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Aug 30, 2013 22:40:51 GMT
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^See you on the beach then MrOtter^ I'm heading down to Pembrokeshire on the Friday morning for a day scouring the coast (just got back from four days there) then an early start on the beach for a full days photography. Hopefully back in Bristol not too late Saturday night ready for the big meet on Sunday. I guess I'd better try and be there?
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Aug 22, 2013 21:12:06 GMT
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PM sent.
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Aug 21, 2013 20:27:14 GMT
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I've just checked online and it would seem that all Excels came with the 2.2, so it would seem I have the right engine.
As said, I'll get more details and photos tomorrow and let you know.
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Aug 21, 2013 20:19:59 GMT
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I need to check but I think I have a 2.2 Lotus twink from an Excel. When I say I think, I know I have an engine but need to find out if it's a 2.0 or a 2.2.
Pretty much complete except for the carbs. I'll have a look tomorrow and let you know.
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Aug 21, 2013 20:04:13 GMT
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Datsun Coupe 1600/Silvia. Circa 1965.
Stonkingly beautiful. And then some.
[edit] damn I'm too slow on my phone [/]
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Aug 21, 2013 16:56:47 GMT
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Nice photos Jon. I'll see if there are any you've sent me that aren't in your post and I'll stick them up - thanks for posting those ones. NEW DATES!I'm starting to put together some dates for you all to add to your calendars/notebooks/phones etc.... *8th September: 1st Area 52 'Classic & Retro Lunch Club' ( DETAILS HERE) *20th-22nd September - 4th anniversary weekender - celebrating four whole years of the infamous 'Play Weekend' *13th October: Area 52 'Classic & Retro Lunch Club' (final details to come, but see above for basic details) *18th-20th October - Play weekend Details of the new 'Lunch Club' are linked above, but here's the abridged version for now: Queens Square classic car meet, lunch at the Tube Diner, post lunch drive to 'just somewhere'. No excuses for missing any/all of these events now.
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Aug 21, 2013 13:26:12 GMT
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This thread is amazing. The car *and* the story/history.
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Aug 21, 2013 11:50:47 GMT
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Hopefully this won't be a one off and I'll be able to head along to the next one . Just in time for you to have bought that lovely Daimler I reckon. That would fit in SOOOO well.
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Aug 21, 2013 11:49:05 GMT
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Before I even opened this thread, I just knew it would feature photos taken here: I'm amazed you haven't worn that spot out already. This is such a cool car and reckon it just looks so right as it is. Putting the original wheels on works so much better and I honestly don't think it needs anything doing to it other than lavish it with fresh oil (in the engine) and polish (on the bodywork) Nice one Dude.
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Aug 21, 2013 10:57:42 GMT
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Many thanks for the great responses so far everyone. Here are the location postcodes so you can plan your trip...and journeys between locations. Convoying will be difficult, so you'll need to know where you're going so as not to rely on other people ideally. Small groups convoying will be more manageable but you can choose how and who you follow. Optional meeting point: McDonalds in Bedminster (BS3 4NH) Classic car meet: Queens Square (BS1 4QS) Lunch stop & meet: The Tube Diner (BS4 3EH) Countryside drive: Cheddar Gorge (BS27 3QF) The first three locations are literally minutes apart. The drive from The Tube Diner to Cheddar Gorge is approx 40 mins (19 miles). Obviously you're welcome to join in or peel off at any stage of the day. My only concern is that there didn't look to be much parking room next to the Diner? Directly outside the diner, the parking is a bit restrictive. Ideally, for the sake of photographs, I'd like to keep this area reserved for more classic/older retro cars than anything too modern. However, depending on how many actually come along, there is a good sized parking area just the other side of the wall which I think will become the main focus area for parking cool cars. Anyone arriving in something modern or mundane (i.e. coming along for the social and to look at the cars), there is also another car park just a few metres furhter along so as to give the nearer parking more chance for the retros and classics to be in one place. There's nothing worse than being the 4 year old Ford Focus in the middle of a bunch of cool cars. Not everyone will be able to arrive in a classic or a retro and I'd like to think that everyone is welcome, but if you wouldn't put your car on show at the Gathering or a classic car show (for example) then you might want to consider leaving the 'nearer' spaces for cars that would, and do. If I was coming along in my E34 BMW (which is a cool looking car IMHO) I'd still park it in the 'everyday' area slightly further away in order for something undoubtably cooler to park with all the other classics and retros. I don't want to dictate what is what, and just hope that people will naturally 'regulate' where they park according to what they drive? The same applies to Queens Square....this is a definite classic and retro car meet (and something we're going to, not organising). Space is certainly limited within the square, so again, please consider leaving space for more interesting vehicles if you feel yours is more of a transport for the day rather than something you're bringing to show. There is plenty of parking in the surronding streets. Have a look through the Queens Square photos (linked in the first post....but ALSO HERE and you'll get an idea if you think your car is the sort of thing you'll park in the square, or leave in the sidestreet while admiring the other cars. I hope that makes sense to everyone?
