First thing to be clear, this is a reluctant sale but due to my father's failing health I'm away to start looking after his 1940s MG TC so, what time I have will be even more thinly spread. I'm open to sensible offers but if I don't reach my desired sell price I'll keep the truck and tuck it away somewhere (if I can find somewhere!!!)
I did start a build thread for this somewhere on here but, I'll be honest, I was cross-posting on a couple of forums and it became a bit tiresome. The full thread is here (but you'll have to register): www.northloop.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?54432-Findlay-has-achieved-hero-staus
This is possibly the UK's most famous Subaru MV284. In a flurry of media interest it was on Sky News (live, and no I didn't correct him for calling it a Schoobaroo), Pistonheads (TWICE!)The Sun, Daily Record, eBay and STV news. Why? Well, I bought it on eBay and then had to work out how to get it from Whitstable (which is in Kent, who knew?) to my home in Kintore. In short it was relayed up by a few mates who all did short legs to get it here. It cost me £30 in fuel.
Proof? I'll give you proof!
www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/424425/car-fanatic-gets-new-motor-from-kent-to-aberdeen-using-chain-of-volunteer-drivers-for-just-30/
www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/motoring/aberdeen-man-thanks-volunteers-drive-9611488
www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-carpool/ph-carpool-subaru-brat/35588
www.facebook.com/789645004416940/videos/1177463428968427/
www.ebay.co.uk/gds/9-volunteers-drove-the-truck-i-bought-on-ebay-to-my-home-in-aberdeen/58dd2da3cd22e4083e05edc2/g.html?roken=cUgayN
Now, yes I know that this doesn't actually ad any "value" to the truck but it's a fun tale. Like most of your rides on here you end up talking to EVERYONE. And it's not just blokes, either. It's like a Japanese Herbie, people LOVE it.
Loads of pictures of it on my twitter. I'm @throttlesteerer
Anyway, more about the truck itself. I've owned it for just over 18 months and it's had more owners than Paris Hilton has had bed buddies. In my ownership it's had stuff lavished on it. A re-cored radiator, the fuel tank stripped, holes fixed, painted, undersealed, a new exhaust centre section, new OSR wheel bearing, a full fluids change (although the oil is a very slow self-changing type). I've bough spares where I can, I've replaced the genuinely awful seats with re-covered originals, it's had the entire load bed LineX'd. The underside had been undersealed with thick black brush on underseal (more about that in a minute). I've spent just shy of £3k on it this year (most of that with the bodyshop who painted a LOT more than I told them to).
It has been beautifully reliable (aside from when it wouldn't run after being in the spray booth and the fuel completely evaporated from the Carb). It has driven faultlessly and gave me one of my most memorable ever drives earlier this year crossing an untreated mountain road. It's as fast as you'd expect it to be, all rip-snorting 70ish bhp from the flat 4. Typically Japanese. Starts first time. Everything in the engine bay is accessible. Screws that haven't moved in 24 years come out with ease. The 4wd works, in both high and low range. Clutch bites perfectly. If you get this stuck it's absolutely NOT the truck's fault.
Spares to go with the truck:
Fibreglass canopy (aka the Turdle shell)
4 original wheels (my plan was to band them an inch)
4 wheel centres, rarer then rocking unicorn poo.
Dizzy & HTs
3 maintenance manuals
Driver's seat squab (the one fitted can occasionally feel a bit saggy)
Driver & passenger seat rails
Scuttle panel (also uber rare but you're getting two rot-free scuttles)
Door mechanisims
Air filter
There's more stuff in the garage but that's what I can remember.
Condition wise it's a bit of a mixed bag. The front wings have been glassed, the interior is fantastic (original radio cassette, no missing trim, no squeaks or rattles, only a small crack in the driver's footwell mat), the exterior is brutally honest overall but clean, free from problematic rust areas and "some" red.
Across in Subaru land there's a common expression. "They all do that, Sir". It spent 3 months off the road having welding done, part time, by my mate Iain who lurks on here. The rear axle mounting ponts are common for these to go and, while the rest of the underside is remarkably clean and solid, the axle mounting points were absolutely buggered. Iain cut out everything and re-made the mount points from far heavier gauge steel. It's been done to last (and if you care to check the MOT history you'll see that there sin't even and advisory for corrosion anywhere. We (Ha!, when I say we, I really mean Iain) didn't mess about and I'm confident that, given how sound the mechanicals are, the body now should see another 20-odd years. It's specifically why I had the load bed LineX'd. It was fresh as a daisy above and below and I wanted to keep it that way.
Now it has done just over 84k miles and I fully believe that to be genuine. It's MOTd until November. I had no intention to sell but I have a stronger emotional attachment to the old MG I'm away to start looking after.
Y'all want some pitchers, right? M'kay then here's the trucklet.
Stance by garden centre-ing.
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I can't guarantee to be on here that often but you can email me: fl@missionmotorsport.org or call my mobile 07921623453
I'm ideally looking for a straight sale or, if you want to p/ex your car needs to be priced that I can sell it. I can't meet half way (unless you're in Aberdeen) as my work and family commitments restrict me from travelling too far. Happy to answer questions.
