Latest Acquisition-From Russia (north London!)

[Andrew353w]

Dear fellow Autoshiters,

 

I've not posted here for ages but I have NOT been idle on the Autoshite front! After my purchasing of a Daf 33 (A.K.A. "Pooh") I spent some time getting the belts sorted and I now have a 6 volt Daf 33 that returns over 40 m.p.g. and I totally love it. I sould quality for a Ph.D. in Daf vacuum systems, if such a qualification is available, having totally rebuilt the vacuum valves for my car and learning all about the pressures, vacuums and switching. If anyone else in Autoshiteland wants a hand with a Daf, do get in touch!

 

During the summer I was contacted by a firm of solicitors in north London regarding the removal of a car from a garage in Edmonton. After some negotiation and a set of jump leads I became the owner of a 1978 ("T" reg) Lada 1500, with 16,000 on the clock. The bodywork IS immaculate, with NO rust whatsoever and the car has been Lada serviced up until it last turned a wheel, in 2002! This is how I first saw it when I forced the garage doors open (sorry about picture quality-crap mobile!) Take a look......

 

 

I recovered it back to my lock-up and have been working on it when I've had a chance over the last few weeks and can now proudly announce that it's running as sweetly as it did when it left the factory in the U.S.S.R. It needed a new fuel pump, the petrol tank clearing of 10 year old leaded and a little fettling to get it rolling (and the brakes adjusting to make it stop!) I received a pile of paperwork from the last (late) owner, via the solicitors and it's areal time warp, right down to the salesman's business card, and garage key ring! The garage in Westpole Avenue, Cockfosters, north London is now a block of flats (shame!) Look at that mileage....

 

 

And that colourful bodywork.....

 

 

The dashboard is, at least partly in Russian!

 

 

That's oil pressure (MAZLO) (remember Mazola cooking oil?-that's how I remember what it's for!) VODA (Water temperature) and BENZINA (Petrol tank; Remember National Benzole petrol? And that's how I remember that one!)

 

I'll be keeping you all informed as to progress in getting it road legal and MOTed over the next few weeks. I need to have the car up and running as we SHMBO will need another car, as the Mini she's using will have to return to its owner soon! I can't quite see her going to Sainsbury's in this....

 

 

And yesterday I was offered this.....

 

 

 

 

It's a 1960 Wartburg 311, and it's buried under LOADS of stuff, most of which is car related. The car's right hand drive and still has a 6 volt system. It's for sale so if anyone's interested I'll deal with inquiries on behalf of the seller, who is having to deal with the death of his brother, whose car it was.

[Cavcraft]

*Paging Mr Bickle.

 

 

Andrew, you're a very lucky man, that Lada is brilliant.

[ashmicro]

The Lada is superb. I like the 4 lamp ones the best.

[Skizzer]

EPIC find

 

P.S. I don't know about your missus, but I'd be HONOURED to go to Sainsbury's in that DAF.

[dollywobbler]

Fabulous! Hard to beat a 1970s brown Lada. In Autoshite Top Trumps, that's got to be a WINNAH! I look forward to a shot of brown DAF and brown Lada together, preferably with a really drab, concrete-laden backdrop.

[Vin]

Good Work

[nigel bickle]

Glad you got the Lada -hope they didnt push the price too high. We need to talk cos i think we're bidding against each other!

 

Ok-I'll take the bait -do please tell me about the Wartie (sure its not a Standard Pennant -look s just like mine...)

[theorganist]

Fantastic, I love early Lada's!

[carlo]

Brilliant read, the reason we all love Autoshite

[Andrew353w]

Brilliant read, the reason we all love Autoshite

 

Thank you for that comment-it makes Autoshite the real community it is!

[coalnotdole]

Thats brilliant, the russian gauges are great! I cant wait to see it back on the road.

[John F]

Wow. That Lada is a stunner, you're a lucky man.

[dollywobbler]

Ok-I'll take the bait -do please tell me about the Wartie (sure its not a Standard Pennant -look s just like mine...)

