Springing out

SAAB for short run then -type in the evening sun.

It does feel a bit like spring is in the air.

More sunny runs

Aston out to the shops first thing - sunshine and saving the planet. Does it look a bit odd with the boot open.

Then set the tyre pressures on the Ferrari. Still very clean from storage.

Alpine out to collect James from the station - got a nice look.

Then E-Type out around the block for a late run - and got a thumbs-up.

So a full day.

Exhume, Clean and Run(s)

Started the day by putting the fan heater on to warm the Ferrari for a few hours - so it could be released from the bubble.

Then went to vacuum out the Mk2. Also decided to try to fix the back parcel shelf - it has lost both fixings and has warped as well. So I braced it with a sturdy bar across the underside using two conveniently placed holes. I then stuck two simple 'L' shaped brackets for it to sit in that I has also sprayed black. We'll see how it gets on.

Then freed the 308. It started fine after getting the fuel though. Packed away the bubble and went to put the car away. Would not start - seemed to be the ignition not wanting to work. So turned the alarm on and off and it fired first time. Umm... Still need to drop the tyre pressures and check the fluids - oh and buy tax.

The decided to wash the Mk2. And gave it a bit of polish too. Then took it on a run down to the marina.

Then in the afternoon I took it out for a photo-shoot at Woolverstone to test the new cameras. Chaps liked it as they passed but spotted the rust.

Finally a E-Type run as the afternoon faded. It is not summer yet as the exhaust will testify.

Sticking with the Mk7

Golf into Colchester again - and then out in the evening. This could become a habit.

SAAB down to the boat though for a quick job in the afternoon sunshine.

A tale of 2 Golfs

Mk2 into town first thing for job.

Then stole the Mk7 for a run into Colchester - cheating really using the auto - but it made the traffic bearable.

Noticed the damp patch under the Caterham is getting slightly bigger too - so I'd better investigate.

Twin dials - single spot - and limits

Well Aero passed 120k miles yesterday and the Aston has done more than 20k now. I sort of noticed when I took it out for a run and petrol.

Also noticed the water leak from the Caterham is quite evident. This is after 2 days - so I'd better investigate soon.

Oh and the EU had announced all new cars after 2022 will have devices to limit their speed using GPS etc. and to slow then when entering slower speed zones. They will also be fitted with full data recorders (black boxes). So things will be changing and hopefully getting safer.

Twin Swedes

SAAB to the boat - and one of them is very clean and polished.

Only it's not the SAAB - but it is on the list.

Loading up

Got the SAAB ready to work on the boat. Ladders on the roof and all tied on.

The a twilight Seven run. Snug and warm. Nice to be out in the setting sun with the lights on.

Three sunny runs

Alpine out for a sunny run - if a bit colder than I thought as I misjudged the sunshine.

To be followed by the E-type - nice to see them together and the Alpine looks just a large.

A new rattle - seemed to be the dashboard light I 'fixed' yesterday so I jiggled it again. 50l of Super unleaded in the tank later we're back.

Then the Golf Mk2 just for a shop run.

Old car to see old pics

Took the E-type up to Wickham Market to see the exhibition of George Thomas Rope (1846-1929) in the gallery run by one of the Tiger group (Jon Day) and not a car between them.

It looked quite small in the car park too - that monster is a ... Mini.

Got a thumbs up on the way too from a chap in a lowered/hotted up 'thing'.

Roll them out

Mk2 to the shops to celebrate the new MOT. Is it an age thing or are Porsche's growing on me ?

When I got home I remembered I'd forgotten to get the petrol. So I went out again later.

Then as the sun came out I ran the E-type around the block again - at about 25 mph due to a slow driver for half of the route. Ho hum.

Oh and it needs a good clean - but so do the rest.

Jaguar out too

Afternoon run in the 'rattly' jag. Dull day though with rain threatening as I warmed her up.

Seemed go fine - better once warmed up and up to speed. So after a loop of the normal run I decided to chance the long trip across the bridge and treated Screwfix to a visit.

Almost Gazumped - and good news

Thought I'd clean the next bubble and see of the E-type battery was dead as well. Moved the Alpine and then cleaned the bubble. I then heated the car up ready to test ...

It started fine - although the fuel was backed up a bit so it needed churning. Then took it on a short pre-shakedown run after re-setting the tyres. Odd spot of rain on the bonnet when I got back.

Dithered about what to take out in the afternoon - thinking E-type but opted for the Caterham. That started first time - and rewarded me with a good run although I'd forgotten how 'direct' the steering is. I got back just as the sky darkened.

Rain in the air when I wanted to take the Jaguar out later - so I left it for tomorrow.

Then the garage phoned to say the Mk2 had passed the MOT and the squeal was a worn belt - the pump seemed fine. Oh and the same advisories as last year.

Up and running - almost

Early morning run to the garage in the Mk2 for the MOT - and to get the power steering looked at.

Then Aston to the shops - and spotted this on the crossing.

Turned out to be a Lenham Healey - fiberglass body and Austin Healey 3000 mechanics.

In the afternoon I tried to start the Seven - dead as ever. So went and bought a new battery and she fired up immediately. However, by then the rain had started so no trail run today.

Red, White and Yellow

Time to exhume the Seven from the bubble.

