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Aug 15, 2013 10:01:29 GMT
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Yesterday I decided to start tackling a smaller issue. Well, a small issue I didn't realise was going to lead to a year or so's worth of work to *possibly* fix. I adore the patina on the leather seats, it matches perfectly with the exterior of the car. It tells a story, one of use but not abuse. Maybe not of being cherished and cosseted, but of age and experience. Just like the bodywork, it has a look that only time and use can create. Not faked or forced. Not immaculate or sterile. There is, however, a slight issue with the back seat. It all looks good at first appearance, much like the front seats: But look closer and you can see that not all is well The stitching has gone along the seams of the seat base which has allowed it to start coming apart. Not too drastic, but I figured it would be best to get it sorted before it gets any worse. I certainly don't want people jumping in and out of the rear seat while it's like this. I don't want to wreck it completely. The other issue and one which I assume is probably responsible, at least in part, for the stitching to break, is that the leather is generally very dry and hard. Almost like cardboard in places. The front seats are 'OK', but the back seats are certainly worse. Very dry and inflexible, certainly not like the soft supple leather we picture when we think of old classic cars like this. I head out to speak to a couple of guys with some authority on the subject.
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Many thanks for the kind comments everyone. Just guessing: Canon EOS 5D Mk II + EF 24-105 F4 L IS ? Exif data is a useful thing. I deliberatley leave mine on each photo, and find it really useful when others do too, although that tends to be very few people nowadays. Well your last couple of updates have pretty much nailed it for me. Retro ownership shouldn't revolve around a never ending slog trying to return a reluctant vehicle back to it's former glory, with just the radio for company. It's all about them being the reason to bring great friends together, but then being able to melt into the background to become just another part of what made the day just so great. Love it mate! Oh, I can't believe no-one else has brought this up yet - but who are all these mysterious people in the photo's? They look somehow familiar, but just strangely clean.... Cheers, Joe. Thanks Joe. I think it's a bit of a balance of both to be honest. Now that the Daimler is on the road, as it was 'supoposed' to be from the outset, I can enjoy little ventures and forays in it but also having the fun and challenge of locking myself away with a more involved project. I think having a bit of both is a good thing. The adverntures AND the joy of a build. I wanted the Land Rover to be my fun 'weekend thing' while I did the Lotus as a big project, but the Land Rover turned into an unexpected project itself. The Daimler was supposed to be something to use and enjoy while getting the LR sorted, but again, it turned into a bit of a project (although nowhere near as much and more delayed through lack of money than anything else) Now that it's on the road, I can still tinker with it, but enjoy it as a car at the same time, giving me those brilliant days out. I now feel refreshed and ready to get stuck back into the Land Rover. A new freshness that has been lacking since downing tools when Amanda's Dad died last year. *Using* the Daimler has been great at reigniting my love for wanting to work on my cars again. Fingers crossed, very soon, there will be some updates of progress on one of my fave cars of all time. Something I feel bad for shelving for over a year now. In the meantime, I've still got lots of fun things planned for trips in the Daimler. Happy days. Oh, and we can scrub up when the need arises. Recognising us is part of the problem though.
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Aug 14, 2013 17:02:38 GMT
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We parked up on the seafront 'promenade', locked the cars and headed into town to get our dinner. At last! Any opportunity to get a sunset shot. Hannah and the 'Weston Eye' (I don't think that's what it's called in truth) The pace quickens as we start to smell the food. Destination: The Regent. A timewarp 70's style fish & chip restaraunt right on the seafront. When I say timewarp, I don't think it's done in a deliberate 'retro' way. It just *is* stuck in a genuine timewarp. Quick, order, we're STARVING! After some awesome seaside nosh, we sit around having in depth discussions about Tunnocks Caramels and other random things while we let our food go down. It's starting to get late, so we decide to head back to the cars. Despite it being a Sunday, lovely weather and also the school holidays, the streets were suprisingly quiet! Back at the cars, we hang around and chat some more before Mark & Hannah head off It had been a most excellent evening after an equally excellent day. Three cars left, I grab a few final shots before we head back in our small convoy to Bristol. The Daimler had been a perfect companion for the day and I was really looking forward to the trip home. Wafting along in this place of comfort...listening to that V8 burble gently away. Bliss. The seed was firmly cemented in my mind now....I was in love with this car. I love this car.
