How much shite is too much shite? Specials and Space

[tooSavvy]

Purple IMP

All IMPs are 'worth something' to people looking for a nice old crock.

However the number of  *IMPnutters (in pieces every weekend/always tinkering/welding) is smaller.

The guy who puts the BMW bike engines in has fairly sunk the 'second mortgage to build a Wills ringed/Girdled crank/ BV firebreather'.... He is 'fit n forget' rocket power 😯😎

eBay those shells/alloy engines and they will sell....

*Yes, me 😉

🚙💨

[Schaefft]

How rusty (and cheap) are these red XKs?

[Supernaut]

I would definitely like to have a chat with you or your mate about acquiring something.

 

I have a very loose idea of spending £notalot on a tax exempt small car, and a project doesn't bother me but I can't do welding (I know saying that in NE Scotland is hilarious).

Colour me very interested. How simple are Imps, for example?

 

 

I also really really want to play with that Barkas!

[tooSavvy]

@Supernaut

Colour me very interested. How simple are Imps, for example?

...... As simple as you can get.....

😉

🚙💨

[Saabnut]

9 hours ago, Dick Longbridge said:

Those Imps look like interesting projects. Is that a Californian or Stiletto in amongst? 

Off topic, but was it you who bought Vulgalour's old Polo breadvan years back? I remember it was put back to standard-ish. 

I think that there are both there. Not me on the polo, too new for me  

[Dyslexic Viking]

21 hours ago, LightBulbFun said:

and ill tag @richykitchy and @tooSavvy for the Imp content 

And @HillmanImp

[lesapandre]

On 12/05/2024 at 19:25, Saabnut said:

Talking to my friend where the Sherpa was dropped off the other day. It would appear the additional aftermarket electric fuel pump was the problem. Removing it from the system has seen the van running well again. Too early to be 100% certain, but looking hopeful.

So, on to other things! Since arriving home I have been offered lots of interesting chod. First, located in South Yorkshire is a Barkas B1000. I am tempted with this.

I have little knowledge of these and no idea of value (anyone?) but as said I am tempted. I have not seen, just have loads of photos.

Friday, I was offered these Imp engines and transaxles

along with this fully welded shell

Along with these

I believe the seller has the bits from the cars in storage. There is also a TR6 (no photo I am afraid) as well as

Along with another easy project Midget

I have a friend who is going to see about this tomorrow (an 80)

and I have already bought this

Not sure if the Merc is available

and this

These all belonged to a classic specialist who ceased trading a couple of years ago and the ground needs clearing, so he is super easy to deal with! If anyone is interested in anything, let me know and I can find out. Located in my patch in NE Scotland.

and this

 

The purple car is a Sunbeam Sport launched in October 1966. By that point Imp sales were stalling and Rootes were badge engineering like mad to try and keep interest going.

It's a shame what happened - if Rootes hadn't been rushed into launching the car early - and had dripped the 'halo' specialist performance versions onto the market first whilst they sorted the snags - the story could have been very different. 

Rare car that Sunbeam. That purple may be an original colour.

 https://www.imps4ever.info/misc/colours.html

[tooSavvy]

Well Well Well.... 😯

@Mr_Bo11ox

Mr Bollox 'Simca 1100' is Sandalwood Met.

 

Chrysler/Talbot lashed it onto IMPs 🤔

🚙💨

[Saabnut]

Went back to collect the MGB yesterday and got some more info. These cars have been sitting about 10 years and were welding projects awaiting their turn. The exceptions are the Imps as these were the interest of one of the partners who unfortunately had a bad accident which took him out of the game for several years, but has recovered enough to be starting again. The purple Sunbeam is an original colour but the roof is rotten and holed down the sides. One of the other shells is going to donate its roof.

In other news, my friend Pete has bought the Rover 80 and plans on a 200 TDi conversion. The owner is very easy to deal with.

[SiC]

How bad is the ADO16 underneath?

[Saabnut]

50 minutes ago, SiC said:

How bad is the ADO16 underneath?

Very I suspect. I am collecting it on Friday so will know more then.

[2flags]

Those ADO 16's certainly knew how to rust. Great little cars, shame Issigonis didn't let them design the known rust traps out. 

[High Jetter]

2 hours ago, 2flags said:

Those ADO 16's certainly knew how to rust. Great little cars, shame Issigonis didn't let them design the known rust traps out. 

Maybe, but he designed a massive amount of new stuff in.

