Shite at the Vicarage: A convertible in November? Yes!

[hairnet]

20 hours ago, The Vicar said:

New exhaust center section today, has quietened things nicely:

Fart cannon disapoint

[The Vicar]

So, I’ve had a nightmare with the paperwork for this car lately. Sent the logbook off for change of ownership a few weeks ago but it seems to have been lost in the post somewhere along the way 🙄

Obtaining a new logbook in Ireland isn’t as simple as it is in the UK, especially as I’m not yet the registered owner. Filled in the forms, which need to be witnessed and stamped by a solicitor/notary/commissioner for oaths, at a police station, and….a main dealer. Not an easy task, finding a main Daihatsu dealer in Ireland, or anywhere in Europe, in 2024. In the end I took it to a classic car garage, had them confirm that the car actually exists, and had them stamp the form. Felt a bit cheeky taking it to a place with €50k Rolls’ and Jags etc lined up outside, but any car over 30 y/o is officially considered “classic/vintage” in Ireland so it seemed like the best thing to do in the absence of a main Daihatsu dealer. 

Paperwork has been sent, by courier this time 🙄, and now I just have to wait…

[auntiemaryscanary]

8 hours ago, The Vicar said:

So, I’ve had a nightmare with the paperwork for this car lately. Sent the logbook off for change of ownership a few weeks ago but it seems to have been lost in the post somewhere along the way 🙄

Obtaining a new logbook in Ireland isn’t as simple as it is in the UK, especially as I’m not yet the registered owner. Filled in the forms, which need to be witnessed and stamped by a solicitor/notary/commissioner for oaths, at a police station, and….a main dealer. Not an easy task, finding a main Daihatsu dealer in Ireland, or anywhere in Europe, in 2024. In the end I took it to a classic car garage, had them confirm that the car actually exists, and had them stamp the form. Felt a bit cheeky taking it to a place with €50k Rolls’ and Jags etc lined up outside, but any car over 30 y/o is officially considered “classic/vintage” in Ireland so it seemed like the best thing to do in the absence of a main Daihatsu dealer. 

Paperwork has been sent, by courier this time 🙄, and now I just have to wait…

I hope you get the paperwork sorted. It's a lovely little thing.

[The Vicar]

Nice to see this old girl looking so well at a show today in Dublin:

I don’t say this very often, but I miss this car a lot. Before I had this I had no idea a 50 y/o car could drive so nice 

[hairnet]

On 05/07/2024 at 11:04, The Vicar said:

So, I’ve had a nightmare with the paperwork for this car lately. 

 

 

 

can ya still get pmpa

[hairnet]

1 hour ago, The Vicar said:

 

 

 

hu

bba

[The Vicar]

Good news! A new logbook in my name is in the post and on its way to me 🙂

[The Vicar]

And now the bad news: NCT fail! Not on much, just two track road ends really. Secure battery and get the new tyres on and we’ll be good to go. Will hopefully have everything sorted for next week:

[The Vicar]

Legal at last!

Should have gotten a 2 year ticket but the change of tax class to classic didn’t come back in time. Still, til March 2025 is plenty of time for me..

[GagaStan]

Just noticed the branded centre caps, what luxury!

[The Vicar]

So we have another addition to the fold:

Obviously its an 01 Astra van.

1.7 diesel, 108k miles, and 1 owner from new with lots of nice paperwork including the original order form. No signs of any heavy use, and interestingly enough (for anoraks like myself anyway) its tax class has always been private, and not commercial. 

What am I going to do with a 01 Astra van? I don't really know, but I just can't say no to a nice, low mileage, low owner 90s/00s car 😅 My Micra from last year is still giving stellar service:

The colour coded front bumper and black rear had me scratching my head a bit, but apparently they're supposed to be like that..

[Wibble]

I guess the back bumper more susceptible to loading damage? Nice find though. Just needs a massive hole in the roof and hand rail and you’ve created the next Pope mobile on the cheap🙂

[The Vicar]

19 minutes ago, Wibble said:

I guess the back bumper more susceptible to loading damage? Nice find though. Just needs a massive hole in the roof and hand rail and you’ve created the next Pope mobile on the cheap🙂

Was chatting to a guy this evening who worked in Vauxhall when they were new and he confirms that as the reason; a white rear bumper wouldn’t have stayed for long! I think I’d have just preferred an unpainted front bumper too..

[hairnet]

perspex box wouldnt be too hard??

that van is excellent monsignor

[The Vicar]

No sooner has it arrived, it looks like the Astra might need to go again..

Despite it being registered and taxed as a private vehicle, and not used for any commercial work, my insurer isn't playing ball and won't put it on my classic policy. 

I could take out a regular policy, but for the use it'll get (probably about 3 or 4 weeks in a year..) it just isn't worth it.

