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Title says it all really. I know nothing of them but always get the impression that they are rubbish or worthless from day one. I really like this older, short wheelbase version. Let it rip and give me all the bad stuff you know for a fact as well as fake news, rumours and why I should not buy one if I could find one to buy. Thank you.
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Last Edit: Aug 13, 2020 13:00:30 GMT by grizz
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,712
Club RR Member Number: 34
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They’re a 1970s van that they still sold until the end of the 90s. That’s where their reputation comes from.
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Thank you Dez,
They are being slated everywhere I asked.
This: Cheap to buy with no street credibility. Appeals.
I saw two short wheel based Pilots the last week, and noticed them for all the wrong reasons.
Ugly Quirky-ish Possibly dead slow Not seen one for a while Both were a fetching shade of dull red. Ugly Ugly Ugly......
I like it’s dated, slightly quirky styling and that squat front end and screen.
It really is fugly.
Now if one could find a decent body, and rebody onto a Transit or similar.........
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I think the only people that own them are people with 10 kids to cart around or crusties that live in them .
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dreadspeed
Part of things
1972 triumph 2.5 pi on carbs
Posts: 66
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My brother had diesel one for a few years in the nintes no problems it was an x GPO van with a rolling shutter door on the back, i think the diesel verson had the 2ltr prima perkins none turbo engine a strong engine that was also fitted in the austin maestro and montego, the maestros had turbo diesel versions of the same perkins engine which i think pruced 90bhp don't quote me on this i could be wrong
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,158
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Get one, fit Disco running gear and a lift, big wheels with muddies. Big, go anywhere win!
One of my dream projects.....
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They are the sort of vehicles that the owners seem to own at least two of, one for spares.
It's the sort of badly designed 1970s vehicle that had an interior mirror even if it doesn't have a rear window. The pickups had a split rear window, again the interior mirror was useless
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I'm guessing if the royal mail used them they must be pretty rugged! I think they have mellowed with time and not being the prettiest that should help price wise!
A friend had one a few years back, cant remember which model but he had problems with wheel cylinders, mainly the price!
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Hi, Their origin goes back further than the 70s to the introduction of the Morris J4 of which all the rear panel work is the same.
Colin
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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The last ones had the PSA 1.9 XUD lump which is somewhat of a legendary engine itself.
The Royal Mail had them because they were cheap...
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I had a ex Royal Mail one for about 3 years back in the 90's - 2 litre Perkins diesel - bought at auction with 60k on the clock - went everywhere in it - never let me down and only thing I had to do to it was a clutch which is simple and a couple of hours work - was a great little van - noisy & unrefined but so were all other vans made by other manufactures of the era - I think I paid £1200 (half the price of a completely ragged Transit at the time & third of the price of a rotten & smoking Merc 308) - got 3 + years solid use out of it and got £900 back for it when it was sold - crude engineering yes, simple & easy work on though and now getting quite rare
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Last Edit: Mar 3, 2019 14:44:19 GMT by Deleted
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Never owned one, but driven and worked on a few. And the bigger brother, the Convoy (I think it was called).
I really like them to drive, nicer than a Transit. Leaf springs all round, so dead simple. Parts bin interior (that dash that was fitted to everything in the Austin-Rover stable from Metros to Discoverys.)
I don't think they are bad. A bit old fashioned perhaps, but not bad.
Rose specs may be clouding my judgment. Would be cool with a Sherpa front end grafted on.
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brachunky
Scotland
Posts: 1,314
Club RR Member Number: 72
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A mate of mine is doing his best to give me his Convoy which has been standing for a few years although having a walk around, is not in bad nick.Suppose it would be uber cool with a decently powered engine, nice wheels & lowered a bit!
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fraudownersclub
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,005
Club RR Member Number: 23
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Only ever remember king pins where an issue due to poor maintenance ie not greasing em 😏😏
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#fraudownersclub #richartsltd
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Terrible machines. One of our old parts delivery guys had one, the best he could say was it felt like a second hand van from the 1980s... I've heard stories of the drivers seat seeming a little... unsupportive... then when they looked further it was because the metal the seat was welded to had rotted through. On a three year old van...!
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awoo
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,503
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I know someone with an ex Royal Mail van, practically giving it away, mot expired just through lack of use. let me know if interested, I can see how much they want for it.
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Rob M
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,915
Club RR Member Number: 41
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Part of the appeal is that they are unappealing. My late Dad had one for a works van doing heavy plant and machinery. He did, nigh on, 120,000 in it and all it ever had was basic maintenance. Snobbery has much to do with peoples views on them, I've driven company Transits for nearly 30 years and they are the most overrated commercial vehicle out there. Go for it!!!
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Last Edit: Mar 3, 2019 19:40:16 GMT by Rob M
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Last Edit: Mar 3, 2019 20:06:27 GMT by Deleted
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