Overall, if you're looking for a reliable, hard working, solid Brat then look no further. There's no gremlins to be found here. It wants for nothing, it has been cherished and, most importantly, it's cool and everyone loves it.
Thanks for reading,
Findlay
I did start a build thread for this somewhere on here but, I'll be honest, I was cross-posting on a couple of forums and it became a bit tiresome. The full thread is here (but you'll have to register): www.northloop.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?54432-Findlay-has-achieved-hero-staus
This is possibly the UK's most famous Subaru MV284. In a flurry of media interest it was on Sky News (live, and no I didn't correct him for calling it a Schoobaroo), Pistonheads (TWICE!)The Sun, Daily Record, eBay and STV news. Why? Well, I bought it on eBay and then had to work out how to get it from Whitstable (which is in Kent, who knew?) to my home in Kintore. In short it was relayed up by a few mates who all did short legs to get it here. It cost me £30 in fuel.
Proof? I'll give you proof!
www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/424425/car-fanatic-gets-new-motor-from-kent-to-aberdeen-using-chain-of-volunteer-drivers-for-just-30/
www.dailyrecord.co.uk/lifestyle/motoring/aberdeen-man-thanks-volunteers-drive-9611488
www.pistonheads.com/regulars/ph-carpool/ph-carpool-subaru-brat/35588
www.facebook.com/789645004416940/videos/1177463428968427/
www.ebay.co.uk/gds/9-volunteers-drove-the-truck-i-bought-on-ebay-to-my-home-in-aberdeen/58dd2da3cd22e4083e05edc2/g.html?roken=cUgayN
Now, yes I know that this doesn't actually ad any "value" to the truck but it's a fun tale. Like most of your rides on here you end up talking to EVERYONE. And it's not just blokes, either. It's like a Japanese Herbie, people LOVE it.
Loads of pictures of it on my twitter. I'm @throttlesteerer
Anyway, more about the truck itself. I've owned it for just over 18 months and it's had more owners than Paris Hilton has had bed buddies. In my ownership it's had stuff lavished on it. A re-cored radiator, the fuel tank stripped, holes fixed, painted, undersealed, a new exhaust centre section, new OSR wheel bearing, a full fluids change (although the oil is a very slow self-changing type). I've bough spares where I can, I've replaced the genuinely awful seats with re-covered originals, it's had the entire load bed LineX'd. The underside had been undersealed with thick black brush on underseal (more about that in a minute). I've spent just shy of £3k on it this year (most of that with the bodyshop who painted a LOT more than I told them to).
It has been beautifully reliable (aside from when it wouldn't run after being in the spray booth and the fuel completely evaporated from the Carb). It has driven faultlessly and gave me one of my most memorable ever drives earlier this year crossing an untreated mountain road. It's as fast as you'd expect it to be, all rip-snorting 70ish bhp from the flat 4. Typically Japanese. Starts first time. Everything in the engine bay is accessible. Screws that haven't moved in 24 years come out with ease. The 4wd works, in both high and low range. Clutch bites perfectly. If you get this stuck it's absolutely NOT the truck's fault.
Spares to go with the truck:
Fibreglass canopy (aka the Turdle shell)
4 original wheels (my plan was to band them an inch)
4 wheel centres, rarer then rocking unicorn poo.
Dizzy & HTs
3 maintenance manuals
Driver's seat squab (the one fitted can occasionally feel a bit saggy)
Driver & passenger seat rails
Scuttle panel (also uber rare but you're getting two rot-free scuttles)
Door mechanisims
Air filter
There's more stuff in the garage but that's what I can remember.
Condition wise it's a bit of a mixed bag. The front wings have been glassed, the interior is fantastic (original radio cassette, no missing trim, no squeaks or rattles, only a small crack in the driver's footwell mat), the exterior is brutally honest overall but clean, free from problematic rust areas and "some" red.
Across in Subaru land there's a common expression. "They all do that, Sir". It spent 3 months off the road having welding done, part time, by my mate Iain who lurks on here. The rear axle mounting ponts are common for these to go and, while the rest of the underside is remarkably clean and solid, the axle mounting points were absolutely buggered. Iain cut out everything and re-made the mount points from far heavier gauge steel. It's been done to last (and if you care to check the MOT history you'll see that there sin't even and advisory for corrosion anywhere. We (Ha!, when I say we, I really mean Iain) didn't mess about and I'm confident that, given how sound the mechanicals are, the body now should see another 20-odd years. It's specifically why I had the load bed LineX'd. It was fresh as a daisy above and below and I wanted to keep it that way.
Now it has done just over 84k miles and I fully believe that to be genuine. It's MOTd until November. I had no intention to sell but I have a stronger emotional attachment to the old MG I'm away to start looking after.
Y'all want some pitchers, right? M'kay then here's the trucklet.
Stance by garden centre-ing.
I'm ideally looking for a straight sale or, if you want to p/ex your car needs to be priced that I can sell it. I can't meet half way (unless you're in Aberdeen) as my work and family commitments restrict me from travelling too far. Happy to answer questions.
Overall, if you're looking for a reliable, hard working, solid Brat then look no further. There's no gremlins to be found here. It wants for nothing, it has been cherished and, most importantly, it's cool and everyone loves it.
Thanks for reading,
Findlay
