At least it's oil related

Was requested a version of this by a friend. 

An oil painting of his car in the garage.

So that was the sum of the automotive activities.

Another indoor day

I did pop into the garage - but spent most of the day on pics.

Coasting to an idea

SAAB out for a walk - so just utility run really.

Did spot this idea for coasters though.

Here is my version.

Oh and the E-type part turned up early.

Not going out

It started with a cold misty morning and no reason to go outside really.

So I didn't.

All day in fact.

But the E-type part is on the way.

Brum Brum

That's what EB says when she wants to go in a car - and she likes to play in the Alpine.

Here we are parked at Stutton - me for a run (in the car) and us for a walk.

Later a MK7 run down to the boat which was a bit warmer.

Oh and Boris says Suffolk is promoted to Tier 2 when we come out of lockdown. So that's harsher restrictions - like 98% of the country.

Should be off-roading

SAAB out to drop off the life raft for a service - and then on to to a very muddy and Suffolks most shit walk.

It's along the Gipping from Claydon - where I looked for dragonflies last year - and its got worse with fences and barbed wire stopping access to the water and muddy tracks. This was the highlight.

We'll take a warmer classic

Mk2 off to Harkstead with tools etc. for a DIY repair job. 

I had thought about the Alpine - but when I went out it was bloody cold.

Small comfort

Moved the Caterham to repair the car port which had sagged a bit and letting water drip on the car.

I also got a sense of the scale parking it next to the two moderns.

Missed the weather window to get a drive out - so finishing packing away my car books instead.

Also another vaccine has been announced - this time a UK one - so we're getting there. Perhaps 2021 will be a bit different to 2020. 

Getting back to normal

MK7 ride for a coastal walk in the morning. Spotted this nice young timer BMW while we were walking and then again in the car park.

Then quick dash in the Aston to the bottle bank.

The alarm went off again so I got a text - they said it was because the fob had become detached - well it's not been used since mid October. Then I got a message telling me to replace the battery - again. Ho hum.

Not as cold as it looked

Caterham out and about to the marina - to help with boat jobs.

The boat looked odd parked (berthed) backwards.

But it was easier to unload.

Hot run back and I even took the wooly hat off to cool down.

The SAAB utility run followed by cleaning nine dusty Ferraris.

Ready for a Rebuild

That's the study finished - and I can put all the car models back tomorrow after cleaning them.

Eat Sleep Paint Repeat

Or something like that.

In a galaxy far away

Another day decorating - trying to brake the back of it before the weather turns bad again - getting the study back for the cars though.

A long time ago

No car events to write about - other than heating up the Caterham for a run and then abandoning the idea as the weather closed in again.

Looking through some mags I found this though - NEC 2005.

Another Lockdown errand

Just me and half of Ipswich on the roads today - although the shops were quiet - as I had to get building supplies in the trusty SAAB.

Essential Travel Only

Well that's what the signs on the main road say.

Not that everyone is obeying it - as we drove past in the Golf Mk7 after our permitted exercise.

2 x SAAB runs

Shopping then visits today in the SAAB and passed this tree about to bring down the cables.

Especially as the wind is up again.

Oh and the Government has decided to accelerate the banning of petrol cars. The U.K. will move up a planned ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars to 2030 ...

Another Lockdown Run out

I finished re-reading Backfire, a collection of writings by Alan Clark* taken from his time as a contributor to Classic and Sportscar magazine. Some things resonated - like using classics and the joy of long drives in old machines. Mind you he was really talking about pre-war cars and he had a few more quid to spend.

So that got me in the mood to take something out and as I've not got a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost, Derby Bentley or SS100 in the garage I got the Alpine out and took it around the block in the mid afternoon gloom.

As you can see the bright day had started to turn and as the weather has started to get colder I noticed my legs chilled on the run. It did make me feel like the Imp needs a 'pre-salt' run too - but I'll wait for the roads to be dry and clean before I do.

* Tory MP, Car enthusiast and writer - Norman Lamont called him "the most politically incorrect, outspoken, iconoclastic and reckless politician of our times". Oh and he did not like E-types.

Brakeout

Day 'whatever' of Lockdown 2.0 and I took the Caterham out to the bottle bank and the post office in Manningtree.

Good run too in the sunshine - so hot I took off the hat and gloves. 

Squeezing Past

Basically I only managed to visit the garage a few time and squeeze past the bubbles.

No 3 up and running

The sun came out and so I decided to get the Ferrari in the bubble in the afternoon. Looked tempting in the sunshine - but it was getting misty by the time I had finished.

It started first time (again no fan heater) although did fail once putting it away. The bubble seemed to take a long time to get inflated - even when I added the compressor to help out.

