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

Here you go: http://mercedes-benzbluetooth.blogspot.com/2009/03/mercedes-benz-bluetooth-easy-pairing.html

62872

Was trying to find something I thought I’d posted in this thread but seems before this there was a ‘some love for cars’ thread.

When my dad died 12 years ago and I was 28 he left a number of cars when he went. A MgB gt a Triumph tr4. MG was working the TR was a little bit in pieces. Along with a 1961 lotus elite, which was very much in peices.

He had passed on his love of cars to me but given I grew up in London, uni at Brighton it would end a gap which would be ages 17-31 til I started driving again.

The Tr and MG were sold. I managed to keep for a time the Lotus. But the state it was in the cost it would have taken to do up aged 28 I couldn’t comprehend.

It was stored in my deceased grandparents place also in photo in Norfolk which was sold eventually that allowed me and my sister a flat each.

Ended up selling the car as a result at a now ridiculous price to the Japanese guy at the rear of it who I think shafted me.

Now 40 with some deposable Cash, I often think about still having it and slowly of been doing it up. but then it would have been in some garage for another 11 years and better restored and enjoyed I guess!?

Guess that life. My Dad would have been 75 on the 29th and that just made me think about it again.

1 Attachment

Pretty gutted tbf seeing it again

1 Attachment

Dad actually sold the SD 33 number plate To a fellow bbc reporter, and bought a Austen Healy 3000 with the sale.

*Note my dads not John but was a radio 4 reporter

Just seen Lemans 66.

Pretty good rendition.

Worth a watch imo.

With these kinda cars I think you either keep them and work on them properly, or you don't, there's not much middle ground if you want to make the cars justice.

I think I'd done the same as you. Try to hold on to them for as long as possible, but if it doesn't work it just doesn't. I kept my mothers house for a good couple of years after she passed, but after a while it just wasn't feasible so we sold it and put the money towards the house we live in now.

If your dad knew his money and cars managed to buy you and your sistser a flat each I think he'd be happy, that's given both of you a good start on the property ladder (I hate those words).

I'd be gutted too if I sold that kind of car too cheap, but then again, if old cars isn't your thing, it's very hard to do a good deal. Try not to stew on it, you did what you could, no?

Dunno if it makes you feel any better, but my dad used to do up motorbikes, and had a 1933 Matchless that was too fucked for him to fix when he was younger. In his 50s he had it professionally restored at great cost because his mum moved so it was sort of use it or loose it. Since then it's pretty much always been stored as he's just never been able to store it close, and now probably doesn't have the confidence to ride it any more.

I've got a full license and am insured on it, but still haven't managed to ride it as it's not stored nearby and life gets in the way.

I guess all that to say that even if you'd kept it and had restored it, you may never have really used it.

1 Attachment

Saw a fuuuuuucked Lotus Excel in walthamstow the other day, big hole in the front, cream interior, driven by what looked like someone from lock, stock and two smoking barrels, cool af

1 Attachment

it is a shithouse feeling. i ended up with my brother's car when he died and i spent a lot of good times fucking around in that with my pals. i saved a fair bit of cash (for a 20yo!) to restore it properly, but i wanted to come here for 6 months first.

that car sat in the garage for about 10 years, until my folks had to move and it there was no way i could afford to renovate it or ship it here.

now, i have the ability to and i am kicking myself, but then i probably wouldn't use it as much as the cars i have/had since, so i have to write it off...

there's about three cars that i've had that i would love to have a perfect example of now, but it would just be an ownership thing, rather than any other performance/practical/collectible thing.

you could always just get somehting you like and have a little nod to your old man when you use it. i recommend a detomaso pantera

1 Attachment

is that you?

album cover right there.

about 18, in the middle of fucking nowhere (SW aus) and doing a burnout, without a spare or a jack, because we needed to fit more wetsuits/beers/fishing gear in the boot.

bellend

Top Bogan!

Team Bellend at 18

massively

Youthful too, not even any peach fuzz

i'm a good three or four years off shaving in that pic...

This is why he got the job...

And Digger didn't...

or jack...

that pic has made my morning Rich. all sorts of fuck yeah going on there.

You are right. Could not be more right?

Those cars are part of the bizzarini timeline. 5300 GT always reminds me of School for scoundrels.

Isn't that the engine they lob in to the g wagon so @tilover might be your best bet for engine info.

sadly not, mines om606 nice and simple mechanically controlled - i know nowt about the newer om646 :(

Looking forward to seeing more of this in the Race Car Rich. Solid work.