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Bond Microcar ~ what to look for?
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 9:28 pm    Post subject: Bond Microcar ~ what to look for? Reply with quote

A friend of mine in France is off to view this Bond Microcar this week with a view to buying it. He asked me if I could advise him on what to look for but alas I have no experience of these! Can anyone offer some pearls of wisdom?

http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/520397722.htm?ca=12_s

Thanks Steve
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Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4850
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 10:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
Can't help with tips but if that price is actually 1 euro I will give him a profit of 1000% ie 10 euros sight unseen. Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 11:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes I almost booked the ferry too Wink
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peter scott



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 7211
Location: Edinburgh

PostPosted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 12:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's the reply when I asked your question of a past owner..

"Whether the dynastart works. Wear in the chain drive. Corroded alloy underneath. My Mk D was great fun.

Alan
."

and more from same source..

"Are good fun. Wonder what spares situation is now. Was good in the sixties. And engines are Villiers so should be easy.

Overcast in Mallorca today. Finishing coffee and Tiramisu.

A
"
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 1:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Peter,

Many thanks for taking the trouble ~ great help I'm sure

Steve Cool
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pogo



Joined: 01 Feb 2013
Posts: 51
Location: Limousin. France

PostPosted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 8:49 pm    Post subject: Bond Reply with quote

Hi.
I live in France and use leboncoin a lot.
I assume your friend has already spoken to the owner etc?
I have found that 'selling' cheap cars to be the favoured con here, usually they want to bring the car to you, and you send them some money to prove you are a serious buyer.

Anyway, just wanted to offer a word of warning, and hope that my suspicious mind is way off.

By the by, my friend here, a mechanic, has 3 Bond Equipes, one of them being the first car he ever bought.

Good luck.

Paul
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Sun Aug 25, 2013 11:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the heads up, my friend in France is French so I expect he is familiar with Leboncoin..... think he has bought vehicles on there before.

I will pass on your message to him I am sure he will be very interested to hear about the other Bond Equipes.

Cheers Steve
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Kelsham



Joined: 18 Jan 2009
Posts: 349
Location: Llandrindod Wells Powys

PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 9:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A pair of earmuffs and a comprehensive tool kit is the first requirement.

On my Bond the points would shake loose, the clutch fell apart while driving and the circlip on the little end came loose and scored the bore.

I bought it for the wife as a run around. She threatened divorce. I sold it to a gullible person in Staines. I feel guilty whenever I visit the area.

I run a 1932 BSA Trike which is superior in all departments. The Bond was out of date when new.

Buy a Berkeley they were far better.

Regards Kels.
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Keith D



Joined: 16 Oct 2008
Posts: 1164
Location: Upper Swan, Western Australia

PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 12:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow! The old Bond Minicar! A model "F" I think. A 250cc Villiers 2 stroke motor. No reverse gear, but a 180 degree lock to lock steering!

A mate and I drove his from Southend in Essex to John O'Groats in 1960. At that time the "in" thing was to drive your Bond Minicar to either J O'G or Lands End or both!

We were sold petroil from a ready mixed pump that had no oil in it, just to the south of Preston and we seized the engine up in the town! We freed it as it cooled, and limped into Sharpe's Commercials, who built them, (Ribble Lane, from Memory) and they were fantastic. Had us back on the road within a couple of hours all fixed and they only charged us a pittance for supplying and fitting new rings.

Those were the days when we were all young and broke!

Keith
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 2:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great stories made me chuckle... could do with that 180 steering lock Cool
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Mon Aug 26, 2013 6:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

So he has been to see the car, and has asked me if I could find out
from these photos if it "is an original car"

Not quite sure what he means ~ perhaps it's lost in translation, but
perhaps anyone who is familiar with these cars might be able to
point out anything out of place? Many thanks in advance...







Are these rivets normal / original?









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Keith D



Joined: 16 Oct 2008
Posts: 1164
Location: Upper Swan, Western Australia

PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 2:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Steve,

From memory (over 50 years!) it seems much as I remember them. For a 53 year old car it seems in pretty good condition.

The gearshift is awkward until you are used to it. The engine is a Villiers motorcycle engine, and like all motorbikes, it has a positive stop gear change. By that I mean that you shove the stick up with a crunch to select first, then all the way down (thru neutral) for second, then all the way down to select third etc. If you have to stop suddenly in top, then you have to frantically shove the stick all the way up to get third, ditto for second and finally up into neutral or first. (Neutral was always a pig to select! It is located between 1st and 2nd gears!)

If the starter failed, then you could have the pleasure of lifting the bonnet, getting half you body under it and kicking it over on the motorcycle kick starter! Fun times!

By the way, the square peg key on the dashboard is for opening the bonnet!

As far as driving one goes, it is noisy, slow, gutless, brakes very iffy and if you want something very different, then just the job!

I hope if your friend buys it, then he enjoys it. It's certainly quirky! Tell him the most important thing to keep in his tool bag is a spare link for the driving chain!

Keith
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Salopian



Joined: 05 Jan 2010
Posts: 354
Location: Newport Shropshire

PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 3:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

And the best of luck to whoever buys it!
Recall these contraptions from childhood - usually found at the head of a long line of frustrated motorists and laughed at by all and sundry. I would be just more than a little scared to ride in one on todays roads and have much respect for anyone who does.
Perhaps round the garden?
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22778
Location: UK

PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 3:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dad had one, the engine fell out at a pedestrian crossing iirc. I don't think he has any plans to revisit the ownership experience anytime soon (maybe I should get one though).

RJ
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D4B



Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 2083
Location: Hampshire UK

PostPosted: Tue Aug 27, 2013 4:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Many thanks for your comments and excellent stories ~ I will pass them on.

Steve
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