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So that's it. End of thread.
I flew to Canada, bought a Porsche. Flew home again.
Except this is the first day, another 19 days to go. I'm sure there may be a little more to add? Let me see.....
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bazzateer
Posted a lot
Imping along sans Vogue
Posts: 3,653
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At least those rims are brass and not cheap thin steel!
Understand what you mean about looking better in the pics. In photos I look identical to George Clooney, in the flesh I'm more Jim Broadbent!
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1968 Singer Chamois Sport
1972 Sunbeam Imp Sport
1976 Datsun 260Z 2+2
1998 Peugeot Boxer Pilote motorhome
2003 Rover 75 1.8 Club SE (daily)
2006 MG ZT 190+ (another daily)
2007 BMW 530d Touring M Sport (tow car)
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When James first got the car, it had a whale tail on it, probably part of the previous attempt to make it look more modern. A narrow body, SWB, long bonnet early car just looks SO wrong with this kind of treatment. Luckily for me James had already unbolted the huge tumor but I just had to put it back on to remind myself of how badly someone had got this car!   Yeah, that can stay in Canada.  Frodo James trying to hide his regret at selling this car. Look at the hatred in his eyes, the sheer disdain he shows at the thought of me getting my grubby mitts on it.  We put the cover back on the car then head into the main unit at Works Garage so that James can show me around the place and also let me, finally, see his Datsun 'Z' - a car I'd read about for a good few years, followed the thread and talked about a lot over the phone. Finally I get to see it.  Now would probably be a good time to make an apology. I never considered writing a 'roadtrip' thread and therefore didn't take that many shots, not half as many as I should have (just staring in wide eyed wonder at EVERYTHING Canada had to offer was enough for me) so there are many gaps that I can't fill in visually. Works Garage is one of them. I intended to come back and take a lot of photos, I'd not long been off the plane and had been on the go for about 19 hours already with only 3 hours sleep the night before. Photos of the unit could wait until another time....except that other time didn't come for one reason or another.  It's a fantastic place and a really great environment for JP, James and other friends to hang out and work on their cars. I'm just gutted I don't have any photos to show you all. We head back to the house, eat some food and chill out. Tomorrow is, predictably, another day with more to see and more to do. For now, rest. And the thought of Porsche ownership being more real than ever.  |
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THE_Liam
Yorkshire and The Humber
If at first you don't succeed... HAMMERS.
Posts: 1,363
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Great read, and an awesome car.
Worth saying though, I know it annoys some people when people say "if only you were closer", but at the end of the day it's often a case of people not being able to afford to go far, rather than just not being bothered.
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Great read, and an awesome car. Worth saying though, I know it annoys some people when people say "if only you were closer", but at the end of the day it's often a case of people not being able to afford to go far, rather than just not being bothered. I simply could not afford this car, nor this trip. But I worked super, super extra hard to make it happen. My income is well below the national average, by a long way, but determination is a far more powerful force than just sitting back and saying you can't afford something. I started out this quest with (literally) £9.00 in my bank account. The distance was never in question. The price just meant busting my gut and working extra hard to FIND work. I got creative, I made it happen. It took me 10 months to save and save and save and I don't think I've ever fought so hard to do so. I could easily have said I couldn't afford it, and in reality, when I agreed to buy the car I couldn't actually afford it. I've only ever flown abroad once before in my life, I don't live an extravagant life, haven't had a holiday for over two years (and only ever afford a week in Wales when I do go away), I don't eat out, I don't go to the pub, I wear old scruffy clothes, keep my shoes until they are literally falling off my feet. I'm not rich, I don't have any money in the bank but I have determination. Endless amounts of determination and like to think in some small way that if I can make it happen, then anyone can. Genuinely. |
