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Sad news, and of course worthy of discussion on here. This reminds me of the death of record shops (bear with me). Good motoring mags have been a fixture in my life ever since I started reading my dads as a kid. They're part of the passion and culture surrounding a hobby. Unfortunately like physical recordings of music, technology presents diversity and competition and sales decline. I still subscribe to 2 mags, but no longer buy any others, I feel that there is enough quality online to keep me entertained. I stopped buying rc for this reason about 18 months ago. A bit ashamed to admit that with music, spotify changed my habits too, and that's from someone whose career was in record stores and labels for years, as well as owning more than 2000 LP's. But changing public demand caused me redundancy more than twice so I do sympathise. Sad to see these things go but it's kind of inevitable that certain businesses cease to remain profitable. I suspect, there were just too few people buying the mags, but the question why is still an interesting one....
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Yes, simple, just use an amp that has a 3.5 mm socket, with a lead for the ipod to plug into. I've done the same in my triumph, amp out of sight, under the dash, lead fed into the back of the glove box. If hes interested, i've got a lightweight amp fit for purpose. Brand new in box, Vibe lite air 4, never gonna get fitted now as my other car is too noisy.
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alolympic> Having the two cars at the same time is not really a money problem, it's more about me not wanting to have to maintain, insure & garage two cars that have essentially the same use I think you miss my point. I don't mean keep 2 cars, I mean keep hold of the Cortina until you have bought an Alfa and run it for a few weeks. You then have the option to sell either, based on real experience. Just a way of avoiding that "wish I'd never sold that one" feeling
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Do you have the option to buy an Alfa without selling the Cortina straight away? The least risky option is to own the 2 side by side to help you make your mind up. Sorted....
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Apr 29, 2013 21:02:12 GMT
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A very small update. The workshop are making good progress with the final changes to the body. So, they've re-profiled the rear windows. I have wanted this done for a long time, in fact, I have a club mag from 10 years ago that has my drawings on it to this effect. It's one of those details that makes a difference to me, but will be unnoticed by most. So, the original Olympic rear window profile - Now - I wanted the lower edge to sweep up, rather than follow the horizontal. Simultaneously inspired by a Capri and a 911, in the way that the curve adds to the sweep of the rear wings and suggest movement. Or something....
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Last Edit: Jan 13, 2014 21:29:59 GMT by alolympic
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Apr 29, 2013 20:29:12 GMT
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Lovely car. I used to live near Skip Brown cars so these were always a childhood dream. Let me know if you want a spare inlet manifold, I have one that is of new use to me....
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Apr 29, 2013 20:26:40 GMT
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Great build thread. Lovely to see your car detailed on here, but of course I'm biased. The MX5 donor just makes so much sense. Your build is quite different to mine, I am envious of your own skills and also your clear vision for the car from the outset. It sounds like it is going to be a real flyer but with some great creature comforts. I look forward to seeing it progress...
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Apr 25, 2013 21:07:57 GMT
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Great story and photos Bruce, what a stroke of luck. I know exactly what you mean about the weather in Pembrokeshire after going there on Hols since being a kid.
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Apr 25, 2013 18:54:06 GMT
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As others have said, those new arches really are perfect! They look elegant and period, like you'd expect from a factory produced special, rather than something that's been built recently. Personally I even much prefer them to the arches you had with the old wheels, good work! Also I know we can't really see the wheels, I think their overall size is much more suited to the car proportionally. Generally, I'm loving all the changes you're making, can't wait to see it progress. Those comments make me very happy. I think the more subtle track and body are going to be a lot more timeless. Thanks mate Sorry if I missed it but what garage is doing all the glass work? Looking for a good place myself. Car looks fab by the way The company is called ADV Mould, near Lewes in Sussex. They're not actually a bodyshop as such, they so loads of GRP work, from swimming pool slides to traffic lights. PM me if you want contact details. Have you chosen a paint colour or will you stick to the colour you had chosen before all this new work. personally I think it would suit a deep pastel colour rather than metallic. Keeping it sort of period race car looking. Something like a mint green, light blue, aqua shade. But really deep good quality paint to pump it out. I have chosen a colour now. It's not metallic. the period racer look is exactly where my head is at. Watch this space......
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Looking very nice I skimmed the thread to find the original rim specifications, but could only gather that they were 16". Could you shed some more light on size? Width, bolt pattern and ET and possibly the tire dimensions as well? Where they split rims with classic(?) build from Image? Umm, from what I can remember; 8.5" width 4x100 PCD ET is approx 0, or maybe even minus something, I could measure. Yes, Image RM2 in classic build. Tyres were 205/50 on fronts and 225/50 on rears. The wheels are currently at home, awaiting a good ploish for me to sell on, unmarked. Let me know if you're interested
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Apr 22, 2013 22:54:42 GMT
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Oh yes! I winced slightly when I first got to the initial front arch re-make. Rears were good but fronts were as you say, like someone had added Escort bubbles. Now? So, so much better. Perfect in fact. Just looks like its always been that way. Love it. It has a look of something very expensive that I can't put my finger on. But as Seth says, it looks *exactly* right. It is very expensive ;D Very subtle and elegant, is it actually wider than OEM (OMG, I said it)? Love the tyre 'warmer' look, may be you should go 13" wheels Is that the actually rear window shape? I might suggest that a similiar rear window shape of a AR Giulietta Sprint Speciale might work well with the warp around rear window. The front track is now about 4 inches wider than standard I think we worked out, the rear, still a lot more. The fibreglass you now see in the rear window isn't the shape we are going for. That is just a new skin, which will be cut back and used as the lip for the new shape. The change is going to be subtle, just a little more curved than standard. Thanks for the positivity guys, it's great to get encouragement. I've also just purchased some new seats off ebay, after many many weeks of seemingly going around in circles. Modern high backs, going to be cut down for a period look. I think these are really going to work.....
