Bolly Dolly - Now boringly reliable - snoooooooooze

[Guest Breadvan72]

Thanks for all kind words.

 

Selling the Landy was dumb, but hey ho.  I might be persuadable to let the SD1 go reasonably cheaply.   It really needs to go indoors if possible.   A bit of rust has started on one of the rear doors, the oil pressure gauge needs rewiring or summat, and the low coolant light tends to come on even when the coolant level is just right, but otherwise it's pretty much fine.

 

I just went out for a Christmas day blat in the Dolly.  A quick spaff up the motorway, a glug of pez, then some A and B road hoo hahs.   Quiet roads, lovely light.

[twosmoke300]

Good to see you back Mr BV . Shame you sold the Landy but I will forgive you . 😄

[Mr_Bo11ox]

A big 'welcome back' to Mr Breadvan from me too

[garethj]

Welcome back, BV.  ACE BUYER, WOULD SELL TO AGAIN.

 

And he's always got a fascinating collection of cars that I'm too scared to own.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Dirty Doll needs a wash.

 

 

 

 

[Skizzer]

I can see Bodie's Dolomite, Cowley's Rover and the baddies' Jag - don't tell me Doyle is running around in a 206CC these days?

[Guest Hooli]

Welcome back BV, it's your fault I'm here as you suggested the place.

[Guest Breadvan72]

I am not sure that the X Type justifies its own thread, so will plonk some photies here.  I quite like it, but I can see why many thought these cars to be a bit meh.  It feels more like a Jaguar than a Ford, (the quirky J gate adds some Jaguar silliness, but allows the car to be driven semi manually on twisty bits), but maybe not Jaggy enough.  It handles pretty well.  The boot is pretty big.  Anyway, it's my designated daughter collection vehicle for the time being (each weekend I do 400 miles picking up and dropping off my daughter).  The built in sat nav has an old database and isn't worth updating, but it's OK.

 

 

 

[mrbenn]

Has the E39 moved on too? That was a handsome car.

[Guest Breadvan72]

The autobox on the E39 started to fail, so the Jag replaces it as my daily driver.

[Skizzer]

I reckon X Types are a bit of alright in V6 petrol 4wd flavour, which I assume yours is. I base this carefully considered opinion on a ten minute drive round an industrial estate once in about 2002.

 

Lots of beige interior is always a bonus, though, whichever way you look at it.

[mrbenn]

The autobox on the E39 started to fail, so the Jag replaces it as my daily driver.

Sealed for life gearboxes can go on, sadly. Shame as it is possible to replace the fluid and, iirc, the filter.

 

Edited as posted too soon. Fat fingers vs iPad....

[Guest Breadvan72]

The Jag is the 3.0 litre V6 petrol AWD version, which makes for a fairly agreeable steer.  It's got recent new brakes and Hankook tyres that seem OK. I have ignored the sealed for life nonsense and had the oil in the autobox and transfer case changed.

[forddeliveryboy]

Good to see you here again BV, re. stopping fast it's perhaps worth checking the brake balance on the Dolly (as well as cleaning the headlamps) if you haven't already done so. Never say 'oops', think 'mmm, interesting!' and take action!

[trigger]

Phew, that yellow Sprint gets me all hot under the collar... Welcome back from me too BV.

[Lord Sterling]

Welcome back BV! In news from me, free 3 series is still running fine. Not used as much due to my job being a 'plater' and moving cars all around the country. Rover 800s are still in situ but Merc and a Mk2 Rover 820i SE have gone onto pastures new.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Glad to hear that Beemer is OK.  

 

Dolly interior view:

 

[Guest Breadvan72]

I can see Bodie's Dolomite, Cowley's Rover and the baddies' Jag - don't tell me Doyle is running around in a 206CC these days?

 

See "Ray Doyle cooks a bit of Pasta" in the classic Sweeney Guide "Shut It".  Ray was always in touch with his feminine side.

[Skizzer]

Phwoar. Wood.

 

(Dolly dash, not Doyle's feminine side, for the avoidance of doubt.)

[fatharris]

Welcome back chap, you've been missed.

 

Can't believe you sold the Landy, how much did it end up going for out of interest?

[Twiggy]

Grand to see you back BV - I often wondered where you`d got to.......................

[bub2006]

Welcome back bv. As for being thirsty at 26mpg I had less out of a 1.8 kia mpv but without any of the power or noise.

[chaseracer]

Phwoar. Wood.

 

(Dolly dash, not Doyle's feminine side, for the avoidance of doubt.)

 

You say this now......

[Guest Breadvan72]

A tale of karma today.  I took the Dolly to collect my daughter from Cambridge.  Entering the M40, some stubborn type refused to change lanes and the car ahead of me on the slip road almost collided with the curmudgeon.   I got on and moved to the middle lane, whereupon the same dude pulled out in front of me far too close.  I honked him and flipped him the bird, thereby gaining bad karma.

 

Bad karma showed itself by krappy traffic all the way along the M25 to the M11, and a proper jam near Stansted.  Then there was a shunt in the outside lane.  I stopped to help push the damaged cars to the hard shoulder, and then, more bad karma, flattened the battery trying to restart, forgetting that the lights, engine and internal fans, hazards, and so on were all on (the Kenlowe stays on for a bit after the engine stops).   I had to push the Dolly onto the hard shoulder.   I had forgotten to put the jump start pack in the boot, arrrrgh.

 

Good karma then showed up: I had just got onto the AA on the phone when an AA van pulled up.   The driver turned out to have a Stag, and showed me pics of it.  It then took 15 minutes to persuade the AA computer to let this guy jump start the Dolly rather than wait for some other bloke who was several miles away.   The car started without difficulty as soon as the jumper was put on.   I bunged the AA bloke a few sovs for Stag pezzer, and hooned off.

 

On through the traffic, and then back home with daughter via a route than avoided the M11 and most of the M25 (which was still crawling when we reached it, so we went off via Wendover to get home).  Heavy traffic and accidents all over - the northbound A1(M) was blocked by a nasty looking accident, with three fire trucks, an ambulance, and lots of police cars in attendance.

 

Dolly now cooling down at home.

[Guest Breadvan72]

Welcome back chap, you've been missed.

 

Can't believe you sold the Landy, how much did it end up going for out of interest?

 

2500, which was Ok ish.

[Guest Hooli]

Glad to hear that Beemer is OK.  

 

Dolly interior view:

 

Dolly6.jpg

 

Looks like the same instruments as the '79 Midget I had years ago.

[Guest Breadvan72]

I really wish that they had added an oil pressure gauge as well as or instead of a voltmeter, but, as a wise shiter said some pages above: "Castrol more reliable than Lucas".

[Guest Hooli]

Funny, there was no oil pressure gauge in Midget 1500s either. I always wanted one there too.

 

 

Still got your bikes BV? I seem to recall two old things that I can't name.

[Guest Breadvan72]

BTW, in 200 odd miles of motoring, I spotted only two other classic cars: a scruffy red TR6, and a minty early (high sided) Lotus Europa in bright yellow.

[Guest Breadvan72]

As for bikes, I used to have an MV Augusta 350S. Also two Yamaha Fizzies. All gone now.