The Autoshite holy grail is now one of us!

[beko1987]

Trigger - change the thread title to reflect the celebrations! Can we make a new tag just for this?

 

I've never sat inside a Sierra and I was born in 1987, may I sit in it at some point?

[brownnova]

Habemas Sierram.

 

 

Was there a cloud of white smoke to accompany this statement...??

 

Huzzah!  Glad it's been collected and made it to a destination!

[BorniteIdentity]

What. A. Day.  Certainly one I'll never forget.  We left Watford at 10:40 and arrived at exactly Midday.  1 Hour 20 minutes to do 18 miles.  Well done everyone.  As soon as we approached the car, I got 'the feeling'.  Any regular buyer of shite will know 'the feeling': an aggressive state of biliousness paired with the weirdest boner ever.

 

This was the first moment we got "Eyeball"

 

 

There was just time to bid my chauffeur farewell before Skizzer skipped along with that twinkle in his eye that we all know and love.  After we knocked on the wrong door (of a Latvian woman who thought we were amateur bailiffs) we finally made contact with the seller.  He boasted of much interest and many offers, and proceeded to unlock the car.  No central locking? WTF!!  The car started on the first  turn of the key, and after a little encouragement on the throttle it settled down very well.  Once he'd pulled the bonnet cable manually, the engine was revealed and it's in surprisingly good condition.  Then again, it's coated in oil, so that's probably helped immensely.

 

And that, really, was the full extent of the inspection.  It's sharing oil (I think) from the rocker cover gasket, and depositing some on the road.  Following that solitary remark, we retired to the vendors (seriously impressive) dining room to fulfil the obligations, the deal was done, and we were back on a North London street.  

 

Skizzer took the wheel first before he returned to public transport, and was very positive about the car.  "A little play in the steering" and "Clutch is a bit high but nothing bad" and that was it.  We were both really excited.

 

That's a lie.  

 

See, I had exactly 2 hours to make it to Milton Keynes - and in that time I had to 

 

A) Not break down

2) Insure it

D) Attend to fluids and fuel.

 

I bid Skiz farewell and promptly drove off in the wrong direction.  Bollocks.  Heading towards the North Circular, I actually felt a little bit sad.  This car had been a small but (to me) important part of the rich tapestry of London.  Under my stewardship, the Sierra was leaving behind the gritty urban side streets of Clapton for retirement.  I felt a little guilty.  Happy, petrified, but guilty.

 

 

With one eye on the time, and one eye on the temperature needle, I missed the first two petrol stations.  The third seemed inviting with it's promise of pez and oil, so in we went.

 

 

Aware that I couldn't really drive any further without smiling for the ANPR cameras, I was relieved of £149 by Lancaster Insurance - and was then on my way.

 

The car is very, very easy to drive.  The driving position is comfortable, the seats are LOVELY and visibility is impeccable.  Whilst I was nervous that it'd FTP at any given moment, I felt really really safe driving it.  Maybe it was the familiarity of a position I studied for years as a child, or maybe I'm just being a soppy old git.  Like my Mercedes 190e, the car is narrow - so threading it through busy suburbs was an absolute breeze.

 

The North Circular quickly became the M1, and the car just ran like a little sewing machine.  Never a moments bother from anything.  The car is, by modern standards, a little under geared - it seemed happiest at 60mph, so that's where we kept it.  And, to be honest, I'd have kept going long past my exit, as I'm quietly confident it'd just keep on going.

 

Junctions passed, and as we approached J14 we got our first peep.

 

Clearly he identified us as fellow winners at life.

 

Milton Keynes beckoned, and I felt a mixture of both immense relief and satisfaction that the maiden voyage had been completed without a hiccup.

 

Greg seemed impressed with the car.

 

As I drove the last mile, I realised why this car (unlike its peers) had survived so long.  It was still absolutely brilliant at performing its primary function: transport.  Yes, it's a curiosity to you and I.  To others it's urban decay and to some it's probably art.  First and foremost, it's still very good at being a motor car.  Whilst my heart smiles now, I also laugh and wince every time I look at it.  

