Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

My Dad had an old Rover SD1 that he got 'tuned up' by the police mechanics at the station.

It blew up shortly after whilst he was sat at traffic lights.

Oh and can anyone recommend any tyre places in/near New Cross?

the guys on brockley are pretty good - wheel power or sommat.

Have got some money earmarked for a mini 95l pickup project this summer but after a week in Berlin I'm shamefully tempted to blow it on a trabant finding holiday to Eastern Europe...

I could at least pretend one of these was practical.

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Trabby one of my fondest driving experiences :) got to be done

One of these

Over /
everything

But definitely stick out for a mini, miles nicer and cooler than a trabant

^that is cool. i may have a need for a utility vehicle in the near future.

Think it's time for new shocks on the merc, at least in the front. Is there any point in replacing the springs as well, or is that only needed once they break?

I've developed a hankering to either build or rebuild a car, what's the absolute simplest thing that I could do - I'm thinking along the lines of a Spitfire or an MGB that is rust-free but needs work on the stop/go/turn componentry?

Have you got a place to do this?

mini, mgb, herald, landy lightweight or morris minor

Lotus 7 type tit car might fit the bill?

Have you got a place to do this?

I'd need to tidy up my garage, and stop the roof leaking first, but yes.

Lotus 7 type tit car might fit the bill?

This. Any Locaterfield is going to be a lot easier to build or rebuild than anything with a monocoque steel chassis or a steel body. I've known people build a Caterham kit from scratch in a very busy weekend. All the bits are accessible, it's nice and light, and the chassis is usually made from reasonably thick tubing so it's tolerably easy to replace tubes if necessary. Plus it's fun to drive.

Lotus 7 type tit car might fit the bill?

So much this.

Though kit not tit.

Old cars are rusty and shit and grim for a first project, need specialist metalworking and / or paint skills and end up costing a fortune and driving meh. Kit cars are just nuts and bolt and need nothing more than a socket set and a willingness to learn. They're also little and light so can be worked on in a single garage by one man and can be made into supercar eaters for pence.

In rough order of preference:

Sylva Striker / Stylus / Fisher Fury
Caterham (if rich)
Mk Indy
Tiger
Westfield
Dax
An ironing board
An actual human poo
Robin Hood

@danstuff probably has something you can buy / steal.

^^ ha.

@danstuff probably has something you can buy / steal.

If I was realistic about which cars I'll ever drive again, I'd have a selection for sellz.

Dibs Striyiker. Or is that a crashed one? I probably ought to get another plastic car before I'm too old to get in and out of one.

The Fury Blackbird is the crashed one. The Striker's never been crashed, at least not by me. ZX9R engine, uprated gearbox, paddle shift, Quaife ATB LSD. Weighs 420kg with all fluids and half a tank of fuel.

Reverse mechanism is a biomechanical voice-operated multifunctional unit, but she's not for sale.

What about rebuilding an engine?

Reverse mechanism is a biomechanical voice-operated multifunctional unit

Anything else is just cheating. I did about 20,000 miles in my Fury and only ever once needed to get a passer-by to help when I underestimated the gradient of the car park.

I do keep thinking about offering to take on another unfinished biek engined Fury I know of, but I suspect it would sit in the garage untouched in the same way as it is with the current owner.

I do keep thinking about offering to take on another unfinished biek engined Fury I know of, but I suspect it would sit in the garage untouched in the same way as it is with the current owner.

If it's the same Fury I'm thinking of, said owner will have a very good reason in June not to be making any progress on the Fury, or much else.

Don't get any ideas, I've got my eye on the Godfather position.

I'm ineligible for the Godfather position, due to my refusal to acknowledge the premise on which the appointment is based, so fill yer boots on that front.

Any ideas?