18 Jun 2014, 09:15
Hi Steve, it is my greatest wish that someone like you or Stuart in Wales, or some other club member would end up with the car. It deserves to be used and is such fun to drive. ( if you have a proposition then try me)…NO Not that sort!!!
I have only exchanged a few texts with the previous owner, Des. following his firms bankruptcy, I think he finds it too difficult to talk about. But Dave Howarth knew him quite well and has put me fully in the picture. His "weekend" to finish the car…..has turned into 2 years! And a shed load of, time, cash and spares. He must have been shipping it from one dodgy mechanic to another. Although the chassis, brakes and clutch had all been done very well. Luckily he'd also had the chassis waxoyled before it was laid up….otherwise it would have definitely been a different story.
The exhaust was totally missing..having rotted through at the Cat By-Pass pipe. As was all the front end. It had been so wet inside that the carpet had literally rotted away! It took weeks checking all the wiring and cleaning up of replacing connectors, everything was soldered to ensure trouble free operation.
Had this been any other car, you would have 'swept it up'. As it was, 10 mins of wiping with a damp cloth in the foot-well and it was ready for new carpets to be fitted! Try that with your Moggy Minor or Mini!
Every single part of the cooling system ( except the header tank) has had to be replaced, Water-pump, hoses, pipes, radiator, clips etc. Its like new under there now. THe new tyres fitted by Des had all perished, but the wheels are still like new after he had them re-painted.
The windscreen was badly cracked, the wiper arms had been bodged on. etc. etc.
All the ancillaries on the engine had rusted up, some cleaned up and many I had got in stock, so changed. I didn't need to delve into the Engine proper, just removed the alloy air inlet spider to get at everything under.
All the rest of the interior, cleaned up, the seats had a dozen applications of leather cleaner and are as good as new. it was not necessary to remove any of the head headlining as that too ,is in great nick.
Yes the lacquer had all starred to peel off, but after striping has left the stainless in beautiful condition, which only needed a quick rub with a flexible pad to make it look nice.
The door and steering locks had been chiseled off, luckily Dave Howarth had a full set…and guess what…the keys in the ones he supplied also fitted the petrol cap, real bonus! The indicator and wipers stalk switches were broken..luckily a quick trip to the scrapyard provided some from a Mini that are perfect.
Yes it does have the bobbely ( or hatched) underbody….how could it have anything else?
Regarding the Side Stripes, yes I think Des may have had them made, but the attached picture was taken by Martin Mail, our guest speaker at Dorset, of some he was trying out at the factory…...very similar!!
So a weekend work? I think not! :oops:
I have only exchanged a few texts with the previous owner, Des. following his firms bankruptcy, I think he finds it too difficult to talk about. But Dave Howarth knew him quite well and has put me fully in the picture. His "weekend" to finish the car…..has turned into 2 years! And a shed load of, time, cash and spares. He must have been shipping it from one dodgy mechanic to another. Although the chassis, brakes and clutch had all been done very well. Luckily he'd also had the chassis waxoyled before it was laid up….otherwise it would have definitely been a different story.
The exhaust was totally missing..having rotted through at the Cat By-Pass pipe. As was all the front end. It had been so wet inside that the carpet had literally rotted away! It took weeks checking all the wiring and cleaning up of replacing connectors, everything was soldered to ensure trouble free operation.
Had this been any other car, you would have 'swept it up'. As it was, 10 mins of wiping with a damp cloth in the foot-well and it was ready for new carpets to be fitted! Try that with your Moggy Minor or Mini!
Every single part of the cooling system ( except the header tank) has had to be replaced, Water-pump, hoses, pipes, radiator, clips etc. Its like new under there now. THe new tyres fitted by Des had all perished, but the wheels are still like new after he had them re-painted.
The windscreen was badly cracked, the wiper arms had been bodged on. etc. etc.
All the ancillaries on the engine had rusted up, some cleaned up and many I had got in stock, so changed. I didn't need to delve into the Engine proper, just removed the alloy air inlet spider to get at everything under.
All the rest of the interior, cleaned up, the seats had a dozen applications of leather cleaner and are as good as new. it was not necessary to remove any of the head headlining as that too ,is in great nick.
Yes the lacquer had all starred to peel off, but after striping has left the stainless in beautiful condition, which only needed a quick rub with a flexible pad to make it look nice.
The door and steering locks had been chiseled off, luckily Dave Howarth had a full set…and guess what…the keys in the ones he supplied also fitted the petrol cap, real bonus! The indicator and wipers stalk switches were broken..luckily a quick trip to the scrapyard provided some from a Mini that are perfect.
Yes it does have the bobbely ( or hatched) underbody….how could it have anything else?
Regarding the Side Stripes, yes I think Des may have had them made, but the attached picture was taken by Martin Mail, our guest speaker at Dorset, of some he was trying out at the factory…...very similar!!
So a weekend work? I think not! :oops:
Chris Parnham
Ex RHD Auto's etc.etc
Main Car.. Kia E Niro 4+
Skoda Yetil 4X4.
Toyota Vitz 4X4 1999 (the smallest 4X4 by far!.
1970 Jago Jeep.
DOC Club Historian
Ex RHD Auto's etc.etc
Main Car.. Kia E Niro 4+
Skoda Yetil 4X4.
Toyota Vitz 4X4 1999 (the smallest 4X4 by far!.
1970 Jago Jeep.
DOC Club Historian
![[Image: 2iG6ueM.png]](http://i.imgur.com/2iG6ueM.png)