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Aug 20, 2013 22:46:00 GMT
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NICE!!! whereabouts on the planet are you squire ? Unless my eyes are playing tricks, he's in Middlesex (as written in the title) That's one seriously lovely motor, in probably the perfect colour too....and stunning condition (even taking into account the rust) I wish you the best of luck with the sale. I can just imagine wafting around the country lanes with some Bowie blasting from the tape deck. Perfect.
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Aug 20, 2013 21:30:58 GMT
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Video of engine falling on its sword. Redline for as long as it'll last....
A hero's death.
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Aug 20, 2013 20:02:58 GMT
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Nice one Tiggs. Just to clarify, in case anyone thinks this event is 'exclusive' to Area 52 regulars (which, in itself, is an open community), it's open and available to ANYONE. Ideally, please bring a retro or classic car, but most of all, it's an open invite for anyone to come along. Other halves, the kids, the dog....
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Aug 20, 2013 19:48:13 GMT
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Put this date in your diaries: Sunday 13th October. (Lunch Club Pt2) Why? Because this is the START of something great. Don't miss out. Location: Bristol (and beyond) The idea: See a load of cool classic & retro cars, a small cruise, eat great food at a BRILLIANT place then a jolly to somewhere in the countryside. For a good few years now there has been a classic car meet in the centre of Bristol at Queens Square, always on the 2nd Sunday of the month. I finally managed to make it along to one of these recently and it was superb! A handful of the Area 52 guys also came along and, equally, loved it. Some shots from the last one: The full thread with photos can be seen here: retrorides.proboards.com/thread/155178/bristol-classic-retro-queens-squareSo if it's been going a few years, why does it "start here"?? Because the Queens Square meet is just the start of the 'Lunch Club'. A few weeks back I closed up Area 52 in the middle of a weekender and we headed out for a bite to eat. A location I'd been considering for sometime, and this was the 'trial run' to check that it could work. The wonderful Tube Diner in Bristol: www.thetubediner.co.uk/Basically it's a superb setting - two converted Airstream caravans nestled into a unique complex of Art Deco and Victorian industrial and office spaces. Unique to say the least. This one is the kitchen... The diner itself is pretty cool inside. Just what you'd imagine it to be: Space is a bit limited in the diner itself, but there is plenty of space outside to sit, chill, chat and of course, eat. Dogs are welcome too... It just seemed to work as an ideal location for a 'meet and eat' get together. See for yourself: Charlie, the owner, is a top bloke and serves nothing but the best food (everyone there that night commented on the burgers being up there with the best they've ever had) I have managed to convince Charlie to open the diner on a Sunday (it's normally closed on a Sunday), exlusively for Area 52 and this event. Once a month, if it works as I've planned, we have this unique opportunity to have a lovely lunch in this superb location surrounded by cool cars. All of this after attending a great classic car meet in the beautiful Queens Square. As if that wasn't enough to get your retro and classic juices going, there is then the afternoon 'jolly' to look forward to as well. A drive out from the diner in Bristol to a location in the countryside somewhere. Each month will be a different location, so the more of these you attend, the more places you'll get to visit. For example, after the Queens Square meet a few weeks back, a group of us headed out in the cars to Weston Super Mare. So there you have it, once a month, Area 52 is giving you the opportunity to not only attend a great car meet (which you could do anyway), but also to enjoy a social get together and lunch at a great venue....followed by a nice drive to a destination (more social, photo opportunities etc...) The day will pan out something like this: 8.00am-8.45am (optional) Meet at McDonalds in Bedminster for a tea and short cruise to the meet 9.00am-11.30am - Queens Square Classic Car meet 12.00pm-1.30/2.00pm - Lunch at the Tube Diner 1.30pm-2.00pm - A drive into the countryside (this month...possibly Cheddar Gorge - TBC) 4.00pm onwards....say goodbyes and head off home So, who's in? If this first one works out, there will almost certainly be more and more. This has the potential to be something really exciting. It's certainly taken some work to get it even this far... More details to come (food choices & prices, route details etc...) Thanks for looking and I look forward to seeing some of you on the 8th.
