Bubbling along

Moved the Alpine into the outdoor bubble and then the Caterham into its slot.

I was going to go for a run but then again...

Did the mileage and we've only done 200 or so miles this month in the fleet. Not a lot really.

Out in the rain

SAAB to Abbotts for the MOT etc. first thing - wipers on.

The ride back in the Mk7.

The Mk2 out and about to the bank - again in the rain. Ran well despite the weather.

When putting the battery charge back on I noticed an oil leak on the cam cover, but then I also noticed there was no clip holding it on ?

Another ride

Mk7 passenger again to the shops.

Then noticed the front nearside tire was a bit flat on the SAAB - just a few lbs - but needed pumping up. Quite dull day really as the weather turns bad now.

Just sitting down

A storm in the morning stopped any thoughts of car events - they are now later in the season too

So just a passenger ride in the Mk7. Very dirty inside of the windscreen.

Barrels of fun

SAAB pressed into use to take rubbish down the dump - including a rusty 200l barrel.

Not a lot

Dull-ish day so pottering and home jobs. No car action.

What signs ?

Roadworks were set up outside the house (again) with the barrier being just at out entrance.

Seems no one believed the signs though so lots of cars just arrived - looked surprised they could not go through and turned around in the drive. As this ice Mini did.

Then took the E-type out for a test run for the fan. Yes it cut in as normal as the car warmed up after a long 'spirited' run and then sitting in traffic and cooled it down easily. Odd. I also tested it when I got home and it worked fine.

Red and Green (and Yellow)

Golf Mk2 out for jobs after heating it up. Matting to the Allotment.

Then round the block - nice run - no buzzing at all this time.

Put up the first bubble too.

Then Caterham out and the long way round to the shops. Hoovered the spiders out first then a good run and parked it back in the garage.

Looked small in the car park.

Red on Red

I was supposed to fit the carb heat shields but it said drain all the fuel  - which I did not want to do at this time.

Not sure why but I was hesitant to take the Alpine out though as the sun shone.

It went well and after it had warmed up - although it did pop and bang a bit on the over-run.

Nice red-on-red shot too as we got back.

Beep Beep Beep Beep

Four beeps had been coming from the garage door for a while and today it just stopped - the lights telling to to change the batteries were now dead.

Well I took the E-type out into the sunshine anyway and to the shops - but it was very busy as it's half term - and the shops were full of mums in 4x4s. The temperature gauge want above normal as I queued to get out and I did not notice the fan noise - have to check that. Anyway the car cooled down quickly one we were running.

Never mind I replaced the batteries and it all works again.

Dump and bits

SAAB to dump and then work jobs. Nice sunset but too late to take advantage.

Full SAAB again

Collected wood for Oli in the morning ...

... and then stuff for the dump in the afternoon - so off to the dump tomorrow.

Just local runs - and a memory

Found myself thinking about the E-type and the cost. So I found the original adverts. Seemed they dropped the price by £5k.

Then SAAB to Harkstead and not even tools on board.

Banking on Autumn

Aston out in the late sunshine to the bank. Noticed the leaves were starting to collect again on the drive - and in the air intake too.

Good to be on the Winter wheels again though.

20 Feet

I moved the SAAB back a few feet and that was that. Spent the morning cleaning the house though - like detailing on a grand scale.

I did make a mount for the E-type RBD decal I get last month though and hung it up.

Big boy back

Started with a lift to the station in the Mk7 and then down to Grange on the train to pick up the Aston.

Wheels, alarm and paintwork done. It looked great although I realised it was there a month - I dropped it off mid September.

While I was there I had a look at a couple of new cars too. A teal blue BD11 which looked very tempting.

The new DBS Superleggera (a snip at £220k+ and then add options) was a nice bruiser too - but very big - not super light at all really. In red it loos like the V12 Zagato.

Then took a trip home via Grimaldi to chat to them - they will keep the Ferrari until early November for the alarm fitting. Oh well gives me time to get the garage ready.

Then a afternoon run in the E-type in the late sun. Very nice too.