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The next day I'm feeling less tired, well rested and James & I head out with his girlfriend to see some of Ontario. I'm really not one for tourist stuff, it doesn't appeal to me queuing for hours to line someones pocket to see/experiance something that's usually a bit underwhelming. I was within an hour of Niagra Falls but wasn't too bothered about seeing it. I'd much rather see 'real' Canada. We head out to Hamilton, a town outside the urban sprawl of Toronto and up onto the Niagra Escarpment that runs right through Ontario and down to New York including the Toronto area (an hour one way) and Niagra Falls itself (an hour the other way). There are some waterfalls up there. Nothing of the scale, size or grandeur of Niagra, but also isolated enough that we are the only people there. My kind of place.  The fact it was also on a popular 500+ mile hiking trail called the Bruce Trail, I was really feeling the vibe of this place! The views over Hamilton and beyond were awesome.  James and his beautiful better half.   We then descend into Hamilton and stumble across a street fair. It was here I realised how much I love the Canadian culture. People wearing double denim (non ironically) mingled with people in 'sports Dad' hockey/baseball setups, cowboy hat wearing leather jacket clad older men, suburban Mums and goths and pretty much every other style or look that could exist all happily mixing together. No one cares, you just be who you want to be. And everyone is smiling. And friendly. Then there is the food. More importantly, Poutine. Look it up, think to yourself how it sounds a bit repulsive. I'm willing to try anything once, I was reluctant, but I gave in and ordered the Poutine on James' insistence and I'm glad I did. It was amazing. HUGE....it made the Niagra Escarpment look small in comparison, but I kept enjoying it way beyond the point I was full up. I managed to make a dent in the western face of this mountain of cheese curds, fries, gravy, steak and mushrooms but it most certainly defeated me. I think I got about 1/3 of the way through it. If you ever have the opportunity, try it. We drop JGF (James' girlfriend) back at the house and head over to his friend, Joe's lockup. Joe is the guy who sold the 912 to Frodo and it's a good opportunity to meet another part of the cars history. And his car.  More to come on that in a moment.... |
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OH COME ON... you're such a tease lol
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That's what I want to see!!!!
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BLU
Part of things
Posts: 347
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Just sat and read the entire thread, I'm in awe  Hurry up with the next instalment  |
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The future's bright, the future's BLU
Silver 1987 MK2 Fiesta Ghia
White 2006 MK6 Fiesta ST150
Yellow 2007 MK6 Fiesta Zetec S Anniversary #279
Green 2007 MK6 Fiesta Zetec S Celebration #471 (diesel conversion)
Red 2008 MK6 Fiesta Zetec S Anniversary #893
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PhoenixCapri
West Midlands
Posts: 2,685
Club RR Member Number: 91
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Thanks so much for taking the time to share this Bruce - oddly I found out about it via Lauren (who read it excitedly to me on the way back from tat collection in Rochdale), through a facebook post by one of her old friends, who's good internet mates with another RR user - nothing like a convoluted way of finding a thread!
Got to say I love it, the whole story. Never gone to these lengths to buy a car, but you convey the whole experience so well I feel like I have.
Can't wait for the build, and to see the end results. Oh and the rest of this thread - more, more I say!
Is it time for an RR adventures area on the forum?
