Project Memoirs: No lighty = No likey

[BorniteIdentity]

It’s been a busy week in motoring pursuits. On Monday I started a new job which necessitates commuting to London. I decided that a scooter to the train station (plus as a back up for train strikes) would be a good idea - and did my CBT accordingly. It was a complete fucking farce start to finish, but enabled me to get the necessary paperwork at the end. Then, @Turbowomble advertised his wonderful Supercub and I bought it, had it shipped, and it arrived Monday. 

Since then, I’ve not ridden it 80 miles owing to a bizarre idiosyncrasy. Bikes in Northern Ireland have their first MOT at 4 years (who knew?!). England does not - so now the DVLA says no MOT records available and I can’t tax it. Shame, as it weirdly works anyway. 

I’m absolutely delighted with it - they’re very willing little things and good for 60 even with 19 stone of man onboard. 

MOT this week then, and I’ve got another car rocking up too. 

Sierra went to a little run out last week and behaved relatively well, albeit the battery is kippered. It then disgraced itself by boiling over when I was parking it up in the shed. Bit of a pisser! A few shots below of my faves. 

[Matty]

Excellent news on the cub. Hope the mini comes out solid but still scruffy. Old cars always look their best a bit careworn!

[BorniteIdentity]

Regular readers will remember that I own a 1984 Mini, previously owned by my Nan and then sister - and brought back into the family by me in 2019. I don’t remember, because I haven’t actually seen the fucking thing since March 2023. 

I’ve had various promises and cast iron guarantees; the most recent that I should have it last Friday. The guy then called this week to say that I’d definitely have it today and I should come up and say hello. 

Imagine my surprise when I see a car ready for collecti…. Ah.

 

I don’t think I’ll buy another classic car tbh. Just things that I like around the 25 year mark and try to maximise my enjoyment without getting emotionally invested. Trying to get people to do things is increasingly difficult and - I should say - this isn’t because of financial constraints. Just a lack of willing talent. 

Anyway. I’m supposed to have it back tomorrow (!). Hopefully I’ll see it by this time next month.  But for now? 🙁

[IronStar]

5 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Regular readers will remember that I own a 1984 Mini, previously owned by my Nan and then sister - and brought back into the family by me in 2019. I don’t remember, because I haven’t actually seen the fucking thing since March 2023. 

I’ve had various promises and cast iron guarantees; the most recent that I should have it last Friday. The guy then called this week to say that I’d definitely have it today and I should come up and say hello. 

Imagine my surprise when I see a car ready for collecti…. Ah.

 

I don’t think I’ll buy another classic car tbh. Just things that I like around the 25 year mark and try to maximise my enjoyment without getting emotionally invested. Trying to get people to do things is increasingly difficult and - I should say - this isn’t because of financial constraints. Just a lack of willing talent. 

Anyway. I’m supposed to have it back tomorrow (!). Hopefully I’ll see it by this time next month.  But for now? 🙁

I feel your pain, 1000%. Getting people working on any of these non-everyday jobs to actually do their job in a reasonable timeframe, and heavens forbid to a decent standard is….yeah. I usually budget 3x the quoted time, and yet somehow, it ends up taking longer than my most conservative guess. On top of it you have to constantly call and push, and be prepared to be annoyed after every call. 
I have so many projects stalled because people are just taking the piss with timelines it’s not even funny. 
 

I your gets done eventually. 

[sierraman]

On 20/04/2024 at 16:15, BorniteIdentity said:

It’s been a busy week in motoring pursuits. On Monday I started a new job which necessitates commuting to London. I decided that a scooter to the train station (plus as a back up for train strikes) would be a good idea - and did my CBT accordingly. It was a complete fucking farce start to finish, but enabled me to get the necessary paperwork at the end. Then, @Turbowomble advertised his wonderful Supercub and I bought it, had it shipped, and it arrived Monday. 

Since then, I’ve not ridden it 80 miles owing to a bizarre idiosyncrasy. Bikes in Northern Ireland have their first MOT at 4 years (who knew?!). England does not - so now the DVLA says no MOT records available and I can’t tax it. Shame, as it weirdly works anyway. 

I’m absolutely delighted with it - they’re very willing little things and good for 60 even with 19 stone of man onboard. 

