thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659 
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It's back in my possession. I'll post up some pics soon but my second 1st impressions monologue was as follows:
1. This is ratty but it's in better condition than when I sold it.
2. These brakes are hilariously rubbish. Were they this bad when I had it last or is it because it's been standing for a while.
3. Wow it's slow.
4. Oh yeah it has no Tach and the engine is the quietest part of the whole car.
5. What is that godawful noise when cornering. Ah right, mudflaps.
6. These Konis are brilliant for soaking up bumps.
7. Wait,I can enter a bend faster than that, faster, faster, ha ha ha ... oops the back end is still lively.
8. The brakes were always this curse word .. you never used them.
9. The engine was always this puny but it takes endless punishment so keep the revs high and sit 2 gears lower than you initially thought. 2nd and 3rd are the only gears in which you can make any progress.
10. Hairpin....does this hydraulic handbrake work, ha ha ha yes it does.
11. Yes - this all feels right again.
12. Must be a hole in the floor as I'm inhaling far to many gases.
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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Parked in it's new home  |
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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Some more photos I got from the seller. These ones were taken in September 2015 when I actually bought it back.      It's good to compare and see it's the same as when I agreed to take it back. The eagle eyed will notice that the rear seat is missing. I pulled that out when I got it home as it is minging. It was a temp bodge I lashed in when the NCT guys here wouldn't pass it without rear seats. I actually can't believe that they were still in the car as the base was just resting there and the backs were zip tied in to the bar running horizontal. Also, I removed the Sparco wheel with the spinner that was on it and put on the Momo one I have been saving since I removed it from my 911 SC 6 years ago. I'll still use that Sparco wheel for Autotests the car had obviously been outside for the last while as it has some green hues to the interior (or what's left of it) and the wheel was a bit organic. Also, I find that when I have a spinner I have to use it and that's not ideal on the road. I really just wanted to get the Momo on something as it's a nice full circle moment for me. The fact that the first car with a suitable boss I've had since getting rid of the 911 and then the Starlet is now the Starlet again is very cool. |
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Last Edit: Jan 5, 2017 15:20:47 GMT by thebaron
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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I have been back in Ireland for the past month and the Starlet has been getting some attention when I can find the time.
I stripped what little was left of the interior to uncover all the holes that had been "engineered in" over the years. These are now sealed and I've done a rough and ready paint job on the floor so hopefully less CO poisoning.
The rear seats were offensively mouldy so had to go in the bin. They were from an EP81 in any case and did not fit so no loss but I'm on the lookout for the correct rear seats.
It's now almost back together bar buttoning down the passenger seat and the brakes have some kind of pressure issue between the line and the Hydraulic handbrake that I've outsourced to a local garage as I'm too busy with work.
If they can be sorted, and I can source a trailer, and I can get my motorsport license renewed this week, and I can get a pass from family activities I'll run it on Sunday at a multi venue autotest.
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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One thing off the list - my license arrived in the post this morning
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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Aug 25, 2017 14:43:07 GMT
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Car is also ready. Issue was air in the lines but that's sorted now.
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Aug 26, 2017 16:57:11 GMT
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Not many fwd boxy starlets left about, nice to see she's going to get used as well, need to get some photos of her in action again up when the time comes  |
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1951 Ferguson TED 20 / 1988 Ford Sierra Sapphire 2.0
1990 Isuzu Bighorn 2.8 Irmscher R / 1991 Pajero 2.5 SWB
1991 Vauxhall Carlton GSI3000 / 1991 Toyota Corolla van 2.2TD
1992 Toyota Corolla 1.6 GTI / 93 Ford Granada Scorpio Cosworth
1994 Toyota Corolla GXI / 1995 Toyota Corolla 1.6 Si
1995 Nissan Vanette / 1997 Toyota Starlet 1.5td Glanza
1997 Toyota Carina E saloon / 1998 Toyota Carina 2.0 Exeuctive
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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Aug 28, 2017 11:10:33 GMT
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Not many fwd boxy starlets left about, nice to see she's going to get used as well, need to get some photos of her in action again up when the time comes Well after some last minute trailer shenanigans I made it. It may have been 6 years since I did one of these events but if anything I had more fun than ever. The car was a little reluctant to hot start but it has been sitting for almost 3 years so a decent service is long overdue which I hope will sort that. It took my mind (and the handbrake) a couple of circuits to bed in but the last 2 circuits of the day were amazing fun. Your point about the scarcity of boxys was massively evident. We had a 40 car field yesterday and back when I was doing this regularly boxys would make up more that 20 of the field. Yesterday there were 3. There are still a lot of EP80 and EP90 entrants but it's the MX5's that have exploded on the scene. It's funny to be in the "classic" car now given the nondescript fodder they were 10 years ago when I started. Hopefully I'll get a few pics up later as there were plenty of cameras and drones about. |
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Just read through this again quickly and it's made me quite ashamed of my own little beasty that's sitting looking sorry for itself at my parents house. I hope that she keeps on going and going for ya!!!
