Well that's ok then

Oli got his Diesel at the Stanstead site ok - before that I'd used the Mk7 for errands and Jana used the SAAB for the same.

A day of dull stuff really as the Autumn arrived.

So now what am I bid for 4 gallons of the smoky stuff ?

There is No Shortage

Took the Mk2 out to Hadleigh for a coffee. Well it had 1/2 a tank and we have to swap them around before we play Russian Roulette on the dregs. A bit of recycling too while I was there.

I passed an open petrol station - which was closed by the time I passed back again 2 hours later. Then on the way back I did some more re-cycling (I could not work out the paper bank first go !) and the queue at Tescos was snaking almost back to the A12 from the pumps.

I pottered home.

Then a late night dash as Jana had found petrol at Asda on her way home.

So that's me filling up all our cans with diesel (to the max allowed of £30) at 11:30 at night - just in case Oli can't find any to get himself home from the airport.

ION: The army are coming in to drive tankers this week

Bike to work day ?

Walked to the shop (well the village) rather than drive even though it looked like rain. The reward was this nice old Royal Enfield bike parked at the doctors.

The SAAB to BB Sit EB for a an hour.

ION: Still fuel shortages so we'll just sit tight

What a bloody country

Checked the cars for fuel this morning thinking what another bloody mess.

Golf has to drive to Peterborough but will be fine on 325 miles.

SAAB almost the same on 329. So we're ok for a while.

Also finished the Austin 1300 model.

Oh and the Ferrari Mirror is still on - day 2.

ION: More panic buying and 75% filling stations now have no fuel.

Mirror Mirror on the Floor

Sprayed the small ADO16 Austin 1300 model in the afternoon.

Fixed the Ferrari mirror back on with the recommended 3M sticking stuff.

Let's see how long it lasts.

Then evening SAAB dash for a small job.

ION: Petrol panic seems to have emptied the pumps - it will be a few days before it's back to normal.

Aston back and Fuel Panic

So early start to get back vis supermarket - only the road was blocked by panicking motorists who have heard that the lorry drivers shortage is starting to hit petrol distribution.

The traffic was so bad I went in on foot and then we left.

Then we passed petrol stations with queues or no petrol on the way.

Found this nice DB11 there though - which was tempting - a snip at £97k.

But the Vantage still looks good against the newer models - if rather small vs the DBX.

Then the home run which was fine and finally MK2 out and about for small jobs in the afternoon.

Oh and bloody the Ferrari mirror has fallen off again. I guess I need to remove the old sticky pad.

Van, Comma, Karrier

Off to the Chelsea Flower Show and found a Rootes Comma Karrier ice cream van there amongst other posh coffee outlets.

Mirror off again

I was admiring the 308 and noticed the mirror had fallen off again. Re-stuck.

The Aston to Grange for a service and MOT and then on to London in the MK7.

Nice to see this MBC GT still in use in Crouch End too.

Mr. E meets his friends again

Late morning run off to an E-type club lunch in what turned out to be a glorious sunny September.

The car behaved itself well and we had a good run (mostly at 50 which really suits the car) although it is still pinking a little amongst other items still needing correction.

The only disturbing event was the blue light suddenly appearing behind me and slowing down as I did - but they sped past eventually.

MK2 Pottering

Into town first thing and then home for a clean after lunch.

Then back into town and parked on the street again.

In the evening I check the E-type and it did not smell of petrol - odd.

SAAB short trips

Road up again to Harkstead so a bit of a de-tour - mainly dodging prats in 4x4s that overtake you when you stop for the car in front.

Making a list

SAAB to the boat for a sail in the last of the summer sun - while sailing thoughts turned to fixing the fleet.

Alpine - dead engine and needs bodywork.

E-type - Petrol smell, fan belt and now the horn again.

Caterham - water pump and will need an MOT.

Then there are the other bits and bobs too, before the MK2 and SAAB paintwork.

Seems like a lot of work coming up.

 

Smug Mug

Aston to shops early afternoon - nice load luger.

Then E-Type out in the late sun that went away. Parked to drop off stuff at O&L - tight exit due to the poor turning circle. 

Anyway, on the drive I thought about the Stephen Bayley book 'The Age Of Combustion' I am reading and how he thinks Classic cars are always hard to live with and not as good as the dream.

Well the car was going nicely and the road was clear and the sun was trying to shine so I thought he's wrong - I'll send him a tweet or something to say so too.

Then as I turned into the lay-by the horn jammed on again. On and off until I just disconnected it. I went to the garage for petrol and it was smelling of petrol after I filled it up too.

Oh well.

But we did hit 48,000 on the run.

That Friday Feeling

E-type down to the boat for some woodwork.

As the black clouds loomed.

Jiggle Jiggle Jiggle and the Acid Yellow

First on the agenda was the 308. Looking at the fuses etc. it was definitely #8. Although of course the electrics are reversed in a Right Hand Drive car.