[Saabnut]

Been a busy but interesting week, culminating in not buying anything at Morris Leslies auction yesterday, despite bidding on a few! I felt that prices for good stuff were strong, which contradicts what the press et al are saying.

Having collected the MGB and delivered it to my friend in Perth, after 10 years sitting we were amazed that all the wheels turned, as did the engine. The next day my friend called to say a clean of the points, some oil down the bores and a temporary fuel tank had it running well.

Friday saw me going back for the ADO16 which had not moved in 12 years. Fortunately I have a decent winch on my trailer and despite 4 locked wheels it dragged it across to the trailer.  Introducing the wheels to a BFH as I had remembered to take a sledge hammer with me amazingly had all 4 turning by the time it was on the trailer. How rusty is it asked @SiC? I struggled to find securing points, and when fastening it down on the trailer went around the rear subframe with a ratchet strap and tightening the strap started to pull the subframe off!

Too low for a decent picture but this is the sill/floor. Had to sweep the trailer off afterwards

Looking at the trailer through the boot!

Once that was unloaded, we pulled the rear brakes from the 93 to allow it to roll. Things were not great in here, one side had new shoes/cylinder but the cylinder is properly seized. The other side had damaged shoes, missing spring, missing adjuster and equally seized cylinder.

I believe the cylinders are the same as Morris 1000, shoes will need to be relined. The search is on for spring and adjuster, and I need to buy a proper hub puller. Still, it rolls nicely now and it is home

Finally, great news

If you look carefully, yes, that is the new fibre broadband cable which now runs down to my house. Those who have been will realise how remarkable it is that they are connecting my very remote house to fibre!

[Tickman]

Quite the improvement with the fibre.

That ADO16 looks a little rough to say the least.

[Saabnut]

Just had a call from my friend in Perth. The same system on the ADO16 as the MGB has it running  well!

[lesapandre]

Any surviving ADO16 is a miracle. My parents had a new MkIII in January 1973 - it had rust coming through on the wings by 1975 -  offloaded as a PX in 1977. According to the DVLA it was untaxed from November 1982 -  a decade was about average for them. The earlier MkI and II did feel a bit better made tho. The MKIII felt very cheap and nasty but was not unreliable - just rusty.

Got replaced by a Citroen GS - like a lot of family cars it was a case of 'never again' with BL.

[LightBulbFun]

1 hour ago, Saabnut said:

Just had a call from my friend in Perth. The same system on the ADO16 as the MGB has it running  well!

this worm hole you have seem to have to Western Australia, mind if I send some fluorescent tubes through to a fellow lighting enthusiast and good friend of mine I have over there?

 

glad to hear that both machines have been made to run without too much fuss  

I especially approve of the MGB, I have got a bit of a soft spot for those just because a 1970 MGB is what I sort of learnt cars on, in that long before I was on this forum, a close friend of mine @1970mgb had just bought his well 1970 MGB , and I figured then was a good time as any to figure out all this car malarkey, you know if I was to own something like a Routemaster bus someday I figured I should figure out how old vehicles work

so its through a 1970 MGB that I learnt all the things about little british cars, Lucas the prince of darkness, and SU carbs, I mean not that I claim to know much at all even now, but what i do know is in a large part thanks to my friends MGB, my friend would be working on his and I would pick his brains ask him to explain what exactly it was he was doing and why he was doing it or what this or that part does, "what is dash pot oil and why is it so important that you make sure your dash pot oil is present and correct?", etc etc  

and also because of that eventually I hope to blag a go in an MGB at some point, just to see what all the fuss is about  

[hairnet]

2 hours ago, Saabnut said:

Been a busy but interesting week 

 

 

 

who cares ❤️  

[Saabnut]

Well I got bored with hospital visits etc so did some negotiating which meant two visits in quick succession but meant I had 4 weeks free. Rapidly packed the Saab estate recently purchased from @jonathan_dyane and headed south. The Saab never missed a beat and has now covered nearly 3k miles in my brief ownership, most of them on LPG.

The first couple of days have been spent beating down the chest high grass and still plenty to do. Today there was a presentation in the square at La Chatre sur le Loir where the town was presented with an award by the French classic car groups officially making it a "Classic Car Friendly" town.

Tomorrow there is a classic gathering in my local village so will have a look there tomorrow. The second pub/bar in the village closed 7 years ago but reopened today as a bar/brasserie so we decided to visit for a swift drink at lunchtimr. Fortunately I took the car home and walked down as more than a few were consumed! The rest of the day has been a write off!  