MOT this week then, and I’ve got another car rocking up too. 

Sierra went to a little run out last week and behaved relatively well, albeit the battery is kippered. It then disgraced itself by boiling over when I was parking it up in the shed. Bit of a pisser! A few shots below of my faves. 

Love the wooden garage. I remember being about 14 and a kid in our year had one of those cubs he’d bought off someone else on the estate, he thought he was the bomb hammering it up and down the footpaths and the park. At the time they seemed to exchange hands for what seemed like a months pocket money. 

[Dick Cheeseburger]

I genuinely don't get this mentality. Why would anyone fill their workshop with a customer's motor for 15+ months and stare at it when they could instead get the work done over a month max, fuck the car off pronto, get paid, and then work on the next one? 

My brother's S body Silvia was sat in the corner of his mate's paintshop for SIX YEARS. Not joking. My bro was laughing to be fair. Free storage, whilst the value of the car almost doubled in that time. 

It just seems a bizarre business model. 

[IronStar]

9 minutes ago, Dick Longbridge said:

I genuinely don't get this mentality. Why would anyone fill their workshop with a customer's motor for 15+ months and stare at it when they could instead get the work done over a month max, fuck the car off pronto, get paid, and then work on the next one? 

My brother's S body Silvia was sat in the corner of his mate's paintshop for SIX YEARS. Not joking. My bro was laughing to be fair. Free storage, whilst the value of the car almost doubled in that time. 

It just seems a bizarre business model. 

You take on a job as it’s decently sized and you should be able to get paid in a large lump sum. You start. Someone comes in and needs a sill replaced. You realize it’s done in an afternoon, and you get quick money. Another guy comes with a sill. And another with front wing replacement. So you’re now doing 25 quick flip in a day jobs, while a car #1 is sitting in the corner. Pissed off customer, owner of car #1 comes in, you realize that you didn’t do much, you work on it for a bit, and the cycle continues. Months pass, customer #1 is now really mad. You promise to work on it more. Another month passes, but you really didn’t. Customer #1 is absolutely livid, and wants to take it elsewhere. Comes in, realizes that car is in about 5 million pieces, ant the only person that knows what’s where and can put it back together is the guy that took it apart ages ago. Customer waits indefinitely until you eventually get it done, and give a token discount for taking so long. 
 

TLDR: They all want quick money today and are pushing back the long demanding jobs, knowing full well that same thing would be happening at any other place, so your choices are limited. Especially if car is disassembled. 

[BorniteIdentity]

The guy has been quite candid.  He can earn in a week on four cars what I'm paying him in total.  In my defence, it was the price he quoted and I would never negotiate with someone like this - because any money off of the bill will always come off the quality of the job.  He confessed he has a trader coming in with 3-4 cars every week who pays his wages, so he will always come first.  I dare say that if I was a priority job I'd probably be paying three times the price, so I've just swallowed it and taken it.

The Mini will always be looked after, but other cars? Not getting involved.  They'll be patched and fudged and thrown away when done.

[Shandylegs]

15 minutes ago, IronStar said:

You take on a job as it’s decently sized and you should be able to get paid in a large lump sum. You start. Someone comes in and needs a sill replaced. You realize it’s done in an afternoon, and you get quick money. Another guy comes with a sill. And another with front wing replacement. So you’re now doing 25 quick flip in a day jobs, while a car #1 is sitting in the corner. Pissed off customer, owner of car #1 comes in, you realize that you didn’t do much, you work on it for a bit, and the cycle continues. Months pass, customer #1 is now really mad. You promise to work on it more. Another month passes, but you really didn’t. Customer #1 is absolutely livid, and wants to take it elsewhere. Comes in, realizes that car is in about 5 million pieces, ant the only person that knows what’s where and can put it back together is the guy that took it apart ages ago. Customer waits indefinitely until you eventually get it done, and give a token discount for taking so long. 
 

TLDR: They all want quick money today and are pushing back the long demanding jobs, knowing full well that same thing would be happening at any other place, so your choices are limited. Especially if car is disassembled. 

Hit the nail on the head.

In the 10 years I've rented space from a mate in his bodyshop, I don't think a long term job has ever left on time. Not because the will isn't there, it's because a small job can always be fitted in and it's those that pay the bills.

