Dollywobbler's Maestro Van - SOLD!

[Cavcraft]

I don't think it's Chester Services as there isn't as much sort of wooded area there.

[Richard]

That was just a massive wild guess based mainly on the assumption that it was your van he was collecting

[dollywobbler]

Mystery ends.

[Lord Sterling]

http://pic.twitter.com/abWYDVeAJd

Did that work?

If its the Carina, I am jealous. When I was about 17/18 my mates parents had one and he used to thrash it everywhere. I'd always wanted one ever since, particularly in that colour. Also, there is one these cars still being used a private hire cab in the Black Country.

 

Also it's parked next to a Skoda Fabia identical to a couple of the pool cars used at my old job.

 

Otherwise the interior look a bit "K11 Nissan Micra" but I think thats the Sirion.

[Station]

I take it it's the Carina?

[Louise2cv]

YES 

[dollywobbler]

The journey home was pretty stress free. Billy managed to survive driving it down from Chester with only 10psi in one of the rear tyres, while one of the fronts seemed quite a lot over pressurised. I had to fork out 50p to sort the pressures out, but it felt much happier afterwards. OMG OLD CARS COST LOADS!

 

Approaching Newtown, I began to feel a bit concerned. I'd been warned that the temperature warning lamp flashed sometimes. It was true.

 

I haven't checked yet, but I suspect the cooling fan isn't running. Heaters on full blast was enough to stop it steaming up. Once up to 50mph, it all cooled down again. Even so, I decided a further chill session was in order so I had a brew.

 

Once home, the van was subjected to a thorough inspection by Mrs DW and Pebble the cat. Mrs DW quite like sit! Pebble is not quite so sure.

 

Actual camera photos to follow shortly.

[Cavcraft]

[dollywobbler]

 

WHAT HAVE I DONE?!

[Cavcraft]

Good to meet you again, Ian. The Di-Hat-Su was a right laugh to drive on the way, the result of which is there isn't quite as much fuel in it anymore!

[cort16]

WHAT HAVE I DONE?!

 

The right thing

[Lord Sterling]

WHAT HAVE I DONE?!

Well, you can now join the exclusive and secret society of Maestro Van drivers/owners/fanciers.

[overrun]

I do hope that when you switch on the radio - if fitted - that you say 'Music Maestro, please!'

[155V6]

I like Pebble the cat 

[hairnet]

rusty is as rusty does

 

not too noisy is it?

 

mrs approves?? kwolitea

[Louise2cv]

A much better sheep worrying welsh mountain vehickle.

[320touring]

WHAT HAVE I DONE?!

Won at life!

[dollywobbler]

Good to meet you again, Ian. The Di-Hat-Su was a right laugh to drive on the way, the result of which is there isn't quite as much fuel in it anymore!

 

It is an absolute hoot isn't it? 

 

Forgot to mention. About five miles from purchase, I passed a Maestro! Ignorant bugger didn't wave. 

 

Things are already progressing. Cooling issue seems to be rad fan switch as wiring directly operates the fan. I'll have to order one. I've also got the reverse lights working - iffy connection one side, duff bulb the other. Have discovered that the towing electrics work, which is nice. I have a trailer that I haven't been able to tow since the Disco went. Pics coming soon.

[Cavcraft]

Happy days! Tell you, what the car doesn't half handle well and it surprised a couple of people on the way home. Incidentally, I used the speedometer app on my phone to check the Maestro on the way down, and from the GPS reading it was absolutely smack on, but the Daihatsu was over-reading quite a bit, to the tune of the car speedo was saying 85 and it was actually doing 70. That of course assume the GPS was working as it should.

 

Two people laughed at me on the way home, one was my daughter when I rolled up outside her works. I'll miss that van, in the short time it was here it was bloody useful and actually ok to drive.

[dollywobbler]

My sat nav reckoned the Sirion was pretty much spot on...

 

Right. Here we go then. Time to swap.

 

QUALZ0RZ repairs. Almost invisible (I care not a jot. Filler doesn't rust).

 

 

This is nasty. Van was restored in 2008 but I suspect not enough paint was applied.

 

This is nastier.

 

Loads of room! Engine seems healthy.

 

Just to remind you how much a winner you are. Binnacle is MG-sourced.

 

Ah. Bother.

 

Let it cool down, have a brew. Sorted.

 

Playing with the electrics.

 

This is what it looks like with everything lit up!

 

Even the interior light is rusty.

[dollywobbler]

These Rover 200 seats aren't the best. Rather firm.

 

Front end has taken a low smack at some point, disrupting the superb* aerodynamics.

 

My first repair. Sorted!

[HillmanImp]

When I saw the photo of the Toyota I was thinking it was dismal. Jesus, that looks horrid. I wish you the best of luck with it.

 

Out of interest, why? Have you got a specific need for it at the moment or is it just a whim?

[beko1987]

Is the Sirion being saved then? Or just driven like a loon until the mot runs out?

[skattrd]

Billy, I thought you would have been aware that Sirions handle quite well

It seems both parties are happy, so a good deal done. Loving the repair DW, that should* last a while.

[Bucketeer]

I'm sure it has been noted already but I believe the 'she' plate means it originated in Barnsley.

All my Huddersfield school buses were 'she' and were from the Yorkshire Traction Barnsley depot.

[RobT]

BRITISH TIN IS FOR WINNARS!

 

Load it up with tools and random bits of wood etc and you can become the local odd job man.

[dollywobbler]

When I saw the photo of the Toyota I was thinking it was dismal. Jesus, that looks horrid. I wish you the best of luck with it.

 

Out of interest, why? Have you got a specific need for it at the moment or is it just a whim?

 

I need something cheap and I've never owned one before. Who needs more excuse than that? I would like to tart it up a bit. A lot of the rot is bad on the surface but hasn't gone into holes. I've soaked all those areas in WD40 for now (it's pissing it down again) but I'll rust convert them, then slap a load of zinc primer on. It'll look beautiful then. 

 

 

Is the Sirion being saved then? Or just driven like a loon until the mot runs out?

 

I very much doubt it can be saved. I'm fully prepared for it to be weighed in, unless Skattrd fancies an entire parts car?

[Cavcraft]

I might (not definitely, but might) see what my local garage say. I was all for just sacking it off, but I've just taken it round the lanes for a spot of enjoyable driving and the damned thing is quicker and grippier some more. 

It didn't let go on one of my favourite spots taking a left turn and kept the wheels on the straight and narrow too, which was some surprise. I reckon I'dm either need to take the turn even quicker or try and tune some more power out of it somehow to make it let go.

[dollywobbler]

It's on good-brand winter tyres, so they're nice and soft. I've never managed to get it skidding, though the hideously light steering doesn't exactly inspire confidence.

[panhard65]

The overheating isn't really happening if you look at the gauge it only just goes over half way and the fan cuts in. The bloody light flashes whenever it feels like it. I put it down to the wrong dash. I had an email about it from a guy in Essex who had it and sold it to the guy from the isle of wight who did the resto. I have got a box of bits here that were in the back of it when I got it but forgot to chuck in when I passed it on. If you are passing junction 26 of the M5 pop in and pick them up before I bin them. It is a great little van but did give me grief finding 5th gear but that might just be me as I managed to lose 5th on the cinquecento when I brought that home. Enjoy the van it should do a year but my welding looks horrendous and probably won't last.