For the first time in what feels like years I actually have some time to spend on one of my cars. I don't mean regular fettling of something that is on the road, I mean long term let's drag this in and not stop until it's fixed sort of stuff. The weather is getting better, I'm feeling better than I have for a long while and recent events (HKP. Makes me realize we don't necessarily have time to leave it until later) make me more determined to do something serious but fun this year.
Problem is, I can't choose. You could say I have too many cars to choose from, I'd say you are on the wrong forum then. Out of 6 "projects" I have narrowed down to two vehicles. I have owned both for over 5 years, I have had both on the road previously, and I can't see me selling either one ever. They are also both rarer than a rare thing, and stored outside (and suffering) so you can see my dilemma. Which one do I fix first? I have all the parts needed to fix both.
So, the contenders...
1972 Cortina 2000GXL (2 door)
I always promised myself I'd have a 2 door mk3 one day, and that day came about 5 years ago. I ran it with a pinto for about a year and a half before taking it off the road in favour of the mk2 zetec with the intention of fitting a 2.0 zetec and sorting out the rotten bits (roof, door pillar, lots of cosmetics). I got halfway through the zetec job, and fixed the roof and pillar rot about a year ago, but no real progress for ages, and it's staring to get moss growing on it. btw, still has a SVO plate reading "black paint"
1979 Bedford Chevanne
7 years now, and I've already restored this van twice.... What can i say, it's a 70's vauxhall! hahaha....
Seriously though, I don't know what it is about this little van, it's like an old mongrel dog. Not particularly good at anything, but faithful and full of character. Last used june 2009 because the gearbox blew up (and the springs and shocks were on their last legs, and the bulkhead leaks in water) has been parked up since making puppy eyes at me and breaking out in fresh rust scabs every time I look. I even found a gearbox (which I didn't think I had) in the shed the other day, so there is no excuse.
So which one? And why?
Problem is, I can't choose. You could say I have too many cars to choose from, I'd say you are on the wrong forum then. Out of 6 "projects" I have narrowed down to two vehicles. I have owned both for over 5 years, I have had both on the road previously, and I can't see me selling either one ever. They are also both rarer than a rare thing, and stored outside (and suffering) so you can see my dilemma. Which one do I fix first? I have all the parts needed to fix both.
So, the contenders...
1972 Cortina 2000GXL (2 door)
I always promised myself I'd have a 2 door mk3 one day, and that day came about 5 years ago. I ran it with a pinto for about a year and a half before taking it off the road in favour of the mk2 zetec with the intention of fitting a 2.0 zetec and sorting out the rotten bits (roof, door pillar, lots of cosmetics). I got halfway through the zetec job, and fixed the roof and pillar rot about a year ago, but no real progress for ages, and it's staring to get moss growing on it. btw, still has a SVO plate reading "black paint"
1979 Bedford Chevanne
7 years now, and I've already restored this van twice.... What can i say, it's a 70's vauxhall! hahaha....
Seriously though, I don't know what it is about this little van, it's like an old mongrel dog. Not particularly good at anything, but faithful and full of character. Last used june 2009 because the gearbox blew up (and the springs and shocks were on their last legs, and the bulkhead leaks in water) has been parked up since making puppy eyes at me and breaking out in fresh rust scabs every time I look. I even found a gearbox (which I didn't think I had) in the shed the other day, so there is no excuse.
So which one? And why?
