Project Memoirs - bASe valuation time.

[BorniteIdentity]

11 minutes ago, danthecapriman said:

Get a set of these https://www.halfords.com/motoring/battery-maintenance/battery-accessories/halfords-battery-terminal-adapters-155880.html 

Then you can use any type of common round terminal battery in an old Ford. I’ve got them on my Capri and used them on my previous Transit and Granada in the past. Well worth it imho!

Yep - just found some on eBay actually.  A few quid dearer but they'll come straight to my front door.  It'll be a nice little job for this weekend.  I have a very good battery kicking around that I use as a jump pack, so will endeavour to make that fit!  Even if I have to buy a new battery, it'll be much easier than dicking about changing the leads.

[bezzabsa]

thats a very posh Tip....and looks like they actually salvage some stuff too judging by the push bikes in the background

[BorniteIdentity]

Cripes. Nothing for three months and then two trips in the same day! The log man can’t come for a few weeks, so I took my new “van” to Home Bargains for some of their most excellent kiln dried logs. Many turned heads as I lumped a dozen bags into the boot without a care in the world. 

Finally, I think it’s clicked. We all need a purpose in life, and the Sierra has just found its. 

[wuvvum]

5 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Jobs to do?

 

2. Fix the fucking bonnet cable.  New one purchased, likely to get a garage to do it because it will require small hands and patience - of which I have neither.

When I replaced the bonnet cable on the Mondeo, I left the outer cable in place and just replaced the inner.  Made it a lot quicker and less fiddly.  If that's not an option you could always enlist child labour.

[Eyersey1234]

2 hours ago, wuvvum said:

When I replaced the bonnet cable on the Mondeo, I left the outer cable in place and just replaced the inner.  Made it a lot quicker and less fiddly.  If that's not an option you could always enlist child labour.

Well as Bornite has 300 children he has plenty of choice for his enlistment 🤣

[BorniteIdentity]

Another trip out for the Sierra today - this time the little local “lockdown motoring club”. Born out of frustration last year, we now have about 20 or so regulars and a fantastic variety of cars turn up for quarterly trips out. Each time there’s something different, and this time there really was.

Bonus points if you can name it from that angle, I know I couldn’t! A wonderful “rolling” example owned by a delightful retired couple; exactly the sort of thing I really enjoy seeing.

Anyway, a 30 mile jolly ensued over to the picturesque Grafham Water - me behind a Mercedes A124 and infront of a modern Beetle. The Sierra didn’t disgrace itself in any way, and received some nice compliments when we stopped for coffee. 

Mmmm Ruby. 

And I particularly enjoyed this one. A local farmer with his wonderful Morris. His two kids had an absolute blast, as did me and #3

Next jobs for the bASe? Towbar. Bonnet cable. Clutch cable adjuster. Drive. 

 

[DoctorRetro]

29 minutes ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Bonus points if you can name it from that angle

Bristol 409 maybe? 

[Dobloseven]

47 minutes ago, DoctorRetro said:

Bristol 409 maybe? 

I reckon 406 as per reg.The last 6 cylinder model. 

[Tommyboy12]

5 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

Another trip out for the Sierra today - this time the little local “lockdown motoring club”. Born out of frustration last year, we now have about 20 or so regulars and a fantastic variety of cars turn up for quarterly trips out. Each time there’s something different, and this time there really was.

Bonus points if you can name it from that angle, I know I couldn’t! A wonderful “rolling” example owned by a delightful retired couple; exactly the sort of thing I really enjoy seeing.

Anyway, a 30 mile jolly ensued over to the picturesque Grafham Water - me behind a Mercedes A124 and infront of a modern Beetle. The Sierra didn’t disgrace itself in any way, and received some nice compliments when we stopped for coffee. 

Mmmm Ruby. 

And I particularly enjoyed this one. A local farmer with his wonderful Morris. His two kids had an absolute blast, as did me and #3

 

IMG_9476.MOV 9.98 MB · 0 downloads

Next jobs for the bASe? Towbar. Bonnet cable. Clutch cable adjuster. Drive. 

 

Oooh is this a club open to new members? I'm not too far away and do enjoy a Sunday bimble.

[Dobloseven]

1 hour ago, Tommyboy12 said:

Oooh is this a club open to new members? I'm not too far away and do enjoy a Sunday bimble

Sounds good to me as well. 

[BorniteIdentity]

15 hours ago, Tommyboy12 said:

Oooh is this a club open to new members? I'm not too far away and do enjoy a Sunday bimble.

It's just a few locals from the village but I'll let you know when we had out next - likely to be Barrington on New Year's Day.

[BorniteIdentity]

Happy New Year, Shiters of Shitesville.  Hope everyone's well, and busily making plans for 2022.  

What's happened then? Norralot truth be told. 

Avensis is about to tick over 270,000 miles - but I'm now calling time on the experiment.  It's tired, and has completed its shift.  We all love it dearly but have come to the conclusion we'll still love it even when it's gone.  I will run it right up to the moment that the MOT expires, and then likely advertise it on here in case anyone wants to tease another few years out of it.  It smokes a bit, which is almost certainly a symptom of a catalytic converter problem, and has a few foibles like a non functioning electric window and some blemishes around the body.  That said, it had £1200 worth of love last year so is still viable.  Pre COVID, I'd have expected it to be popular for export (as my last one was) but I'm unsure whether the landscape has now changed.  Thoughts welcome. 

The Caravelle has provided sterling service over the last 12 months of ownership.  It's now on 249,500 miles and - other than a battery when under utilised - has been perfect.  The MOT was a clean pass so the next jobs are to change the clutch, replace the squeaky alternator belt and take it camping again this summer.  

