The Autoshite holy grail is now one of us!

[greengartside]

For anyone who's interested - Aashish Motors in all it's glory.

 

 

You can almost imagine the PO picking up the seat covers along with the steering wheel cover, from a corner of the shop where they've been gathering dust since 1987.

 

"Haven't sold any of these for years..."

[Ghosty]

If you haven't noticed in the wanted/offered thread, a set of Sierra base wheels have come up, might be a nice-to-have if someone has the storage space.

 

 

I spotted a K-reg extremely faded maroon Sierra LX hatch, complete with missing wheeltrim and a pair of roof bars  in Chorlton the other day, this was the first thing I thought of.

[trigger]

I've just spotted this on Facebook...

 

[Captain Furious]

This is just amazing, I am a bonafide Ford nut and I didn't realise there was a spec below L on a Sierra, so it has also been educational.

 

Brilliant read

[BorniteIdentity]

I've just spotted this on Facebook... Screenshot_2016-04-28-11-06-40.png

Hey!

 

Yes, I saw this whilst stuck in M25 traffic.

 

I will drop him a line this evening.  Convenient location is convenient - Peterborough is 25 miles from mine.

[BorniteIdentity]

Thanks for sharing.

 

I remember a friend's father having a new one of these which was also Y reg, a beige one (or course).  It really rotted, and I rememeber it having a rusty petrol tank almost immediately.

 

My impression was that the Sierras made in Belgium, generally the Ghia and GL cars, were much better than the Dagenham ones which were the lower spec ones - though no doubt there would be exceptions.  The VIN number starts SFA for Dagenham and WFO (I think) for Belgium.  Which one is this?

 

Hey!

 

I forgot to answer this.  It's SFA - so a proper genuine Dagenham Dustbin.

 

How do I know this?  Well - I've just had to fill in a V62 because the V5 never arrived.  Raaagh!

 

Car is still with the mechanic.  It's not moved in 2 weeks, but started first time!  Hopefully we'll be reunited by this time next week.

[fordperv]

Oh my god an early UK built that still exists, i presumed it was genk built with it still being here

[vulgalour]

Finally had some time outside of commissions and other stuff to put pencil to paper to make a start on the promised portrait for this beastie.  Here's the sketch I've got so far.  No idea for the background as of yet so ideas on that score are welcome.

 

The original will be sent to whomever of the custodians would most like it/is most deserving/fight amongst yourselves.  Prints of the finished article will be available with all profits going to the not-crowdfund for this car.  Prints will cost about £1 to produce, about £1 to post (unless outside of the UK) and at £5 each that should put about £3 per print in the Sierra kitty.

 

[Skizzer]

^ Brilliant!  Great idea, thank you.

[nacho man]

Put me down for one straight away vulgalour, will look mega.

[fordperv]

I'm so happy to see a dangly mirrored sierra is going into your portfolio.

 

As for background what about on a 1990s type housing estate with highrise flats in the background

 

This sort of thing but without the people obviously

 

[plasticvandan]

Mr fordperv posted my exact thoughts!

[Spottedlaurel]

Need to get a broken washing machine/fridge, wheelie bin (preferably without lid) and a Cozy Coupe in there too.

[oldcars]

That drawing is fantastic, you have a talent. 

[BorniteIdentity]

I agree something typical for the background would be good.

 

This has always been my favourite photo of the car....

 

[vulgalour]

I think I know what I'm doing background wise now, cheers chaps

 

Shuma:  Just as well really since it's my main source of income

[Skizzer]

Massive thanks to everyone for the generous gifts and nice messages (my favourite was SHIT CAR M8 ).  My email has been going mad with notifications overnight and I am moved by everyone's willingness to pitch in to what most of the world would think was a pointless cause.

 

With some of your hard-earned we've already bought this:

 

which appears to be the only bit of bodywork that needs serious attention. 

 

 

Thanks for this and to everyone else who has offered help with collection.  In fact the seller is an excellent chap who breaks Sierras and Cortinas, likes the ordinary models best of all and is happy to store the panel for us as long as we like because we aren't XR or Cosworth lickers!  So JohnK will pop over there sometime soon-ish and see what other goodies he has, and will doubtless post up a report.

