A40 and other family cars - Show time.

[Matty]

23 minutes ago, N Dentressangle said:

Yep, I replaced one of those not so long ago on something - Series LR I think.

I was dubious of the quality of the new one at the time, but it doesn't look like the originals can be rebuilt. Shame: presumably just a clean of all the contacts inside would fix most of them.

Be nice to get hold off an original with the button. Would be a real boon to be able to work the starter from under the bonnet for various reasons. Although i understand thats pretty much why you cant get them anymore.

[Matty]

Occured to me that ive more on than properly old cars, do most of the work myself and never post about it.

Stood out in the sun today and gave this a mega indepth wash followed by a polish and wax. All by hand with rags as i like the misery. 6 years ive had this now and ill never part with it.

Will be parting with this soon though. Had it 5 years, been an exceptional car. Did a quick disc and pad job on it after work on friday. For sale soon once ive serviced it and put 12 months test on it.

Because of this. As correctly predicted by both @Mally and the number plate its stopping. Bought at a ridiculously low price, it was intended to be sold on at a high profit. Till the wife and kids intervened, fell in love and it ousted the Z4. Ive put a belt, tensioner and waterpump on it, full service, new dampers drop links and topmounts on the back. Oh and a diff. It was fucked which apparently they all do. I bought a recon but uprated one from Bell Engineering. Which deals with the issue of the nose bearing being undersized from new. So im a good bit of money into it but miles under what it wouldve cost to buy on the open market. Not my cup of tea (hate autos) but proving a good car and a nice place to be.

Had the morning in work yesterday to put a new sub loom and latch microswitch in the boot lid, new gas struts and a cabin filter. Cleans up well too.

In other news, im finally having a week off work for the first time this year. And the weathers mint. So this will be out all week as an everyday car. Cant wait!

Thanks for reading.

[worldofceri]

Flippin' jealous of your fleet man.

[Matty]

20 minutes ago, worldofceri said:

Flippin' jealous of your fleet man.

Ta Ceri. Its a testament to years of poor financial planning and an inability to sell owt 🤣

[auntiemaryscanary]

It's the A40 that grabs my attention every time. Mind you that Fiesta could tickle my fancy as well.

Good to see you enjoying 'em all sir.

[Matty]

Just in case anyone is in the slightest bit arsed (😆) ive had a day on Freelander underside duties. They can rot like buggery almost sight unseen. So up in the air, wheels, arch liners and sill trims off.

Apart from the closing ends of the back arches (which i could see anyway) and removing 20 kilos of soil and gravel (its obviously the first time the arch liners have been out) the car is absolutely mint underneath. I had give it a poke before i took it on but its a relief anyway!

The arches got buzzed back to bare metal, masked and hit with rust convertor and then given 2 coats of rustoleum hardhat primer then 2 rattle can coats of good quality but generic RAL gloss black. And theyve come up great. Solid as a rock under the scabby paint. With the car being black anyhow (had to be one advantage of black cars) the paint has matched nicely too.

Ive had all the plugs out of the cills and box sections and drowned everything in cavity wax using a telescopic nozzle. Shit ton of black wax oil everywhere to finish. Now some look down on waxoil but its never let me down in 28 years of owning cars so balls to ya 🙃

Some photos below. Cheers all.

[Matty]

Another shit video. I do me best 🤣

https://youtu.be/7H1TeLmR_MA?si=yCWYivYZSYGHfGrf

 

[Somerset Suffolk]

lovely video Matty ! BBQ and Cheescake for tea !  

[Matty]

2 minutes ago, Somerset Suffolk said:

lovely video Matty ! BBQ and Cheescake for tea !  

Shes an awful camerawoman 🤣

[auntiemaryscanary]

Top video quote: "That overdrive is just a revelation!"

Your dtr must be roughly the same age as I my youngest. She can chat away as well.

Ta for the video.

[GeorgeB]

Roof up?

[Somerset Suffolk]

15 hours ago, Matty said:

Shes an awful camerawoman 🤣

bless ! we did get to see a lot of your knees ! 

[Matty]

2 hours ago, Somerset Suffolk said:

bless ! we did get to see a lot of your knees ! 

Gooduns though. Many a woman would be proud to have my legs 🤣

[Matty]

15 hours ago, GeorgeB said:

Roof up?

Hardtop @GeorgeB

[GeorgeB]

5 hours ago, Matty said:

Hardtop @GeorgeB

In this heat?

[Matty]

35 minutes ago, GeorgeB said:

In this heat?

Doesnt have a soft top and hasnt for a while. Its always got a lid on. Dont do convertibles.

[Matty]

Drove this on thursday. Needed to go down to Tinker for the MOT and being the only person in attendance with a valid licence it fell on me.

Ive always coveted a 3.8 Jag mk2 as top of the tree. So while this S Type isnt a great example of the breed, i was keen to have a go. Probs falls under dont meet your heroes. It has an unbelievable amount of poke. Its a quick car now so mustve felt like a rocket in period. Theres no gate whatsoever left in gear selection. Steering that doesnt self centre. Crashy suspension. Reminded me of that quote about Ferarris in period being described as fast trucks. Made the Austin and the Spit feel modern. 

Tldr. Bit disappointing. Like i said its not a great example. Love another do though. Reckon half a day with it id get under its skin.

[Matty]

Check this out. Im a published author now. Watch your back @motorpunk 🤣.

