HMC WBOD news

[flat4alfa]

1 hour ago, stuboy said:

dont mick fleetwood own one?

Since he was in his twenties

It’s called ‘Lettuce Leaf’. His children named it that and the name stayed

[High Jetter]

12 minutes ago, flat4alfa said:

Since he was in his twenties

It’s called ‘Lettuce Leaf’. His children named it that and the name stayed

Droopy handle, tho...😀

[flat4alfa]

21 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Droopy handle, tho...😀

I wonder if….

😎

[stuboy]

21 hours ago, High Jetter said:

Droopy handle, tho...😀

lets not mention side effects of magical powders of the 70s...lol

[High Jetter]

1 hour ago, flat4alfa said:

I wonder if….

😎

Rumours, tho, that's bollocks. 

[N Dentressangle]

On 12/10/2025 at 23:49, flat4alfa said:

Since he was in his twenties

It’s called ‘Lettuce Leaf’. His children named it that and the name stayed

I'm guessing that pic is Hawaii, where he's lived for years.

Encountering Mick Fleetwood in an Austin 7 on the backroads of Maui. Surreal 

[captain_70s]

Doesn't even list HMC as a previous celebrity owner! Missed opportunity.

[HMC]

chummy news- 

The last v5 was issued in 1983 and when the vendor had the car the history wasnt with it. Hence they applied for a v5 - meanwhile the old history was reunited with the car. So on purchase the v5 was pending. Finally it arrived! Been pottering around locally and have to say its brilliant fun and as its got little bodywork to weigh it down- its suprisingly quick! (relatively speaking)

 

[bangernomics]

chummy news- 
The last v5 was issued in 1983 and when the vendor had the car the history wasnt with it. Hence they applied for a v5 - meanwhile the old history was reunited with the car. So on purchase the v5 was pending. Finally it arrived! Been pottering around locally and have to say its brilliant fun and as its got little bodywork to weigh it down- its suprisingly quick! (relatively speaking)

 

Utterly cool, my maternal grandfather ran one as his daily apparently well into the late 60’s having owned it from new. Sadly he passed before I was born so I never met him but have some pics somewhere I must dig out.

His was painted in a dark green which I suspect was supplied by dulux rather than austin. One for my car bucket list that.

[HMC]

fleet news-

The bargainous s class met a sticky end. It was perfect- right up until it got hit on the front corner whilst parked at night on the street- the following morning the air suspension, front steering angle and traction esp lights were lit up and the car wouldnt drive straight and the damping went rock hard. Sold for spares or repairs. Was a nice car 😭

What as a replacement? I saw a low miles posh spec c5 hdi advertised and decided to do a buy. I cant say ive ever really wanted one but i was interested to try it. I had in mind it was the last hydropneumatic citroen (turns out I was wrong; the later c5 was as well) but even without this nostalgic justification its a solid and very comfortable daily with squashy velour seats and a ride that squashes speed humps at speed. It spent half its recent life in france so has a control technique cert stuck on the front screen. BON!

This is a facelift- IMO not hard to improve on the odd looking original. Like a lot of facelifts- in retrospect im not sure is really any better, looks more fussy and still looks awkward. You cant get away from the basic proportions but its a comfy steer and has directional front headlights (chapeau to the DS)  that - at 20yo and french- still work!

[Schaefft]

Nooo, I was excited to hear more about the S-Class! At the same time I'm somewhat glad I can't be tempted into it anymore should it have ever made it into the for sale section.

C5 ist still an interesting car due to the comfort/price ratio but not the same.

[D.E]

Bloody shame about the merc! A friend of mine had a similar C5 - same colour, facelift, but on petrol. His had some weird suspension quirks that caused to car to rise or sag at random, something he was never able to fix. But it was comfy nevertheless!

[FakeConcern]

I think the C5 facelift rear lights are much more interesting than the pre-FC. Do these have the fixed hub steering wheel like the C4? Such a great feature.

[hairnet]

@beko1987 on the list in a week

[Peter C]

Awful news about the Merc, it was such a bargain and an amazing car. Like all S-Classes, it was so ahead of the game when new.