 

 

Just need to decide what colour rattle can to use on the new panel once John's fitted it.

 

Paging @JohnK - your mailbox is full so I can't PM you.

 

I had a message in the week from the bloke with our Sierra rear quarter panel, wondering what was happening about collecting it. Any plans forming? He's not in a desperate rush but does want to know what's going on.

 

Sorry this isn't a very exciting update for everyone else.

[BorniteIdentity]

UPDATE:

 

Finally the V5 arrived today.  Â£10 says I get another one in a fortnight.  Well done everyone.

 

The mechanic has still done absolutely nothing to it, so I'm going to repatriate it today and get it to someone else for attention (so he can crack on with my Merc).  The car only has 19 days of MOT left too, so I need to get that hazard switch working and anything else the MOT man won't like.

 

Any suggestions for making it go?  

[beko1987]

Paging @JohnK - your mailbox is full so I can't PM you.

 

I had a message in the week from the bloke with our Sierra rear quarter panel, wondering what was happening about collecting it. Any plans forming? He's not in a desperate rush but does want to know what's going on.

 

Sorry this isn't a very exciting update for everyone else.

Where is it located? Shitely to get it stored?

[Angrydicky]

It's in Manchester. Anyone local?

[Junkman]

Ask Conelrad.

I'll be gone for two weeks from Saturday.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Elvis drove a Sierra...who'd have known.

 

 

It's actually Patrick Duffy. "Tsk"

 

Sierras were ace, particularly the early ones. It was the first Ford that actually drove really well. Nice simple mechanics but the rear semi trailing arm suspension was very effective.

 

Now then.

 

If that Sierra were mine*, I'd be replacing the front wing, secondhand door, repair that rear wing before administering 2 litres of Cardinal cellulose. No way would it be concours, but I love to see old cars looking smart.

 

Is the original V V carb present? I'm hoping you can still buy new diaphragm kits as a well set up VV worked okay. The 1.6 Pinto will bend valves if the cam belt snaps. Getting the front pulley off to replace the belt can be a real struggle. 

 

I had my last Sierra 19 years ago. YGY914Y.

 

 

 

P.S I just looked up the word 'debased' in the dictionary and there's no reference to full wheel covers or colour keyed front grilles.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

In this seminal '84 track, Grandmaster Flash states early on (rather abruptly I thought) the model of his chosen Sierra as well as the colour.

 

The white lines are referring to what separates the three lanes on the M62 when ploughing that course as a pharmaceuticals rep. So now you know.

 

[3VOM]

Ask Conelrad.

I'll be gone for two weeks from Saturday.

I may be able to help if needed. Not got too much off road parking and nowhere under cover though.

[Skizzer]

I may be able to help if needed. Not got too much off road parking and nowhere under cover though.

 

That's very kind of you, thanks for the offer.  It's only the new rear wing though, not the whole car.  The idea was for JohnK to pick it up as he's regularly in the area and is planning to do the fitting of it at some point.  It can stay where it is for now, the seller just wants to know what's going on (not unreasonably).

 

If we can get Plan A to work that'll avoid a lot of complexity... anyone heard from John lately?  Hope he's not stuck up a tree or trapped under something heavy?

[dollywobbler]

Saw John on Saturday when I sold him the XM. He could have picked up the Sierra quarter on the way back if I hadn't filled the XM with bits of 2CV for him to drop off on his way north...

[BorniteIdentity]

Proud Dad Moment.

 

 

[Felly Magic]

Flappytastic, is that an old Hiace in the back of the shot?

[BorniteIdentity]

Flappytastic, is that an old Hiace in the back of the shot?

That is probably the only thing rarer than GVG. It's a HiAce drop side pick up. It's there having an entirely new bed put on the back.

 

Convenient really,as I'm warming up the 80 year old seller for a deal.

[chaseracer]

It's in Manchester. Anyone local?

 

Feck.  Wish I'd read this earlier.

 

I've just got back from Manchester...