Shitely Request - Princess from Plymouth to Derbyshire

[vulgalour]

A 1981 manual 2ltr HLS Princess has become available for a mere FREE TO COLLECTOR price.  It could probably be restored and it is a rare run-out model, one of the last before the Ambassador came along.

 

It's overall quite tidy, probably restorable, but there may equally be hidden horrors that I wouldn't know about until I got it back.  Primarily, my goal is to strip it for every useful bit and bridge what's left unless it's really good in which case I'll clean it up and sell it on.

 

 

So, can anyone help me get this car the 300 miles from Plymouth (postcode pending) to Derbyshire S43?  If so, what sort of cost will this be?

 

I could hire a trailer, put it on Dad's car and do the 600 mile round trip but I shrink away from the fuel cost of that endeavour in a petrol Omega.  A better alternative would be some sort of Autoshite relay or a diesel vehicle that could lug the beast up here which would I hope be considerably cheaper.

[panhard65]

I could do that but I do charge £1 a mile so you are looking at about £300. That does include dragging it out of whatever hedge it has lived in and dealing with the inevitable seized brakes etc just to get it rolling onto a trailer. I have picked up too many old cars that the owner says it was fine when I parked it so should be ok now. The fact that it was in a swamp for 20 years with the handbrake on and left in gear didn't seem to be worth mentioning. I could do it cheaper if anyone wanted anything shipped back the other way. As it will cost me about £200 in fuel alone

[vulgalour]

It's been stored in a not-too-buggered Council garage and judging by the pictures the brakes may be stiff but probably aren't seized.  The tyres all hold air.  I have asked if it runs, has free brakes, leaks petrol, &c. and I'm just waiting on a reply.  Apparently, it was delivered to the garage on a beavertail the present owner hired.  I'll provide more info as I get it.

[philibusmo]

Aww man, a free Princess appears in my neck of the woods and it has already been claimed. I have so much want for one of these delightful wedges.

[Mr Livered]

Not being too far from Plymouth, I wish I could help (it would be a good shiters day out) but currently lack a vehicle that would be of use.

 

However, if you need manpower for any reason (heaving motor onto trailer etc) let me know.

[vulgalour]

Phil:  If you can take it on instead I can forward the details to you.  Obviously, I'd prefer to have it for my own, but if you're after one to rescue you could do a lot worse than this.  I have no idea what state the floors/sills are in.

[vulgalour]

So getting panhard65 to do the pick-up is still the desireable option at present, I'm just held up by not having all the funds right now this minute.  I want to go and get this car tomorrow, obviously.

 

Brakes are not seized, engine was but was unseized before being put in the garage and, as far as the present owner is aware, will turn over.  There is no battery with the car.  Driving it back is definitely not an option, I just don't want to risk it.

 

Realistically, I don't think a trailer/a-frame/dolly on Dad's Omega is going to be the solution either.  Okay, so fully loaded with a 1 tonne trailer, four adults and enough tenting gear for a refugee camp has returned 30mpg... I'm not sure the fuel economy would be that great with a Princess on the back instead of tenting stuff and do I really hate my Dad enough to inflict 600 miles of more stupid car capers on him?

 

I was kinda hoping to take my Princess down with a second-driver and then drive both Princesses back in convoy.  Yet again, the real world is not as fun as the world in my head.

[In The Pit]

Have you thought about farming the job out to a courier company, it can be a lot cheaper than people think. Try either Shiply or Uship say what the car is and where from/to then people put in tenders for the job. I've had cars delivered for under £200 and I live right out in the country in deepest Wales (the county i'm in doesn't even have a motorway in it, the nearest one is 50 miles away).

 

http://www.shiply.com/

 

http://www.uship.com/uk/

[CortinaDave]

Put the number plates from your princess on it for INSTANT TAX AND MOT

 

Then drive it home

[KruJoe]

^^ As you know, I would never* employ that tactic.

[cms206]

^^ nor would I*. Especially not to drive a Mk2 National from Bournemouth to Glasgow on the weekend of Showbus. Never.

[vulgalour]

I *think* I've solved this... and in a totally legal non-asterisk kind of a way. Just doing a bit of back and forth to arrange everything.

 

Do you know, I'm a great big pansy for not wanting to try plate swapping or booking an MoT 300 miles away or get on a Megabus... great big scared pansy.

[Lord Sterling]

Great news Vulg'. Don't worry, one day you'll probably want a car so much that you'll end up doing something like what has been *suggested*.