Joking aside, well proud of this.

[Sunny Jim]

Nice one @Matty, a great account of the car and your work on it.

[worldofceri]

Interesting stuff about the old car, but tbh I’m more invested in how the geography field trip went. 

[Matty]

28 minutes ago, worldofceri said:

Interesting stuff about the old car, but tbh I’m more invested in how the geography field trip went. 

Still to happen. Ill keep you posted but i reckon as long as she doesnt get lost in the caves or have a physical fight we can chalk it up as a good do 😁

[Homersimpson]

On 05/06/2026 at 21:01, Matty said:

Drove this on thursday. Needed to go down to Tinker for the MOT and being the only person in attendance with a valid licence it fell on me.

Ive always coveted a 3.8 Jag mk2 as top of the tree. So while this S Type isnt a great example of the breed, i was keen to have a go. Probs falls under dont meet your heroes. It has an unbelievable amount of poke. Its a quick car now so mustve felt like a rocket in period. Theres no gate whatsoever left in gear selection. Steering that doesnt self centre. Crashy suspension. Reminded me of that quote about Ferarris in period being described as fast trucks. Made the Austin and the Spit feel modern. 

Tldr. Bit disappointing. Like i said its not a great example. Love another do though. Reckon half a day with it id get under its skin.

I had a 3.8 S Type and still have a 3.8 MK2 (and a 2.4) , its like driving along in an armchair and while the performance is acceptable (especially the 3.8), my wife's Ford Focus would show them a clean pair of heels. 

Its just such a great place to be on a sunny day

[High Jetter]

13 minutes ago, Homersimpson said:

I had a 3.8 S Type and still have a 3.8 MK2 (and a 2.4) , its like driving along in an armchair and while the performance is acceptable (especially the 3.8), my wife's Ford Focus would show them a clean pair of heels. 

Its just such a great place to be on a sunny day 😀

2 Jags? 😀

[Matty]

7 hours ago, Homersimpson said:

I had a 3.8 S Type and still have a 3.8 MK2 (and a 2.4) , its like driving along in an armchair and while the performance is acceptable (especially the 3.8), my wife's Ford Focus would show them a clean pair of heels. 

Its just such a great place to be on a sunny day

I can imagine. Definatly dont feel this ones a good one. So much moneys been thrown at it already, as per usual it wouldve been cheaper to just buy a straight example.

[Homersimpson]

19 hours ago, High Jetter said:

2 Jags? 😀

You can't just have one, what would you drive when it performed its weekly explosion into a shower of cogs and springs? 😁

[Homersimpson]

11 hours ago, Matty said:

I can imagine. Definatly dont feel this ones a good one. So much moneys been thrown at it already, as per usual it wouldve been cheaper to just buy a straight example.

Its really difficult as buying one that seems straight might not actually be the case when you get into it, whereas buying one needing work can seem a cheap way in but can get expensive really quickly.

[2flags]

That's the problem isn't. Do you buy one that has been 'restored' or get one that needs work, but once the work is done you know you have a good car? As you say, some of those expensive 'good' ones, once you get them home and start to dig, well, there's no knowing what you'll find. Unless you really know the car, and know what has been done to it, then it's a case of you pays your money and you takes your choice.

[Homersimpson]

11 minutes ago, 2flags said:

That's the problem isn't. Do you buy one that has been 'restored' or get one that needs work, but once the work is done you know you have a good car? As you say, some of those expensive 'good' ones, once you get them home and start to dig, well, there's no knowing what you'll find. Unless you really know the car, and know what has been done to it, then it's a case of you pays your money and you takes your choice.

Indeed, its very easy to make a small fortune with classic cars, all you need to do is start with a large fortune 🤣

[Matty]

23 minutes ago, 2flags said:

That's the problem isn't. Do you buy one that has been 'restored' or get one that needs work, but once the work is done you know you have a good car? As you say, some of those expensive 'good' ones, once you get them home and start to dig, well, there's no knowing what you'll find. Unless you really know the car, and know what has been done to it, then it's a case of you pays your money and you takes your choice.

Which is why i think my Dad is mental to sell his Triumph. By shear luck its a very honest car. Still (mostly) in its original paint, no filler, no welding, no questionable modifications. Very rare to find such a straight old car. But his mind is made up so now we will begin a 12 month oddessy of wasting weekends travelling the country to view absolutely mint cars that turn out to be 80 percent pudding.

[Homersimpson]

20 hours ago, Matty said:

Which is why i think my Dad is mental to sell his Triumph. By shear luck its a very honest car. Still (mostly) in its original paint, no filler, no welding, no questionable modifications. Very rare to find such a straight old car. But his mind is made up so now we will begin a 12 month oddessy of wasting weekends travelling the country to view absolutely mint cars that turn out to be 80 percent pudding.

Indeed, I've seen many a person spend a fortune on a fillered up old spud and then regret it within a few months when the rust starts coming back through.

Unfortunately for most people beauty is skin deep and all they see is a nice paint job, I had a friend who had his Frogeye painted about 15 years ago and it looked very nice but the underside of one of the sills was missing for half the length of the car due to rust and the body shop had just squared it off with filler from the front.  N doubt he didn't want to pay for a proper job and so ended up with someone either doing it on the cheap or doing part of a job because its what the customer wanted/cared about.

I've always restored my own cars from the ground up, that way at least I know how bad they are 🤣