'THAT' Land Rover: Photobombed by a hobo. (P26)

[Mystery Machine]

Just got back from an epic day (genuinely epic!) picking up my new ride. More details to come but I'm currently sat at Area 52 with Butterz, Rich & Zoe taking in the car and wearing the worlds biggest grin.

160 awesome miles, an MOT, some detours and lots of laughs. Not going to have many photos from today because Butterz & I were too busy enjoying the driving to stop (Plus we needed to get to the MOT station fairly directly in order to get it passed and taxed).

Trust me though, there will be plenty of photos to come very soon.

If you know what the car is, please don't give the game away just yet. I'll reveal it once I've got some decent photos. Probably tomorrow.

In the meantime I'll just leave this here...the key to my new ride:


Full details to come tomorrow.

[Dez]

i was wondering how long it would be before the thread went up

[bstardchild]

That's one key you won't lose

[crazymonkey]

key attached to a decent chain. hmmm I can only imagine its something good then.

[micrat]

tease!!!



look foward to seeing the new toy! so jealous of you hah!

[rodney]

mg key?,

[surprisingskoda]

well, key suggests you just bought a shed

[hairnet]

mwhahahahaha etc

;D

[bryn]

Mar 21, 2012 23:25:12 GMT surprisingskoda said:

well, key suggests you just bought a shed

Back of the net...

[Mystery Machine]

I guess any story should really start at the beginning.

Yesterday morning I met with Butterz (Dave) at Area 52 where we got a few things packed and awaited the arrival of Bryn. Shortly after, the three of us were blasting down the M5 in Bryns Alfa heading towards Taunton.

An hour later, at a top secret location just outside of Taunton we opened up the lock-up....


Converstions of engines and engine conversions soon followed, Dave now convinced that he wanted a Volvo 240 in his life! Bryn certainly didn't try and talk him out of it.


Volvo 240 wagon, formerly owned by Suterman (who carried out the turbo conversion) and currently owned by Bryn. Dave was getting naughty thoughts of his own and I was just very, very excited.


I started out the year with a promise not to buy any more cars........I'd even convinced myself that I was going to stick to this plan. Fate has a funny way of meddling with peoples plans doesn't it?

[Loxlee]

Looking forward to another brilliant thread. As always the pictures are already blowing me away, you manage to capture a great atmosphere in the pics.

[crazycruzer]

excelent news :-)

[bryn]

Even though I was there I want to read more... ;D

[hairnet]

why are there only two memebers of the flat cap modelling club present ;D

[bryn]

Mar 22, 2012 13:54:51 GMT hairnet said:

why are there only two memebers of the flat cap modelling club present ;D

More than two requires the presence of a whippet and/or a shotgun. Neither were available for the shoot.

[countvauxalot]

Bruce I think i hate you! Excellent choice

[Mystery Machine]

To put the thread into its true context I guess I really ought to start at the very beginning....like way back. I normally wouldn't, but it does have a relevence to this specific thread, so I suppose it makes sense to fill in some of the blanks before moving further forward.

Bryn & I met twenty years ago. Boy does that make me feel old saying that! After doing my A Levels then a foundation in Graphic Design, I started my HND in Graphics at Somerset College of Arts & Technology (yeah, SCAT!) back in 1992. As with any course, within a few weeks you start establishing friendships and Bryn was one of the guys who I became friends with. We were definitely the two 'car nuts' along with Adrian and 'Chachi' (his name was Jon but he looked and acted just like Chachi from Happy Days).

Most of the rest of the guys & girls were great, but it was us four that had the passion for cars. Bryn had a wide-bodied, slammed 2CV at the time, I had my Mk1 MR2, Chachi had a Triumph 2000 and Adrain a Mk2 Golf. We loved cars.

