Glitzy new shite here

[Spottedlaurel]

With thanks to Wuvvum for coming with me and driving the Bluebird back, this is now gracing my driveway...

 

 

 

2.4 straight-six on a carb, manual 5-speed, not quite so chintzy as the later hardtop I sold recently but still not bad on the toy count. Cruised back very nicely last night.

 

More details on it later, hope it's not too much of an anti-climax

[pogweasel]

DISGUSTINGLY COOL.

[Father Ted]

Lovin those hub caps.Nice.

[Aerodeck]

That looks mint, and rare to find a manual too! My parents had an auto one of these in the very early 90's - was very sad to see it go.

[Guest greenvanman]

Lovin those hub caps.Nice.

Best get some cable ties on those asap, don't imagine you'll get replacements at Motorworld :)Handsome machine, great find!

[carlo]

That's beautiful. I had a yellow 2.0 manual on a 'T' plate a few years ago, remember the straight six sounded really nice. Loving those hub caps too.

[pandamonium]

Awesome! I'm mega jealous!

[Owain-328i]

Oouuuuffffffffff! how many of those are left in the uk?

[nigel bickle]

Spot on.Nice buy. Lots of loviness there

[Albert Ross]

That's identical to one that used to park outside our house at the same time every day of every week in Sunningdale when the old bid driver used to go get her pink rinse..............It was never dirty. Damned if I can remember the reg. I know the local paper shop owner had a Peugeot 604 reg OPG 604R ...Blue I remember.......Am I getting old?

[VWPowered]

shit hot love it

[r.welfare]

What a marvellous square-rigged machine! Wing-mounted mirrors indicate some form of old boy love in it's past, no doubt.

[j-j]

Out - of - control HOTwhis the interior like?

[morris_ital_lover]

It is just shite, in all the best ways. That car is amazing and I am very jealous!m0rris

[bigstraight6]

That's fantastic SL, right down to the Datsun mudflaps

[pogweasel]

Are you going to be commissioning Mr S.Scrap to install some clever suspension? That would be great.

[Milford Cubicle]

Nice! I'm looking forward to seeing some pictures of the hopefully chintzy interior.

[Jason A]

Gorgeous, in every sense of the word. And another request for interior shots please

[Mr Lobster]

Nice! Them wheeltrims are really something special!

[Mash]

Hurrah!!! Fabulous machine SL and worth the wait.Hubcaps, stylish number plates, OEM mud flaps, mirrors, faux 70s American-ness all correct.

[Spottedlaurel]

Thanks for all the kind words. I felt decidedly rubbish all day so haven't had a chance to go out and play with it yet. Interior shots taken when I saw it Will's back in October...

 

 

 

 

Very reminiscent of my old 240K, no surprise as they're sister cars sharing much under the skin. It's not a big car at all inside, exacerbated by shallow windows and narrow door openings - the Bluebird feels much roomier. but that's not what it's about is it?! An accessory air temperature gauage has also been fitted, just like the Accord now with Mash.

 

Regarding funny things with suspension, this kind of thing?...

 

 

Another interested buyer was thinking of buying t to reshell his lowrider, I think that would have been a shame as it's so straight. But, it does sit very high at the front and some subtle lowering is being considered.

 

Funny what you all say about the hubcaps. I actually got Will to chuck a set of alloys in with the deal, which were fitted to most Laurels apart from very late ones like this for some odd reason. But virtually everyone likes the trims, even Mrs SL was quite enthusiastic about them.

[seth]

Looks like a really great purchase SL Destined to be with you for some time?

[Ratdat]

Despite Bernie loathing it, I actually really liked my old green C230 Laurel. It did have an L28 fitted which gave it as a bit of go mind but it was comfy and really nice to drive. I thought it's handling was actually pretty decent too for a biggish car. That one looks pretty tidy.. get waxoyling immeadiately! I have a bunch of NOS parts you can have for that if you want them.

[AnthonyG]

Thats a great looking car SL, looks in VGC. Keep the hubcaps on!

[carlo]

Got this from a 1979 UK brochure. Looks like maybe those hubcaps were painted after the event? Anyway it's certainly an improvement, they look brilliant.

 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I concur that the hubcaps PWN. It looks in absolutely lovely nick. Are you missing the medalist at all? It must have been painful to get rid of that, it was a quality machine.

[Ratdat]

The painted hubcaps are factory. I have a new set of those knocking about somewhere in dark metallic burgundy. They used the same hubcap with a different center piece fitted on both Cedrics and Presidents.

 

Edited to add ..like this...

 

 

...and this...

 

[retrogeezer]

Off the hook cool that is.....superb.

[King Maz]

It's been a while.......but may I say what a splendid acquisition this is, SL. I like this better than the Medalist and hubcaps are a bonus (don't flog the alloys though)

[Spottedlaurel]

Has to be said the hubcaps do give it more of a JDM look, they're fitted to many of the cars seen in their brochures. Some scans to come on that front...Carlo, the one you kindly added is a 2-litre. Interestingly, on a model which must've been selling in only limited numbers, it was a more basic version - different seats, manual windows, only 4-speed on the manual models and doubtless other stuff which I can't remember right now. Kind of an 'L' to the GL/Ghia spec of the 2.4.On the pre-facelift round headlight models it was only possible to get the 2-litre engine, and they came only in the higher trim level.Yes Mr_B, it was a shame the hardtop had to go to finance this, ideally I'd have kept it (and bought that R30 Skyline hatchback) but sadly that's not possible. Iwan is a better long term owner for that, and with the limited amount I can do/have time to do getting something as good as I possibly could for sensible money was the way to go.Think it had Dinitrol rust treatment when new, which has obviously helped it survive.The wing mirrors are interesting, unusually it's never had door mirros fitted. Think the latter were dealer-fit anyway, and the original owner must've asked for these to be fitted instead. I need to dig more into this side of things and try to contact the previous owner - it came to me via Datman, who got it off a Perodua dealer...