Seven at last

I do feel I've been avoiding the Caterham this month. Too cold or just the faff with the cover.

Worked on the Alpine first thing then - the replacement light was rusted onto the screws so needed a lot of drilling etc. In the end I had to cut one plastic part out and try to re-create it in the German Super-Glue-plus-filler compound. Well see how I get on.

Then pm SAAB a run to the boat and a swift 2h shakedown sail.

Then the sun was still out so Mk7 to the garage for petrol for the boat and then Caterham down to the marina in the dying sunset.

Fine drive there, but on the way back the road was closed and the diversion took me through the small back roads across the peninsula. If that was not bad enough they had been resurfaced recently - I mean spray and pray and covered the roads with grit.

The April winner was the Alpine at almost 300 miles - if you don't count the Mk7 at almost 800.

2 x Utility runs

SAAB to boat to fir the mainsail - sun out but a cold wind blowing.

Then Alpine to water the allotment and fill up with petrol. Chap in the station could not believe it is almost 60 years old.

Mind you he did not have to drive it home.

Up from Kent

Met up with 6 Kent SAOC cars and 3 more EA ones at Audley End House. They even let us take a photo in front of the house.

The run there was good - Jana drove most of it too - even if the rain came down towards the end. The steering is a really bit 'wandery' and the suspension a bit 'bouncy' - we even bottomed out once. So both need doing. Oh and a tonneau peg ripped out ?

The run back was good too - easy route with a bit of A12, A120 but mostly fast sweeping smaller roads. Would be good in the E-type/Ferrari/Aston etc. and the Alpine once sorted.

Called in on Oli and family on the way back and the car still looked quite good if a but dirty.

Windy day again

Dull and windy day with rain on and off, so not a classic car day. However did take the Golf over the bridge for a run in the wind.

Parked to this other Golf (a Mk4 I think) it did not look that small either.

Then checked the oil/water and other fluids in the Alpine for the run tomorrow. All fine, although the water looked a bit muddy !

Bad Machine - but not mine

Collected Aston - the delay was the broken machine at Grange so they could not re-set the tyre pressure sensor. Looked nice sitting there.

Not sure how legal SH4NE's number plate was - but we were in Essex.

Great drive home including giving an old couple in a Derby Bentley a thumbs up.

Then short SAAB hop to end the day.

Grabbing a run

Short SAAB run in the pm after the rain had stopped and the sun was on its way out again.

Then in the dying sunshine decided the E-type needed a run.

Did not like the speed bumps and rattled a bit. One day what ever it is will break and I can find it.

Anyway looked good on the lawn at home too.

We have a problem with the Tyres Sir.

Aston down to Grange for the service and tyre swap at 7:00 am.

Looked the the graphite wheels for one last time for a while - I still like the look.

While there I had a look at a nice dark red DBS in the showroom - with an odd 'flat' badge - a snip at £200k too.

Then train to London, tube etc.

On the way back I was told they could not get the tyre pressure system to work - so I ended up coming back all the way by train. Complete with a Mk7 ride back from the station. A little disappointing but I'll watch out next time.

Oh and a new tyre inflation kit and wipers too - but they did pay for the taxi !

Red Out Too

SAAB early afternoon to the allotment. Seemed to be a sensible day.

Then took the 308 out too in the last of the sun. Chap at the village hall and a boy on a bike liked it.

Visitors

Nigel brought the Daimler first thing.

Then lots of cars on the drive at different times.

Then late evening run in the Mk2.

Just SAAB Shuffling

A couple of utility SAAB trips - about it.

A and C

Alpine to Felixstowe.

Then Caterham to Harkstead.

Several trips in the sun

What a difference a few days makes.

First late in the afternoon the Ferrari got a run - tried the air conditioning and it made a noise as if something was trapped in there - probably a leaf or something. Took me a while to find the fan unit, but I know where it is now.

Then Caterham out for a warm run.

and finally Alpine just up the road.

Pride before ...

Morning ok  - Aston out and parked next to a new Mustang at the shops.

Seemed bigger in real life too.

Then decided to play with the cars and try the picture of the fleet from above. But while arranging them on the drive I reserved into the bushes and hit a tree trunk - smashing the 'rare as hens-teeth' Alpine real light cluster.

