The new news 24 thread

[wuvvum]

I went to see a mate yesterday afternoon and ended up doing a slightly convoluted deal with him, as a result of which he now has the Swift and the Vectra (Swift is a sweetie but needs too much weldage for me, Vectra is still being a pain and he has more chance of sorting it than I do), and I'm the proud owner of a Y-reg MGF in BRG metallic with a tan leather interior.  (I did take a pic, but it came out shit, so I won't post it.)

 

Never driven an F before, but I'd driven TFs so knew more or less what to expect.  This one's an 1800 but without the VVC - it still goes bloody well though, doesn't have the VI's mad rush for the redline but has more midrange pull (although that's probably due to lighter weight).  It's comfy, if a little bit bouncy, and I find the top of the windscreen a little on the low side, but nothing reclining the seat a bit won't cure.  My mate had had it for a few months but not really been anywhere in it beyond the odd quick run round the block.  I drove it home, temp gauge steady just below half, heater blowing nice and warm, but then I pulled up outside my house and switched off and it was pissing out coolant. 

 

You can probably guess what my immediate thought was.  The stream of coolant soon subsided though, so I popped the hood and gingerly removed the expansion cap.  Nothing.  Not even a "pfft".  The reason for that became apparent when I got the cap off and found the pressure valve flopping loosely around in the top.  So I nicked the cap off the Rover of Doom (which won't be needing it in the immediate future), and without wanting to tempt fate, initial indications are that it's sorted.  I've done 20-odd miles in it today and it behaved fine.

 

In other news, I celebrated the 25's MOT pass by treating it to a stereo (it didn't have one when I bought it) and a less embarrassing set of wheeltrims.  Scuffs aside, it's actually quite a smart looking car I reckon - the desperate facelift is growing on me...

 

This afternoon I wandered back up to the house after spending a happy half hour crawling around under the CX looking for grot, to find the Innocenti's headlights blazing away.  Which was odd, as they certainly weren't on half an hour earlier, and the back lights weren't on either.  It looks like the headlight flasher had somehow activated itself and then become stuck on.  Weird.  Some pissing about with the light switches eventually persuaded them to turn off, but I've removed the battery earth lead to avoid a repeat performance.  I love Italian wiring...

[xtriple]

I had a faff with the BBR yesterday, taking my life in my hands with the bloody wind. I scraped off the flaking lacquer under the rear windscreen, it just gadb;t adhered at all as the paint below was pristine! I assume that there was something on that bit when they sprayed it which stopped the paint sticking. ANyway, scuffed it up and laid a few coats of clear on from a touch up pen bought from Halfords. Not perfect, but much, much better and after a few more coats over a few days, I will sand it and polish it and it will be spot-on! It's only a small spot anyway (about two inches long and curved down to a max of an inch) but it should stop any water getting under it.

 

Also had a good look at the car, checked the inside of the wheelarches (found that Specialist cars did a proper job and not just blasted wax everywhere) and then noticed that on the passengers side rear arch, the plastic.rubber trim at the base to stop stone chips is fooked! It looks like it's been off before and glued back on (no idea how it's fitted properly, probably unicorn jizz) and it has a glued up split in it. To be honest, it's not really all that noticeable but, well, you guys know what I'm like by now...

 

So, I priced them up. 6 inch long bit of rubber/plastic to protect from stones, pennies right?

 

Wrong.

 

£150 ish each! The ones it has can stay!

[barefoot]

I've had a fun day making the most of the dry weather here today by taking the Dolly for a drive,

I joined my mates with the Marina and had a mini photoshoot.

Much as I like manky old cars, these two both look shit for exactly the same reason as chaps Audi 200 Turbo looked shit.

& I had a C2 turbo and maintain to this day that it was the finest motor car ever produced, but it's the pillars.

Bizarrely the seemingly endless little upright pillars between the A & the B - to support the crackingly useful quarter light

somehow, now looks completely shit.

& when there's another in the back window, we know what it's for and all the advantages it offers...

it still looks and makes the car look shit

odd, or what

 

all things, inc endless window pillars considered, both look ok, 

my personal favourite is

the

[Six-cylinder]

I won an H Van in a raffle yesterday!

[fordperv]

I won't bother with the flood pics as I have posted them elsewhere but after the water receded we collected the xmas tree this afternoon

 

The new pine fresh magic tree

[doobietoo]

Drove the PT to the garage today.... after filling the water up properly using the bleed valve.... not only did it not over heat on the 5 mile run but the heater also worked.... it was a bitch to start though so I still think the OMGHGF is the most likely reason for the overhesating. First impressions are it drives quite nicely in a wafty cruisery sort of way which at my age is a pleasure.

Also happened into another PT owner at the garage who spent 20 mins extolling the virtues and climbing all over mine to see what was different ..... think I am going to like driving this around .....

[mercrocker]

I won an H Van in a raffle yesterday!

That's got to be worth a few quid to the five-quid coffee goaties on the showgrounds next year.

[MarvinsMom]

I have been to the Midlands section Citroen Car Club Christmas Dinner today and one of the members turned up in his daily driver, a RENAULT!

 

has the offender been excommunicated yet for this crime?

[xtriple]

My stereo has started working properly after three sleeping coppers gave it three good bumps: first bump, sound, second bump, dead. third bump sound and it's stayed that way since.

 

But, to balance things out, the air con has started playing up - dodgy switches.

 

Also, it is filthy and I am going to wash it, just waiting for it to start raining again so I don't have to carry buckets to rinse it. It is currently sunny, so should be pouring with rain in about 11 minutes!

[Sloth in a bowl]

has the offender been excommunicated yet for this crime?

 

 

No, they will have just drawn a big cock on it in LHM.

