Is it wrong......

[Lewis]

I think I'm coming back to "proper" retro cars. Is it wrong that I'm now bored of my 3 series and want to sell that on, and use this as a daily instead?



Discuss

The 3 series is a great machine but I don't feel there's much I can do to it and I don't feel the need to alter it (partly because I think that'd damage its "value" as it's as it left the factory and quite a rare specification). I do enjoy driving it but it's a bit of a love-hate relationship as well, there's not really much I can do with, or to, it. You have to really push on and it begs to be driven hard, by which point you're really getting outside the limits of sensible road use.

I suspect a few mods would be required for optimum daily useage like electronic ignition, better filters, a check over and tune and I really think it needs 15" SD1 alloys (the mesh-style ones) as at the moment it's got small SD1 alloys on it that don't suit it.

And police spoilers.

And a few less silencers.

And a 4-barrel carb.

And an Autometer tach....

......and..........

Oh god, it's starting all over again! I don't know what it is, I always feel slightly at odds with the 3 series yet anything 70s I feel right at home in and find very easy to drive!

Tax exempt too!

Apologies for the mini non-sensical rant. Damn you street and your gasser project (mind you, did test drive one of these a year ago and I think it's stuck....).

[alolympic]

I saw a few of these at Bromley show and I must admit they took me back. They have a real presence, the V8's especially. They are a great shape, lovely interior bolt on panels and your favourite engine
I think they are appreciated by a real wide range of people.
I can't believe they are not more sought after.
If I wasn't on my small and light thing, I would have gone for one of these.
Do it!

[chrissyb]

I like my 70's cars too but I've got to that age where I don't want to fart around fixing things all the time....

[Davenger]

Nothing wrong with that.
Get it done fella

[PandaSelecta]

All i can say is BUY IT, so i think my opinion is pretty clear

[Lewis]

Buy it, it's sat outside already so that's covered Just musing over commiting to using it...

They seem pretty well over-engineered and this one's had a fair bit of care so I can't forsee it giving too much grief, especially if I take account of things like the fuelling and ignition pretty well. It's an auto too and the same box I had (I think) in my Dolomites - works really well. Performance and practicality mods will be the key - like remote central locking maybe...

I mean, it has TWO gloveboxes. TWO!

Some more pics:









Have to change the steering wheel too, way too thin and delicate for the ol' brute! Fortunately I found that Mountney are based down the road from where I live!

Nice big airy cabin too, unlike the 3 (although there is plenty of space in there too, it just feels more 'compact'...).

[BenzBoy]

70's *check*
Brown *check*
Leather *check*
V8 *check*

How can you not commit to that?! ;D

[mk14dr]

I too can't understand why these things don't comand a premium.
They really are all things to all men, yours looks like an especially nice example Lewis.
With some precautionary mods, like you say, leccy ignition and some undersealing, its got to make sense as a daily.
What are these like on fuel, in the real world?

[btc]

If my saab 93 currently on ebay sells that is exactly what i am looking for to use as a daily love those old p6 i would prefer a 2200tc or sc for economy reasons

[Lewis]

I dunno mk14, you'd probably average about 20? I don't think it'd be hard to eek more out of them though, with the appropriate mods and some aerodynamic tweaks - a little lower to the ground, some undertrays, a little nudge here and there. You can probably eek more out on a run and so on and so forth...

I haven't driven it on the road so can't comment on it really (just up and down the road, burning around ) but my Grandad who aimed it home said it rides really very well, lifts up its skirts easily and has nicely weighted steering. Really nice place to be.

I've always liked the 2200TC btc - I hear that a well set up one can just match the V8 auto in straight line 0-60 and they seem like bulletproof engines!

[akku]

I used to daily drive a P5B V8. Superb car. Go for it.

[dollywobbler]

Lewis - the 2200TCs are quick, but drink just as much fuel as a V8 and don't sound as nice. And you have to remove the head to adjust the valve clearances...

I see no reason to use it as a daily. I did the same thing myself a few years back. I was an IT support geek flitting to different sites in my wuffly old Rover. Loved it. Mind you, I needed IT pay to afford to fuel it as the average was 20mpg...

Trickier in the winter as these things do like to rot, but the sun's shining now, so enjoy!

[Lewis]

Yea, I think if I was going to use it through the winter I'd invest in some serious underbody protection so I don't have to worry about it Properly derusting (if necessary), undersealing and waxoiling the lot, for peace of mind.

[JonnySierra]

I think I'd leave the steering wheel alone and get some slot mags as a matter of urgency. Other than that, get rollin'.

[Lewis]

Slot mags.......I think Street's got that one covered! I was thinking:



......and maybe doing the lattice section gold-ish Pimp!

[Potter]

You know it makes sense chap!
And you've got a gorgeous example there so why leave it for highdays and holidays?

[bazzateer]

In the words of Nike, "Just do it!"

[Ed]

Sexual ;D

That's gorgeous!

[trigger]

Lewis, That's a WIN, WIN from me!.

If you can afford the running costs then why not?.

Although everything I see one I always think of Lock Stock when Vinnie Jones is slamming the door of the P6 against that blokes head!

I've seen a young lad lately in a cream one of these cruising the streets of Ipswich, Must try and get a snap of it.

[sowen]

Put the 15s on and roll it as your daily, well, I'm biased torwards 'em anyway ;D