As for the free French beer, it is a genuine offer. The only snag is you have to claim it here in person! Any shiters in the Sarthe will be very welcome over the next 2-3 weeks, pm me for the address!

[jonathan_dyane]

We were staying near Trogues last month, just missed you!

[Cheezey]

Is the MGB likely to be roadworthy any time in the future? 

[Saabnut]

8 hours ago, Cheezey said:

Is the MGB likely to be roadworthy any time in the future? 

No, the MGB is a parts car only as it has a LOT of rot underneath

[Cheezey]

That’s a shame but you need to know when to call it quits. A scruffy, black, chrome bumper, B GT, a jaunt up the A9 was ticking a lot of boxes for me. 

[Saabnut]

Sunday saw the local show where cars arrived and departed all day. I spent most of the day supporting the local bussiness by drinking his beer, but took a snapshot of the sort of thing that passed through

After recovering I spent the next couple of days beating back the garden, I think I am winning! Today a friend came over and we decided we had talked about doing the carbs on the Spitfire long enough and we should actually do it. After sitting for 2 years, it started with a jump but ran incredibly rich. A strip, clean set and rebuild followed and the carb balancer deployed. Whilst still not 100% it is now running better than it has in years. Went to top up the tank with some fresh 98 and as it was a nice day took the scenic route home and covered 25 miles.

 

On a high, decided to see if the Range Rover would start after a similar 2 year sit. With a jump it did, so moved it to where I could charge the battery as I hope to commence battle with French beuracracy soon  to finalise registration.

Finally, when I went shopping yesterday I ran out of LPG so went for a run to the local Le Clerc supermarket at Chateau du Loir where I refilled for 94.9 cents per litre. This evening I had a small tidy up in the garden and drank more beer!

[Saabnut]

Yesterday took the Spitfire shopping and as usual took a longer route home. As I left one of the neighbouring villages I was overtaken by some sort of Renault RS which after passing me stopped, the drive jumped out and flagged me down. In very good english he asked if I would support his clubs show today (Sunday) which was being held in a supermarket about 30 miles away.

Today was sunny so I decided to head over and see what was what. Not my normal type of thing as mostly modern sports cars and mildly modded hot hatches, but plenty of them and a young and enthusiastic crowd. I was made very welcome and it was a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours, followed by a cross country blast on quiet, good condition lanes, exactly what the Spitfire was built for.

[Saabnut]

St Saturnin Classic British welcome before the Le Mans weekend. 
 

Then my phone went flat……..

 

[Saabnut]

Hotel de France for beer 🍺 

[hairnet]

so the pasta lovers 

still not beat uncle sam tho

 

[Saabnut]

Back home in blighty and with a better net connection. Not really sure why I came back (actually that is a lie, I had a hospital appointment) so a quick update. Just before leaving france, my friend Simon suggested we go and look at the Chinon Classique, an upmarket 3 day show/event held in Chinon on the banks of the Loire river, about 60 miles away by backroad. Decided to go on the last day, Sunday, as that is the day they shut the town centre and set up a circuit for "demonstration" runs. Plenty of chicanes and safety cars to keep things sensible, but good fun. Decided on an early start with the aim of getting a decent parking spot near the action, so we set off at 8am with Simon in his MG Midget 1500 fitted with Frogeye lookalike kit and me following in the Spitfire.

After a great run down in the sun, on empty smooth roads, on arrival in Chinon we were waved through to the exhibitors parking area! We of course kept quiet, parked up and went for a wander. Our transport:

A random selection of the ones I found interesting. There were many varied expensive Jags, Astons, Lambos, Ferraris etc which might appear in the background  

After a wander, a coffee, more looking, a beer, more looking, lunch etc we decided to head off. Of course we are in the centre shut off bit of town so we had to ask how we got out. Fortunately Simon has fluent French and the marshalls said they would be happy to move the barriers for us. So we headed that way and followed the marshalls directions and found ourselves in the queue to go out on the circuit. Of course, we felt it would create too much confusion if we spoke up and it would be easier to go with the flow.

Which we did! After 5 laps of the circuit we then left and headed home. Put the Spitfire away and next day headed to Calais in the 9-5 Estate and back to Scotland and home. The Saab has just clocked up 190k miles, 4k in my ownership of a couple of months.

Thursday was wasted at the hospital Oncology dept again (though the nurses there and myself are now on first name terms  ) and Friday my other friend Simon called to say the Lancia was ready (after 12 years off the road) and his TVR Chimaera was also back from MOT so how about a run to the local car and coffee meet at the Dundee Transport museum. Great evening but only one picture