HMC architecte britannique

[gadgetgricey]

2 hours ago, HMC said:

Stopping at mcdonalds en route back

Hopefully via the drive through!!!!

[High Jetter]

6 minutes ago, gadgetgricey said:

Hopefully via the drive through!!!!

Nah, the bends would be too tight!

[gadgetgricey]

3 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Nah, the bends would be too tight!

Yep. Also have to go through backwards to be at collection window, but I have faith in @HMC 

[High Jetter]

1 minute ago, gadgetgricey said:

Yep. Also have to go through backwards to be at collection window, but I have faith in @HMC 

 

Noway I'm going backwards there, Ronald might be about

[HMC]

Back! 

Car ran like a dream, with the exception of loosing the idle near stonehenge which was solved by reconnecting a vacuum hose beside the intake system.

[Schaefft]

Looks like it used to have a vinyl top?

[somewhatfoolish]

1 minute ago, Schaefft said:

Looks like it used to have a vinyl top?

Is that not a gaffer tape landau? 🤣All it needs is some pram irons. 😁

[Jim Bergerac]

This is full of win. Perfect sensible transport for the larger family. 

[Zelandeth]

34 minutes ago, Jim Bergerac said:

This is full of win. Perfect sensible transport for the larger family. 

I came surprisingly close to buying this a couple of years ago after figuring out that it actually wouldn't be a bad way for a family of four adults and two larger dogs to get around on longer trips.

Think it was about two feet shorter than the camper van which I'd quite happily dailied on several occasions.  So should have been entirely usable.  The one HMC has just picked up looks rather longer!

Sadly the guy selling this was after £1500+ and it needed a not insignificant amount of welding plus probably a grand spending on it to get it back roadworthy - for a car that's optimistically worth around four grand once sorted.  Don't doubt for a second he got his asking price from someone else given the value in parts - but it wouldn't have been from someone intending to get it back on the road.

[HMC]

18 hours ago, Matty said:

Anyhow, what I really want to know is:

A) what is it like to drive?

B )  is it appreciably different to your last crown Vic? (Obvious not withstanding)

Drives well, its a far from perfect example but the last owner spent 10k on it which included a front suspension rebuild, so its not a sloppy to drive as you might think. That 97 p71 was in nicer condition, but this appealled as it was cheap (£875) someone had recently spent out making it reliable and ive always wanted a limo at some point. 

This has a P73 chassis number so it’s civilian spec, rather than that black p71 having heavy duty springs and shocks etc; although the vendor mentioned the base car was a police spec vehicle; unless those uprated bits were subsequently added post production.

The kids were amused at the overhang!

[gadgetgricey]

4 minutes ago, HMC said:

The kids were amused at the overhang!

Assumed they were looking in wonder at the gaffer tape rear window seal.
Must admit a limo is on my "want" list but not sure if I have your cahoonies.

 

[HMC]

4 hours ago, Schaefft said:

Looks like it used to have a vinyl top?

It has a vinyl roof, but its starting to disintegrate, hence the gaffer tape. 

[Bren]

While the back of the car was still in that there London....

[HMC]

We also went to see a musical

 

[HMC]

Meanwhile its blotted out the sun in one corner of taviatock…

[jonny69]

Not clicked a single like, but this is one of my favourite buys and collections of all time!

[PhilA]

Interesting purchase, a sensible people mover. Not overly long but with plenty of rear leg room and with enough space in the boot for their stuff.

Odd they used a CV, would have thought they'd have gone for the Mercury Marquis (which would've netted blue leather and the digital dashboard).

Looks like a nicely done conversion, good the front suspension is redone, these tend to eat front lower wishbone ball joints. 

Top purchase.

[2flags]

I can imagine that every Monday morning at school, the other kids come up to yours and ask, "Okay, what's he picking you up in today?" Their reply would be "I don't know, he isn't here yet!" 

[Wack]

On 8/18/2023 at 8:33 PM, High Jetter said:

Nah, the bends would be too tight!

The McDonald's at J20 services on the M6 had a hand written note at the entrance to the drive through , no caravans , which suggests somebody gave it a go 

[HMC]

Some interior pics. VELOUR

 

[egg]

Is the driver a bit cramped like in some limos? Love the blue.

[LightBulbFun]

45 minutes ago, HMC said:

Some interior pics. VELOUR

 

maybe its a good thing, its only 1 car per resident parking here as the temptation to buy this when it inevitably comes up for sale in the next couple days/weeks is strong LOL

well I am not actually sure I would even be allowed to park it the dead end even if I did not already have REV, how long is it? LOL

Quote

your vehicle can be a passenger or a goods vehicle. The overall height must not exceed 2.27m (7’5”), the length must not exceed 5.25m (17’3”) and the unladen weight must not exceed 3,500kg (7,716lb)

but imagine how easy it would make transporting/rescuing long fluorescent tubes! 

"I have a box of 25 8ft fluorescent tubes free to a good home can you collect them" 

"yeah no problems stick them in the back of the limo"

 

[Schaefft]

Considering the low mileage and good condition the car is definitely worth the buying price in parts all day long. Find a door card in this shape anywhere, they are all trashed and worn out.

[Spottedlaurel]

I'm very surprised it didn't end up on the oval at that price.

[HMC]

iirc these crown vics are assembled in canada. This one was “customized” (their words) in California. (with a zee)

The coachbuilder seems to have speciallised more in Lincolns and Cadillacs, going off a grainy brochure i found on the internet….

They seem to be selling bespoke, ultra luxurious modifications. This crown vic is a much more modest base car, more modestly stretched (46 inches) and modestly trimmed. Relatively speaking!

[Zelandeth]

I was wondering if it might have originated from Canada given the KPH speedometer.  Does look surprisingly tidy.  Absolute bargain at that asking price it seems to me, despite it obviously having something of a limited market I'd think.

How unwieldy is it to actually drive?

[HMC]

14 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

 

How unwieldy is it to actually drive?

Its great, light steering, nice sofa to sit on, i usually get a passenger to be a spotter when im reverse parking mind!

 

[PhilA]

Might pay to get one of those little cameras, they sell them that fit above the rear license plate and are quite unobtrusive.

Parked in the street like that photo looks like some punk band album cover from the 90's...

They are comfy squooshy mile-eating machines though.

[HMC]

I was sooo tempted by @Zelandeth ‘s p4 but for less money and with a different (pre selector) gearbox ive purchased a similar era but resolutely grey porridge Daimler conquest century 

[HMC]

That sort of british car that looks better in the flesh than the pics but might appeal to @barrett