My new road car.

Hate the term, it's so misused......but covers pics from fields, woods, farms, garages, lock-ups, barns, driveways etc....
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scotty
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My new road car.

Post by scotty » 20 Mar 2020 06:57

Following meeting the owner of this little gem on our stand at Race Retro, I am now the proud owner of this little beauty, Mk I with 16,540 miles, been in store since 1980. Old lady, wife of garage owner, only person to use it. Took Simon and I four hours to get it into our trailer from right at the back of a very full barn on a farm in Bedfordshire.
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I did not like to take pics of all the other stuff, some quite rare, in the barn but this shot will give you a clue how packed in they were. Probably 30 cars and untold numbers of parts.
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Keith Bennett
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Re: My new road car.

Post by Keith Bennett » 20 Mar 2020 09:18

Well, it's certainly found a good home after its 40-year slumber. Just don't expect it to hit 119mph like UCE does!

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scotty
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Re: My new road car.

Post by scotty » 20 Mar 2020 09:20

Why not?

.....and yes that is a 3.1 ltr Cologne Capri in front of it.

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Mike Hodgson
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Re: My new road car.

Post by Mike Hodgson » 20 Mar 2020 11:02

Looks pretty solid and was special order like my red one (monotone).I see the drivers door has had some work on it and the wrong retaining clips fitted (Mk2 type) it's no wonder the trim fell off.
What are your plans for it Trevor ?.

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scotty
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Re: My new road car.

Post by scotty » 20 Mar 2020 20:10

I always wanted a Mk II, because of the windup windows. The person I bought the car from has a friend who is building a Mk II race car in Horizon Blue and asked if he could have the slide up window MkI doors, for lighter weight, and the swap was made a year ago. The great thing is, I now have a Mk I with wind up windows, perfect.

The car will be built to a fast road car, to travel about to meets with ease. Engine block is one we had prepared earlier. Steel crank and rods, lightweight pistons, ali flywheel, roller rockers, special head, good cam, still probably with SU carbs, electronic ignition, probably 1380 cc. Maniflow inlet and exhaust system. Close ratio gearbox, Mk II rear axle, 3.9 lsd, disc front, drum rear brakes. Nice seats and interior. 5.5 inch steel wheels with hub caps, bumpers, no over riders, heated front and rear screens. So we have a plan. Would you have expected anything else.

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Mike Hodgson
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Re: My new road car.

Post by Mike Hodgson » 20 Mar 2020 23:04

That explains the Mk2 clips and the different shade of horizon blue

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scotty
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Re: My new road car.

Post by scotty » 21 Mar 2020 07:00

Funny thing about the colours. Looking at the doors and body, they are the same colour but when photographed they come out a completly different shade. I can only think it is something to do with the different conditions the separate parts have been kept in and it is something to do with the way the surface finish has faded. Next week the buffing mop will be used and will post pictures of the paintwork. Pressure washed under the car yesterday and uncovered the paintwork under there, all of which had been covered with under seal, much of this did come off with the pressure washer.

There are really small patches of rust at the bottom corner of the wing behind both front wheels also the left rear. Surface rust in drivers foot well from wet shoes but no major rust at all.

The seats had covers on them, I took the seats out and took the fake lambs wool seat covers off the front seats only to find a set of zipped period seat covers which matched the ones on the back seats. These were made by Regency of Norwich and may well have been fitted from day one. Once removed, it looks as though the drivers seat may be the only one ever sat on, the seats are covered in dust which has filtered through the covers but once cleaned the surface and under springs are like new. The rear seat had some items stored on it hence the crease lines.

Here’s an odd one Mike, the number plate brackets for the rear are under the bumper and never illuminated by the number plate light.
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Mike Hodgson
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Re: My new road car.

Post by Mike Hodgson » 21 Mar 2020 09:39

scotty wrote wrote: Here’s an odd one Mike, the number plate brackets for the rear are under the bumper and never illuminated by the number plate light.
Definitely non standard ,possibly the car was driven with boot lid down on a regular basis and the repositioning allowed the plate to be visible and comply
Do you remember early Minis had a hinged plate carrier for the same thing.

Chairman Ed
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Re: My new road car.

Post by Chairman Ed » 21 Mar 2020 10:05

Wonderful find Trevor and now in good hands to return to the road a bit quicker than when new.

Might be worth replacing those seat webbings. Pirelli and available off eBay ( info courtesy of Mike when I replaced mine )

With regards to hinged number plates Mike mentions, our 1973 Range Rover has one. Good idea when carry long items with the lower hatch down.

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Mike Hodgson
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Re: My new road car.

Post by Mike Hodgson » 21 Mar 2020 12:14

I can see Trevor changing the front seats for something more comfortable I know I would and did on a Mk2 I owned (Rover 25 items)
Many of the period road tests mentioned how bad the seats were.

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