 

Eh? Pennant was never six light, nor column gearchange. Nor quite so fabulous. I love these earlier Warties. What a contrast with the boxy 353!

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I seem to remember, and google translate agrees with me, that MASLO ('c' is 's', the 'z' is some kind of '3') means 'butter' in Czech and Polish...and I've checked the internetz and it seems to be the same in Russian, too.

 

- What kind of oil do you use in your car?

- Lurpak semi-salted!

[michiel]

Superb - like the Daf, that Lada is wonderful but I love those Warts... very nice. Someone save it plz!

[jonny69]

Lovely bit of machinery that Lada. I've fancied one like that for some time now.

[scooters]

wow- top finds Andrew,

 

Dafwise - I just found an email from you about picking up that Daf that is lurking in Dorset - I'll contact the lady selling it again and see what the score is

 

cheers

 

Richard

[RedSparrow]

That gets a resounding 'Ooof' from me!

Is that like a top of the range model then with the twin lights? I thought it was a Polski fiat at first.

[Cavcraft]

That picture of the Lada outside the lock-up is grade one AS calendar* material.

 

 

 

*Thread about that later.

[Lord Sterling]

That is one amazing find! Without wishing to sound too nosey, how come you got in contact by a firm of solicitors regarding the car? Do you put it about that your old car enthusiast?

 

Just wondering as I'd like to maybe one day find some old forgotten Rovers and save them as you have done with this.

[AnthonyG]

Autoshite is all about a brown Daf with a dent in the wing and a shonky door .

 

That Lada is a super find, look forward to seeing it on the road. Are there any of the '1600 ES' model still about? - that was the ultmate in Lada UK luxury in about 1979/80. ES was a Lada UK designation no doubt for 'extra special' (to be said with the broadest Humberside accent possible!!)

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

That Lada is a super find, look forward to seeing it on the road. Are there any of the '1600 ES' model still about? - that was the ultmate in Lada UK luxury in about 1979/80. ES was a Lada UK designation no doubt for 'extra special' (to be said with the broadest Humberside accent possible!!)

 

The trim level doesn't seem too shabby at all to me. Rev counter, two wing mirrors, the little instruments in the dash...

[maxpower]

makes you wonder what other delights of shite have been left in garages and forgotten about in the uk...

 

awesome car

[scooters]

That is one amazing find! Without wishing to sound too nosey, how come you got in contact by a firm of solicitors regarding the car? Do you put it about that your old car enthusiast?

 

Just wondering as I'd like to maybe one day find some old forgotten Rovers and save them as you have done with this.

 

 

not a bad idea to put the word round local solicitors saying that you collect old tin and rather than scrap a good car you like to get it back on the road..speak to the practice manager rather than the partners.

 

I've also started leaving my card round dealerships and independents to call me if anything 'interesting' comes in

 

we should get some Autoshite business cards printed for sticking under windscreens of A1 Chod

[boobydoo]

That Lada is the absolute bollocks. Glad it's in good hands.....it could so easily have been scrapped by some idiot who thought it was worthless.

[Conrad D. Conelrad]

Five star save. The Lada's dashboard is just wonderful. Love the Russian gauges so much.

 

we should get some Autoshite business cards printed for sticking under windscreens of A1 Chod

Any of these left?

[Shep Shepherd]

Now, that's what I call motoring!

[eddyramrod]

That Lada is the absolute bollocks. Glad it's in good hands.....it could so easily have been scrapped by some idiot who thought it was worthless.

 

What he said. Bloody marvellous work Andrew, exactly what Autoshite is all about! Well saved, and hopefully we can say it all again with the Wartburg too.

Round of applause from over here!

[fiatdaft]

I do like those lada's and i like a good discovery story,nice one.

[mnde]

I LOVE that Lada, what a great story. The shot of it outside makes it look like it's straight from an episode of the Sweeney. Would look sweet with yellow bulbs...

 

Please post more pics!

 

Mark.