Sun shines on the Six

Took the E-type out for the MOT and Service - and to get the coolant leak looked at.

The sun shone and I photographed it on the drive with the AE-1.

This is from the 70D obv. Let's see what the b/w one looks like in a month.

Not that bad for a 50 year old car shot with a 40 year old camera.

Mk7 in the rain

Just a lift - dreary day.

MK7 back

Tried to drive gently and seem to success, but speed bumps everywhere an 20mph roads mean it's just not fun in London at all.

Taxi 2 car O

Just by walk, Tube, Tube, Train, Taxi - then - Taxi, Train, Tube, Tube and walk back.

G2L

Took Mk7 down to London through the bad traffic.

Really jerky ride with the auto-shut-down and re-start.

Tiger Tiger Burning Bright ?

Well at least one Tiger turned up... driven by a nice chap who had had the car for 20+ years.

It was a meeting called by a Tiger club member who wanted to foster more Rootes owners meeting up in the area.

Quite a mix of  owners - two of us Alpine boys, most had Tigers and others with much older Rootes vehicles - some went back to the 1920's in fact - as did the owners.

I felt the some were more likely to be repairing their chain-gang Nash at the side of the road than having a genteel pick-nick beside their nicely polished Alpines.

I saw myself reflected in them in 20 years time - and quite liked it !

I did learn that Thrupp and Maberly were part of the Rootes empire. They were bought in 1925, being used to body cars of the group - mainly top of the range Humbers - up to it's closure in 1968.

Hopefully a few will venture to the Alpine National this year.

Spring for the Six ?

Warmed the E-type up and ran around the block and a bit more. Surprised just how well it went.

There was a s bit of cooling water on the floor so definitely got a small leak somewhere but very little oil. It's been in there unused for just over three months so not bad at all.

Earlier Aero run for jobs as well as sun came out.

E-Type and Ferrari then put back in their protective bubbles as the weather is turning back to Winter but Spring is showing - so will need to get the Jaguar serviced and MOT'd asap when it warms up again.

Alpine time again

120 miles for an Alpine lunch.

 

 

Four cars including us was a good turnout for mid February. On the way back the hardtop catch came loose which was a bit annoying. Easy fix though.

 



Eight Escape

Got the Ferrari out of the bubble. Started fine after a long slow warm up with the fan heater.

Re-balanced the tyres and it went well with just a slight hesitation as it was warming through.

Then decided late t take the Aston out too. Upped the anti to 12 cylinders.

A tale of two Golfs

MK2 down to the boat - with the MK7 in convoy - then into town in the sunshine.

Late SAAB jaunt as well.

Swapsy's

Caterham to shops and out and about. Quite warm too for February.

Then Alpine out of the bubble - warmed up for an hour with the fan heater. Started first time - what a bit of heat will do.

Seems to have dropped a bit of oil/fluid on the floor though. Might need the brakes looking at come MOT time.

Swapped them around to use the Alpine on Sunday - weather permitting. So Seven into the bubble now.

Noticed the colours - RED - WHITE - YELLOW and GREEN.

More SAAB stuff

Another 70 miles in the modern. Mainly due to dreary weather.

Grabbed the chance

Caterham into town and off into the countryside.

The only downside is that its muddy again now.

Monday Sun but ...

Had to go to London on an errand so just a ride in the Mk7 to and from the train station.

Friday Saturday Sunday

Three days with Aero doing jobs and nothing else.

Looks better for next week so I'll try to spring a car.

G2R

Golf to boat in the cold - only 2 deg - for jobs.

Mid week blues

Tuesday - rain and Aero

Wednesday - nothing

Whashing away the grime

Time for the Caterham to get washed today. Not quite sunny but not too cold.

Mind you the blast late pm was a bit chillier than I'd expected.

Oh and something dark lured behind - that needs a wash too.

Cover up

Put the cover back on the Mk2. That was all.

Back to dreary days

Almost washed the Caterham. Too dull to contemplate.

Then Aero for jobs that's all.

Salt gone let's play

Started with a long overdue wash of the Mk2 by hand. And a vacuum.

So it was clean inside and out - even the rust looked better.

Took it for a drive on the dry (bit still a bit shitty) roads and went fine. Not lost water either so need to monitor it.

SAAB next so I treated it (and me) and got it washed in town. Even that look 100% better. Although you then see the knocks and scratches.

Then decided the Alpine could be exhumed into the afternoon sun. 30 mins later and lots of car cleaner down the carbs I got it started. Bloody long time and the fuel had probably got a bit damp (it was very low) and I probably flooded the plugs after 20 tries. So had to bump start it from the SAAB with more cleaner. Oh and forgot to put the carb air filters back on properly before I put it away.
Damm.

Went well after that with a requisite clearing of the plugs along the way.

Then rain returned so I tucked it back into the bubble again.

Rain so salt going

Got the MK2 out for a run in the drizzle and the muck on the roads. It needs wash really badly and it's not even as clean as the picture makes it look.

Looked forlorn in the car park and it's loosing water - might be from the top hose as it is becoming stained there - so I will investigate.