Back with a bang - or two

More packing and then off to the port.

The car was very heavy though. A boot packed with the wine plus all the beer will do that.

As we were on the motorway to the port there was a large explosion - a gun shop probably - that went off next to us. It sounded like a tyre but the steering was still fine. I slowed down though.

We filled up with a bit more wine on the ferry though - just in case we can't ever go back to France.

Luckily we were chocked on the boat as we were just getting heavier.

Then on the run home as we joined the M25 there was another bang - and the noise of a bit falling off and hitting the underside of the car. It felt lumpy this time so I slowed again. We stopped at the services but nothing looked flat.

Perhaps it is just the state of the roads. I'll check the car when it is unloaded.

Packing up again

SAAB to shops for bread Sunday morning but then packing in the rain - of course.

Mainly wine of course.

Fleeting Glimpse

Waved the three off and then went to the coast after lunch and spotted a nice Traction Avant wizzing past us.

SAAB sat resolutely in the warm October sunshine.

Slacking off again

Another slow day resting. Just SAAB trip for bread and final shopping.

Slow day

A bit of SAAB shopping but not much else.

Now for the small cars

SAAB into Dinan and spotted this in the car park - an Aixam Coupe GTI. Their website says 'Since November 2014, legislation has authorised driving of light four-wheel vehicles from the age of 14. You need to get the AM licence from a driving school first.'

This GTi looked the part though.

Then when we got back there was a Ligier JS50 DCi microcar that took our space - easily. Again from their website it's a tiny Diesel. 'Manufactured by Lombardini, this diesel engine benefits from technical characteristics that are used as standard in the automotive industry: dual balancing shafts, head cam shaft, high pressure Common Rail electronic injection, tilted engine block to lower the centre of gravity, aluminium block to reduce weight...' Well.

Later that evening I also spotted a much older version of the small car in town. The 2CV.

Size obviously matters

Drive to Mont St Michel, which is now a giant car park and bus ride or 20 minute walk away.

The price of fame. The bus did have two front ends though. The driver just walked from one to the other rather than turn around.

In the car park Oli pointed out the car sizes and yes - this snap seems to shows that the A3 is no smaller than the SAAB. Well at 12 Euros you needed to do something to make use of the car park.

When we got to there they did have a very impressive vehicle parked outside though - assumed it was for the mud - looking like something from an old Thunderbirds episode.

Slow Slow Slow

SAAB to the canal about an hour away and then a walk by the locks.

Yes it was as tranquil as it looked and no traffic passed us to even make some ripples.

More shoping

Large shop for us now Oli Lucy and James have arrived - and then collected the washing machine. Another SAAB load.

Went to St Malo in the afternoon for a walk and spotted this small car peeping out.

Just Bread

SAAB to shops for bread then cleaning the house.

Off shopping again

SAAB loaded up with a new dishwasher - to replace the broken one we found at the house.

Plumbed it in and then down the dump in the afternoon - usual vacation stuff.

Using the space up

Added six cases of wine on the ferry - so SAAB now full.

Off we go

SAAB to Portsmouth - via RHS Wisley.

Balance of the packing done as the rain threatened.

Still room to add to it though.

Spotted this VW 1600 (Type 3) at the port from the mix 1960s.

Packing Packing always Packing

SAAB loaded up for the run tot France tomorrow.

Seats down to get in the wood and kindling - the usual holiday fare.

However quite easy as there was lots of space.

Late Run

After a dull day with pockets of rain imminent the late pm looked fine - so I managed to get my act together.

So I thought I'd run the E-Type round the block. Then switched to the Caterham as I needed to move the Mk7 to get the Jag out.

Then in the end as I needed to move boxes I risked pressing the Alpine into service. Well, it ran well there and then round the block too.

Well, for a 58 year old car it did fine.

Another space in the grage

Today's job was to take the Ferrari to Grimaldi's.

Good run across Essex in the sunshine - although the road is a bit torturous.

As usual there were some great cars in there - together with a very wide very yellow Testerossa.