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Aug 19, 2013 21:03:55 GMT
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What about using a backbone chassis and running gear from a Lotus Elite, Excel or Éclat ? If you look they can be found for quite reasonable amounts. I was led to believe that the Lotus chassis wasn't classed as a 'chassis' (as such) and that the ID/VIN was assigned to the body. Please don't take this as gospel, but also please don't just assume that because the Elite/Excel/Eclats have a backbone chassis, that they are fair game for body swaps. If it turns out they are, however, then I guess I have some great donor material kicking about at Area 52. Hmmmm....time for some research methinks!
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Aug 15, 2013 12:46:55 GMT
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Loving the progress on it Bruce Would it be worth trying to get another back seat to tide you over whilst you conserve the current one, even if its not a match and in a worse state, would mean that the currentdoesent get any worse and perhaps keep it in the warm/ somewere you can give it another treatment with ease? We spoke about this the other day and it seems to be to cost prohibitive. Problem being its not a common enough car for old interiors to be rife. Yeah, as Rich says, the ones I've seen have been the sort of money I'd rather divert into other area of the car, or other cars. I guess if it's going to take me a year, then rear seat passengers are jsut going to have to be patient. At least I get to still enjoy using it in the meantime (I'll also be treating the front seats...I don't want them going the same way)
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Aug 15, 2013 11:52:10 GMT
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Thanks guys and a great idea Matt but I've just rung Krych to ask them what they thought and they've said not to. The leather needs to breathe at all times ideally. Also, the conditioner has oils in it and some of them need to be allowed to evaporate.
I guess it's just going to be a slow progress thing but hopefully worth it in the end?
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Aug 15, 2013 11:08:37 GMT
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One of those moments where you really appreciate modern technology! After leaving Krych, I tapped in 'tack shops Bristol' and within seconds I'm being directed to a place I never knew existed - a tack shop tucked away that hopefully had what I was looking for? Suffice to say I returned to Area 52 with a bag of hope. Hope that this little lot could (eventually) sort the leather out in my car. Some leather cleaner, a sponge (well, not the sort of thing we keep at Area 52) and a tub of intensive conditioner. Still loving modern tech, I'd been able to look up the brand on my phone before buying and noted that it came highly recommended as one of the best for reviving dried out leather. The price was also competitive with anything I found online....that's almost unheard of. The guy in the shop even asked me if it was for a car! "We sell about 70% of this to car owners. I don't know why they don't market the stuff for automotive as well as equine use?" After the Gathering, the seats are going to be absolutely slathered in this stuff. Mission seat revival will begin in earnest. In other news, you may have seen me mention a small mod I made to the rear windcreen? Most people who come to the unit have Area 52 stickers on their cars. I just didn't feel it would suit the Daimler, so I made a different one for a change. A one off... Hard to photograph, it's made with chrome 'foil' vinyl and very fragile, hence why it's stuck on the inside of the screen. I thought it was a bit more in keeping with the look of the car than the usual Area 52 sticker? I'll probably change the design again before too long. I'm not 100% convinced because I think it looks like it's stuck somewhere between a wedding car logo and a scene sticker in style. Neither of which I'm trying to say about the car. Time will tell.... Right, that's me done for now. I'm off to finish off some stuff then pack and head off to the unit until we leave for the Gathering. If I don't see you there, I'll see you all after.