Turns out that it had lost a lot of fluid under over the four months in the bubble.

I topped up with 3.25 pts of mix but not sure how much it was down beforehand as it leaks a bit anyway. Cleaned it up and checked the oil too - hardly any drop which was encouraging. So time to start her up.

Problem: it did not seem to have any power in the battery - I was worried that with the bubble off it had killed the battery. However after a quick boost it started without any trouble - so might have been an aberration after the months of inactivity and cold.

Let it run and stopped and started it several times and it seemed to start fine. I thought I'd go for a run as it was sunny but decided to let it charge and take the Mk2 our instead.

Good call. As I got to Oli's the hail came down heavily - twice !

So I put the cover on and left the Seven charging and will check again Monday.

Three cars uncovered - Red, White and Yellow / Green. How big is that UP!

Popping out

SAAB in the wind up the road...

Utility run

Dull very windy day.

Picked Jana up from the station late in the evening - SAAB on cab-duties.

Rocket Ship

Picked up SAAB after a deluge leaving the roads flooded so I did not really 'test' the improvements.

If there really are any - I think I have a Stainless steel tubular manifold - with less back pressure.

On the evening run to the Rootes Club meeting it seemed to rev better - but it could just be psychological.

Nice though.

More Bridge Chaos

Chaos as the Orwell Bridge was closed again due to storm force winds so Ipswich was gridlocked.

So that's me and the Mk7 dropping Jana at Stowmarket station to catch the train to Peterborough.

I'll probably not unpack the bubbles today then.

SAAB in

SAAB to Abbotts to get the exhaust fixed - chose to fit a better performance part as well just to reward the car.

They had a brace of XJS and Classic SAABs in for work too.

Sleeping on the job ?

Started by unloading the SAAB - it needs a clean badly but as there is another storm coming it will have to wait.

I cleaned the outdoor bubble instead as planned. I got three very dirty buckets of water in return - not sure how it got so dirty and I still have to do the base.

Then I dithered about taking the Alpine out as the weather was brewing but I did anyway. I was rewarded by a good run in the bright spring sunshine.

The car seemed to get better as I drove it (in return I gave it a proper thrash) but on the back strait doing about 60 mph near Tattingstone I suddenly spotted a small red mattress in the road !

I braked very hard and the car slew a bit to the left so I backed off but as there was a car coming towards me I had no choice but to run over it. It was soft and I passed without incident and stopped a bit shaken in the farm lay by for a photo.

As I left a truck tooted me - which was odd so I stopped and had a look - a mattress had just appeared from under the car - I'd obviously got it snagged on the underside when I ran over it. If you look closely at the photo above you can see it.

I'll have to investigate the underside of the car to look for damage - or marvel about how clean it is now anyway.

Back to work

SAAB to London - with very 'fruity' exhaust note - to see James. Wind had closed the Dartford bridge so we took the northern route - which was complex but fine with a navigator.

Found somewhere to park by the football pitch too despite the warning signs.

Noticed that the ULEZ (ultra low emission zone) signs have gone up now - same area as the charging zone, but there are plans to extend it. That will costs the Golf Mk2 £12.50 to drive to the flat when it does.

Came back stuffed with various things from James - business as usual for the Swede.

Short step - but busy day

Fitted the filters to the Alpine carbs. Seemed to make the running worse when I started it up...

Then Aston to the shops for a longer run in the sun (and strong wind).

Eventually decided to take the Alpine out and for a short run and it was fine. Odd.

Finished off with a short run in the Golf to the allotment. Also running well - squeal not included.

Alpine's turn

Started the heater at 7:30 am and left it for three hours.

The car rewarded me by starting after a few tries - mainly it's the petrol backing out of the pipe.

I let it run for a while and it settled down well, although I did notice the throttle linkage is bumping on the carb - I'll have to investigate that.

Next please

Golf Mk2 up and running after a warm.

Round the block and going nicely - still squeals badly though so I'll invest in the fix with the MOT.

Look how big the UP! looks too.

Dull day again

Rain - so stayed in and played with the NZ pics.

Aston first

Decided to start working my way through the toys.

Aston first - after an hour of the blow heater to help thin the oil. I'm not sure Mobil 1 actually needs that but it made me feel better.

Short recycling hop to get back to a manual car. Oh and the indicators on the 'correct' side.

Then SAAB to Harkstead - yes blowing nicely. So booked it in next week.

Recovery Day

Day in looking at photos and getting my head around being back.

Short hop in the SAAB to the local shop. Still noisy.

Letting the plane etc. take the strain

We landed early Sunday morning and then took the coach to Ipswich - which worked well.

That completed our extensive mix of vehicles over the last month.

So for NZ we took:

Lift to train station (VW Polo)
Train
Tube
Lift from/to tube station (Audi A3)
Tube
Plane (Airbus 777)
Bus
Catamaran 1
Catamaran 2
Hire car (Toyota Corola)
Funicular railway
Ferry
Sea Plane
Catamaran 3
Small ship (Milford Sound)
Train
Lift from/to train/Airport (Subaru)
Cable Car
Plane (Airbus A320-200)
Plane (Airbus 777)
Coach
Lift home (VW Pasat)


You could always add the travelators and the odd lift too.