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

Fuck.

Don’t think I would have the stones to leave that parked on the street.

Whilst we're on tyre chat, anyone got suggestions for anywhere in south east London? Don't mind a brick and mortar place or a mobile guy as long as they're reasonable!

Interesting tho.

I mean I guess it would be hard to flip as its value is in its pedigree.

But still, I would be paranoid it gonna be carted off to South Africa in a crate for 50 years.

I wonder if the ultra riche put a GPS transponder in?

The owner is in the picture. You can see the top of his head wearing a flat cap above the roof, mingled with the tree branch. He's having a rollie.

Totally didn’t see him there.

I think that’s about as far as I’d dare walk away from it too.

I have been recommended an immobiliser called Ghost, it requires a sequence of control activation to disarm it- so dampers/windscreen wiper/heated seat/throttle say, the sequence being set by the user. This is because apparently the E63 is popular amongst car thieves.

Set tyres in Foots Cray just off the A20 at Crittles Corner

Check their tyre prices as well they are quite competitive on some sizes.

https://www.setyres.com/branch/car-tyres-foots-cray/4047

Near the coke factory.

And formerly owned by Les Todd whose Gilbern now resides in the Haynes motor museum #localknowledge

Looking for an opinion... so obviously the forum is the place to come. I have a 1995 Mini Sidewalk and I am thinking of doing some signwriting and gold leaf gilding on it. Nothing crazy, very classical mini things, maybe stripes, a circle as well as the sidewalk logo in gold. Do we think it would demolish any re-sale value? All opinions welcome.

Also... anyone know anything about painted number plates? I can make them reflective and elements painted to size to meet the DVLA requirements but it’s if they need to be classic plastic plates to be legal?

This is the car by the way...

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Hard to devalue a rust free mini ;)

Pre 1973 vehicles had silver or white letters/digits on black surrounds or stickers straight on the bodywork, effectively any colour background. However your car requires the now standard number plates using the correct size letters and reflective materials. It also has to show the British standard and the postcode of the plate manufacturer. So the precised answer to your question is you need conventional white and yellow plates. Why give the filth a reason to pull you over?

I'd leave that as it is.. IMO a lovely colour. Modern classic. Please don't piss about with the plates.....

Edit to add.. Spend the money on engine and brakes!

That’s what I thought but was hopeful someone would tell me different. Ah well.

Just need to paint it up like a 1960’s Mavic support car... or leave it as is.

Yeah. I think that’s where I am heading.

Going to invest in all new seals for the interior having just had the fuel system and electrical system completely redone. It has the tartan and so want to look after that.

[picture from google, but mine is the same]

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What's the subframe like (dare I ask)?

Actually completely solid. Had two small patches done at the rear for it’s last MOT which were done by a garage and other than than it is really good.

It’s had one owner before me and is at 41k miles. I have done <1k miles in 4 years as the injection system was being a dick and every time I went out I felt like I was going to break down. Lost confidence in it.

Has been in the garage for a year (Covid + me not chasing it as I had lost love for it, but never really), picked it up this morning. Got a bit of work to do (lambda sensor, which is a big(ish) job in the small engine bay) but it runs sweet and seems solid.

Would just love a garage space to stop it getting wet!

Filth don't, see quite a few modern cars with black and silver plates. It is a bug bear of mine.

Are you a member of any mini forums?

Take interior out and store is somewhere clean and dry, get a one that isn't as nice.

Not gone that deep yet, spend enough time on here.

I absolutely should do that, but love the tartan, part of the joy of it just now

I did and would.
PS 77 on a Golf GTi in black and silver - "Oh my brother made them for my birthday and put them on a wheelbarrow. My initials and favourite number. I thought I'd put them on my car"
That was 1985 and he is the boss of a massive double glazing company so sort of speaks volumes.

There’s a decaying MG Midget near to me, best model, last of the metal bumpers in mustard, would love to knock on the guys door and ask if it’s sound and what he wants for it, I’ve got fantasies of giving him 200£ for it and having some cheap summer fun, he’s probably some mad hoarder and it’s his prized possession

Also spotted in Cambridge: a neglected Honda NSX covered in moss on someone’s front drive, and around the corner an actual hoarder (you can see stuff piled up in the house) with a very neat looking old Mini in the garage