[Christine]

Mot on the Pajero booked for 3pm tomoz... 

[oldcars]

 

SCRAP IT.

I would bridge it...........

[oldcars]

Thankfully just the outer sill. Down at the test centre now...

How did it go with the Pride?

[xtriple]

Washed the car, it didn't fucking rain to help with the rinsing so I had to lug buckets and chuck them in the general direction - I got wetter than if it had rained!

[Richard]

How did it go with the Pride?

 

I believe the Pride is now MOTed to 2017

[doobietoo]

Finally got the 1100 out of the garage and off to storage....next door was kind enough to do the towing honours up the drive with his V8 landy....

 

 

mmmmm I am lucky enough to hear and smell this spluttering to life in the morning ...heaven. Once the radiator has been fitted to the PPE I can get Rex in the garage ready for weldage and running gear resto....

[Bobthebeard]

I tentatively mentioned* the idea a while ago and got slightly flamed, but here goes. Fess up time.

 

Owing to being slightly retired and skint a new scheme was hatched recently. It has now moved on a pace. The Mercury has had a partial respray after I sorted the speedo/repaired the dents/rust etc and the red pinstriping was removed. The car has now been professionally done out in full NYPD police graphics! (Yeah, I know, but bear with me.)

A fully working Streethawk USA police light bar was purchased from eBay and I have kitted it out with mag mounts for roof fitting when needed. It isn't fitted for normal use. The car now looks extremely authentic. All been done as a faithful copy of a 93 NYPD Ford Taurus.

The reason for all this? To earn some money really. I have so far got three bookings for next year. One is for an American Diner (want it parked outside) another for a wedding and one for a local theatre.

I know it sounds tacky etc, but it really does look the part now. No pics as yet owing to darkness. If I don't get too many haterz there will be pics in the morning!

[MarvinsMom]

hey thats really cool, you have taken a broken and unwanted yank, and found away to both have some fun, and earn some beer money off of it,

 

well done bob!!

[Bobthebeard]

hey thats really cool, you have taken a broken and unwanted yank, and found away to both have some fun, and earn some beer money off of it,

 

well done bob!!

Thankyou!

[MarvinsMom]

but remember, pictures please or it never happened?

 

are you going to get into costume too to go with the car?

[cms206]

How did it go with the Pride?

Minor welding but a pass with no advisories until 2/1/17

[Bobthebeard]

but remember, pictures please or it never happened?

 

are you going to get into costume too to go with the car?

Pictures in the morning....

No, have no plans to get into costume personally as I am too old and fat! If needed I have a driver lined up who looks the part.

[MarvinsMom]

but surely that is one of the requirements of been one of NYPD blues finest?

 

the only line you need is "got your license buddy?"

 

and of course a pair of mirrored aviator style sunglasses.

[DeeJay]

"Hands on the roof and spread 'em".

[Bobthebeard]

........Waits for massive piss taking..........

😬

[doobietoo]

Box of doughnuts on the dash for total authenticity

[danthecapriman]

I tentatively mentioned* the idea a while ago and got slightly flamed, but here goes. Fess up time.

Owing to being slightly retired and skint a new scheme was hatched recently. It has now moved on a pace. The Mercury has had a partial respray after I sorted the speedo/repaired the dents/rust etc and the red pinstriping was removed. The car has now been professionally done out in full NYPD police graphics! (Yeah, I know, but bear with me.)

A fully working Streethawk USA police light bar was purchased from eBay and I have kitted it out with mag mounts for roof fitting when needed. It isn't fitted for normal use. The car now looks extremely authentic. All been done as a faithful copy of a 93 NYPD Ford Taurus.

The reason for all this? To earn some money really. I have so far got three bookings for next year. One is for an American Diner (want it parked outside) another for a wedding and one for a local theatre.

I know it sounds tacky etc, but it really does look the part now. No pics as yet owing to darkness. If I don't get too many haterz there will be pics in the morning!

Yes please on the pics!

 

Sounds like a great idea to me. Earn a few quid extra with your shite, always handy and can help the car pay for itself.

There's a guy not far from me with an 85 Ford Crown Vic done out as a highway patrol car, it's got lights, roof bar, radio etc etc and looks fantastic.

 

Edit: here it is.

http://www.solent-renegades.co.uk/garage-view-vehicle-88.html

 

And another later 90's Crown Vic, I think the same guy owns them:

http://www.solent-renegades.co.uk/garage-view-vehicle-179.html

[Bobthebeard]

Thanks for the kind comments! Was half expecting to crash and burn on this one! Couldn't sleep last night owing to fear of owning up!

[Bren]

I tentatively mentioned* the idea a while ago and got slightly flamed, but here goes. Fess up time.

Owing to being slightly retired and skint a new scheme was hatched recently. It has now moved on a pace. The Mercury has had a partial respray after I sorted the speedo/repaired the dents/rust etc and the red pinstriping was removed. The car has now been professionally done out in full NYPD police graphics! (Yeah, I know, but bear with me.)

A fully working Streethawk USA police light bar was purchased from eBay and I have kitted it out with mag mounts for roof fitting when needed. It isn't fitted for normal use. The car now looks extremely authentic. All been done as a faithful copy of a 93 NYPD Ford Taurus.

The reason for all this? To earn some money really. I have so far got three bookings for next year. One is for an American Diner (want it parked outside) another for a wedding and one for a local theatre.

I know it sounds tacky etc, but it really does look the part now. No pics as yet owing to darkness. If I don't get too many haterz there will be pics in the morning!

I'd have done it matt black - robocop.

I'd buy that for a dollar!

[gordonbennet]

Looking forward to seeing the pics, bloody love yanks, i'd give me left bollock for a current Charger in unmarked (sneaky unlettered) police spec.