And all the #8s were fine of course. Luckily I spotted the key to the relays as I was putting the cover back on.

So I changed out the one that looked like the lighting - nothing. Just as I was thinking about trying another one I noticed the key did not fit the relays - ah of course there was one missing.

So I jiggled the right one and the lights came back on ok. Yippee.

Then Imp out to celebrate before the school traffic.

Finally 308 into the dying sun to test - everything was good - and we even got a visitor in the lay-by.

An acid yellow McLaren 540 (I think). Funny to think the Ferrari's value is not far off the McLaren either.

Oh and then a lady who stopped to ask if it was me last night too !

That's not right

308 out in the gloomy evening just because I needed a run out.

Had the lights on for a while but when I got home ...

Nothing.

If I remember that happened one before in Ipswich but they re-appeared. Umm - must investigate.

Dreaming of the lost Summer ?

A bit of rain and Summer is over.

Well it's not that bad but feels like it.

Booking it in ?

So dusty SAAB out over lunch for jobs. Cleaned most of the cobwebs off though first.

Then Aston to the re-cycling. Was going to take the Imp but the schools are back.

Oh and 'booked' the Alpine engine in - just got to sort out getting it there.

Plus ça change ?

Walked to lunch at Freston Boot and only had a 1/2 pint so I could take a car out later. 

A huge blue barge like modern Rolls Royce turned up (it could have been a Phantom) and parked - the driver and passenger getting out and paced around awaiting more cars - a few others eventually rocked up - mainly modern Bentleys. Eventually a decent one arrived though a 20/25 from the mid 1930's. 

They were on the Seckford Hall RR Enthusiasts Club Rally so the plaque said.

Then ride back in Oli's Passat to take pics of EB on the doorstep.

Then - nothing. Cloudy skies and no interest in taking a cat out.

I did make this composite though - a 1995 shot of the Mustang and the recent 2021 one of the Aston. 

"Plus c'est la même chose".

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

MK7 potter

Ride in MK7 to Ickworth - nice lanes but nothing exciting in the car park.

Did spot a nice car poster though.

Cleaned, started but put away

Decided the Caterham deserved a clean and a little run. It seems to be home to a lot of grasshoppers - mostly dead ones.

Anyway it came up well and I also cleaned the vinyl with some stuff which worked wonders.

However the drive was cut short because the car seemed to be vibrating - shaking - which I decided was the misaligned water pump. So that's it for now. Next stop the mechanic.

Aston to Another destinaton

SAAB out and about for local runs then...

Evening run in the Aston for a spot of sunset shooting.

They don't mean me ?

Golf down to the boat for a day sail in the blistering 25 degree September sun.

The once back a 308 photo opp in the dying sun.

Luckily I remembered parking restriction don't apply to 1970's Ferraris. 

Chap walking by like it a lot too. "Thank you for sharing it with us" !

Driving with Imp - unity

Garden work, then butterfly pics, then evening run in the Imp and photos.

The seat (belt) of all our problems

Mk2 out after lunch as the Summer came back.

Oil buzzer on for a bit on the way bank.

Then E-type round the block in the early evening.

First the speedo did not work - but a swift 'tap' restored that, then there was an untraceable rattle on the passenger's side. I had to stop but nothing looked loose. 

I as I drove off then checked the seatbelt and all it was, was the clip sitting on the clasp. Dho.

Short hop

Quick passenger trip with O, L & EB in the MK7 to see Captain Blood at the creek.

All five of us were ok in the Golf.

Then not a lot else. Seems summer is back for a couple of days though - perhaps tomorrow.

I'm no mechanic but ...

Alpine plugs out and cleaned first thing. They were not too bad although a couple were a but dirty ...

... and now looking closely at one from the picture it might have had little bit of metal on it.

Anyway it started well and off we went for petrol but when we got to the petrol station the car was smoking and continued to smoke badly all the way home.

So that's not good.

Finally, took the Ferrari out in the late sun and that was making a 'howling' noise until it warmed up too. Umm.

More pottering around

SAAB out for jobs then Aston for more jobs - well an excuse to take it out recycling again.

Still like the winter wheels.

Lord Fisher will see you now

Popped up to Kilverstone hall - 80 miles round trip and was looked after by Lord Fisher himself - he was an E-type fan.

Good run there are back in convoy with the blue V12 from down the road.

Spit, Polish and more

I started by getting the E-type ready for tomorrow as the black clouds rolled past.

Checking the fluids etc. I also found a long length of fan belt coming off.

I guess I really should change it soon. 

Then Alpine dry washed and a bit of polish - the paint work is getting worse after almost 2 years outside under the cover.

Then SAAB to Harkstead.

Finally Alpine off the the monthly RGEA meeting. Felt as if it was running a bit rough though - there and back - so need to look at that. Plugs fouling ?

Did indulge in a pic though when I got back.