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Aug 14, 2013 17:01:37 GMT
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When I said it was the end of a great day out, I was expecting to reverse the Daimler into the unit then head home after saying my goodbyes to the others and locking up. That was until Rich mentioned an evening jolly to the seaside to get some fish & chips. It had been a great day after having done lots already, the Daimler had been utterly brilliant, the weather fantastic and what better way to spend all that than with some good mates. It was one of those 'I don't want this to end' moments, so we all agreed to head down there in convoy. Rich went and picked up his better half, Zoe. Mark popped home and collected his better half, Hannah, and James & I just headed down in our own cars (Corwin had gone home due to getting quite sunburnt!) The convoy to Weston-Super-Mare along the A38 was awesome and when we got there, we parked on the seafront and were about to head over to get some dinner when I suggested driving the cars onto the beach for some photos. In the 5 months I'd had it, I'd not really had the opportunity to get any shots of my car so far (apart from in the unit) so I really wanted to grabs a few photos while I could. Once the others had taken a few snaps of their own cars, I got them all togther for a couple of group shots. Thanks to the long, long shadows due to the now very low and rapidly setting sun (VERY long shadows), the others were stood well back so as not to get into shot. When I turned around, I couldn't resist grabbing these two snaps: Good friends after a great day. As we drove off the beach I just couldn't resist a cheeky rear view mirror sunset shot (not something I'd ever do when driving on the road). It shows off my new rear window sticker too...
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Aug 14, 2013 11:34:24 GMT
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Never underestimate the amount of style offered by the addition of a flat cap. Haha...I was told, in no uncertain terms, a few hours after that photo was taken that the cap did *not* suit me at all. Water off a ducks back, Amanda bought it for me, I drive a Daimler and I've never professed to being bothered by or dictated by fashion. I shall continue to wear the cap as & when I see fit. Arriving at the gates of the Summer Classics, I handed the card that was given to me at Queens Square by one of the guys there and was greeted with free entry to the show! A nice surprise. All the others got free entry too thanks to the cards we were handed. We parked up next to some of the cars that had also come over from Queens Square and I immediately made sure I photographed my car this time. James' Imp certainly drew a lot of admirers and I loved the opening comment one guy made to his car, "I thought mine was the scruffiest here". It's a damn cool Imp I can tell you that. I'll only post a handful of pics here...there will be a thread (like the Queens Square one) coming in the general section very soon. After wandering around admiring the cars, then another circuit browsing all the tat & autojumble (always a joy), we headed back to the cars then back to Area 52. The end of a great day out.
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Aug 14, 2013 11:12:54 GMT
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Many thanks for the comments guys, it means a lot. Come on Bruce, don't leave us hanging, where's the next instalment? Huh? So glad that it's finally behaving, and that you've got the love back for it, I was starting to feel very guilty for you even seeing the car in the first place..... Next installment coming right up. As for feeling guilty, you have no reason to...you didn't even sell it to me. I'm just a bit annoyed with myself that I didn't take it for a proper drive first. A lift down the lane & back just wasn't enough and it shows that this was a heart over head purchase - which really isn't like me. It's all good now though (touch wood) and I'm now hopefully able to start enjoying like I was hoping to back when I first bought it. Time will tell. Right, back on with the story. After the cars maiden outing to the Tube Diner on the last play weekend, I figured it would be a great opportunity to start using it. Sunday was the monthly Bristol Classic & Retro Car Meet in the city centre at Queens Square. I'd been meaning to go along for ages but now I finally had a car I could take myself. I was beside myself with excitement. I love car events, it was an excuse to drive the Daimler and I got to take some photos. Except I forgot to take any of my own car! Robin & I met up with Corwin, Mark, James and Rob at McDonalds at 8.30 before we convoyed to the square for 9.00. Such a fantastic place to hold an event like this. The full thread with photos can be seen here: retrorides.proboards.com/thread/155178/bristol-classic-retro-queens-squareAround midday most of the cars had headed off and we geared ourselves up to head to another event I had planned. First and foremost, FOOD! We were all hungry and headed for the burger van on Durdham Downs for some swine and horsemeat nourishment. Except, at 12.30 when we got there, they were sold out of all food! So we kept heading in the direction of the event and ended up at the Asda in Cribbs Causeway. Not wanting McD's, a proper bit of food was the order of the day and the canteen/cafe there did us proud. The cars looked great in the car park: After we filled our bellies, we got back in the cars and pointed them in the direction of the Bristol Summer Classics show at Easter Compton (insert NWA/Eazy-E comments here) Corwin grabbed a couple of pics with my camera...of a very proud Daimler owner on his way to a classic car show. Complete with 'appropriate' hat: The trip there was smooth, effortless and free from any problems. I was starting to like driving this car without the constant worry of how few miles I'd get without it throwing its coolant everywhere. I was really beginning to enjoy driving the car.
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Aug 13, 2013 21:10:28 GMT
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If the cars aren't stupidly expensive (although I have a feeling they will be), the export side of things not too complex (although I have a feeling they will be) and the ferry side of things no too much of an expense (although I think they will be) then I'd definitely be up for a flight/holiday/van purchase/road trip.