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Aug 15, 2013 10:50:03 GMT
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I head over to Krych Trimming: www.krychtrimming.co.uk/I've known the guys there, Gary and Cyril, for a few years. They've done a few small jobs for me in the past and I just knew they would be the best people to speak to about the leather and the stitching. I didn't know what they would make of my car seeing as they deal, day in, day out, with highly finished classics. I guess when you're used to working on 'money no object' restorations, something like mine could be a bit of an embarrassment to have parked outside your workshop? Luckily, they loved it and totally 'got it', telling me not to ever think about restoring it. (like I could afford to even if I wanted to!) Cyril simply described it as "SO cool" and Gary said it was, "Really refreshing to see a car that wears its history with pride". They stood looking over the car for at least ten minutes, only stopping because it started chucking it down. I was chuffed to bits! Inside, the usual scenario of a concours classic in for a retrim. Their work is superb. Not just seat re-covering either, they will restore and retrim every part of an interior. This one was just about to get the floors felted before having new carpets after having done all the seats, headlining and side trims. Tools of the trade! A Lotus Cortina seat. Cyril was handed a bare metal frame and he had to construct the whole seat shape/form and detailing from a handful of photos. The rest of the seats (frames) will be arriving for the same treatment any day now that the owner is happy with this one. I turn around to find Jed has made himself at home. All over the workshop are signs of work in progress, or the remnants of seats that have been completely restored, leaving behind the stories of their past. Further into the workshop are roll upon roll of cloth, leather, vinyl, foam and all the other materials used to make up interiors. From many different textures and finishes... ...to the classic look (and smell) of fine leather. Then to the place where the magic happens. No hi-tech production here....these guys are strictly old-school. "We've got 74 years experience between the two of us" Cyril tells me. "These things are as reliable as they come and as sensitive as we could want them to be. You can make them work like they are an extension of your hands and mind...you just can't get that with modern machines" "I've tried other machines, but they just don't feel right. It's like wearing someone elses shoes" "Plus we're tight ba$tards and they've saved us a fortune over the years!" Chimes in Gary. We get onto the discussion of my seats and their condition. Gary tells me, in no uncertain terms, that my leather is dead. DEAD! Great. He pulls out a seat that is in for a refurb, it looks fine to me until he tells me to feel the leather. It's dry and rigid like the leather in my car. He then prods his finger into the leather and it punctures straight through without any effort as though it was old, thin card that had got damp, then dried out. "See? Dead" He can see the panic in my eyes and, luckily, he then proceeded to tell me that there is a chance of saving the seats. He knows I'm not here to ask about the price of a retrim and he knows that the seats in my car are as important to me as the exterior bodywork. It turns out that saddle soap, used for horseriding tack, is what's needed to try and revive my seats. It's along process where I need to feed them regularly over a long period of time in order to try and get them re-moisturised. It's not guaranteed to work, but if I can get enough moisuture and oils back into the fibres of the leather, they should become supple again. There is no way they can even consider re-stitching the seats as they are because they'll just tear to shreds as soon as they try and remove the covers from the frames. It's going to be a long slog, but hopefully worth it to get the leather reconditioned and flexible again. Not only should this mean they will last longer, but it should also enable the guys at Krych to eventurally re-stitch all the bits that have come apart. Conservation not restoration. In the meantime, NO ONE is to use the back seat. A real shame, but unless I want to risk trashing the seat beyond repair, that's the way it has to be. Before leaving I ask about any carpet they have that might match my existing carpet. The front footwells have no carpet at all, just a horrible modern rubber mat thrown in there over the felt sound proofing. Luckily they have some that's pretty much an exact match, and only £20 for enough to do both footwells. Something to buy and fix/fit at a later date - I need to spend what little money I have got on leather treatment. I say my goodbyes to the guys and head off in search of a tack shop. Gary & Cyril are awesome and I'm sure you'll be seeing them back in this story at a later date.
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