Non live collection........

[alf892]

As mentioned in news a few weeks ago......I sent my BiL a link to an Austin Sheerline on ebay which was in Ireland. It was close to the end with a short description and about 4 pics.

 

So I was more than a bit surprised when he rang later to say he had bought it. I called bullshit and left it at that. It wasn’t until my sis rang the next day to ‘ask’ me not to send any more ebay links that I believed he had actually done it. No questions.......no further pics.....no enquiry about FA. It looked nice and the colour was right so that was it.

 

The seller offered to put it on the ferry and so it was duly booked to arrive in Liverpool on Weds morning in the week leading up to Christmas.

 

I packed a tool kit consisting of:

Hammer to hit things

Torch in case thing to be hit was underneath

Duct tape in case delicate thing hit

Piece of wire

Jump box

 

 

Steve (BiL) picked me up from work on Tues in his daily (a 1964 S3 Bentley)

bentley (1) by alf892, on Flickr

bentley by alf892, on Flickr

which I drove to Liverpool for a stopover at the cheap Z Hotel. Following a few beers in the city centre we found a curry house and refuelled. City centre curry house and it closed at 11! Fookin dear too.

 

Come morning we set off for the short drive to the docks managing to get lost. On arriving at the tunnel (for the second time) the toll booth operator took pity gave us directions and let us out the side gate (Class one turnout apparently). I had never been to Liverpool before and was surprised to find how friendly and helpful people are when dealing with a couple of thick southerners.

 

Ferry terminal was located without further problems and we went in to do the paperwork. Here the trouble started.

 

Q1 What is reg number?

A Easy......... but got it wrong

 

Q2 What booking ref?

A Dunno

 

Q3 Have you got you ID?......it says on our confirmation no ID no release

A No sorry love forgot it..........could get it emailed

 

Stalemate then because apparently regs state original docs only and we both had nothing.

 

Pretty pissed off now and I’m standing about by the car and one of the loaders starts to chat about it and asks if we have come for the old Austin. I tell him yes and he tells me it is stuck on the main deck and won't go........which is a problem as the boat needs to go soon. I tell him if he gets me to the car I will make it go so after a brief conflab with his manager it is agreed I can have a go. Onto the boat we go and there she is..........looks really nice. I had a quick poke around and could see nothing amiss....... it would start on full throttle and then die. It has a very simple auto choke which looks to be a bimetallic strip in the manifold operating a shaft with a link to the choke flap. I got the loader to work the starter while I operated the throttle and choke and away she went, I drove it off and they let us straight out - I think they were just glad to see us gone...........

bentley (2) by alf892, on Flickr

austin dash by alf892, on Flickr

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Trip home was totally uneventful. We turned off the M6 and headed vaguely south via Congelton, Leek,Ashbourne and Derby then M1/A14 stopping only to refuel and get a pub lunch. I drove the Austin most of the way and it went really well. The straight six is smooth and pulls well from about20mph in top. There is something amiss with the front suspension though as when you hit a moderate bump it will sometimes turn into the most violent shake you have ever felt. It really feels like one of the front wheels is hopping down the road.

Pretty poor weather but a lovely drive – should have taken more pics!

 

bentley (10) by alf892, on Flickr

[vulgalour]

Beautiful car, even with the stupidly massive headlights Sheerlines are blessed/cursed with.

[dollywobbler]

I trust those white walls (are they trims?) will be binned ASAP. Otherwise, looks ace. Seems a bit familiar. Has it been magazine featured at some point? Vaguely remember seeing pics of this one. 

[rml2345]

What a smashing old bus that is. Hope we get more pictures/updates in the future.

[skattrd]

So you drove a Bentley to Liverpool to collect an Austin Sheerline, no, I'm not jealous at all.

We need more pics of both cars asap.

[alf892]

yes.....the whitewalls are truly nasty. Not helped by being painted with dulux to refresh! It is in pretty nice order and runs lovely. You can't beat an old long stroke six for sily smoooth lugging.

 

He has used it a few times over christmas but it needs abit of a liok over. Plan is to use it for a few weddings so it earns its keep along with this

bentley (1) by alf892, on Flickr

 

He now has for cars which are in theory for wedding hire but I think this is an excuse to own more nice cars. A month before buying this be bought a lovely V8 Daimler

[alf892]

whoops wrong pic!! It's partner for hire is this......

 

older by alf892, on Flickr

[Squire_Dawson]

That is class. Bourgeois shite. Well done.

[Skizzer]

Loving that dashboard - more pics required.  Also the blagging-your-way-on-to-the-ferry malarkey.  Excellent.

[Bren]

You are right about Liverpool - best city in the world.

 

Love the wheels.

[Angrydicky]

That is class.

[laser wheels]

Both that Bentley and that Austin are absolutely stunning.