Shite at the Vicarage: Austin Metro L

[The Vicar]

Greetings gents,

Instead of clogging up the news thread any more I have decided to contain my shite escapades to a single thread of my own. I’ve never been much good at being faithful to a project/ownership thread before, but I’ve noticed that my updates in the news thread of late have been reasonably frequent (perhaps too frequent) so I said I’d give it a go. So without further ado…

Currently in the shed are the following two steeds:

1973 Volvo 164 and 1971 Wolseley 18/85 

I bought the Volvo in April from the third owner who had it for just under 20 years. From what I can gather it has never been off the road for any extended period of time and it seems to have been in continuous but sympathetic use for all of its 50 years and 80,000 miles.

It is a fine old barge and feels surprisingly modern/capable for its age and size. Fuel consumption aside it is more than happy to undertake daily duties with no major incidents, whether it be sitting in rush hour or cruising at legal motorway speeds, it takes everything in its stride. 

Here’s a couple of pics and a few words on what has been done so far:

The day I picked it up:

Lots of history; how bad can it be?

Answer: bad..

Straight to work:

I could post a million photos of this bit but none of it is my work, it is instead that of my very skilled (and patient) brother. The end result was very satisfactory for me and I was glad to be able to give the old thing a few more years yet on the road. 

First outing with the new windscreen scuttle:

The car was/is otherwise very solid and didn’t/doesn’t require any more bodywork for now. 

New shocks and springs:

Battery and alternator:

Some fiddling with wires and we had clock lights once again:

And that’s more or less where we’re at. It’s been a lovely, reliable old thing since. 

A few more pics:

It does the shopping:

The odd Sunday spin:

And even a rare car show:

That last picture was taken yesterday. Not really much else to say about it for now. I don’t have a way with words and this thread probably won’t be very interesting but hey-ho…

I like this pic:

[The Vicar]

A couple of interior shots (it is cleaner now mind):

And under the bonnet; impressive old lump:

[eddyramrod]

Just gorgeous.  Right up my street!

[Matty]

They are a class old lump alright

[privatewire]

What a fabulous looking old thing!

[hairnet]

1 hour ago, The Vicar said:

 

57551

[hairnet]

1 hour ago, The Vicar said:

Leedle.

 

[The Vicar]

Now onto the Wolseley:

I was browsing the classifieds last week and came across the ad not 10 minutes old. I have been on-and-off looking for an automatic landcrab (I even had a wanted thread here in 2021), so there was no question that I had to have it. Call made, arrangements set and this is how it the next day (ominously, perhaps, being sold by a funeral director…and promisingly, to a priest)

Home the same night:

The only real issue was a perished suspension hose:

And we were back in business. First drive a few days later:

And a slight improvement on the interior today:

Whether or not it’s 100% period correct I don’t know, but it’s a big improvement on the old new one that was in the dash (see above pic)

And that brings both the Volvo and Wolseley up to speed. I’ll do my best now to update this thread with news and happenings…

[The Vicar]

Turning back the clock a bit, this is what I sold in order to make room for the Volvo. A really lovely car in every respect, but a bit boring. 92 Camry 3.0 V6:

[The Vicar]

Lastly for today:

I’m back in Rome for a bit, and picked up my new company car for while I’m here. Also my first brand new car, driven off the forecourt. I think it’s positively shite:

30 km on the clock, and that’s when I got home:

20th century tech:

I peeled the plastic off the interior dome light and the whole unit fell out of the roof, while still sitting on the forecourt, so off to a great start. 

I probably won’t have much to say about it, but here’s its place in the thread anyway.

[Shite Ron]

I am impressed with both, great colours especially the Volvo with red interior. Replacing a modern (ish) car with two seventies cars is 100% the way to go. I look forward to more pictures / updates. I am glad I am not alone in liking period radio’s in cars, the upgrade in the Wolseley looks perfect to me, a huge improvement.

[outlaw118]

Proper things - well, 66% of the fleet are, the Lancia appears to be disappointingly shoddy and plasticky. 