The large jobs are a decent payday in one go, but 5 bumper corners a day gives a much better return!

[IronStar]

3 minutes ago, Shandylegs said:

Hit the nail on the head.

In the 10 years I've rented space from a mate in his bodyshop, I don't think a long term job has ever left on time. Not because the will isn't there, it's because a small job can alwats be fitted in and it's those that pay the bills.

The large jobs are a decent payday in one go, but 5 bumper corners a day gives a much better return!

I had a fair conversation with bodywork guy working on Cabrio after we realized the actual scope of work. He told me the same thing - quick jobs keep the lights on, and to work continuously on mine would mean he’s not getting paid anything for some time. On top of it, he doesn’t do bodgework and reckons that if he had to do that amount of work on a single car in one go, he would run out of steam half way and start cutting corners, which he opposes on principle. Better time/money ratio on small jobs as well. 

[sierraman]

You can be a brilliant mechanic but a bad businessman, I knew of a place where they’d allow people to constantly disturb them, mid job ‘can you just have a look at this squeak/rattle/whatever’ then they’d drop the job they were doing and go out and spend the other customers time having a look at the other car. Arguably you’d be fiscally better off being a crap mechanic and a good businessman or at least having discipline around having customers think you are at their beck and call. 

[BorniteIdentity]

It’s been a funny week for reasons various. Highs and lows. My lovely old Mum is in hospital with something that looks a bit sinister - on the other hand I appear to have found a new female victim to endlessly irritate and she still seems to like me. 

On Monday I received the call that I’ve received probably five times already. “Car will be ready this week mate”. Further set backs followed including the windscreen cracking as they tried to put it back in, and their desire to quickly rattle can the wheels to smarten them up. 

This morning came, and he called again to say it’ll be ready at 2pm. I got there at 3 just to be safe and…

Fuck me!

It’s done!*

Sort of. I need to get some trim for the edges, two new door seals, a rear section of exhaust as it’s got fruity whilst sat, and try to polish the back up a bit. It will need spraying to match the rest. 

It’s such an odd feeling. I think I’m in shock to be honest! 

It’s lovely to have it back, and my Mum (whose mother owned this car) cried her little heart out when she saw it. 

Other niggles; the fuse box needs a clean as I’ve got no indicators - the wipers aren’t fitted properly after the glass was fitted and it’s filthy inside. 

But I love it. 

The next generation: 

 

[Eyersey1234]

2 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

It’s been a funny week for reasons various. Highs and lows. My lovely old Mum is in hospital with something that looks a bit sinister - on the other hand I appear to have found a new female victim to endlessly irritate and she still seems to like me. 

On Monday I received the call that I’ve received probably five times already. “Car will be ready this week mate”. Further set backs followed including the windscreen cracking as they tried to put it back in, and their desire to quickly rattle can the wheels to smarten them up. 

This morning came, and he called again to say it’ll be ready at 2pm. I got there at 3 just to be safe and…

Fuck me!

It’s done!*

Sort of. I need to get some trim for the edges, two new door seals, a rear section of exhaust as it’s got fruity whilst sat, and try to polish the back up a bit. It will need spraying to match the rest. 

It’s such an odd feeling. I think I’m in shock to be honest! 

It’s lovely to have it back, and my Mum (whose mother owned this car) cried her little heart out when she saw it. 

Other niggles; the fuse box needs a clean as I’ve got no indicators - the wipers aren’t fitted properly after the glass was fitted and it’s filthy inside. 

But I love it. 

The next generation: 

 

Chodtastic Mini. Sorry to hear about your mum, I hope she is ok

[schonker]

I know you've waited a while for this but it looks good

[Noel Tidybeard]

can you even get a "rear half" of a mini zorst?

[dave j]

Looks brilliant! Great to see it back

[Tommyboy12]

10 hours ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

can you even get a "rear half" of a mini zorst?

Yes and no. You can no longer get a new single piece standard exhaust. It now comes in two sections so technically you can get a rear half. However, they only sell it as a complete system from what I have seen 😅

[BorniteIdentity]

Aye - at £50 I think I’ll stretch to the whole thing. 

Today I hope to have an hour cleaning inside it. I’ve got a brand new tub of wipes, a bin bag and some music. Hopefully I’ll feel better still when it’s nice to sit in!

