HMC Chummy/ Beagle FACE OFF

[HMC]

4 hours ago, HMC said:

I havent taken any photos, but the white VDP is up on stands, the hoses to the rear displacers have had their connections doused in plus gas. And some second hand replacement hoses have arrived from the hydrogas specialist people. The underside looks really sound, wants a bit of wire brush and por15 or something like that. “better than it looks” definitely applies to this little allegro.

They seem to have bred as theres another on its way

oh dear! Pass the meds, matron!

From the garage update- i changed the split flexi hose and used a £40 hand pump i got off e bay about 7 years ago. Looks like its  been made diy in a shed, out of a grease gun. It was partly  seized up. Not a good start. After one million hand cranks from zero pressure- one  side is now at the regulation ride height. Half way there!

[LightBulbFun]

3 hours ago, DodgeRover said:

5 hours ago, HMC said:

@LightBulbFun i noticed that too. Wonder whats going on there?

At a guess parked up and dropped off the system, reregistered again in 2020 retaining it's original number.

PFE984P is a modern age relates plate, coupled with the fact that it has an actual date of first registration record of 4th of August 1975, I would say, its an import from either Ireland or one of the channel islands?

(its a P suffix car, so it would of been computerised from new, thus there would of been a record in the archives as they say, even if it was laid up the day after it was registered, there would still be a record that could be revived with a V62, so I would not expect a laid up vehicle to have an age related plate like this and separated "date of first registration" & "Date of first registration with the DVLA" listings, thus I dont think its a laid up car situation)

 

tbh I was kinda hoping HMC would know the story to fill in the gaps!  

[Andyrew]

It was previously advertised on here with a dicky gearbox

 

[HMC]

8 hours ago, Andyrew said:

It was previously advertised on here with a dicky gearbox

 

The gearbox shifts happily now (for now at least!) but reverse is a fiddle sometimes.

[Hertz]

re the 2020 reg date. Could it be imported from Sothern Ireland or Isle Of Man maybe?

[Peter C]

Values of these gorgeous cars are going up!

[HMC]

Swapped the other flexihose over and started with one million cranks needed to pressurise the system on the opposite side with my feeble modified grease gun . Gym membership not necessary. Nothing doing.

Had a look underneath and the metal front to back hydraulic pipe is leaking - looks like corrosion. Progress, and a diagnosis. I wonder if these are even available?

2024 photo when it was decomposing on wasteland (looks the same, minus bush and with it listing over to one side)

[N Dentressangle]

13 minutes ago, HMC said:

Swapped the other flexihose over and started with one million cranks needed to pressurise the system on the opposite with my feeble modified grease gun . Nothing doing. Had a look underneath and the metal front to back hydraulic pipe is leaking - looks like corrosion. Progress, and a diagnosis. I wonder if these are even available?

These guys will know

https://hahsltd.co.uk/about-us/

If you can find out the diameter of the pipework, or just take a piece in, I would think your local hydraulic hose company will be able to make you something up which would do the job. Pirtek are quite pricey, but they have branches everywhere and might be able to sort a piece of pipe and inline couplers out?

Another possibility is using MGF / Metro stuff, although that may be metric. The Kennedys will know.

[SiC]

Plumbing copper pipe works well iirc

Our resident hydrolastic experts will know more 

@BeEP @sharley17194

[tooSavvy]

37 minutes ago, SiC said:

Plumbing copper pipe works well iirc

Our resident hydrolastic experts will know more 

@BeEP @sharley17194

Good old c/h sorted my Autobox cooler mod... 🔧👍

🚙💨

[BeEP]

I think the club still have pipes in stock (we've had them made in small batches) but providing the problem area is easily accessible a bit of 10mm copper pipe and compression fittings works perfectly well, whatever the 'experts'may say!

[bezzabsa]

nice bit of dead cow & tree .. I can almost smell that interior

[Mally]

I may* have used brake airline plastic tubing from a now defunct HGV manufacturer.

3/8"/10mm I forget. Anyway it was yellow. 

[flat4alfa]

On 17/06/2025 at 19:55, DodgeRover said:

At a guess parked up and dropped off the system, reregistered again in 2020 retaining it's original number.

I had a Conwy car just like that. Fell off radar, DVLA insisted on a ‘new’ plate issue. Must be something in the water up there

[brownnova]

2 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Conwy

Twinned with the Bermuda Triangle

[HMC]

Progress!

Brakes bled and serviced, Rotten hydragas line section replaced (thanks      @BeEP for the inspiration!)   tyres checked….

And an exploratory run round the block for a pizza….

[DSdriver]

8 minutes ago, HMC said:

Progress!

Brakes bled and serviced, Rotten hydragas line section replaced (thanks      @BeEP for the inspiration!)   tyres checked….

And an exploratory run round the block for a pizza….

Pizza shop staff must think you're down on your luck rocking up in that after the mazzer.

[High Jetter]

Double jeopardy, if it doesn't make it back the pizza will be cold!

[Bear]

12 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Double jeopardy, if it doesn't make it back the pizza will be cold!

This is why there are picnic tables in the back

[High Jetter]

One excuse for scoffing the lot!

[barefoot]

Does the air/con still work OK?

[HMC]

48 minutes ago, High Jetter said:

Double jeopardy, if it doesn't make it back the pizza will be cold!

Made it back!

[lesapandre]

"Austin Allegro - warming like a Shetland jumper"

I don't think the VDP ever sold in France but maybe there are one or two.

[AnthonyG]

On 18/06/2025 at 18:01, Peter C said:

Values of these gorgeous cars are going up!

I wouldn’t be surprised if an Austin one is worth more than a VP. They are slightly better looking* for a start. 

[lesapandre]

About 11,700 made 1974-80. 

Vanden Plas OC have more info including what looks like VDP press photos:

https://www.vpoc.info/1500-15-17

[Angrydicky]

On 17/06/2025 at 18:13, lesapandre said:

Goes right back to the early days of Austin.

I haven't checked - but certainly some of these used the same doors - Devon A40/Hampshire A70; Somerset A40/Hereford A70; I think the Cambridge and Westminster did too.  The 3-litre used the 1800 doors and central body tub etc.

There was even this Austin Sheerline replacement prototype using Somerset doors.

That's quite a beast - pity it never made production.

Hampshire and Devon doors not the same. The skins are totally different. Not sure about the rest of the door.

[RoadworkUK]

Just in case anybody doesn't comprehend the gravity of this fact: HMC has sold his Maserati Quattroporte and replaced it with an Austin Allegro.

Should really have been on the evening news because such an unprecedented and unthinkable trade will never ever ever be repeated by mankind.

[lesapandre]

Attracts a lot of attention, posh car, 4-doors, handmade, some parts unobtainable and some shared with other cars and reliability issues*...

Where's the difference?

[N Dentressangle]

you only need to squint a bit

[Stinkwheel]

5 hours ago, RoadworkUK said:

Just in case anybody doesn't comprehend the gravity of this fact: HMC has sold his Maserati Quattroporte and replaced it with an Austin Allegro.

Should really have been on the evening news because such an unprecedented and unthinkable trade will never ever ever be repeated by mankind.

You do know this is Autoshite?  I mean, maybe you are correct, but one of these days someone WILL swap a silver cloud for an Invacar or something similar. You just know it