HMC- Return of the Cheeky 500

[wuvvum]

Good to see you have backup Russian birds to keep you company when the Mrs doesn't come along!

[S2000]

Peugeot 405

[grogee]

I had a 1990 Grandad Scorpio. It was a 2.0i twin cam auto, so quite slow, but I was young so it needed to be insurance friendly. 

I absolutely loved it, such a fantastic cruiser and had all the toys including electric leather seats and air con. 

I didn't feel it was particularly plasticky or tinny, in fact the slab of wood on the dash was real wood M9. 

I'd love another one and get all misty eyed when I see one on the ebay tat thread. 

My prediction for @HMC's collection is a 1987 Bitter coupe that's quite shonky with an odd coloured door. 

[hairnet]

round trip to plymouth then drive home in the avantime obvs

[sdkrc]

Perhaps it's a car for the good lady HMC?

something special...

[EyesWeldedShut]

Summer* is here - my bet is a convent table of some sort...
SLK  or SL?

Hmmmmm

[barefoot]

 Bollocks to all these niceties,  have you took a shit yet today?

[Weird Car]

15 minutes ago, barefoot said:

have you took a shit yet today?

Now we’re asking the real questions 

[Tubbo]

My guess is it’s cheap, and a bit fucked…

[HMC]

Ive actually bought this make and model off the very same shiter before.

This one has more doors (+1) , fewer cylinders and valves ( -1, -4) 

Was good to meet @bramz7 again!

 

 

[HMC]

[HMC]

Thats where i was last night, apparently….

 

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1421570?section=official-list-entry

[r.welfare]

Basing View used to be something back in the day, but even when I started working in the late 90s nearby it looked like the set of The Omega Man.  Nice 156.

[grogee]

2 hours ago, HMC said:

 

Is that Pripyat? 

[Shite Ron]

I am very impressed with your current fleet. In 1998 I went to the NEC motor show  specifically to look at the Rover 75 and Alfa 156 as after 16 years of  dull new cars these were a breath of fresh air styling wise. I always thought it would be nice to own a brand new car and keep it and was at the right age then to do it. I decided against the idea as I didn’t think I could live with front wheel drive and ultimately I compare everything negatively against a Cortina. I bought a 4 year old TVR instead and still have it. I would still like to try a 156 though and an early 75, they are stand out cars of their time. Your Granada is on another level entirely and is an all time great car.

[bramz7]

I miss this car terribly already. But I did some good drives in it, so I know I've not sold it before enjoying it fully. 

 

Good to see you again as well. 

[wuvvum]

Have the rear radius arms fallen off yet?

[wuvvum]

How about now?

[HMC]

33 minutes ago, bramz7 said:

I miss this car terribly already. But I did some good drives in it, so I know I've not sold it before enjoying it fully. 

 

Good to see you again as well. 

Had a great run back. I wasnt quite ready for 

A) how good it sounds

B ) just how quick it is

The 5 cylinder sound and the thump in your back out of corners is pretty impressive! 2.4 20v JTD FTW

[Wibble]

7 hours ago, HMC said:

Thats where i was last night, apparently….

 

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1421570?section=official-list-entry

I’ve just driven past that!

[wuvvum]

I had the 10v version of that engine in a Marea JTD and that went pretty well when it was running right.  I need to sample a 20v at some point (I was too slow off the mark with this one).

[bramz7]

The 10v is a good engine, but I felt the last one I had felt like it would hit a wall around 3k revs, whereas this thing would just leave a lot for dead with it's (addictive) in gear acceleration. The 20v really was a smart bit of diesel tech at the time, and the 6th gear just makes it a bit more relaxed when needs be. 

Did anything else even get the 2.4 engine in the UK? I know a few Lancias did, maybe the Croma? 

[wuvvum]

Yes, the Croma was available with that engine, and they must have sold at least three of them.  Otherwise I think it was only Alfas that were available with it in this country.

[HMC]

Came from bramz7 on some suitably nice tyres…

And an almost new bosch battery.

Even before he had it, former keepers had also been nice to it…..

Or should that read “it was needy” i like to think of it as an Alfisti showing the love 😂

[HMC]

And our former long term keeper kept all those little things that so often go missing over 20 years….

Clearly a man of a particular taste in cars, look at the px on the sales invoice…..

[HMC]

I was wondering what the colour was, handily alfas (and fiats?) of this period, i remembered usually had a little foil sticker applied to the inner bootlid….

Azzurro Gabbiano. No, not the new centre forward for Juventus, but very cool sounding. “sky-blue seagull”  just doesn't have the same ring to it somehow.

Strangely enough and right on que some seagulls have come quite far inland and were circling around just as i was investigating. Hope they dont leave their approval on the Azzurro Gabbiano 💩

[brownnova]

I had a W Reg 2.4JTD 156 in black. Absolutely loved it.

Turned out it had lost about 70k off the odometer at some point when I found service stickers for 170k under the bonnet… 

Still loved it. Only got rid because the clutch went suddenly… and it was a big bill when I’d just bought my first house so was skint.

Would have another. 

[rainagain]

I loved my 2.4 10v JTD 156, mine had a remap on it and massive pod filter. That five cylinder engine noise was fantastic. It would leave most things for dead. I’ve still got a dash video of my carrying out a nine car overtake one day on the way to work. The Momo seats and the interior were just gorgeous. 

I only sold it as the clutch bite was getting higher and higher and the guys on the Alfa forum said I’d never get the aluminium suspension bits apart to let me change it. I saw it for sale about a year later with the clutch dead, if I’d had my own driveway I would have bought it back. 

How are you getting on with the crap turning circle? 

 

[IronStar]

These are absolutely lovely to drive and a great place to be in. Alfa really hit the sweetspot with 156 in regards to handling! 2.4 is a bit less tough than 1.9, but a hoot to drive with a much nicer noise coming out of it. 
How are the sills and the underside? These are not really well known for the rust protection unfortunately. 

[Schaefft]

16 hours ago, HMC said:

Came from bramz7 on some suitably nice tyres…

And an almost new bosch battery.

Even before he had it, former keepers had also been nice to it…..

Or should that read “it was needy” i like to think of it as an Alfisti showing the love 😂

Without looking at @bramz7's ad again, dibs when it comes up for sale!😂