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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Sept 14, 2017 13:37:43 GMT
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Last Edit: Sept 14, 2017 13:38:29 GMT by thebaron
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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Sept 14, 2017 13:39:32 GMT
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^^^^^Some proof that it made it!
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Last Edit: Sept 14, 2017 13:46:36 GMT by thebaron
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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Sept 18, 2017 8:30:40 GMT
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Started on the front end last week to see what was hidden underneath. Exposed:  After a rudimentary clean up and a shot of paint:  Test fit the non butchered grille:  This is going on as I removed the spots. I don't plan on competing in an event in the next 6 months that needs them and they are safer tucked up on a shelf in the garage than hanging off the front of the car. I am also trying to be a little stealthier knocking about the place. |
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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Sept 18, 2017 8:35:50 GMT
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While I was at it I pulled the bonnet off:  Ever since I first bought the car back in 07 the detached bracing has bugged me.  5 mins of unsuitably large grinder action later:   I'll tidy it up later this week. Yes I've reduced rigidity in the bonnet but the clattering has bugged me for too long and I have a longer term plan for the bonnet in any case. This forces me to get on with it. |
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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Sept 18, 2017 8:44:53 GMT
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After some serious vacuuming of the engine bay....that's correct it was filled with tree bark and leaves from where it had been parked in the previous owner's stewardship. I reattached the horn, refitted the battery (properly secure this time) and mobile again.   The rhd headlamp is sitting too far inboard on the inner edge and the adjuster screw is rounded and stuck so I need to sort that out. In the past 2 days it seems that the driver's side window just decided to fall off it's track so that gets added to the list. I have decided to treat it to some new old style silver on black plates as I think I'm getting (even) more nostalgic about the old bus. The abuse it takes is really impressive. |
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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Sept 18, 2017 8:47:15 GMT
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Apologies for the crappy photos - low res dump
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ovimor
North East
...It'll be ME!
Posts: 934
Member is Online
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Sept 18, 2017 13:39:28 GMT
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Utoob hosts Finnish Rally(Classic) and some fairly Leary 'sideways stylee' RWD Starlet action there  .... equalling the Scrotes, at least OVIMOR |
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Last Edit: Sept 18, 2017 14:20:31 GMT by ovimor
Knowledge is to know a Tomato is a 'fruit' - Wisdom, on the other hand, is knowing not to put it in a 'fruit salad'!
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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Sept 19, 2017 16:49:57 GMT
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 This is the result of forgetting to swap rear tyres over half way through. When you are predominantly throwing one way on abrasive surfaces at 40 psi this will happen. Luckily (or the opposite) it happened on the very last test of the day so I swapped a spare on and loaded the trailer. |
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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I plodded on with the refurbishment of the Starlet throughout the last part of the year and buttoned it all up just as I was heading back to Switzerland in early January.
It's had a full service and I sourced replacement lights, bumpers, a rear seat base, a couple of new wheels (correct design steels) and some new tires. (pics to follow)
It is now essentially done and sitting in the garage waiting. I'm having an automotive clear-out at the minute with both the RS4 and Sierra currently for sale as I continue my quest to tick off my automotive bucket list items.
Just checked the "own an Italian car" box with the purchase of a Panda 100hp and focusing on "Mid Engined sportscar" as the next one.
I toy with the idea of selling the Starlet now and again as the reality is it will sit for the next year with only occasional fire ups.
However I think I will keep to to March 2019 at least as it will have then reached 30 and become a bona fide classic (easy there at the back ;-P)
I have great satisfaction in the knowledge that I have saved this little car from becoming a washing machine not once but twice, even if I don't get to use it as much as I'd like to.
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thebaron
Europe
Over the river, heading out of town
Posts: 1,659
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Jul 27, 2018 20:10:05 GMT
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  Was back in Ireland for a week and my dad informed me that the starlet had not started since I deposited it back at the farm. Quick check later and a swapped fuse and it started first crank. I then took my son for his first proper spin across the fields and his first experience of the handbrake turn.........or many many linked. I think I have him hooked now  |
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Last Edit: Jul 27, 2018 20:13:44 GMT by thebaron
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