Welcome to my little corner of retro. This is just an intro, I'll update as and when anything interesting happens.
As promised on t'other thread (https://bit.ly/2WgqYEV), a bit of an update on my rough looking Rover SD1, AKA STD1.
I picked this up almost a year ago, which is testament to how much I love it as cars normally last a maximum of 6 months in my ownership. In 33 years it's pretty much never been off the road or restored. Look at it and you can tell. 'Patinated' would be a fashionable way of describing it. However, the underside is great, needing only a tiny bit of welding for last summer's MOT and the running gear is immense. Originally a 2.3, it's been fitted with all original Vitesse bits; wheels, spoilers and spats. Plus a V8. A 4.2-lite John Eales V8. Big valves, fancy heads with bronze guides, steel rockers, double valve springs, Rhoads lifters, silly DW268 'stump puller' cam that's a popular TVR choice, Edelbrock carb, tubular manifolds, stainless exhaust etc. It's a proper old-school car and build, put together properly to withstand abuse. Bigger Jag brakes at the front, adjustable shocks, uprated clutch, braided hoses throughout, etc.
I love the fact it's loudish, fastish and lowish. Also that it's completely usable day-to-day. 200lb.ft at idle means it's perfectly happy pottering to the shops (theoretically of course; it's impossible to potter anywhere in this), and I think I'm blessed with the only SD1 with entirely working electrics.
By the time RRG came around it was ready for some TLC, which I foolishly decided not to give it. I used it daily all summer and autumn then stuck it under a cover over winter. Bad idea. The only time it's failed me was on moving house day when a mouldy, damp ignition system said 'no' (well, I failed it). I've given it a good going over since then, replaced a few perished fuel hoses, fitted a fuel pressure regulator and fiddled with the timing slightly and it's better than ever. I'd like to get it sitting slightly lower at the back eventually and maybe encourage it to be a little louder... Oh, and it needs new tyres.
Most recent pics:
Included in my selection of other tat is my other daily, a thoroughly villainous Series 3 XJ6...
...and my 1967 Series 2a Land Rover which, although I know it shouldn't be, is my most favouritist thing I've ever owned. It's funny, I've accidentally ended up with 3 cars that I can never sell.
There's also this, which is far too nice a thing for me to own and use so I don't very often...
There's more tat, including an X308 XJR that I bought recently, but which I'll have to sell due to a huge vet's bill. I've several cars, but only one dog...
As promised on t'other thread (https://bit.ly/2WgqYEV), a bit of an update on my rough looking Rover SD1, AKA STD1.
I picked this up almost a year ago, which is testament to how much I love it as cars normally last a maximum of 6 months in my ownership. In 33 years it's pretty much never been off the road or restored. Look at it and you can tell. 'Patinated' would be a fashionable way of describing it. However, the underside is great, needing only a tiny bit of welding for last summer's MOT and the running gear is immense. Originally a 2.3, it's been fitted with all original Vitesse bits; wheels, spoilers and spats. Plus a V8. A 4.2-lite John Eales V8. Big valves, fancy heads with bronze guides, steel rockers, double valve springs, Rhoads lifters, silly DW268 'stump puller' cam that's a popular TVR choice, Edelbrock carb, tubular manifolds, stainless exhaust etc. It's a proper old-school car and build, put together properly to withstand abuse. Bigger Jag brakes at the front, adjustable shocks, uprated clutch, braided hoses throughout, etc.
I love the fact it's loudish, fastish and lowish. Also that it's completely usable day-to-day. 200lb.ft at idle means it's perfectly happy pottering to the shops (theoretically of course; it's impossible to potter anywhere in this), and I think I'm blessed with the only SD1 with entirely working electrics.
By the time RRG came around it was ready for some TLC, which I foolishly decided not to give it. I used it daily all summer and autumn then stuck it under a cover over winter. Bad idea. The only time it's failed me was on moving house day when a mouldy, damp ignition system said 'no' (well, I failed it). I've given it a good going over since then, replaced a few perished fuel hoses, fitted a fuel pressure regulator and fiddled with the timing slightly and it's better than ever. I'd like to get it sitting slightly lower at the back eventually and maybe encourage it to be a little louder... Oh, and it needs new tyres.
Most recent pics:
Included in my selection of other tat is my other daily, a thoroughly villainous Series 3 XJ6...
...and my 1967 Series 2a Land Rover which, although I know it shouldn't be, is my most favouritist thing I've ever owned. It's funny, I've accidentally ended up with 3 cars that I can never sell.
There's also this, which is far too nice a thing for me to own and use so I don't very often...
There's more tat, including an X308 XJR that I bought recently, but which I'll have to sell due to a huge vet's bill. I've several cars, but only one dog...
