Nu Shite - a gift from a neighbour. Swedish Content.

[R9UKE]

This is a heart-warming tale, if I do say so myself.

 

So about six years ago, I had a Rover 820i Fastback.  It was stunning.  Beautiful metallic red, J plate and in superb condition all round.  A chap around the corner from me took a real interest in it, an elderly gent, in his 70s.  Before this I had known him purely as "Volvo man".  Anyway, his name was Brian and he had a real passion for older stuff.  He told me he had a lockup with quite a few things in it and would I like to take a look.   He had bizarre stuff with no correlation as to his shite fetishes.  At one end there was a Rover SD1, at the other there was Citroen ZX Aura petrol automatic.  In between, from memory, there were numerous Volvo 240s, a Ford Cortina and a D reg BMW 635CSi.

 

We would see each other the odd time, he'd be walking the dogs and take an interest in my latest turd.  Anyway, about two years ago, I randomly realised it had been quite a while since I'd seen him, so I called at the house.  He usually had the driveway stuffed with cars that he'd bring round from the lockup, presumably to give them a run and freshen them up, then bring a few different ones around the week after.  All that was in the driveway this time was the 940 Estate he and the wife used daily.  

 

I was invited in by his wife and told that Brian had had a stroke.  It didn't look good and he had instructed the lockup and driveway to be cleared so that she didn't have to deal with it after his death.  That was three months previous to my calling.  Brian was there, he was really pleased to see me but when I mentioned the cars he got very emotional.  Because of the stroke his license was revoked and he basically called in a contact to clear everything.  I don't know where these cars ended up but he was regretful that he didn't contact me, but quite obviously it was a very bad time for him and his main concern was his wife not being left with all of that to deal with.

 

Anyway....  Mr Hancock (Brian) has made an excellent improvement, and despite never being fit to drive again, happily gets ferried around in the 940

 

 

At the weekend I was driving home and glanced into the driveway on my way past to admire the Volvo, as I always did.  But there was a Toyota Yaris sat there, with the Volvo in front of it under the car port.  Quick reg check and sure enough the MOT expired on the Volvo on February 1st.  Oh dear.  Time to call again!

 

 

Yesterday I knocked the door.  Was invited in by both of them with the warmest of welcomes as usual.  Yes, the Volvo had been replaced with an automatic Yaris after failing it's MOT on emissions - providing the perfect opportunity for Jennifer, his wife, to modernise and downsize.  I could tell Brian wasn't happy.  "What's the plan for the Volvo then?".  "Oh we will be having it lifted by the local scrap merchants on Friday".  

 

"Eh.... name your price and I will buy it!".  I knew that this car had wanted for nothing over the years.  This was met by shock from both of them - It was at this point that I realised I had never actually expressed an interest in their daily driver, because we were always discussing each other's hobby cars.  They looked absolutely delighted, and in fact welled up at the hope that it may be saved.  His wife kept saying "are you sure? You know it has no MOT and has failed on emissions?  I really don't want to be passing on problems".  Just that older generation logic.  Anyway, I left, having reassured them it has a home with me and to call me with a price the next day.

 

So today I got a call from the wife.  "We were both so happy that you want to take the car on, you have turned a difficult situation into something so happy for my husband - we want you to have the car."  "Price?".  "The knowledge that it is in good hands is all we wanted, and that's what we've got".

 

As of 3pm, I had the honour of taking on someone's pride and joy.

 

 

 

 

I have been beaming with pride all day, driving this masterpiece.  It has been so loved and I hope I can continue to do that.  And I'm really looking forward to calling by with a new MOT certificate and taking Brian for another spin.  

 

The temperature gauge is not rising at all and the emissions light is on.  The smell of fuel from it would knock you out.  I wouldn't say this car has been above 25mph in the last three years.  But it is running absolutely beautifully and even has working heated seats.  Below is an invoice from last month.  The history is totally comprehensive, including numerous belt changes and a religious annual service.

 

 

The manual pack contains much "homework"

 

 

 

Will get to work on what may be causing the emissions to be absolutely off the chart.  After that, there is nothing to do but enjoy this old girl, and continue to love it the way I have promised to do so.  I feel really privileged to have been entrusted with something that has had so much love over the years by a man who can no longer enjoy his passion.  But I hope swinging by with it occasionally will make him smile as much as I have today while driving it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Volksy]

Well done that man!

[gadgetgricey]

Gotta keep the floor mats

[Broadsword]

That is a lovely story and what a car. Fabulous, can’t wait for you to get it back on the road so that Brian can ride in it once again! I wonder how far the emissions problems would be sorted by a good service and a good old Italian tune up?

