Cappuccino Beige Autoshite on its way.. nope has arrived ! ..and now has gone again !!

[Bfg]

^  caked underneath with dried on mud,  nevertheless he made good time from Wiltshire to within 20 miles of here - so the car must have been running at pentium speeds!   Unfortunately he then got lost for an hour (during that last 20miles) so arrived almost an hour later than hoped. 

 

I bought this car from a French car specialist motor trader who I believe has a pretty good reputation.  And, being able to coordinate his coming up with a collection nearby - he very kindly brought the car up to me (rather than my going to view and if I liked to collect on Boxing Day, and drive back at night). 

 

My first impressions, coming up the drive were GREAT,  but very soon.. which I expressed at the time, was that it was not in as good conditions as I'd thought. The tailgate and the roof's rear cross bar were each rotten as a pear, and there were a couple of holes around windows I'd not expected..  To be fair the car was not terribly expensive for its type, the wheels and also body panels (except for the tailgate) were nicer than I dared hope, the underside of the chassis looks great, the engine sounded fine and it was all together without the usual rat's nest of home fk'd wiring.  ..But still it was going to need some imminent work with big bills sooner than I would like. 

 

I'll not go into why I accepted the car at all, but I did.  I put the car into the garage as it was getting dark and foggy (heavy dew settling on everything) and rushed off to the train station for him to go on to collect the other car his journey was for. 

 

The following morning I looked in the cold light of (a still foggy) day and started to make a list of what needed doing.  The car had a new MOT just the day before (with no advisories), but can say with absolute certainty that it wouldn't have passed with my garage.  IMO., the chassis top plate (in the footwells), the front half of the floors, and the lower bulkhead (to the point that the gear change is very stiff) need replacing. 

 

If I were looking for a restoration project then I think the car would be a good candidate, but I didn't sign up for that. Nor do I know what a Dyane in this condition is worth.?  I already have the boat and an Ami-super to keep me busy, and so this one was meant to be a driver. 

 

I phoned the seller and calmly advised that "I'll not be registering the car in my name, nor touch it, nor insure it.  Let's talk about swapping over to the other one" he has in stock (more money but..).  The conversation was most amicable, and the other car he has was a possibility - but for the fact that he had a potential buyer booked in to view it the following morning.  I left it with him to call and let me know (that was Saturday) but the bottom line is - I'm sending this car back. 

 

It's shame really because I was looking forward to a beige Dyane.

 

[forddeliveryboy]

Lower bulkhead = stiff gearchange - it must be rotten! If it's that bad, the steering column could be at the point of beginning to support the bodyshell. Bad news, that blue estate may be better. Bargains often fail to sparkle in the daylight.

[Bfg]

.

^ my point exactly.. crumbled where it sits on the chassis.  I've never felt one as bad as this before. And certainly not one with a day old ticket.

 

His blue GS Estate certainly looks very nice and is also eminently practical, but I don't want hydraulics nor satellite switches / instrumentation. Also twice the price when transport is added on.. The blue four light 6 with disc brakes is what I asked about ..but it has an early after-market type chassis.

 

If I had the time & budget I'd keep this Dyane,  and channel its body by 60mm.. but I don't have either (.. the time nor the money to put into it).

[forddeliveryboy]

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C817104

[Bfg]

.

returned to sender..

 

 

Seller was honourable insomuch as he gave no hassle and a full refund. ..And he's a very nice chap (albeit incredibly frustrating when he didn't return calls or answer the phone for weeks).

 

Shame also that (imo) the car needed as much money again to be spent on it to be half decent.  If someone was to do it themselves (replace the floors, lower bulkhead, sills, holes around the windows, front brakes, king pins, tailgate & its hinge cross-bar.. to name just a few of the more obvious bits) then it would have been a relatively cheap car (as far as A-series Shitroens go nowadays !).  But personally I don't have the time this car would have taken before it was roadworthy.

 

hey ho ..they'll be another opportunity* 

 

I wonder what I'll buy next ?