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May 14, 2014 21:44:48 GMT
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What can you afford to spend on it, in terms of money and time? It is very unlikely to be roadworthy without spending a fair amount of each. The purchase price will become academic very quickly I'd imagine. Think about the car in the context of a total investment of your time and money to get sorted. Do you feel a nice one is worth £10k and 6-12 months of graft for example? In your OP you asked what you can do to make cool. This to me implies you don't see the potential yourself. If that is the cas, don't bother. You will have to keep very motivated with a 1970's Lotus. If you don't love it, leave it. The optimistic view that you can just slam, add cool rims and roll in this occasion feels completely unrealistic if it's been stored 20 years.
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May 13, 2014 22:50:16 GMT
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I know a classic Ferrari seems a bit 'obvious' but just listen to this engine, not sure if I know of a better sound?
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Thanks for posting the pics of the Olympics, it's a bit of a mojo boost for me! (It was the one with the front spoiler we had spotted on the m1)
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Last Edit: May 9, 2014 18:15:52 GMT by alolympic
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Great project idea and now it's on different wheels, I love the execution. I want to hear it...
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Great thread of a really nice event Seth. Dam, I spot 2 Morgan slr's ( I think only 3 exist) from the Monday event, one of my favourite ever car designs. I'm with Hotwire too, Chevrons have to be the coolest, and prettiest, race cars ever....
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Nice photos. Did you happen to spot a pale blue Rochdale Olympic there? I have a little bet on with Seth about whether one was there or not ?
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It's not just the size.... I ended up buying a pacet pro fan over a kenlowe for example as per equivalent, the pacet can move a lot more air. Just check the manufacturer specs once you know the size you can fit. Also, don't forget that you are sure to be able to improve the amount of air going through the rad and not being lost around it, by simple diy sealing of gaps around the rad....
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Lovely photos as ever. A nice reminder of a favourite show!
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Apr 26, 2014 17:14:51 GMT
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You're absolutely right about the mx5 handles, thanks for the suggestion. In fact, I know of at least 2 Olympics that now use them. For me, and admittedly a very contrary perspective, they are too 'borrowed'. The fact that they are so identifiable, from such a big selling car, kind of puts me off. I don't want that feature being a focal point that so many will recognize, kind of making the car just a sum of other car parts. Silly I know, especially as I think they look good.....
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I'm aiming to drive the car to Wheels Day and everyone is working towards that date..... Did you make it, Al?Didn't see it there, but then I did miss an awful lot of stuff... Hi Em. If there was an Award for the least well maintained build thread, surely I'd be up for a RR award! Did I make Wheels Day in the Rochdale? Did I bu**ery! I was there, but in the wrong car. My visit in January provides the latest pictures, which I'm sure seem very underwhelming to most. Basically, the engine bay, floor and wheel arches have been painted. In the least, it was great to see that chosen colour was exactly as I wanted. A grey with a slight blue tint. Many people will just see primer grey, but I know that in combination with the interior colour and some exterior touches that I have planned, it is spot in for my taste. Progress on the Olympic has been pretty slow this year unfortunately. Pretty disappointed if I'm honest. The work has to fit in around other jobs, typically classic race cars being readied for certain race meets, e.g. Goodwood Members meeting. Mike is completing the Olympic based on very modest payment terms so I have to accept that it gets worked on as and when. I can't afford for it to be done any quicker if you understand. I suppose the good news is that the suspension has all been sorted, fitted once and now is just a reassembly job. The brake system is now completely changes, with new lightweight calipers. We're going to lose the brake servo and probably move to an off the shelf floor mounted pedal box (the original never felt robust enough). The rewiring is next, making up a new prop, getting the engine and box back in, you know, just small things like that I am now aiming for the RRG. I'd love for it to be complete by then, but who knows if that is achievable. It's a strange situation when you are, in effect, completely dependent upon someone else doing the work, and what their priorities are. It is so different to when I did the Triumph, and my progress was far more about how motivated I was to get the things done. Alongside the re assembly work going on in the workshop, there are a few decisions that I need to resolve. Instruments - I have basically grown away from the style of the instruments I had made, which I think I had mentioned previously. I got back in touch with Speedy Cables about changing the face plates, to mimic a design that is more period. I was told that there would be a 12 month wait and the cost would be in 4 figures, so you can imagine my response. I am now looking to find some S/H 100mm instruments that I think will be right for the car. I could of course live with the instruments I have but I know they won't look right now, and I'll see them every time I drive the thing, which I'm sure would always stop me being 100% happy. Interior - Good news here is that Sean 'Karisma' from this very parish is going to provide his skilled needlework to create the interior. I have some one piece Sparco bucket seats that I have cut down to be low backs which will get trimmed in the lovely leather that I have bought. I just need to get the seats to Sean and finalise the small details, like stitch size, and maybe going perforated for the seat centres. The interior will probably end up being done in stages, panel by panel but I have some pretty clear ideas on what and how it will be trimmed. Exterior door handles - The current drivers door uses an MGB boot lock. The passenger side never had an external handle fitted. The MGB lock always seemed a bit too large, so I am trying to find something that basically just gives me a barrel lock and a finger pull. I want something discreet as I don't want something that interferes with the lines of the bodywork. Fussy I know, but this car will win or lose based on the details. Anyway, that's enough of my ramblings. I will try and get some more photos soon, to prevent my updates feeling like a monologue on a fictional build! Cheers all
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Apr 19, 2014 11:47:33 GMT
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Was a great show, again....., still think it's probably the most diverse gathering of cool cars I know of. I think they limited the physical size of the showfield too much. There were loads of seriously quality cars that obviously couldn't fit in and so, were just in the car park. They will rectify that next year I'm sure and let's face it, it's a show organised by volunteers in a hot rod club, for charity; we can't expect perfection.
