HMC- Return of the Cheeky 500

[fatharris]

2 hours ago, timolloyd said:

Short lifetime then…

About the same lifetime as HMC ownership though, so fair enough 🤣

Seriously though, what a winner wagon! Weirdly enough, I was sat at dinner reading old car magazines (as one does), and look what I read not three hours ago 😅

[HMC]

Took advantage of a black circles discount code to get a new set of rubber ordered. I think one of the front tyres is warped as there is a very slight front end shimmy coming to a stand still, and all the rubber is very degraded, despite holding air.

[shampooefficient]

I bet it'll handle really sweetly on new boots.

Our old 406 handled better than a high mile diesel bus has any right to. Precise, smooth, loved it. Big French cars are something special.

[2110]

On 01/09/2024 at 17:31, HMC said:

3. been having a look around at more of the little details on the Samara

 

 

It's a wonderfully original and complete example, lots of little bits of detail on it! There were 4 hubcaps in the boot when I got it, 2 broken Lada ones and 2 broken probably Halfords or similar from years ago ones, not sure why they were left but all 4 being broken meant I binned them on day 1...

[HMC]

On 01/09/2024 at 17:39, HMC said:

We are on the same page. Ive got a slightly more shite solution in the pipeline (for the wheels, not the 20v- although in fairness the car its attached to can only be considered a commercial failure.) *further clue*

As the Samara is an “SL” it would have originally come with a set of wheel trims. 

A family with very modest aspirations?

Anyway, I wanted period mingebag misery, not a set of alloys, which would seem to apologise for rather than celibrate the cars status. closest thing was a set possibly off a riva- But they have the suitably miserable look to them i was after…

[grogee]

I wonder if the Samara (and other Eastern Bloc shite) arrived in the UK in boggo spec, then the UK importer rolled them in glitter to create a 'trim walk'? 

In other words, are all the 'creature comforts' provided by SL trim simply pieces that can be screwed/nailed on at the docks? Eg alarm, stereo, mud flaps, wheel trims, perhaps even a dealer fit sunroof? 

I'm constantly amazed by the bits and pieces fitted to imported cars after build but before sale. 

[wesacosa]

37 minutes ago, grogee said:

I wonder if the Samara (and other Eastern Bloc shite) arrived in the UK in boggo spec, then the UK importer rolled them in glitter to create a 'trim walk'? 

In other words, are all the 'creature comforts' provided by SL trim simply pieces that can be screwed/nailed on at the docks? Eg alarm, stereo, mud flaps, wheel trims, perhaps even a dealer fit sunroof? 

I'm constantly amazed by the bits and pieces fitted to imported cars after build but before sale. 

that's exactly what happened, alongside a few fit and fixture adjustments, body kits, sunroofs, stripes, stereos etc.  Lada place was up in Carnaby near Bridlington. Skoda was in Kings Lynn.. Not sure if Yugo, FSO etc did the same or just had the dealers do it

[HMC]

Apparently this was in part why ladas exported back to the Russian Federation in the 90s were prized- because of the stick on tat.

[Yoss]

34 minutes ago, wesacosa said:

that's exactly what happened, alongside a few fit and fixture adjustments, body kits, sunroofs, stripes, stereos etc.  Lada place was up in Carnaby near Bridlington. Skoda was in Kings Lynn.. Not sure if Yugo, FSO etc did the same or just had the dealers do it

It's a well known fact (in very small circles) that the Favorit alloy wheels were made in Britain but they weren't fitted here, they were shipped over to CZ in wooden crates to be fitted there. The crates were then filled with spares and returned to the UK to be refilled with wheels and so on and so forth. 

The sunroofs I believe were fitted at King's Lynn. 

[HMC]

The p4 is being collected later tonight, apparently as an empty back load to its original home as originally registered in cheshire. Farewell brave solja

edit- its staying in the fold, to a shiter  that made content in a Top Gear episode in the noughties, as i reminded him tonight.

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, HMC said:

, to a shiter  that made content in a Top Gear episode in the noughties, as i reminded him tonight.

I hope he's recovered 😀

[HMC]

Face/off

Theres long been rumours about a sequel to the 1997 John Woo classic. 

I made my own

Theres a bit of plumbing leaking behind the fan shroud. Surgical face/off procedure underway to sort. 

I think if the GS was an actor it would be more of a Christopher Walken character; Willfully different and an acquired taste. He’s brilliant though, like the GS.

 

[grogee]

Is this an air cooled thing? Were they all air cooled? I would say it's bonkers but it's actually quite appealing as long as the heater system doesn't belch oily fumes into the cabin. 

[HMC]

Safrane also now has nice new rubber that does the ride quality justice….

OUT: 

IN:

[somewhatfoolish]

2 hours ago, grogee said:

Is this an air cooled thing? Were they all air cooled? I would say it's bonkers but it's actually quite appealing as long as the heater system doesn't belch oily fumes into the cabin. 

All GS and GSA used the same air cooled flat 4, the capacity went up a bit, the power stayed more or less the same but a bit more torque.