Hmmmmm - food for thought!
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Aug 13, 2013 20:45:06 GMT
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L300 Lots of amazing cool stuff in here, but this - a 'plain & simple' white panel van.....OOOFFF!! I adore L300's and this one is a real honey. I've looked at the sort of distances involved. A ferry to Italy then 1,500 miles to drive home. Sounds like a perfect excuse for a road trip, holiday and a new member of the fleet all in one!
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Aug 13, 2013 10:31:46 GMT
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Put it this way, my MOT man said he couldn't fail it for having no cat because there's no type approval data for the emissions of my car due to it being an import. I pointed to a 1995 Skyline (also imported) that was in the workshop and asked him if the same applied to that. "Sure does, that's why it also doesn't have a cat" was his answer. I think I have a tan tonneau cover at the unit. And a wind deflector, and a wooden gear knob. I'll double check later and let you know.
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Aug 13, 2013 10:12:09 GMT
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No pictures of your transport, Bruce? Yeah, I kinda missed a trick on that one. I was so excited to finally have my car out & about...and also to finally be at this event...AND have my camera, yet those three aspects didn't quite make it together through the shutter. When I initially parked up and also after my first time around the square, I got so many questions about the car that I didn't get chance to take pics then. By the time I'd actually got back around (2nd time) to my car, I forgot that I hadn't taken any shots of it. Another day for sure. Just being there was enough for me.
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Aug 13, 2013 10:06:58 GMT
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I need to make it down to one of these meets when I can I am going to try and make it every month where possible. I know this won't be *every* month, but I'll certainly try. It's a great meet, really relaxed and everyone is really friendly - so many people with so many stories to tell. It's brilliant! The good thing for you is you'll be able to come along for the meet and still get back to your parents for Sunday roast. Double win. The series III 2+2 has always been my least favourite E-Type, but there's something magnificently honest about this one. Looks superb! This is the one I'd take home if I could chose Lovely, just lovely to see an E-Type in a used condition!!! Me too. I had spotted it across the square and was working my way around to it, but he left jsut as I was getting near. I grabbed this shot then flagged him down to congratulate him on the car. He told me that nearly everyone had asked him when he was going to be painting it....to which I replied that it would be a crime to lose that patina. It was simply stunning with the flaking and faded paint. I think he was quite relieved that someone else viewed the car the way he did... It's difficult to get to see all the cars because as you work your way around, some leave and others arrive. You look back to where you've just been and there's a load more cars you've missed...but they might not be there when you make it back round again. The one thing I kept telling myself, there will always be a next time. Love these evocations me..... Haha, I'm glad you got it. If I had to give a prize for the leftfield choice, that would have been it. So nice to see one in the flesh, a true rarity in this country. Especially the 'Evocation' models. I let out a very audible OOOFF of excitement as this pulled into the square. Such a lovely bit of kit...
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Hi Steve, I'm afraid I can't help with people in your area, after all, it looks a fair distance! Many thanks for the kind words and if you are ever in or near Bristol, please do get in touch - you're more than welcome to stop by Area 52. Likewise, if I'm ever up your way, I'll certainly give you a shout. You're about 540 miles from me so it probably won't be any time soon, but I do want to 'do' Scotlandshire sometime, so maybe in the next year or so I'll plan some kind of road trip. I do hope you find some others more local to you that you can meet up with and help each other out with various car related bits. If you have any kind of garage or workshop space (or even driveway space, but that's probably even more of an issue weatherwise where you are?) then I look forward to seeing you get a retro project of some kind and start a build thread for it. In the meantime, have a shot from the weekend of a retro on the (south) west coast.
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Oh, and the model you have is a V-spec. The wheels aren't original and nor is the wood effect console or the gear knob. It also looks like the steering wheel might have been replaced with a 'standard' Momo one although I can't remember if the black V-specs had the Mardi wood wheels or not?
I'm pretty sure I've got an original V-spec Nardi wooden gear knob in one of the boxes, certainly a proper black centre console too....and also some original V-spec alloy pedals & footrest. Just in case you were thinking of putting it back to original?
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Looking good Rian, I always think black really suits these.
Nice work on the rust repairs although I probably would have also tackled the rot inside the sill too. Have you cleared out the hood drains? It's usually a blocked drain that causes the rot to start in the first place.
As for the cat (de-cat), the import Eunos' aren't type approved so they don't need to have a cat fitted for the MOT. I de-catted mine and it wasn't an issue at the MOT. Had it been a UK model, it would have failed.
Also, if you need any particular bits, give me a shout, I've still got various boxes full of lots of MX5 stuff. Switches, trim, window regulators etc etc. if I have anything you need, I can bring it at the weekend.
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