 

Best car mats ever.

[danthecapriman]

Lovely story. It’s very similar to how I came by my 740 actually!

 

Looks a really lovely car. Well cared for by the looks of it too. I’d say you’ve had a right result with that.

[fatharris]

What a rousing tale, well done and those floor mats have to stay!

[rml2345]

Well done, that looks absolutely immaculate! As for the emissions issue could it be the temp sensor? Apparently they have a dual resistive element and failure can cause the ignition side of the ECU to be fine but bugger the fuelling up. If the lambda light is on, there'll be a fault logged in the blinky light OBD system under the bonnet.

 

 

Stick the wee lead into port 2 on block A as above and hold the button down for a few seconds. The red light will come on then flash at you, with a pause between each set of flashes. The number of flashes corresponds to the number in the fault code. Eg;

Three flashes

Pause

Four flashes

Pause

Four flashes

 

Would be code 344. It takes a couple of goes to get the hang of it. If no fault is logged it will flash 1-1-1. Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs but it's not the most intuitive system.

Good luck, hope it's an easy fix!

[clayts450]

Wow, great story.

 

I'm wondering whether it just needs some Redex in the fuel tank and an Italian tune up prior to the re-test....

[Ghosty]

That's a honey. Makes me sad I sold my 740, as that had a story too, but at the time needs dictated, and it went to a much better home than I could give it.

[BL Bloke]

What a lovely story and a great car.

[Minimad5]

You know I love an old Volvo.

And the story just sells it for me.

Please keep the car for as long as possible, then when you're bored of it PLEASE let me know.

 

If you need bits or bobs, throw me a message with what's required

[paulscavalier]

Really great to keep it going. To scrap it would be an insult

[Guest Conan]

Lovely car, lovely story. 

[bolognasal spray]

Great. My mother in law had one and I used to drive it regularly - ace but bloody hell, annoying because the petrol gauge didn't work.

[Craig the Princess]

Lovely story, well done for stopping it being scrapped.

 

Give it a sprited down your nearest private* road or on route to a pre-booked MOT. If it's only been used locally that may help.

[BorniteIdentity]

Bravo that man. Great work.

 

I'm a sucker for a cherished car with handwritten notes. I'm sure that it'll continue to bring them great joy to see it bumbling around for many years yet.

[beko1987]

Well this is lovely to wake up to!

[Parky]

That is excellent. Brian sounds like a top old chap

[MorrisItalSLX]

What a lovely story with an equally lovely Volvo to match.

 

They must have been thrilled to see it go to someone who will keep it going.

[HillmanImp]

The mats are fandabbiedozy.

[R9UKE]

RML2345 - Thank you massively, the emissions light is on so I'll have a fiddle with that later.  Much appreciated.

 

As for the mats - Scrap of Axminster (which matched their hallway), sitting on top of a Lidl universal car mat, sitting on top of the big Volvo heavy duty scoop mat, underneath that there's the totally unmarked blue carpet.

 

Thanks for the comments, always so much more enjoyable looking after something like this with the support of you lot.

 

 

[The Moog]

That's an ace story. Good luck with the emissions hunt

[Guest Hooli]

That's a lovely brick & a great back story.

[Exiled_Tat_Gatherer]

Great tale - and those matts alone make it worthy of the effort! It looks fantastic and in great condition!

Best of luck with resolving the emissions issue - and getting Brian out for a spin asap - AS'ing at its best

[stuboy]

id happy drive that hunny everyday

 

well done

[mrbenn]

Rather a sad tale for Brian, but great that you've been able to provide some comfort in a horrible situation.

 

Looking forward to seeing more of the Volvo!

[purplebargeken]

What a lovely couple, am pleased that you can provide the car with a good home. The 940 estates are ace. 

 

Fab story. Best wishes to the old boy and his wife.

[Jim Bell]

Worth the price for (all) the floor mats alone.

 

Great story and a great save man. Imagine how GUTTED everyone would have been if you'd called in on Saturday after it had been squished.

 

Everyone loves a happy ending.

[Lacquer Peel]

Great story and a lovely car, I miss big Volvos.

 

The low coolant temperature could be the reason for the emissions failure, my mum had my old SAAB 9000 fail on emissions, it was running cool and the primitive ECU over-fuelled to compensate, simply replacing the thermostat (twice, the first one was shit - always buy genuine thermostats) fixed it.

[oldcars]

Well saved. He must have been getting about a grand weighing it in with all those MATS. Lovely story indeed. Get it mot'd all polished up and take the old boy out for a run and some lunch.