Eventually we were done.

It took almost 2 hours in all.

Bugger we'll get back to eliminating petrol now

So two of the cars are packed up for winter and ...

... the SAAB was out for a utility run.

In other news they announced that Pfizer has developed a vaccine for C-19. That's good then. Markets soared, people cheered and now we can get back to saving the planet - well in 18 months when we've all been vaccinated.

Lots of activity

Morning saw EB playing in the cars - she seemed to be excited to see the Imp - but was not allowed in the E-type.

Then I decided to start the Imp and change the position of the bubble. It started on the second try without being heated up.

Then started the Ferrari (first time without heat) and put the Aston on charge as I'm not sure how much driving I'll be doing.

Then Caterham out and about - I needed a warm outfit but I took the long way there - and the longer way back - it was a good run too. Made me wonder why I would get rid of the car.

However the MOT expires soon so I'll get it on SORN for December and see where that takes me.

So Lockdown Day 4 was ok I guess - and Trump is still not admitting defeat.

Bubbling up

Started with tidying away and writing labels for the E-Type parts. 

Then over-inflating the tires, putting the top on the bubble and zipping it up. So it's now in store.

Second job was to move the Imp and erect that framework.

It would have been a nice day for another drive, but I needed to get the work done. It took more than an hour to get the framework etc. finished. It's also bigger than I wanted, but I can still work at the desk.

Then pm MK7 ride for a walk by the shore and then down to the boat to collect something as the weather got worse.

Oh and Jo Biden beat Trump to the White House - so it's all over bar the shooting.

Woops - I'm not sure that was supposed to happen

So I spent some time dismantling the E-type steering a bit more. It was quite easy as it happened - not sure how its all going to go back together though. Turns out that it has the newer plastic bushed fitted - well before they fell apart they were - so I'll go back to them. 

I found that the main support for the column was a bit flaky - one arm had a crack in it and it bent when I was trying to fit the central column through the felt bushes.

I could probably get away with it or try to get it welded back on, but I've ordered a replacement - the only trouble is that it will be January before I get it. Ho Hum. The car was about to go into the bubble anyway I guess and C-19 lockdown will probably get extended into Spring.

Anyway feeling good after working in the garden in the sunshine and as the as the Imp was warm I took it for a circuit in the sunshine.

She went well with the usual noises and whines. Of course it struck me that I was not supposed to go for a 'joy ride'. But then again the suspension is so bumpy I think it was more of a 'workout' and they are allowed.

Oh and the Imp bubble arrived so that's a job for tomorrow.

Lockdown 2.0 day 1

SAAB out and about first thing to do a job for Oli.

It was cold and misty I would have to admit - the weather has changed and there is a chill in the air.

The short run to check the mirror at Nana's.

Don't worry it's OK under lockdown 2.0.

Too dreary to venture back into the garage for the E-Type but I will. Oh and the bubble for the Imp may arrive tomorrow.

Biting of too much ?

Started on the E-Type steering - oh now this is going to take a while.

Well a very long while time I suspect. Complex and fiddly.

Warmed the Imp up but was so exhausted by the stress of the E-type work I gave up on that.

Then SAAB for a utility run.

Oh and in other news we're in lockdown as of midnight for a month give or take for Covid and the US election is on a knife edge.

More miles than I thought

Mk2 Golf out and about in the morning for a pre-lockdown haircut then across town to drop off books.

Looking good though and got a friendly wave from a passer by.

Then out again in the afternoon for a paint run - although the road was closed in several places.

Finally SAAB was ready so went to pick that up. Nice to get it back so quickly and with no problems too. Felt the 95 quality vs the 93 too, but Abbotts looking a bit chaotic.

So overall I did about 60 miles.

Shit Box and Stick technique

Possible a bit harsh but I dropped off my SAAB as the MOT was up - and took home a Diesel SAAB 93 with 220k+ miles on the clock and rattles from the engine. It even needed some Diesel as the tank was so low.

Interior was rubbish too - I can see why they failed to sell in this spec.

Then I heated up the Imp for an hour and then started that - first time since mid October but it started well after the blow heater treatment.

I also started the Alpine and used a stick to keep the revs up while it warmed - balanced on the window winder I could adjust the revs by opening or closing the door.

It was too dark and murky to take the Imp out to the bottle bank in Stutton so I went round the block and did the jobs in the Alpine. It looked good in the sunset too, although seemed to not like the fuel I filled up with as I came back.

On the carpet

Morning riding in the big VW to Silk Street only to have to ride in a little one home. So much dumped crap there I did not fit in the car.

Then Decided to put the new mats in the Aston - but to do so I had to move the dark fleet.

Then fitted the mats.

Looked good - lets see how they last.