[HMC]

1 hour ago, grogee said:

Is this an air cooled thing? Were they all air cooled? I would say it's bonkers but it's actually quite appealing as long as the heater system doesn't belch oily fumes into the cabin. 

 

Yes an aircooled flat 4. This one is 1222cc and earlier ones were 1015cc iirc. Haynes has some pretty pictures…

[Stinkwheel]

8 hours ago, HMC said:

Face/off

Theres long been rumours about a sequel to the 1997 John Woo classic. 

I made my own

Theres a bit of plumbing leaking behind the fan shroud. Surgical face/off procedure underway to sort. 

I think if the GS was an actor it would be more of a Christopher Walken character; Willfully different and an acquired taste. He’s brilliant though, like the GS.

 

God I used to loathe taking off GS and GSA undertrays, so bloody un-necessary and French, just to get to the cambelts and tensioners or to do the exhaust again!!! That bloody Y piece 

Having said all that, bloody love this car. Proper Citroen, proper look, I really can’t explain well enough how much I bloody love it for being exactly what it is and having a certain ‘je ne said quoi’ 

that all old Citroens used to have and now don’t so much as they get fully (over) restored 

[Stinkwheel]

Oh, when you get to it, Fiat Punto mk1 1.2 cam belt tensioner pulley bearing is the same as these,  No need to pay silly prices from specialists for them 

[yes oui si]

On 06/09/2024 at 19:54, HMC said:

 

 

edit- its staying in the fold, to a shiter  that made content in a Top Gear episode in the noughties, as i reminded him tonight.

I used to do work for a guy who was on the Top Gear Fastest Politicians segment, workplace debates often ended with "Aye? At least I'm not slower than a Lib Dem." 

Safrane looks absolutely wonderful. 

[HMC]

^ thanks!

I cleared out the sunroof drains so quite a big leak into the interior is now sorted. 

I dont know if its because im expecting it, or because it actually is so comfy, but ive got my seat quite reclined (more than normal)  and with the new quality tyres it rides so well and is so comfortable . Its quite different from a newer car. Unsporty. Soft and relaxing. These days not a strong set of brand values, apparently.

tl:dr- ive done a lovely job for the next shiter owner (lets be honest, not so far away) making it better at what it does best

[Peter C]

Christopher Walken has better facilities to store that watch than the GS.

[andyberg]

34 minutes ago, HMC said:

 

I dont know if its because im expecting it, or because it actually is so comfy, but ive got my seat quite reclined (more than normal)  

This is the way! I have found the same. I’m far more reclined in my Safrane than I am in the Jazz. 
 

Unsporty. Soft and relaxing .

this is also very true. 

[Boycie]

On 07/09/2024 at 14:57, HMC said:

Safrane also now has nice new rubber that does the ride quality justice….

OUT: 

IN:

Continental ....err as having worked in a renault dealership I can tell you  your really should have fitted Michelin ...that'll be marks off at the concours....

[Bmwdumptruck]

On 26/08/2024 at 18:24, HMC said:

Ive just noticed the upcurve of the rear tailgate glass into the roof. Also when the taligate lifts up, the centre section of the bumper is brought with it. 

Didn’t they carry the same idea over to the BX estates? My dad has still got his C plate BX19D estate bought new, the first the dealer in Honiton got in. He’s also bought a late 17TZD one but can’t find an abs sensor to get it mot’d. At 91 I doubt he’ll be driving much longer, although his wife sent us a pic of him under his XM estate fixing something with the aid of a step grandchild.  Shame we don’t speak any more, but then he’s always been a cantankerous old fecker….

I see this ones a Cmatic too.  One of dads CX Safaris was Cmatic, brilliant to drive.

[High Jetter]

5 minutes ago, Bmwdumptruck said:

Didn’t they carry the same idea over to the BX estates? My dad has still got his C plate BX19D estate bought new, the first the dealer in Honiton got in. He’s also bought a late 17TZD one but can’t find an abs sensor to get it mot’d. At 91 I doubt he’ll be driving much longer, although his wife sent us a pic of him under his XM estate fixing something with the aid of a step grandchild.  Shame we don’t speak any more, but then he’s always been a cantankerous old fecker….

I see this ones a Cmatic too.  One of dads CX Safaris was Cmatic, brilliant to drive.

Sounds complicated, save what you can

[HMC]

Fleet news:

Gs - ive now got hold of a 42mm socket to allow the engine fan to be removed to then remove more bits and bobs to then replace a small rubber component thats split.

Samara-

rear inner and outer sills now welded 🇷🇺 👍

 

And i might be having a look at some prime shite tonight with a view to doing a buy. But isnt 4 cars too many ?  (even if one is in bits)

[grogee]

51 minutes ago, HMC said:

isnt 4 cars too many

No, it's too few. Especially for a man of your calibre. Great work with both the heaps, I imagine there were some raised eyebrows about welding a Lada. I'm really glad it's had its life prolonged. 

[HMC]

Enter a cheap Opaline green Acclaim CD….

[wuvvum]

Ooh, electric windows!  Very posh.

[captain_70s]

CD.

Weighed down with superfluous stuff like headlamp washers and remote fuel filler cap release. The L is the patrician's choice...