Just over a year into the course I had to leave to have an operation on my foot which meant having to re-start the second year of the course again. By the time I returned to do my second year, 'my' yeargroup had all left. I still saw Bryn every now and then, but not as much. Sadly, I lost touch with some good friends thanks to the operation and other things....Bryn was one of them.

Wind forward to 2008 and I sign up to Retro Rides. About four months after joining I see a post from Uncle Norm (Team Blitz) and a photo of a guy who looks VERY much like Bryn. It can't be though, it was taken in the States.....but boy does he look like him! A few posts down I see mention of Bryns name and with that I'm writing a PM to my long lost buddy from back in Taunton. It was like 15 years hadn't passed since last seeing him....we got back in touch and have been regularly in touch ever since meeting up whenever possible. One of those friendships I guess where 'lost time' is irrelevant?

It was great whenever the Brynmeister could make it down to Area 52 for a play weekender, either for the whole weekend or even just popping in to say hi on his way back from a photoshoot or show. At home, Amanda & Jed always like him dropping in or staying over....eating falafel and drinking beers, chatting way into the night. Just like old times, but we're a bit older and (many may argue) wiser these days. It's brilliant being back in touch again...

So why all the back history into our friendship?

Because during a call sometime in mid-January Bryn mentioned something that was to see me rethinking and subsequently breaking my promise not to buy any more cars this year. It was only a passing comment in the midst of the converstaion, but it really got me thinking.

A few days later I sent him a text, "Realisation has just hit me like a Sherman on full throttle! Call me when you can Dude."

I awaited his call....

[Mystery Machine]

The call came the next day while he was on a break from commentating at the AutoSport show in January. We discussed and came to an agreement after Bryn had said the following, "If it stays in this country, you're one of the only people I'd even consider selling this to." To tell the truth, I was honoured - to be offered the opportunity to own something I never thought I would.

I wasn't standing here excited as a kid on Christams Eve, in a lock-up just outside Taunton, to buy a Volvo...no matter how cool it is. No, I was here to pick up something entirely different. Something that I hope I can do justice to, something that is VERY dear to Bryn......

.....something lurking in the back of the lock-up. You can just make it out in the background between Dave and Bryn.


Despite the promise to myself not to buy any more cars, to be offered something like this...I was more than happy to break the promise. MORE than happy! A new chapter was beginning.

[Deleted]

A bit of Bladerunner technology and suddenly the key and chain make sense... If it is what I think it is, you're definitely the right custodian for it.

[Mystery Machine]

Between being offered the car, agreeing to buy it (a decision which took all of 0.000001 of a nanosecond) and arriving in Taunton to collect it, I had a couple of months frantically rushing around trying to raise the money.

Truly a once in a lifetime opportunity I wasn't going to let my status of being completely, totally and utterly flat broke get in the way of buying this car. No way.

The Hustler immediately went up for sale. I didn't want to part with it and it broke my heart to sell it, but it was the only way to get some of the funds together. I had to think of the bigger picture. Other stuff was sold and gradually the funds started to build to the point where I made the call to Bryn to let him know I had most of it together. "That'll do Buddy, I know you're good for the rest as & when you've got it"

Two months between having the opportunity to buy it...and actually collecting it, it was a LONG two months. But here I finally was, with two good friends, looking straight into the headlights of a little piece of motoring history. It was mine! When I say 'mine', I see myself as the next chapter in its life. As Bryn has always maintained during his ownership and I will too during mine, it's not truly 'my' car.

I am merely the next part of the life and evolution of this fine vehicle:





To say I am happy would be an understatement. A HUGE understatement.

As for plans, trust me, it's already been mapped out and decided in the finest details. Any suggestions made will not affect the plans I have for it. In my mind, the ideas I've drawn up are as good as set in stone. Relevant phonecalls have been made, certain people have been 'readied' and once I can get some more money together (and after paying Bryn the remainder) work will start on the next phase of this amazing vehicles life.

As for the rest of yesterdays story? You'll have to wait a bit longer for that I'm afraid....