Having been directed here last night because someone spotted a couple of photos of our first oldie in teh "found" thread, thought it was time to introduce our little fleet.
Briefly, it all started about Feb '08 while my partner was (finally) learning to drive. We had (well, still have) a Mitsi Colt diesel on Mobility because she's suffered from arthriutis since her teens.
Contrary to some people's belief, Mobility cars aren't free although they are a very, very good deal if you need one - the Colt costs us about £47 a week which includes everything except fuel (servicing, repairs, fully comp insurance and the car itself).
But, last year, I picked up a random copy of Practical Classics (the first I'd got for about 6 years) just to have a browse. It happened to have a Daf 33 featured, my partner saw it and said "I want one". Sort of playing along, I had a little web search and found the Daf Owners Club forum.
Explained the situation and asked how likely it was to find one, and whether it would be "suitable" - within a week we'd been put in touch with Betty (then called Blanco), a 1972 white Daf who was SORN in a field in running order.
Within another 3 days, we'd agreed to buy her and to leave her on the field while we got her through an MOT. The progress of that is documented at www.dafmobile.ournet.org.uk
Part of the deal with my partner was that, if she had the daf, I wanted something old as well and we'd get rid of the Colt when the contract runs out (Feb 2010). I worked out that we could probably run two oldies, with easy home maintenance and cheap insurance, for less than the Colt costs us.
My first car (before I passed my test) all those years ago was a Triumph 1300 (the front wheel drive jobbie) and I had an indle search just to see if any still existed. The Triumph Dolomite Club forums seemed the place to hang out and, sure enough, they were still around.
I watched in horror as two or three appeared and were sold before we were ready to get one (the Daf had to be on road and in use first), including a 1969 Valencia Blue one that was bought by a young lad in South Wales.
It had been left in a garage while the garage was demolished, then discovered, then listed on EBay. He got it back on road and proceeded to treat it hard. Lots of broken suspension, chopped springs and engine trouble later he decided to get something "sensible" and stuck the Triumph on EBay. I bid, I won, and I collected Sheila the FWD (who didn't even have a name at the time!). The 180 mile drive back with her through the mountains which showed up a fair few problems.
She was MOTd (til May) running ok but with a bit of rocker clatter and more-or-less structurally sound. She also had more play than a Playboy Bunny in her steering, four springs all different lengths and a brake pedal that did nothing until about an inch off the floor. Oh, and all electrics failed before we left the road she was in - didn't realise until we stopped for fuel but I had no brake lights or indicators as well as no fuel gauge, temperature gauge or heater blower. The interior light worked well though ;D
This was her on arrival back on Anglesey:
She's now just about ready to go in for a new MOT next week and si looking a little happier, if still a bit ratty:
While all this was happening, the teenager decided that she wants to learn to drive and my partner thought we coould get her a car for when she passes. Just couldn't resist when Isabel became available - a red, 1970, Daf 33 to go with Betty:
So, I'm now struggling to keep up with all those little jobs (and some big ones) on three cars all over 35 years old and loving every single minute of it ;D
Joe
Briefly, it all started about Feb '08 while my partner was (finally) learning to drive. We had (well, still have) a Mitsi Colt diesel on Mobility because she's suffered from arthriutis since her teens.
Contrary to some people's belief, Mobility cars aren't free although they are a very, very good deal if you need one - the Colt costs us about £47 a week which includes everything except fuel (servicing, repairs, fully comp insurance and the car itself).
But, last year, I picked up a random copy of Practical Classics (the first I'd got for about 6 years) just to have a browse. It happened to have a Daf 33 featured, my partner saw it and said "I want one". Sort of playing along, I had a little web search and found the Daf Owners Club forum.
Explained the situation and asked how likely it was to find one, and whether it would be "suitable" - within a week we'd been put in touch with Betty (then called Blanco), a 1972 white Daf who was SORN in a field in running order.
Within another 3 days, we'd agreed to buy her and to leave her on the field while we got her through an MOT. The progress of that is documented at www.dafmobile.ournet.org.uk
Part of the deal with my partner was that, if she had the daf, I wanted something old as well and we'd get rid of the Colt when the contract runs out (Feb 2010). I worked out that we could probably run two oldies, with easy home maintenance and cheap insurance, for less than the Colt costs us.
My first car (before I passed my test) all those years ago was a Triumph 1300 (the front wheel drive jobbie) and I had an indle search just to see if any still existed. The Triumph Dolomite Club forums seemed the place to hang out and, sure enough, they were still around.
I watched in horror as two or three appeared and were sold before we were ready to get one (the Daf had to be on road and in use first), including a 1969 Valencia Blue one that was bought by a young lad in South Wales.
It had been left in a garage while the garage was demolished, then discovered, then listed on EBay. He got it back on road and proceeded to treat it hard. Lots of broken suspension, chopped springs and engine trouble later he decided to get something "sensible" and stuck the Triumph on EBay. I bid, I won, and I collected Sheila the FWD (who didn't even have a name at the time!). The 180 mile drive back with her through the mountains which showed up a fair few problems.
She was MOTd (til May) running ok but with a bit of rocker clatter and more-or-less structurally sound. She also had more play than a Playboy Bunny in her steering, four springs all different lengths and a brake pedal that did nothing until about an inch off the floor. Oh, and all electrics failed before we left the road she was in - didn't realise until we stopped for fuel but I had no brake lights or indicators as well as no fuel gauge, temperature gauge or heater blower. The interior light worked well though ;D
This was her on arrival back on Anglesey:
She's now just about ready to go in for a new MOT next week and si looking a little happier, if still a bit ratty:
While all this was happening, the teenager decided that she wants to learn to drive and my partner thought we coould get her a car for when she passes. Just couldn't resist when Isabel became available - a red, 1970, Daf 33 to go with Betty:
So, I'm now struggling to keep up with all those little jobs (and some big ones) on three cars all over 35 years old and loving every single minute of it ;D
Joe
It's certainly a little livelier than the Daf board from what I've seen.
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