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This is Eliza  My 1965 ford fairlane. I'm not normally one to name my vehicles, but I thought I'd make an exception in this case. I've always wanted a classic V8 American car. Lazy V8, ample room and oozes cool. All the big known cars were way out of budget, after asking around on FB and chasing some leads i was still carless. Then I got pointed in the direction of Skippy's classic imports. I told him my spec; V8 (must)
1950-1970 (MOT and tax free)
Not a truck/pickup
Not a huge project, must be running/driving Not rust bucket's 4 door/2 door/wagons wasn't overly picky
And lastly but importantly, I only had a budget of 6k.
I knew it was a tall order and wasn't really holding my breath, but it was the try.
Within a couple of days, they had emailed me so Craigslist ads, the only that stood out was this one.
  Not a huge amount of info, but was listed as running driving and good condition for its age. After giving the go ahead, Skippy's contact in America looked over the car and gave it the okay. Mechanically it appeared sound and rust wise the body was solid but patina. Got some more pics from the owner before making me final decision, but so far was very happy with what i was seeing/hearing. Although I hadn't actually seen that much haha.    I had a couple more pics that I now can't find that showed the rear 1/4 panels and some parts of the interior. Going of the pics and description from the contact, I took the biggest risk of my life. 6k I technically didn't have, on a car I've never seen, through a company id never heard of before. I didn't need to worry, the chap behind Skippy's imports know what he was doing, and I'd recommend him to anyone. They sorted all the shipping, paper work and anything I would never have thought. Would highly recommend them. Fast forward a couple of months and I get told my car will be landing in a few days. After a couple of days at customs it's at my front door;   Excited wasn't the word, I couldn't wait to get it off the truck and fire it up for the first time.    Key in the ignition, gearbox in park, foot on the brake. Go to start and...... nothing. Flat battery, should of expected it but oh well. Managed to get a jump from my dad it she fired straight to life. I had the biggest grin on my face. Took it for a little spin, all of 20 metres to its car parking space.  I was hooked, all I had to do now was wait for the paperwork and DVLA to give me a reg. It took about 4 months but for a touch over 6k I had my own piece of Americana dropped of to my front door and I barely lifted a finger. Now the fun can begin |
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1972 viva 'Sparky'
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LAndy
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,061
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Love this! Can't wait to see more of it! What's the plan?
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Previous retros: 92 AX GTi 92 Scirocco Scala 94 80 sport 87 Golf Cab GTi Current retro: 1965 Clark Cortez YouTube Website Instagram |
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Love this! Can't wait to see more of it! What's the plan? Alot of the plan atm is just making bits more presentable. I've got some bits to shiny up the engine bay, already fitted new rubber and just generally enjoy it over the summer. Further down the line id like to increase bhp to around 300-350 ish. But have some research to do before that |
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1972 viva 'Sparky'
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Sucker for a US V8. Bookmarked!
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Excellent.
Really pleased for you.
That grin will stay put,and when you look over your shoulder at it, it will start all over again, that love affair we have with our cars.
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This a live up date, I've got other things to post to fill in some gaps, but I'm currently stuck at the side of the road waiting for mr rac so thought why not. I broke down (again)  Wanted to drive it to work, was meant to be a beautiful day and it was. Drive the 25 miles to work with no issues, didn't skip a beat Left work to drive home and again no issue , until I hit traffic, on the 303. She started to not engage gear properly and after 30 minutes of being practically station and slowly stop start moving up a hill, she gave off a huge puff of smoke behind me and lost alot of forward momentum. Managed to limp her up the hill, eventually get off the 303 and even managed to get up to 40mph, I could tell see wasn't happy but I was only 5 miles from home. I was praying to the car god's that she'd make it As you can see she didn't make it. There is no ATF in the AT, there is a small puddle of it on my intake manifold tho. Defo doesn't belong there  It's only been 2hrs so far waiting for mr rac man, but I'm close Enough to home that my lovely wife is bringing me a kebab |
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1972 viva 'Sparky'
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On the plus side, looks a nice spot and mmmmmm kebab!
Hope it’s an easy fix
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Worst places to be stuck, in worse cars. Should be a nice place for some sliced mystery meat  |
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The kebab has arrived. No rac yet :/  |
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1972 viva 'Sparky'
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Is that the A360 in the background?
Nice motor, hopefully a temporary setback.
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1955 Austin A30
1981 Jawa Mustang
1990 Trabant 601 (Tommy)
1989 Trabant 601
2009 Jaguar XF
2012 Toyota AYGO
2018 Scomadi TL
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Nice car. If it spent its whole previous life in Texas that would explain why it's not rusty.
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Phone is almost dead, it's very cold outside but we've just been rescued. Only took 6 hours
  If I had a blanket, it almost would of been a nice experience. Almost |
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1972 viva 'Sparky'
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Did a little reading and apparently the C4 likes to do this when the vent tube at the back clogs with dirt and the transmission gets hot, it'll spit all the ATF out of the dipstick tube.
Apparently the breather vent is on the driver's side by the reverse servo, a small diameter tube. Check it's clean and refill, might just have been low, the transmission got too hot as a result and just barfed. The fluid that's on the engine looks particularly grubby so might be up for a couple atf changes. They're good solid transmissions, cooled off, topped up you should resume drive.
Phil
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Last Edit: Jun 5, 2021 1:51:54 GMT by PhilA
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As Phil said, they are a fairly tough trans. With luck it should go again.
They are an easy trans to rebuild.
Lovely car and the 289 is a cracking engine.
Good luck.
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Proton Jumbuck-deceased :-(
2005 Kia Sorento the parts hauling heap
V8 Humber Hawk
1948 Standard12 pickup SOLD
1953 Pop build (wifey's BIVA build).
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Is that the A360 in the background? Nice motor, hopefully a temporary setback. Yes it is, good eye |
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1972 viva 'Sparky'
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Nice car. If it spent its whole previous life in Texas that would explain why it's not rusty. Yeah as far as I know it was a Texas car for all it's former Life. The only serious rust at the battery tray |
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1972 viva 'Sparky'
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Did a little reading and apparently the C4 likes to do this when the vent tube at the back clogs with dirt and the transmission gets hot, it'll spit all the ATF out of the dipstick tube. Apparently the breather vent is on the driver's side by the reverse servo, a small diameter tube. Check it's clean and refill, might just have been low, the transmission got too hot as a result and just barfed. The fluid that's on the engine looks particularly grubby so might be up for a couple atf changes. They're good solid transmissions, cooled off, topped up you should resume drive. Phil Cheers for that, very much appreciated. Do have it booked in a for full atf change mid July. So the plan is to inspect the breather, fill her back up and keep some ATF fluid in the boot till then. |
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1972 viva 'Sparky'
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Worst places to be stuck, in worse cars. Should be a nice place for some sliced mystery meat It funny you and Johnthesparky mention the location. Whilst laying under the car inspection things, a bloke walks up to me and ask if he could take some pictures. Turns out he's a professional photographer from Ireland and just happened to be driving by. For about 20 minutes him and his partner were taking pictures, asking questions and genuinely have a interest in the car. It was quite nice how my misfortune made someone else's day. |
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1972 viva 'Sparky'
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