scaryoldcortina Posted February 13, 2011 Posted February 13, 2011 Part one: the way there. You know that feeling you get when you wake up in the morning after having a few drinks the night before? No, not the headache, the nagging feeling that you did something silly? Something like promise to the entire internet that you would personally undertake to rescue someone else's car buying adventure? Yeah, well. That was this morning. I'm not one to go back on a promise though, and anyway, I had nothing else planned for today. So, about half 12, PandaSelecta collected me from home and we set off south.Panda fills the Panda, while I mooch around the forecourt and find thisWhich belongs to the lad who was manning the till. Southbound on the A1(M) - rather heavy traffic for a sunday, first tailback of the day was caused by this.."Hi, DHL? I need a box delivering." "Ok, what are the dimensions" "It's about 15 feet cubed...." Anyway, on we go. Seems we're going to chesterfield. Meh, closer than Gatwick, anyway. Further down the A1, The signs start to flash warnings of an accident near J45. Sure enough, the traffic slows to a crawl pretty soon.About half two (we need to be in chesterfield by 4 and we are in a fiat panda) we passed the obstruction.I'm not sure how exactly the army managed to roll a tank over on the motorway, but I'm glad we weren't near it when it happened! Another random spot - transit dormobile Motoring along nicely now, it's just after 3 and there are only 4 junctions of M1 to go before we are there...DAMN!!!!! I phoned the seller to let him know. Then we crawled again past thisHuge mess on the northbound M1 (around J31-32) - our queue was caused by rubberneckers 3 or four miles later, the northbound side is still solid... We decided that the A1 would be a better road back! Anyway, no more problems, Seller's house found quickly.... Time to look at the car!... in part 2.
HillmanImp Posted February 13, 2011 Posted February 13, 2011 I saw about that tank on the local news. 'Technical problem' apparently, whatever that is. Looking forward to seeing the car.
scaryoldcortina Posted February 13, 2011 Author Posted February 13, 2011 part 2 - the carWell, that's why we are here, right? It started, ran fine, all the fluids and levels were ok. Hadn't been driven for some time, and the stat has been removed, but it all looked ok. Even had a full tank of LPG on board.Tried the seat out for size... it's comfy but largely made of gaffa tape. Controls are the usual early 70's ergonomic nightmare but i'm used to cortinas so it took no figuring out really. Everything seemed ok, money and documents changed hands, and we are ready to set off north (at about 5pm) BUTwhat will part 3 bring? Is the AA truck and part open bonnet an omen of some sort? Stay tuned......
Alexg Posted February 13, 2011 Posted February 13, 2011 AAAAARRRRRR! - Off to bed so i'll have to find out tomorrow
Jon Posted February 13, 2011 Posted February 13, 2011 Got to admit, this is the type of Holden station wagon I would have preferred, though that's not to say I'm complaining about mine or owt. Anyway, just thought a useless post response would somehow make the update come a bit sooner!
mk1_4dr Posted February 13, 2011 Posted February 13, 2011 Damnit Andy, don't keep me in suspence like this... Im trying to work. Glad to see that the mission went off without too much of a hitch, so has Panda actually bought something that kinda works?
scaryoldcortina Posted February 13, 2011 Author Posted February 13, 2011 Part 3 - the journey home... So I bet you are all wondering what this big old gas fired aussie donk drives like then Well, it's interesting. Bit like a granada automatic that ate all the pies, but with it's own quirks.Things like the windscreen wipers. Small, single speed, and australian. You put them on because it's been raining all day and they go "whup, whup" across the screen, slowly. Leave the switch on, and they sort of look at you like "what? you want more? It's still bloody raining? jeezzz. Poms." and give another half arsed sweep of half the screen. It's about as quick as a modern set to slowest intermittant setting, and as effective as having a passenger try to wipe for you with a hankerchief. Next, I noticed the speedo. Coming up to a roundabout on the way to worksop to join the A1 I glanced at it and thought "hell. I'm doing 40. This thing is quicker than it feels". No, wrong. the speedo reads in KPH and you are holding up tractors, lol.... speed up! 20 miles at a comfortable 100kph (60ish) towards the A1, all seems well. Temp gauge wakes up and reads normal for a bit, no heat from the heater yet though. I suspect it was calling me a softy pommy w*nker and laughing while my feet went numb and the screen fogged up. Then trouble. Coming up to blyth services at the A1 junction I noticed that the temperature gague was now pointing to the H (like off the scale....) so I pulled in followed by PS. Red hot, rock hard hoses. My mind went straight back to the removed stat (and the spare rad in the boot) and I started to worry. A lot. Half an hour later, it has coolled enough to remove the cap, no loss of coolant or change in colour, no water in the oil. Water can be seen to circulate when you rev the engine. Heater is still cold despite engine being hot.... The gauge says...Now, the seller did mention that the dash is out of a different car, and I'm prepared to entertain the possibility that the sender doen't match properly and the temp gauge is therefore lying to me, and that the heater is australian. Car seems to run fine, so we set off again at reduced speed in case there really is an overheating problem and decide to stop and check again later. It gets dark... the lights are at least as workshy as the wipers. The heater stubbornly refuses to heat and I start to freeze while watching the temp rise past the red as I get overtaken by lorries. The car also wanders, so you need to keep concentrating to go in a straight line. What feels like days later, I stopped at wetherby services so the car could cool and I could warm up. PS bought me a coffee, which was nice.But it's getting late, and we need to get back. Original plan was to deliver the car to PS's place in north shields then get a lift back home, we decided it would be better if I took the car to my place near durham, and investigated the overheating tomorrow. Gas still showing 3/4 full, 70 odd miles to go."Yeah, it cruised at 70 all the way back...." I couldn't help feeling that the car is really undergeared.. it's in top by 40 mph and 60 uses 3500rpm of a 5500 limit. I even counted the changes to make sure it wasn't stuck in second. Notice the temp... No reading for cabin temp, but take my word for it it was cold!By the time we turned off at Durham services, I couldn't feel my legs anymore, and the gas was reading empty (red light) so we stopped for some emergency petrol (tank reading empty... tbh, I don't even know if it will run on petrol!) and set of up into the hills. Did I mention that the lights are rubbish, and the handling interesting? I'm not dead though.last pic for tonight, here it is outside TWO of the houses in our street ;D
autofive Posted February 13, 2011 Posted February 13, 2011 what did you have for your dinner?what did you have for your dinner?what did you have for your dinner?