I like the C5 but concur that the pre-facelift model is easier on the eye. Keep it parked somewhere safe!

[HMC]

currently cooling off on a dartmoor hill in PG1107

Ive been chasing an inlet manifold air leak - i think sorted - it was the carb to inlet joint. 

Meanwhile it feels theres still a bit to do for the VSCC trial as it gets a bit hot on long climbs and starts to steam out of the top of the rad like a little kettle 😂. Time for a break. 

Tea, anyone?

[HMC]

Ive just been overtaken by a mob of beagles

[HMC]

I had one ftp- I forgot to turn to fuel tap back on. At least it happened somewhere where i could trundle to the verge…

[comfortablynumb]

Such a great looking car, and what a pic, calendar shot?

[HMC]

Further chummy news- 

I went to the post office to change the tax from PLG to HISTORIC. Done it a few times now with other stuff. Computer said no. So I rang the DVLA and it was explained that it wasnt possible as, despite being registered new in june 1929 and with all the old log books etc and a current v5 in place- there was no date of manufacture their end.

I suggested to the DVLA employee (who i must say was very friendly and helpful) that as we all agree it existed by june 1929- that this itself should be enough to grant it >40 year old status. Apparently not. 

I did consider going via an owners club; Sadly all pre war austin factory records have been lost/ bombed/ destroyed.

All that is except as luck would have it- 29-31 sevens.

So ive applied for a heritage cert and cover letter to provide the necessary evidence. Although a bit of a faff actually id be interested in it for its own sake.

How very DVLA though.

[JakeT]

LBF would have done his usual DVLA ju-jitsu and had it on historic for you in 28 seconds flat.

How doovla can agree it existed in 1929, the current logbook is over 40 years old but can’t understand that the car is over 40 years old is hilarious.

[HMC]

Deffo. Its probably the only Taxed as PLG 96 year old car currently on the road 😂

[HMC]

Further chummy news…

If it pleases the court Ive got some history- buff log books from the late 40s to the late 50s (they are gradually filled with vehicle tax stamps and often when full -and replaced, binned) and some stuff from the early 80s (it was sold for 3k in 1983 a poor performer since then- as classic cars magazine would pronounce- yuck) Its last tax discs date from 83/4/5 until it came off the road.

Exhibit A: This rather indecipherable letter- I figured out from the address and a note on a later v5 that Ken Rokison is the writer, and later owner of PG1107. He is a now a retired high court judge (!) and I  believe still alive. Ive written to him to ask about his ownership and how he came to be the keeper from about 1978-83. 

The jury is out on if i get a reply, m’lud.

[Matty]

On 01/11/2025 at 15:05, comfortablynumb said:

Such a great looking car, and what a pic, calendar shot?

If i had the space (and wasnt married) id have one parked in the front room. Id sit in it and watch telly!!

[artdjones]

On 02/11/2025 at 17:39, Matty said:

If i had the space (and wasnt married) id have one parked in the front room. Id sit in it and watch telly!!

It wouldn't take up any more space that the average clingy DFS sofa.

Edit:- I meant blingy.

[artdjones]

On 01/11/2025 at 17:08, HMC said:

Deffo. Its probably the only Taxed as PLG 96 year old car currently on the road 😂

If you're a member of Patriotic Millionaires you could just leave it.

[HMC]

Chummy news- it starts so much more easily after resealing both ends of the inlet manifold and gaskets with some hylomar blue. It also has stopped the occasional (and quite scary) backfire on the overrun which im guessing was again a symptom of the air leaking in and messing up the fuel mixture.

Have used the wet weather gear for the first time going out to a restaurant.

Detachable side screens, with the doors having a fold back and press stud secure bit to avoid flappingness on the move.

No need for decent wipers when you can peer out of a slot. My glasses could do with wipers, mind you.

[Peter C]

@HMC

You are quite mad. In a good way, of course.

[comfortablynumb]

21 hours ago, Peter C said:

@HMC

You are quite mad. In a good way, of course.

"All the best people are..."

[HMC]

Ive just bought a car

clue- former owners….