then give you at least a couple of years further service. Just the expense of a windscreen should then make the Camry viable for at least a couple more MOT's...

[Spottedlaurel]

Hmm, I look forward to seeing the Bluebird tomorrow... Will aim to be at yours just before 8pm. Will be in the bland-o-benz probably as the Mazda is safely wedged in at the back of the drive behind the rest of the fleet.As for the Camry exhaust, we'll have to arrange you bringing it over sometime soon, and I'll weld it back together. Can re-skin if needed. Should then give you at least a couple of years further service. Just the expense of a windscreen should then make the Camry viable for at least a couple more MOT's...

Ta! Just insured the Bluebird on my classic policy (extra £75 until next May) so all being well I’ll start using it immediately, and I can then remove the Camry’s silencer and leave it with you to do at your leisure. While you still have some for the next three weeks or so Just spoken to the chap, he's unfortunately going to be held up with work and says 9.30pm for him is the earliest. If you're with us for 8pm-ish we'll have time for a cuppa before setting off.

[TheScrapman]

Yup, cuppa always good - may leave it 'till half eight tho...

[Guest]

Whatever, it should make for a comfy hack and perhaps I can pick up a bit of sub-contract airport run work off Hirst?

Well, it'd add a new dimension to the fleet - with the Stanza/Galant/Charmant as minicabs and the 323 Wagon as a company van, a 2.0L Bluebird could be slotted in as prestige hire for weddings etc.

[Spottedlaurel]

It’d certainly look classy outside the registry office, I’ll pop round to the market later in the week and get some white ribbon OK?

[Guest]

I was just going to use some masking tape to be honest. Get some white gloves though - it's a look that says "I'm in control of my private hire vehicle".Hope it's a good one anyway.

[Ratdat]

If the brochure is to be believed, this could be the first car I’ve had with manual windows since my 1973 180B.

I'd be suprised if it had manual windows. Even my old 1.8GS had leccy windows. Mind you it was later than that one.

[Spottedlaurel]

What spec were the sporty models, usually in white with spoilers & side skirts? I always quite liked the sporty hatchback ones

Sorry, didn't answer your question earlier. They were ZX, had a turbo version of the 1.8. There was also an Executive model which was fairly snazzy with nice alloys, leather interior etc.

[TheScrapman]

Slight change of plans this eve Nigel, as we are going to look at a new car (modern, so unmentionable on here! ) for Lilla in Bury after work, so may not make it round for a cuppa first.I'll make sure I am at yours before 9pm, possibly in something modern and thrifty

[Spottedlaurel]

With thanks to Scrapman for the lift (part of a complex trade involving a pram, car seat, 13†trim rings and Camry silencer welding), I collected the Bluebird last night. It’s a gem!It feels much as I remember the Accord did, though with a slightly bigger, more sure-footed feel. Surprisingly noisy inside, engine has quite a rorty, almost gruff, note to it but it pulls very well. It’s carb-fed, but like the Accord it seems to work very well and the engine has that solid, torquey feel typical of a decent capacity 8v 4-pot. Rev’s OK up to about 5000, no benefit going beyond that. Steering, handling and brakes all good, clutch nice and light and a lovely gearchange. Gearing in 5th is tall, way under 3000 rev’s at 70mph, yet it’ll still pull it on the country roads.Interior is, as the listing said, immaculate and quite plush with moquette fabric (velour in other words). Fold-down rear seat looks handy. Every element on the HRW works, always good to see, and it has electric door mirrors which are also heated – handy for winter. It has PAS, but oddly no central locking or electric windows – winders look familiar from Datsun days! Indicators are on the proper RH side too, and the radio was even tuned in to Radio 3 for my drive into work.Still looked good when I saw it in daylight for the first time this morning, there’s a few rusty bits hidden away but it appears very solid in the important areas. Similar to the Accord, it appears the filler neck has ‘issues’ and it has been replaced.Faults? Wind noise from the aftermarket sunroof, possible stuck thermostat (runs a bit cool), wheel imbalance and maybe tracking. That I can pick on only these things for something bought with healthy amounts of T&T for less than £300 is remarkable, in fact with him not showing interior pic’s, mentioning the cam belt change etc I think he undersold it. Even came with quarter of a tank of fuel, I brought it into work today and still haven’t had to top it up. I noticed this morning that one of the interior door handles is blue which clashes nicely with the brown, I’ll pay a visit to the local racers to try and get one the right colour or perhaps keep it as character?Wheel trims are a bit gormless looking, be nice to find some alloys for it, maybe those nice cross-spoke ones off an Executive. Ed, got anything suitable kicking about? Otherwise my dead Laurel wheels would fit but they’re not much nicer really.Unsurprisingly, he had received offers from the banger racers but he was keen for it to live on. I’m happy to oblige!