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Apr 19, 2014 11:35:57 GMT
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Depends in what situation you want to be going fast. Big, powerful barges will be fastest on an autobhan but not as quick as a good hot hatch or sports car on a windy road. Also, if it's about 'fun' I wouldn't go the big car route. I've got a 310bhp T5, plenty quick enough but not really fun. My Clio 182 on the other hand was far more entertaining so aim for ? per £ not bhp per £.
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Gosh! Think that looks great in the grey, on top of what sounds like a pretty spritely driver. Very cool!
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Brilliant! What a great line up, looks exactly like the sort of stuff I like to see hairing around teh track. Quite unusual to see a Reliant Sabre and a Turner too. Thanks for posting!
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Great car. A design classic in my eyes. You local to Wilton then?
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I was there too and came away a bit speechless to be honest. I can't remember a better car related day out (which pretty much means, I can't remember a better day out full stop). I was very reluctant to pay the ticket price, so risked it until the forecast looked reliable and managed to secure some cheap tickets. Coming away, I thought even at face value the day was good value. So much more enjoyable than recent FoS than the Revival because of the lack of overcrowding.
Watching the Capri hammer through the pack in the Marshall Trophy, after having to start from the pit lane, chasing down the SD1, was just brilliant. It was only a couple of hours later that we got to see the unique Lotus 11 breadvan take on all comers in the Moss Trophy. A real david vs. Goliath battle.
I have some rubbish photos that I took which I will filter through and add on here if I think worth sharing.
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Mar 30, 2014 14:19:38 GMT
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Great guide,thanks. Nice result too. I could me motivated to do this, depending on how much maintenance is involved. i.e. once the metal is at the state, what is required to keep it looking that good. Just keeping it clean and the occasional polish with something like Autosol?
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Mar 24, 2014 13:56:21 GMT
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Forgive me, this is probably going to sound harsh in response. So, you're asking for other people to pay for the restoration of an unloved 70's BL car that has caught your eye? Fair do's to you if you can make it happen, but I suspect you will have to be fairly creative to incentivise people to give you money. There are loads of car lovers out there with projects of their own that they struggle to pay for. I'm not sure the car is really all that covetable to people, other than those with a deep love for sandglow shaped wedges. Good luck though, I'd like to see it tackled, but there are plenty of other places to allocate my money in the name of charity.
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Last Edit: Mar 24, 2014 13:58:03 GMT by alolympic
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Mar 23, 2014 22:44:39 GMT
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Wow, what an imaginative, erudite and open minded view Not sure if its still the case but in the past I have been told you shouldn't display display numbers on a road going vehicle unless taking part in a competition - if fitted they should be struck through with some black tape or something to avoid police retribution.... motor racing on the highway i think was the offence Not sure that can be true. Foxtons had their fleet of 10 million Mini's with racing roundels zipping around London for years. Anyway, my opinion.....if it is what you think you will like, play around. The MX-5 is a fun, likeable car and I'm sure if somehow achieved with some sense of humour it could work. Just put 'Racing MX5' into google images and there are loads of examples that may help inspire or put you off....
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Mar 16, 2014 22:10:10 GMT
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Not sure it was just a coincidence but, the day of the last tube strike, I saw 2 guys on horses going down shaftesbury ave. I thought it was pretty industrious. Maybe we'll find ourselves on animals again, emu's are pretty quick...or is ostriches?
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