BUT; much as I love Landcrabs, the Volvo pips it.

Just. 

[Wibble]

I hope your parishioners appreciate your good taste. When I turn up for mass on Sundays in either the Senator or Cortina I just get pitiful looks!

[hairnet]

careful now

volvo is ❤️

lancia id have left it on the forecourt

[somewhatfoolish]

Lancias are pretty well automatically shite.

[cbowditch]

12 hours ago, The Vicar said:

Turning back the clock a bit, this is what I sold in order to make room for the Volvo. A really lovely car in every respect, but a bit boring. 92 Camry 3.0 V6:

 

I don't think camrys are boring. They are ultra comfy and reliable. The autobox is one of the best designed, somehow responsive and smooth at the same time. I hope it was sold to a loving home, and not parted out for its engine as so many were

[wuvvum]

14 hours ago, The Vicar said:

Lastly for today:

I’m back in Rome for a bit, and picked up my new company car for while I’m here. Also my first brand new car, driven off the forecourt. I think it’s positively shite:

30 km on the clock, and that’s when I got home:

20th century tech:

I peeled the plastic off the interior dome light and the whole unit fell out of the roof, while still sitting on the forecourt, so off to a great start. 

I probably won’t have much to say about it, but here’s its place in the thread anyway.

Wow, I didn't realise they were still making those things!  They've had a longer lifespan than the Peugeot 205...

[wuvvum]

12 hours ago, Wibble said:

I hope your parishioners appreciate your good taste. When I turn up for mass on Sundays in either the Senator or Cortina I just get pitiful looks!

Nobody said anything when I turned up in my Renault 4, but then the Big Boss drives one so they couldn't really...

[sierraman]

Spotted this today, doubt it will see the road again though, it’s not moved in my living memory. 

[wuvvum]

1 hour ago, sierraman said:

Spotted this today, doubt it will see the road again though, it’s not moved in my living memory. 

Next time you're passing, can you nip in there and nick one of the bolts holding the hubcaps on?  I've lost one of mine and they're silly money to buy new.

[sierraman]

3 hours ago, wuvvum said:

Next time you're passing, can you nip in there and nick one of the bolts holding the hubcaps on?  I've lost one of mine and they're silly money to buy new.

It’s absolutely fucked, I think it’d cave in if you moved it to be honest. Every panel has big fucking holes in it. Windscreen is delaminated, interior would probably net a few otters and the engine hasn’t ran since the 80’s. I can stick a note through the letter box, I’m assuming they occupants are elderly so it’ll probably go when they pass away. 

[Noel Tidybeard]

so how well does the ovlov heater work with no louvres?

[The Vicar]

Thanks all for the comments. 

Re the Lancia: it’s a cheap car, the cheapest on the market in italy in fact, but after spending the day with it today I must say, it’s not as disappointing as I imagined it would be. It drives nice, and I dare say it sounds a bit throaty, has plenty of room, and it’s nice and simple. If it was my money, I’d probably have a new Sandero, but it’s not completely terrible. I think this is the 13th year of this model on the market!

[The Vicar]

1 hour ago, Noel Tidybeard said:

so how well does the ovlov heater work with no louvres?

To be honest, I’ve had no real need to use the heater since I bought it. It does still warm up; I never really imagined that it’d be much good after 50 years anyway. I never noticed that we never put the Lourdes on the new panel until the entire job was complete anyway…

[Wibble]

Lourdes instead of louvres! Can tell your mind is never far from the job😆

[The Vicar]

This has just come up for sale and now I’m in a crisis:

[bezzabsa]

BUY IT - if only for those front seats.....Jeez look comfier than my sofa!!!

[High Jetter]

Have you paid for it yet? You can always decide later which one to sell if you can only house 2.

[666jjp]

@vulgalour

[Matty]

7 hours ago, The Vicar said:

This has just come up for sale and now I’m in a crisis:

You know you have GOT to do this don't you?