Really disappointing; I've called 10 different insurers today with no joy. 

[Leyland Worldmaster]

On 07/07/2024 at 21:02, The Vicar said:

Nice to see this old girl looking so well at a show today in Dublin:

I don’t say this very often, but I miss this car a lot. Before I had this I had no idea a 50 y/o car could drive so nice 

That model of Volvo was the first 'big' car I drove and also the first time driving a RWD 6 cylinder car.

It was for a family wedding and the groom told me I was driving like a bus driver. The sight of older brother and nan sliding on the back seat as I negotiated a roundabout at a  sensible* speed is something I'll never forget! 😅

[The Vicar]

Having some trouble with the Domino. It’s starting, running and driving well but recently has developed an splutter under hard acceleration. I put it down to old fuel in the tank and thought I sorted it with a new fuel filter, but the problem returned a few hours later. Will have to have a look at the carb during the week..

So in the meantime I’m using the Micra. I treated it to a much needed wash yesterday. It scrubs up well. Just hiked over 65k miles. 

[The Vicar]

Seem to have resolved the acceleration problem in the Domino by draining the tank. Removed lots of crud. All back together now and running well. I gave it a wash:

[High Jetter]

24 minutes ago, The Vicar said:

Seem to have resolved the acceleration problem in the Domino 

Pizza Piss! Well done.

[The Vicar]

My dad picked this up yesterday. A lovely 2 door ‘66 Minor with just 54k miles and two owners from new (66-01 and 01-24). 

Needs a small bit of fettling but should be motoring very soon. I’ll try and get my hands on it at some stage and take it for a spin. 

[High Jetter]

I can (almost) smell that interior from here, lovely

[The Vicar]

Had this out for a spin this evening finally. It’s a bit of a racket but a lovely old thing cruise around in on a summers evening:

[High Jetter]

Lovely car, looks so odd to me on Irish plates tho

[The Vicar]

On 17/08/2024 at 23:08, High Jetter said:

Lovely car, looks so odd to me on Irish plates tho

It will look better with a set of period correct plates, which I’ll order during the week:

[The Vicar]

There has been a bit of movement at the vicarage lately. The Daihatsu has departed the fold. I enjoyed buzzing around in it, but if I’m being honest with myself I never really gelled with it. Why? It was just too small. I am fine in a Micra, Starlet, Polo etc, but the Domino was a class or two below these and proved difficult to live with. 3 cylinder engine, tiny pedals all too close to one another, very little interior room etc. Driving any sort of distance was just a chore. 

Anyway, I’m happy to be able to say that I gave it another chance at life after an 11 year hiatus, and it’s gone off with its new and enthusiastic owner who will hopefully cherish it. 

Before:

After:

I wasted no time in looking for its replacement:

More pics/info when we get it into the garage. 1987 Metro L with 40k miles..

[ETCHY]

On 17/08/2024 at 22:09, The Vicar said:

Had this out for a spin this evening finally. It’s a bit of a racket but a lovely old thing cruise around in on a summers evening:

That's lovely, if it were mine it'd be called machine gun.

[grogee]

23 minutes ago, The Vicar said:

More pics/info when we get it into the garage. 1987 Metro L with 40k miles.

Rear wash/wipe? 

Passenger door mirror? 

You flash bastard. 

[The Vicar]

2 minutes ago, grogee said:

Rear wash/wipe? 

Passenger door mirror? 

You flash bastard. 

Metros were never really very popular in ROI from my own experience/memory, so I’m not very clued up on spec. I always thought L was the lowest spec but was surprised to see a passenger mirror! It never even dawned on me that the rear wiper wasn’t standard on all examples!

[hairnet]

30 minutes ago, The Vicar said:

There has been a bit of movement at the vicarage lately. The Daihatsu has departed the fold. I enjoyed buzzing around in it, but if I’m being honest with myself I never really gelled with it. Why? It was just too small. I am fine in a Micra, Starlet, Polo etc, but the Domino was a class or two below these and proved difficult to live with. 3 cylinder engine, tiny pedals all too close to one another, very little interior room etc. Driving any sort of distance was just a chore. 

Anyway, I’m happy to be able to say that I gave it another chance at life after an 11 year hiatus, and it’s gone off with its new and enthusiastic owner who will hopefully cherish it. 

Before:

After:

I wasted no time in looking for its replacement:

More pics/info when we get it into the garage. 1987 Metro L with 40k miles..

Must not make potato joke

[grogee]

3 minutes ago, The Vicar said:

Metros were never really very popular in ROI from my own experience/memory, so I’m not very clued up on spec. I always thought L was the lowest spec but was surprised to see a passenger mirror! It never even dawned on me that the rear wiper wasn’t standard on all examples!

It looks lovely. It's good that they are quite fuel efficient, as having the fuel filler below knee level could put your back out