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oddly I found out about it via Lauren (who read it excitedly to me on the way back from tat collection in Rochdale), through a facebook post by one of her old friends, who's good internet mates with another RR user - nothing like a convoluted way of finding a thread! It's weird how the internet can work sometimes! As for the build, it's going to be long and slow. I simply cannot afford just to tear into this car and get it on the road as soon as I'd like. I'm going to take my time as I save carefully for each part of the project. It won't be a concours car, not by a long way, but it will probably be the most extensive and thorough build I've ever undertaken. It'll also be quite different in that I'm planning on doing a lot of it at home in my garage rather than at Area 52. Thanks for the kind comments everyone, BTW. Now, back to the red car. Joe, as I mentioned, is the guy James bought the 912 from so it was nice to get to meet him. He's a great guy and he also has a great taste in cars. This is his Mazda, a 616.  A number I hadn't ever heard of before, but he explains it's basically an RX2 with a 4 pot rather than a rotary. Whatever it is, it's stunning!  I'd never really had chance to take a close look at one before, but it's pretty much Mk1/Mk2 Escort sized, similar proportions but with some really lovely lines that add a sense of flair to it more reminiscent of a well considered Italian saloon than a Japanese 3 box design. The more I looked at it, the more I fell in love with it. Such a lovely, undertstated vehicle. Dare I say beautiful? Yes.       Joe has owned it for a long time, IIRC it was his first car and he certainly had some interesting stories to tell about it. At one point, a number of years ago, he hoiked out the 1.6 4 pot and replaced it with a rotary. Kind of a logical modification to make to these, a bit like fitting 2.0 pinto into a 1.1 Popular Plus Escort I guess? When that, inevitably, went into meltdown, he removed it and started considering where to go next with it. Wanting to keep the theme more akin to the origins of the car, he chose the spiritual successor to the original 1600 engine and is currently fitting a Mazda Miata (MX5) engine and gearbox. I have to say, I fully endorse where this build is going.  We stood and chatted a while longer, Joe is a really great guy and one of those people who, now I've met and spent some time with, makes me wish I was able to spend more time around. Most of the people who I met in Canada were like that. Genuinely, really nice people who you always feel a tinge of sadness when you say goodbye to because you really enjoy their company and wonder if paths will cross again before heading back to the UK on a big plane.   As James and I say our goodbyes, I look back at the lovely little red Mazda, wave a farewell to Joe and say to myself, "If only *I* was nearer". |
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Oh thank goodness... I can go to work now without it being on my mind all day. Lovely looking car, and a great tale you're entertaining us all with.
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...and a great tale you're entertaining us all with. Thanks. But you might want to wear some old clothes and definietly make sure your jabs are up to date in time for the next update. It's like something from a David Fincher movie. It involves strippers and you'll almost certainly feel the need to take a shower afterwards. |
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Excellent read Bruce Well done for pulling out all the stops, working hard and making sacrifices to get what you wanted and not taking "No" for an answer. It does make me laugh that every for sale thread on here always has "If only you were closer" replies when often the fantasist buyer is only in the next county and could easily get said car if they were even half-serious about wanting it - you on the other hand haven't only bought it from another country, but rather a whole different continent! Be interesting to see this car come to fruition, as I'm guessing like normal for you it'll be a step away from the norm? Oh, and hope that the back is on the mend after the crash as I know from bitter experience that a knackered back is no fun at all |
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1990 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 // 1991 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 16v // 1992 Peugeot 205 GTi 1.9 // 1999 Peugeot 306 Meridian HDi Estate
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It involves strippers and you'll almost certainly feel the need to take a shower afterwards. So you're really in Manila then? |
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I've loved reading this road trip thread. It's coincided with Grizz's trip across the pond too. I have to say, I am guilty of always searching for things by distance and have let too many items that "I wish were nearer", pass me by. I will take this as a life lesson in determination and positive attitude. I have a trip to Thailand planned in January but it's for visiting a friend and not vehicular activities so doesn't really count. Keep up the updates. I look forward to reading the (slow) build thread too.
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Well, this is an excellent thread.  |
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rod6e
Part of things
Posts: 94 
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What an awesome story (so far).
It might be time to get friendly withe the guys at Revolution Porsche. After all, they are practically around the corner (Brighouse, near Leeds).
They look after my Porsche and are always happy to offer advice on the phone.
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I always seem to buy cars that are far away, its all part of life's little adventures. This on the other hand is something else, well done |
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1939 Francis Barnett Powerbike
1971 Honda C90
1992 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 GLX
1993 Fiat Panda Selecta
2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van
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eternaloptimist
Posted a lot
Too many projects, not enough time or space...
Posts: 2,578
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New favourite thread. Top work.
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XC70, VW split screen crew cab, Standard Ten
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