The Sierra is on SORN, and I just tax it in months when I think I'm going to get some use out of it.  I can see it being back on the road for March in anticipation of an early April MOT.  The replacement battery means it now starts even after being sat for a month or so, whereas before you had 5 days and that was it.

Finally, I now have the money required for all the Mini parts (just shy of £900) and the paint/labour money too - so that'll be going off to "The Man" in March.  I also have a Nissan Leaf which is both impossible to hate and to love.  

What next then?  Well, I've been chasing that Granada Chasseur that Jonny Smith featured recently.  I've tried three different angles of approach but am - seemingly - making no further progress.  If anyone reckons they can help then I'd be grateful.

And it's a big birthday this year.  One idea being mooted (and met with relative domestic support) is to sell the shit and buy something proper.  Top of my list would be a RR SS, and this one has had me making more than one or two enquiries.

That said, one's always tempted with the lure of 10 old clunkers over one respectable offering.  

I'm hoping to get to the next Scramble at Bicester which is lined up to coincide with Drive it Day.  It'd be good to see one or two people there.  I might even wear *that* shirt again.

 

[HMC]

Good to hear an update, I was beginning to loose the faith with the general content; this makes me feel the love again.

[stuboy]

whats the score with the granny ??

[Shite Ron]

Great to see an update and I hope you can get the Granada, that would be far more exciting than the Shadow. I was offered a Chasseur for £50 some years ago but turned it down due to no storage space, another I will always regret.

I hope you do not get rid of the Mini and Sierra to buy something ‘proper’ as I think they will both give you more fun than anything else. The Mini takes up very little room or cost but are fun for short trips. The Sierra is interesting and although I really disliked them for years yours does have appeal especially with its history which you are now a major part of. I see the appeal of a Silver Shadow but they are more like owning a lorry than a car to me with the high upright driving position and cost of ownership. I have considered buying a Rolls Royce a few times but always come to the conclusion I would hardly ever drive it although if a Camargue come up at the right price I would be happy to have it even if only to sit in and look at.

 

[Timewaster]

A reduced fleet is probably a good move.  A few gems far outweigh a car parks worth of dross.

I'd love to try a Shadow but not sure I'd want to own one.

 

Edit: Not suggesting your current fleet is dross BTW, just maybe less is more?

 

[SiC]

59 minutes ago, Shite Ron said:

e. The Mini takes up very little room or cost but are fun for short trips.

Given his history with it, I think he would be buried with it rather than sell.

[brownnova]

A Shadow would be tempting! I like the idea of turning up to unlikely places in a Rolls Royce. Like taking something to the tip, or Maccies drive  through, or picking the kid up from nursery. 

[rob88h]

Buy the Granada. Put the Mini in the boot. Simple. 

[Asimo]

Keep the Leaf and roffle everything  else to buy a Rolls Royce Silver Shadow with the proceeds.

[chaseracer]

A good Shadow is a fine thing but they can rot like a pear, the shells being pumped out of Pressed Steel at Cowley alongside Marinas and Maxis.  Have you considered the option of something large and American?

[SiC]

21 hours ago, BorniteIdentity said:

RR SS

Panhard65 is the man that you need to chat to about RR and Bentleys. He found a few decent ones recently around the 5k price point too that looked decent. 

[timolloyd]

My hope is that you might find some sort of rare base-spec Rolls, with a metal dash, no power steering and a mild steel grill.

[wuvvum]

25 minutes ago, SiC said:

Xtriple is the man that you need to chat to about RR and Bentleys. He bought a supposedly immaculate one for top money and then spent an additional £20K to keep it on the road before giving up and flogging it to a breaker after a year.

FTFY

[BorniteIdentity]

Nearly 9 years after purchase, the Avensis is now back on its original reg and ready for a new home. Truth be told I’ve been in a smeg about it all day but my wife is entitled to a car of her own choice, and I’m trying to emotionally detach myself from ‘things’. If I don’t move quickly, I’ll only talk myself out of it and it’ll still be here in another 9 years time.

I was hoping to tick over 270k this week but I think I’ll run out of time and journeys. 

269,744 miles (Declared). 😭

[artdjones]

On 1/19/2022 at 5:30 PM, timolloyd said:

My hope is that you might find some sort of rare base-spec Rolls, with a metal dash, no power steering and a mild steel grill.

Well it's got the metal dash, and no power steering, but I think the grill is brass. 2 out of 3 isn't bad 

[Liggle]

@BorniteIdentity What was your start mileage on the Avensis? 

[BorniteIdentity]

7 minutes ago, Liggle said:

@BorniteIdentity What was your start mileage on the Avensis? 

For me? 100,250

[HMC]

Is it for sale or already sold? 

[greengartside]

@BorniteIdentityhave you tried speaking to Jonny himself on Instagram (if you have that) re: Granada? He seems like a reasonable chap and I’m sure he’d be pretty down the line with you.

My dad had two Mk2 Granadas one after the other, both 2.8 GL estates JFJ 484V and WEX 890X respectively. JFJ was Cordoba Beige with a brown vinyl roof and brown interior. It destroyed its distributor and subsequently the engine and was hauled away for scrap. I always remember it as being very comfy; however WEX was my favourite.  Dad paid £300 for it in 1996. Finished in a nice colour of Venus Gold with grey interior, the previous owner must have been high on something as he ‘customised’ it by adding huge tyres to the standard 13”(?) steels which were the wrong ones being from the pre-facelift model, a set of foglamps and a massive bull bar on the front along with hand-painting the entire front end in Matt black and cutting off the rear bumper wraparound bits. We sorted all of this and put it back to standard apart from the steel wheels and used it for about 12 months which it gave faultless service apart from a blocked fuel filter.

Sold it on but got scrapped in 1998. A shame as it was a brilliant car.