NEW SHITE!!!!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Not really, I havent got any new cars lately. But it feels like I have, cos the Landcrab has successfully met all criteria to be reclassified from 'garage clutter' to 'legally usable working vehicle'!!!!

 

It passed the MOT a week or two ago then I had to wait till the beginning of dec to get a tax disc. Last week I was going to and from work in it de-snagging it (new wiper blades, new sumpful of Comma 20/50 'supadiesel', timing tweaked, heater controls adjusted, hydrolastic 'trimmed', fresh antifreeze added etc etc) and it seemed to be going well enough so this weekend I tackled the weekly 150-mile Wisbech-Crewe run in it!!! I am pleased to report that it laughed in the face of that journey and now runs super well having been caned up the A50 at a crazed 75 mph.

 

Here it is enjoying the murky Cheshire countryside earlier today:

 

 

 

I must say, I am well chuffed with it. I certainly wouldnt call it a restoration, as there are folk out there who do 'real' restorations that would laugh in the face of my efforts, but aftre 9 months of being fettled, following 10 years in a damp shed, it now drives well, is comfortable, with no funny noises, pretty much everything works on it bar the fuel gauge (so I am being very careful to keep it topped up, seem to be getting a comfortable 30+MPG!!!), heater works, and I am building up a Karma with it quite well. I took Ms_Bo11ox to the shops in it though and she was summarily unimpressed as it does not have any headrests .

 

 

 

Theers loads more odd cosmetic stuff needed (like the paint on the LH front wing needs buffing), plus a bit more waxoyl needs boshing here and there, but i think it is defo a car now not a project. Its great to have a car that 90% of folk would consider a classic, I have had loads of grins and thumbs-ups and even a couple of old geezers come and chat me up about it, and i've only been using it a week or so.

[Mash]

WIN Nice one Mr Bol, well done for persevering.

[trigger]

It's a great feeling driving around in old shite, especially one that your brought back to life yourself.She looks proper nice in them photos, deffo WIN!

[brammy777]

You should be mega proud of yourself for that, excellent work!

[FredTransit]

Good as new! Loving the choice of background too. Loose the To lat sign it could be in the 80s......

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

The car looks great, I love seeing people put a lot of effort into making an under-appreciated car roadworthy. That abandoned pub looks very familiar.

[andrew e]

Superb. I hope you Brylcream your hair when you go out in it. You need some "Finefair" carrier bags with jumpleads in for the proper 1985 timewarp look

[Rusty Pelican]

Mr Bo11ox , I salute you Sir , great car , great colour

[dollywobbler]

Glad to see the ol' girl getting some use. It's one of my favourite Autoshite motors currently. I can't really explain why, it just is!

[Andrew353w]

For some reason these pictures transport back to my secondary school, where our woodwork teacher, Mr Thonhill had one of these. Strange deja vu and an excellent car-well done!

[RedSparrow]

Excellent work!Love it.

[retrogeezer]

Looking good Dr_B.The abandoned pub is on the Church Minshull -> Winsford road IIRC?

[pogweasel]

z0mg!

that is all I can add.

 

Still need a lend of your hydrospastic pump for me maxi....

[Volksy]

Thats cool, good work!

[bigstraight6]

Great post MrB! it's cheered me up no end after a fairly bad week, it must be great driving the old heap knowing that your efforts have brought her back to life, love the pic outside the closed down pub.....

[Cavcraft]

Excellent work fella, really impressed with that.

[ashmicro]

I don't think there are many who would laugh in the face of your efforts Mr B.That looks terrific. Well Done!

[Ratdat]

To be honest, I think a lot of people who'd consider themselves restorers would have given up on that one when face with the levels of grot it had. Top marks for giving the old girl the kiss of life. I've just managed to put myself in a similar boat by discovering my newly bought Cortina is in fact a sack of crusty patched up shit. Let the Xmas weldathon begin!

[Father Ted]

z0mg!

that is all I can add.

 

+ 1

[j-j]

Excellent work - well worth it. What an ace vehicle for picnix etc. MO AR pictures requested!

[wuvvum]

I hope you Brylcream your hair when you go out in it.

This comment suggests to me that you have yet to meet Mr_Bo11ox in person... Glad to see the old girl's running well. After all the effort that's gone into her it's great that she's going to be a usable classic - any car that age that can run from Peatboghorror to Cheshire without breaking a sweat can't be too bad.

[barrett]

Glad to see the ol' girl getting some use. It's one of my favourite Autoshite motors currently. I can't really explain why, it just is!

Totally agree, i really love this motor and you should be bloody proud that you've brought it back to life.If i had even a tenth of your knowledge and skills when it comes to screwing old cars back together i'd be chuffed. Kudos my man, kudos.oh yeh, don't the BMC boys spaff over this colour? I can see why anyway, it looks great and really suits a 'crab.

[Ratdat]

I hope you Brylcream your hair when you go out in it.

This comment suggests to me that you have yet to meet Mr_Bo11ox in person...

lolz

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I just went for a walk round the estate where I live, and found another identical limeflower 1800 living about 5 mins from my front door! I will go and see the feller I reckon, he's bound to want to borrow the old hydro pump sooner or later.

 

In other news, now the crab is no longer clogging the garage, a new tenant has moved in (hopefully very briefly):

 

 

Just needs some minor welding on the backs of the sills, and a new back box. Hopefull This will be done before xmas, then the Rover 220 can move in! Project conveyor belt!

[pompei]

That looks GR9 - and I bet there are plenty of fellas like me who'd've gone "Cor!" upon seeing it out and about on proper driving duties

[Lankytim]

Top marks Mr B, I remember reading the thread and seeing all the rust you had to deal with. Its fortunate that the car ended up in your hands. Theres no way I would have attempted it anyway!It must great feeling to bring a car back and reach a satisfactory conclusion, i.e a usable classic thats MOTd and on the road earning its keep thanks to your own efforts.

[Guest]

 

That's quality, I've always liked the MK1 Avensis. What sort of spec is it?

 

Top work Mr Bollard, I like reading about people just enjoying their old smokers. There's something nice about getting something back on the road and those first few weeks whilst you make a few adjustments and improvements - bit of servicing, a proper clean, sort out some minor irritations. Feels more like a nice car after that.

 

Might have to do a similar update on the 626 when that's sorted, one week to go! It's like an Autoshite Christmas. In fact, if anyone else is still running their old crocks about at this time of year I'd love to see some new threads stuck up about it.

[seth]

Really good news MrB. (Also more LOLZ at AndrewE/Wuvvum comments) Its definitely been restored to a better standard than the majority of bodged up old cars so great to see you getting some use out of it. I do pity Ms_Boll though 'cos you'd probably suggested a nice run out to a good pub somewhere only to have her hopes dashed by a boarded up, never-quite-going-to-be Indian.

Just needs some minor welding...

Uh Oh!

[Spottedlaurel]

I can only echo the above, top work and great to see it on the road! The difference with your refurbishment and other people's top-notch resto is that you're quite happy to use it in the winter murk.I'm currently using the Bluebird as everyday winter transport, but not sure that's quite in the same league as your commitment to the cause...

[Albert Ross]

See MR 4Dr's thread about the Northern meet today. I was there with my heap. Hirst you were missed, I needed to smell Hai Karate to make it REALLY like Christmas.