I found most of the bits and spent the afternoon sticking it back together again - at least I fixed the missing bolt from the light cluster while I was at it. Not bad but needs replacing.

While working on it I also found the wing bottom full of loose rust ... This is just a small selection.

We did get an E-type run in too - to the boat and 2 chaps spent a lot of time looking it over.

Mk2 out

Ran the Golf round the block and out to Oli's to drop off letter and see EB.

Still looking clean.

Small fixes from stock

Fixed the Alpine wipers - well I fitted another switch from the few I have left - but it seemed to do the trick.

Then went off to drop bits onto the boat.

308 Time

Got the Ferrari out for a run to the shops. Colder than I had thought. Started fine - I think the trick is to turn the alarm on and off again before getting in.

Parked in the empty slot at B&Q too.

Braving the showers and the cold

Alpine out and ready - under the car port.

We sat there watching the hail come down and decided to brave it - wrapped up with hats and gloves.

Good run after we got off the A14 and the rain held off (mostly). Steering getting a bit vague and the wiper switch stopped working. Five cars were there though (4 sensible ones with their hoods up) but glad we braved it.

The run home again seemed quicker and better.

Then sun came out so treated the (very clean) E-type to a run too. Now that does go very very well.

Dodging the hail

SAAB am for shopping run.

Then Alpine out again in the after lunch for petrol and a nice run as the sun was shining - but cold again.

Got home and was just adding octane boost and Redex when the hail started - dashed to put the car away for tomorrow.

Then decided the Caterham needed attention so started to clean it - and the rain came down heavily again. So I finished that off and left it for a while.

So SAAB again for more shopping into town.

When we got home the rain had stopped stopped and the sun was out again so I braved the cold and took it for a run. Slight smell as the oil burned off (as it does after sitting a long time) and I thought I could smell water too - so I'll check next week. I got halfway round the circuit and saw the black clouds looming again so I turned round quickly - making it back just as the heavens opened again.

Then as the sun had come out yet again I took the Aston for a ...

recycling run. And yes the rain came back, but stopped at the edge of the village as usual.

Cold run and rust

Alpine out for a run - it was colder than expected but went well.

Rust is really taking hold - so we need to fix that.

SAAB out later for jobs.

Start and short moves

Moved the SAAB and Mk7 off the drive for spraying.

Then warmed and started the Alpine - but decided to do jobs on it rather than go for a drive in the cold.

So I fixed the throttle linkage that was rubbing and moved the trickle charge wire.

Utility runs and a new 'Arrival'

SAAB at lunchtime to Harkstead, then Mk7 to the hospital to greet the new born.

What type of transport world will Elizabeth Brazill grow up in ?

Will she ever drive a petrol car or drive at all ?

Paked for coming back

Golf just takes the luggage and a few bits from the weekend.

Dreary run back too - over three hours.

Pottering in the West

Mk7 running us around the shops in the rain in Gloucestershire.

Swap 6 for one

Found a nice looking DB6 in Olney when walking past.

The only problem was the price and we'd have to swap in all the other cars.

Then Mk7 to Gloucestershire.

VW Audi Club

Mk7 off to Emberton to be met with several more in the VW Audi club.

The Focus was hidden at the back though.

E2R

E-type off the the boat first thing to re-fit the window.

I'd forgotten to clean the windows though with was annoying - still looked very clean though - and the day was brighter than the picture makes it appear.

Then Alpine out into the afternoon sunshine - still running well. Oh and cleaned the E-type windows.

Finally the SAAB out and about for jobs and visits.

G2R and 308

Golf to boat first thing to put the sails back on - however the wind was so strong we decided not to - but just move the boat back to its berth.

Always looks bigger than I expect from the side.

Then pm went to B&Q in the 308. It went well but had the usual problem starting - is it the alarm ?

Clean again

Spent the morning cleaning the e-type. First thing it got a wash and dry - then the rain started so we moved inside for a pre-wax and then a wax.

Hard to tell how clean it is though.

Tried to get some of the swirl marks out of the roof but they did not shift and noticed the boot arm has lost its paint. So that's a little job for the warmer weather.

Then cut and polished the Alpine bonnet and it came up better.