[Tommyboy12]

It's looking great already. I'm sure with some time scrubbing it'll look even better. It's great to see another Mini back on the road

[MorrisItalSLX]

Looking resplendent in its fresh coat of red.

Very refreshing to see a Plain Jane Mini, no faux Cooper tat getting in the way of the true utilitarian beauty.

(Sorry, that sounds very wanky.)

[Stinkwheel]

It really does look great. Im seriously into minis at the moment (have to be the amount of work ours needs) Its interesting to see yours on 10" wheels, has it got drum front brakes as well?

Its very cool its still/back in the family

[Tommyboy12]

A-reg ('84) Minis are some of the last on drums with the crossover to discs that year. My A-reg was on drums too.

[BorniteIdentity]

1 hour ago, Stinkwheel said:

It really does look great. Im seriously into minis at the moment (have to be the amount of work ours needs) Its interesting to see yours on 10" wheels, has it got drum front brakes as well?

Its very cool its still/back in the family

Hey mate - Yes this the very last of the Mk4s early 1984 on an A - so 10” rollerskates from new and drums all over. 

[Stinkwheel]

38 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Hey mate - Yes this the very last of the Mk4s early 1984 on an A - so 10” rollerskates from new and drums all over. 

Awesome, proper mini.

Im starting to wonder what the heck our 84 B plate left the factory as, its been very messed about with, like it was wearing 10's on the back, metro metric wheels on the front, has an early cooper under dash servo fitted and the old style central speedo binnacle. A bitsa all round.

Yours looks just right, like a proper everyday mini shopuld without all the 'minilites, chequered roof etc nonsense so many now seem to have gained' 

[Zelandeth]

39 minutes ago, Stinkwheel said:

Awesome, proper mini.

Im starting to wonder what the heck our 84 B plate left the factory as, its been very messed about with, like it was wearing 10's on the back, metro metric wheels on the front, has an early cooper under dash servo fitted and the old style central speedo binnacle. A bitsa all round.

Yours looks just right, like a proper everyday mini shopuld without all the 'minilites, chequered roof etc nonsense so many now seem to have gained' 

Sounds like my first Metro which was very plainly a Friday afternoon car.  Had imperial brakes on the left and Metric on the right.  Confused the hell out of me when I went to change a couple of lines!  Had plainly been like that since day one.

[Stinkwheel]

41 minutes ago, Zelandeth said:

Sounds like my first Metro which was very plainly a Friday afternoon car.  Had imperial brakes on the left and Metric on the right.  Confused the hell out of me when I went to change a couple of lines!  Had plainly been like that since day one.

Austin Leyland were a bit special (actually probably most of the UK motor industry were as bad)

[Tommyboy12]

2 hours ago, Stinkwheel said:

Awesome, proper mini.

Im starting to wonder what the heck our 84 B plate left the factory as, its been very messed about with, like it was wearing 10's on the back, metro metric wheels on the front, has an early cooper under dash servo fitted and the old style central speedo binnacle. A bitsa all round.

Yours looks just right, like a proper everyday mini shopuld without all the 'minilites, chequered roof etc nonsense so many now seem to have gained' 

Base models still kept the central speedo through 84. They basically only swapped to offset clocks when they ran out of central clocks.

You see that throughout production. It was really common on the late cars. SPI and MPI crossover is wild and theres some crazy crossover of parts between models

[MantaGTE85]

I was watching a recent video on the 'QuarterLight' YouTube channel where he showed us an Austin Rover October 1984 brochure, that showcased the introduction of 12 inch wheels and front discs on both versions of the Mini, but the City E still came with the central speedometer. A couple of people in the comments section pointed out that the offset dials in the City E came out for the 1986 model year. So there may have been a handful of C reg City E's with the old-style clock.

[adw1977]

Yes, the change in instruments is mentioned in the October 1985 brochure.  The Mayfair seems to have changed from two dial to three dial instruments at the same time.

Also for the 1986 model year, the City E finally lost this antiquated steering wheel:

March 1985 brochure

[MantaGTE85]

Indeed. In an Austin-Rover showroom, I could imagine how out of place this speedometer and steering wheel would have looked next to the latest dashboard arrangement in the revised Metro and then-new Montego.