 

It's shit.

 

So, to finish, a few thank you's:  Thanks to Skizzer for having the plums when many (including me) did not.  Thanks to JohnK, AngryDicky and Cheggers for also financing the car.  Big thanks to my friend Emma who drove me (she has terminal cancer at 37, but wanted to make me happy) and thanks to you lot.  Here's the honest bit - I'd have run a mile had I turned up there alone.  But with everyone on board it'll be a hoot.

 

Sorry to sound like a romantic old fart doing his acceptance speech, but we did something good today.  Well bloody done everyone.

 

 

[mrbenn]

Fantastic! Apart from the bit about Emma, thats really shit

 

Car looks like it has real charm (from here).

[mrbenn]

Q. What's the definition of optimism?

A. This:

image.jpg

 

Car looks like its smiling in this pic, or is it just me?!

[Split_Pin]

Thanks for sharing that Bornite, a great read. I am so glad that the car will be saved but it is like the end of an era. The car is hugely documented in Flickr and it had become part of London for many spotters who could stroll past Frampton Road at any time to see it. I have shared amongst those on that site who are not party to AS and they were very pleased to hear the news.

 

That is a good friend you have too.

[johngarty]

Had a few Seirras back in the day. Great cars, great thread. Well done all. 

[Mr_Bo11ox]

It does look better than I expected. Let me feast my eyes further on its great beauty!!!!

[Skizzer]

Fabulous write-up.  I'm so happy and relieved that you got there ok, I have a distinctly moist eye.

 

I only said hello to Emma but from her willingness to drive you from Watford to Clapton in the middle of the day at short notice she's clearly a lovely person.  Mind you, her face on seeing your objective parked there was, frankly, a picture of bafflement.  I'm shocked and saddened at her situation - good on her for getting on with life and helping us with our mad eccentric mission.

[BorniteIdentity]

Fantastic! Apart from the bit about Emma, thats really shit

 

 

That is a good friend you have too.

 

 

I only said hello to Emma but from her willingness to drive you from Watford to Clapton in the middle of the day at short notice she's clearly a lovely person.  Mind you, her face on seeing your objective parked there was, frankly, a picture of bafflement.  I'm shocked and saddened at her situation - good on her for getting on with life and helping us with our mad eccentric mission.

 

Thanks, guys.  She's a top friend - I love her very much.  To be honest it was nice to be able to spend a bit of time with her.  When you have an 'Emma in your life', you very quickly learn to "JFDI" if it makes you happy.  

 

She was the last piece in the jigsaw really.

[michael t]

I've almost a tear in my eye reading this, bloody brilliant stuff from all involved!!

[fordperv]

your mate emma sounds a fantastic person

[Timewaster]

Please please please register it to Autoshite.com on the V5

 

Great job everyone. I hope to meet it one day.

 

Maybe we could drag race it against my Cossie and put it on you tube.

I would make sure it won

[HMC]

^Absolutely brilliant write up Bornite, sounds like a jubilant colkection trip, well done again to all concerned, who should be awarded some sort of shitehood honour in recognition.

 

Like x10000

[danthecapriman]

Well, having read all this I must say, you guys have my absolute and utter respect and admiration! Well done for buying it and making sure it will continue to lower the tone of the queens highway. I'd have loved to have this little beauty myself but I just couldn't of stored it anywhere. So well done!

 

The car itself looks a lot better in your pics than I'd imagined. It seems really rather solid and decent which given it's long life and misery spec is amazing.

I can't wait to see more about it, especially once it receives a bit of tlc, which I think it'll respond well to.

 

Once it's donations thread is up I'll make a deposit for it's upkeep and running. Also, if it does need anything, whatever that may be, or things are a bit tight, give me a shout as I'd love to help with this.

Being an old Ford guy I do have some bits and bobs suitable for this and also know of a few places to get stuff from.