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Apr 22, 2013 22:16:32 GMT
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So, time for an update I think. For those of you have been following the thread, the car has been in a fibreglass workshop for quite a while. Much bodywork modding has been happening.... As ever with this car, it’s not been easy. After much measuring, it’s become obvious that the outer bodywork isn’t straight. This doesn’t surprise too much, after learning that the car had previously been taken off the road following an accident. This has meant that trying to get centimetre perfect with the bodywork has been nigh on impossible. The good news is, we’re pretty much there. So, with different wheels all round, with very different offsets, as well as rolling diameter, the previous flared bodywork needed a nip and a tuck. The rear of the car proved the easier end, the shape flowing organically, albeit after a lot of hard work. Whilst the rear wings were being reshaped, we made the decision to move the petrol filler. Originally, the Olympic has twin fibreglass tanks with a filler cap on each wing. The twin tanks had long since gone, replaced by a single MGB tank and one of the filler caps was a dummy. Inspired by pretty much every period racer out there that I admire, we have moved the filler to the centre. Not only did I want the filler cap moved, I wanted it recessed, so it doesn't sit too proud. The new filler cap fits in really well (sorry, I didn't get a photo). Again, not revolution, but I think it’s going to be a better look. So, the front arches gave us some grief. Turns out the front wings are not symmetrical, which may be no surprise to people who have worked on Rochdales. I think this is mostly a product of the previous crash and rebuild that the car had gone through years ago. Anyway, the first attempt just wasn’t right for me. The arches were too bulbous and oversized for the wheels. The workmanship was good, but the shape was wrong. It kind of reminded me of Escort Mk1 bubble arches. Great if you need a lot of vertical space for wheel movement for a rally car, but not right for the Rochdale. A shame, and the guys were good enough not to be difficult about starting them again.... If the wheels had a different offset, I dare say, they could have worked, but the point of the new wheels was for the car to handle as well as possible, and the smaller offset was important in this. So, needing to get it right next time, more photos were shared as a work in progress, to ensure I was happy with the shape. So, last Friday, I went back with crossed fingers to see the progress. This time, it instantly felt right when I first saw the car. What did strike me is just how different they now are to the previous arches the car was wearing from the last build. I loved the pumped arches originally, but it was always obvious they were pretty extreme. I look back on photos now and the car looks almost cartoonish. Not sure if it is just my taste changing but I look back now and think the arches were too in your face. I'm no purist but they just didn't respect the original shape of the car enough. It was a real head turner in that state, but I think the new shape has a subtle, purposeful look, more sensitive to the original shape. Anyway, this is where we have evolved to - I think they’re a real success. The arches hug the tops of the wheels, the radius is a nice, close curve around the wheel in profile and the arches taper down towards the original bodywork, without any obvious lip. The lower offset on the front wheels have meant a much more modest front end. Gone are the days when the car can provoke a reaction based on the widened bodywork, now it will be about making an impression by soaking in some of the finished details that I have planned. What do people think??
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Last Edit: Jan 13, 2014 22:02:29 GMT by alolympic
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Apr 22, 2013 22:13:02 GMT
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Really great to see another Rochdale owner on here ;D Loving your car and your changes blownrochdale - the arches fit in very well and your boot access is very novel! It looks you have the advantage of being handy enough to do some good work yourself. It would be good to see more info if you could start a thread, and hope to meet up when the cars are ready in the small world of Rochdale owners....
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Apr 22, 2013 22:12:43 GMT
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Really great to see another Rochdale owner on here ;D Loving your car and your changes blownrochdale - the arches fit in very well and your boot access is very novel! It looks you have the advantage of being handy enough to do some good work yourself. It would be good to see more info if you could start a thread, and hope to meet up when the cars are ready in the small world of Rochdale owners....
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You csn also watch petrolicious videos in hd on vimeo. In fact, with a bit of searching, vimeo has some incredible stuff. I am hoping that when we get a proboards upgrade we will be able to embed to share....
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Apr 19, 2013 21:19:06 GMT
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Nice to be reminded of this thread and that mgb roadster looks brilliant. I think my Rochdale had ended up edging towards a hotrod style, shouting look at me with it's pumped bodywork. I'd like to think that in it's new guise it would fit within this theme - not that the roof is getting chopped mind....
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Apr 18, 2013 13:48:06 GMT
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If you car is wandering and pulling to the left, I wouldn't start with new springs. Get a 4 wheel alignment done and see what is going in. It may just be your toe that is out, but it maybe more serious, so I would get it checked over first.
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Apr 16, 2013 20:33:08 GMT
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There are 2 high back bucket seats that I want to buy from eBay. Seller is in Bishop Auckland. I am in London but am happy to travel upto 100 miles to pick them up. Anyone help? Cheers Al
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Apr 15, 2013 19:55:28 GMT
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Timeless cool, love it!
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Apr 10, 2013 22:32:18 GMT
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Accountants normally do bad things within the car industry e.g. penny pinching in BL.....surprising that it was an accountant that designed such a beautiful car as the Lotus Elite then
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