scaryoldcortina Posted February 13, 2011 Author Posted February 13, 2011 I had a BK spicy beanburger from wooley edge services, and a 500ml bottle of lucosade. What can I say, I'm a cheap date...
autofive Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 I had a BK spicy beanburger from wooley edge services, and a 500ml bottle of lucosade. What can I say, I'm a cheap date... the babboons on the bassoons knew it would be Lucosade the hippos on the tubas, and the tigers in the trombones thought chocolate milkshake
wackywacerwill Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 I could eat a spicy bean burger right now as it happens. Is that Holden golden on the inside?
autofive Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 whats the orange lump on the roof all about?
scaryoldcortina Posted February 14, 2011 Author Posted February 14, 2011 Recent repair, still in red oxide. It has some *interesting* rot but nothing worse than that mk3 2 door of mine
trigger Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 I'm going to have to be honest here but the car looks like a total heap of shit, not even autoshite shit but proper shit, It's the sort of car I'd run a mile from and It's totally beyond me why he decided he wanted to buy it. Each to there own though i guess.
mk1_4dr Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Recent repair, still in red oxide. It has some *interesting* rot but nothing worse than that mk3 2 door of mine Is that a mk3 2door thats sat in your yard for a year or 5? Or is it SRSLY not that bad?
scaryoldcortina Posted February 14, 2011 Author Posted February 14, 2011 Well, tomorrow morning I will put on my MoT hat, give it a complete going over and then I'll let you all know. And (edit) trigger (duh...), look at it this way, for what he's paid, you could flog the engine and weigh the rest and see a profit. Let's face it, it was a bargain, even if it does look like mad max meets uncle buck
mk1_4dr Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 If it turns out that its quite a solid old bus, I'll be kicking myself for not getting it myself.It could be a quick, cheap and relatively painless way to be sat behind a V8. Especially with it being RHD. Or it could be a world of ferrous oxide coloured pain. What colour is your MOT hat Scary?
trigger Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 And (edit) trigger (duh...), look at it this way, for what he's paid, you could flog the engine and weigh the rest and see a profit. Let's face it, it was a bargain, even if it does look like mad max meets uncle buck Putting it that way, Then furry muff
wackywacerwill Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Good luck for the inspection tomorrow PS. My monies on Scarys mot hat being a red fez BTW
scaryoldcortina Posted February 14, 2011 Author Posted February 14, 2011 I'm afraid it's only a metaphorical hat, but I suppose that means it can be any colour you like. Here's hoping it isn't a black cap.
fotorabia Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Good on ya mate..i take it that its a 308 /3spd Trimatic ..or commonly known as the Traumatic..commonsense conversions is to find a Toyota 5spd and bolt that on..welll..mine was a 202..im not sure if a V8 will take that... and it makes a helluva difference in performance and economy..they are a cult icon car so be proud..i loved mine..but it had a blow over rot paint job that deceived me..so when i got it up here from Wellingon and took an angle grinder to it..inner outer sills..doors i knew about..but it had gone in the rear pillars so was rooted ..selling point was the 5spd..a Buick Club from Auckland bought it sight unseen and sent me a cash cheque..i never regretted it cos we loaded it with tonnes of retro so it made its worth back in the time i owned it.. http://autospeed.com/cms/title_Gearbox- ... ticle.html
garethj Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Excellent write up, I think I'd rather have a working heater than a solid chassis, perhaps I'm getting old or you can tell me if you agree when you get even the tiniest feeling in just one of your toes I've still got the hots for a P76 - I'm feeling the Aussie Autoshite love
Cavcraft Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Top work SOC, are we going to get some more daylight pictures when you've had a look at it?
fotorabia Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 642333.htm http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 539417.htm http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 580316.htm http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 899460.htm http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 116634.htm http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 306385.htm http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motor ... 955579.htm etc etc..price reflects big popularity..i paid $2500 for mine..spent another $1000..but for that i got new tyres..diff rebuilt.steering column.bucket seats..new radiator.. head gasket etc..but rot ended the dream
retrogeezer Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 Hey, I've got this great idea.......he could leave it all matt black and rough looking and call it say 'rat look' or maybe 'hood ride' or something. It could start off a whole new trend!
scaryoldcortina Posted February 14, 2011 Author Posted February 14, 2011 In the cold light of day..... I wonder if it's going to start?
fotorabia Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 and its got the GTS front wing flutes..top dollar bro...
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