 

I've got a genuine Ford pinto cam shaft oil spray bar, brand new and unused somewhere. I was going to use it on my Capri but it doesn't really need it as the old one is still perfect so if it'd benefit this Sierra (it's probably not had one in a long time if ever!) I'll send it out for free, also got a genuine Ford oil filter if you want it...

[Cavcraft]

Can we get this to Chumley (more of that on a different thread later) this year? I reckon we could give it star billing amongst ourselves and have a giant selfie with it for the LOLZ. It'd be ace to have it there amongst the other stuff and hopefully would mean people from all over could see it in the flesh.

[Tamworthbay]

I have some pinto gasket sets of it needs anything, and a small collection of nos rings but I doubt you will be going that far into the engine.

[trigger]

This has to be one of the best heartwarming threads I've seen on here, just amazing work all round. I'm really sorry to hear about your friend Emma through BI. 

 

I'm really looking forwards to seeing it at some point, it looks far better than i expected in the photos. I've just photographed this from the original 1982 salesman pack that i might donate to the car, what kind of weirdo would have bought a Base model and then fitted headlight washers though?!

 

 

 

[Rusty Pelican]

Just caught up with this thread and im so chuffed its been saved .

Emma sounds a true hero and the only bit of news on this epic thread that has made me sad - love and best wishes to Emma and the same for the Sierra . After reading the bit about Emma the Sierra seemed less important somehow .

I think il nicname the car Emma in her honour as long as shes not offended of course 

[JohnK]

Can we get this to Chumley (more of that on a different thread later) this year? I reckon we could give it star billing amongst ourselves and have a giant selfie with it for the LOLZ. It'd be ace to have it there amongst the other stuff and hopefully would mean people from all over could see it in the flesh.

I definitely want to get it to Chumley. It will get a massive cheer in the 1980's category I'm sure! (Probably more so than FOADs 305 Estate did last year!)

[Angrydicky]

Excellent work Skizzer and Bornite, great to see it made the journey safe and well. Look forward to seeing it in the flesh soon.

 

As well as Chumley, it needs to make the Festival of the Unexceptional. Definitely.

 

Also, really sorry to hear about Emma, she sounds like a lovely person and these things always happen to the best folk in life

[plasticvandan]

Autoshite calender candidate surely? (On every month)

[BorniteIdentity]

Again, thanks for all your kind words re: Emma.  She's a top bird.

 

I think all of us are racing with ideas on what we'd like to do.  It's come at the perfect time (start of the year) and we'll certainly do what we can to get the car out and about.

 

The journalist in me wants to get in touch with the previous owner to find out as much backstory as possible.  I think there may be a small amount of time pressure on this, so I will write to him in the coming weeks.  I also need to make sure the engine doesn't feed the weeds on my driveway with too much mineral oil.

[dollywobbler]

Just astounding. The thread that just keeps on giving. Very much admire Emma's spirit too. Rescuing a shitty Sierra isn't on most folk's bucket list, that's for sure!

[BorniteIdentity]

PS: Where is Midnite?

 

His piss must have boiled over by now...

[fordperv]

His mum probably banned him from the computer for looking at porn

[Pillock]

The Base model with headlamp washers looks like it's crying just a little at the fact it will never be an L.

 

It's dreaming of an AM/FM radio, and crying.

[quicksilver]

Just brilliant, a proud day for the shite masses. Am I right in thinking Bornite lives quite near me (I'm in Buckingham) so this fabled beast is now stabled not too far away? I'm guessing it'll be coming to Shitefest and it's prime Festival of the Unexceptional material too so I'll hopefully get to see it in the flesh.

[eddyramrod]

Another vote here for christening the car "Emma" in honour of the brave lady involved.

[BorniteIdentity]

Bless you all.  The name "The Cardinal" had stuck in my mind because not only does it make it sound quite regal and gentrified, it's also a car and in cardinal red.

 

I've never named a car before, but happy to put it to the vote.

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