The end of an era?

[scooters]

Well, after 3 years, my 1200 odd miles a week job is coming to an end. I will be finished by the 8th October - no more 4.00am starts and stupidly long journeys. If I am honest I am actually quite glad as I am not sure how many more months of this punishing schedule.

 

Whith it will go my frequent national trips to collect shite and the long distance shite road trips. Tomorrow I am collecting a 205 Gti from Middlesboro' - Wednesday I will be picking up a 240 Torslanda from Surbiton then that will be it for the long distance shite gathering -

 

I am hoping to become more Scottish based in the future.

 

The fleet:

 

1975 Sherpa Autosleeper

1987 205 Gti 1.6

1993 240 Torslanda

1997 850 AWD

 

will, like a fly in amber, be a snapshot of my whims of the minute!

 

all further spare cash will be sunk into the family business for the immediate.

 

On one side I am sad but in another way I have come full circle...

 

IN 3 years I have owned many of the most interesting motors of the last 40 years and pressed them into modern car mileage expectations. I started this process when I bought a Volvo 240 DL Saloon off Torsten in 2007 and am now ending it with....a 240 Estate...things have come full circle leaving me with an interesting and eclectic collection of shite but one that is vastly different.

 

Well....that's it......or will it be it?

[dollywobbler]

Do you have time to do a complete run down? This is your Autoshite!

 

Change sounds good to be honest - don't know how you were coping with all that travel!

[Mr Lobster]

I was doing nearly 1000 miles a week in my old job. It was killing me and once Mrs L became pregnant I knew I couldn't do it much longer.

 

But anyway, yep, lets have a run down of what you've had.

[scooters]

OKeydoke -

 

now the site is up again here's the list - I will try and post pics tomorrow:

 

Since July 2007 I have owned and used the following - many of which have been pressed into service at short notice for 400-500 mile drives:

 

1999 Mondeo Ghia X V6 Estate - really liked this car

1996 Volvo 940 Sport Estate - the best car I have ever owned

1987 Volvo 240 GLT Saloon - bought form Torsten sold to Mr Glover

1988 Volvo 240 GLT Auto Saloon - sld to Mr Glover

1973 Daf 44 - swapped to torsten for...

1978 Austin Maxi

1977 Reliant Scimitat GTE sold to Fuzz Townsend

1988 Citroen CX Gti - sold to Torsten

1987 Jaguar Sov XJ40 on LPG - sold to jag club member

1993 Daimler Double six

1975 Volvo 244 DL - in mint condition - sold to a private Dutch Museum

1967 Morris 1000

1954 Morris Minor

1978 Triumph Dolomite - Mr Glover's JLO - donated to Torsten's collection

1972 Volvo 144 DL Auto

1990 VW Golf Clipper Cabriolet

1974 Daf 44-

1988 Daimler 3,2 XJ40 - sold to Glover/Campbell

1978 Daimler Sov

1974 Leyland Autosleeper

1993 Volvo Torslanda

1990 BMW 535i

1988 Citroen CX 19

1996 Volvo 850 AWD Estate

1996 Daihatsu Sportrak

1990 Mitsubishi Shogun LWB

1989 Mitsubishi Shogun LWB

1986 Puegeot 205 Gti 1.6

1974 Daf 55 Marathon Saloon (featured in Practical Classics)

1998 Vauxhall Vectra Estate

1987 Chrysler Lebaron Convertible

1990 Lexus LS400

1996 Volvo 960 Saloon

 

 

as you can see, I have done the rounds - I may have had one or two others in addition to the above but I can't remember

 

Moving forward I will be content with my 850, 240 Torslanda, 205 Gti and Leyland camper van - all eventualities covered, the 850 for speed and comfort, the 240 for sheer luggability and reliability, the Gti when i fancy looking death in the eye and the Campervan which ticks the box for British tin and is a wonderful machine

 

one thing I have learned form the above is that the single most important criteria for running old cars is reliability and low running costs. Whilst the 240 and the 850 ain't exactly light on the juice they are pretty straightforward and therefore reliable.

 

In my 3 years I have had the RAC/AA out at least 10 times mostly for:

VW Golf x2

Citroen CX (used to leave the lights on)

Shogun

Moggy x2

Volvo 144 DL

 

the most reliable cars I have owned whilst putting the huge mileage on them have been:

Volvo 940 Sport Saloon

BMW 535i

 

what would i really like to own:

 

An Ami 8

a Jag 420

A DS

 

but given the price of good examples of all 3 it is unlikely I will!

[scooters]

oh - forgot to add a 1987 Saab 900 Turbo 16v

[ChinaTom]

Looking forward to a pic of the DD6. I imagine 1k miles a week in that would be financially ruinous. Comfy though.

[Torsten2001]

Over the years my circumstances have changed, partners and financial reasons but for some reason I just can't stop obtaining tat, it's an addiction. In all this time I thought I was bad....and then I met Scooters, his tat collection habit was legendery and journeys to fetch them virging on crusades, or at least pilgrimages.

Good luck with everything mate, you have not stopped, you've just pulled over for a snooze!