Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2860 Location: South Cheshire

I actually got a small amount done on the project car yesterday, applied some Hydrate 80 to a small area of the front panel. Late to the workshop as I was picking blackberries down the lane on the way there.
_________________
1976 Vauxhall HP Firenza, 1976 Vauxhall Sportshatch (x2), 1986 Audi coupe quattro, 2000 Audi TT

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4418 Location: South Cheshire

I like this thread , and it has lots of forum history Smile

but it also nice to see a continuous thread for a specific vehicle (Aka Rays MG TC) where its interesting to see the entire history in one place Smile

Mike has posted loads about his Firenza, but it kind of gets lost in this generic thread?

Thoughts?

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7701 Location: Derby

I agree. Perhaps more could be made of the "our cars" thread.

Then again sometimes things happen that prevent us from getting on with our cars. For example recently everything has been put on hold due to a serious leak in my shed roof. Unfortunately, much of it's contents has been inundated with the recent downpour meaning I am having to spend hours drying off thousands of fasteners and tools as one container after another is found to be full of water.!

What is it they say about fixing the roof while the sun I shining? Smile

Vintage Fly Guy · Joined: 27 Jun 2024 Posts: 235

Rootes75 · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2026 8:54 am Post subject:

We took our big Hillman to a 1940s themed village street fair on Saturday. About 20 miles each way across the lovely lanes of Somerset. It was a thoroughly pleasant day meeting lots of friends and so many interested members of the public.
_________________
Various Rootes Vehicles.

bjacko · Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2026 7:41 am Post subject: Original Range Rover

It took Rover quite some time to get the design right. The Rover rep. at Avros Woodford factory (1950s) used to get the prototype vehicles as company car as they were outdated. Some were quite ugly. But they got it right in the end.
We had a Rover Rep because the Vulcan had a Rover Gas Turbine for auxiliary power.
_________________
1938 Morris 8 Ser II Coupe Utility (Pickup)
1985 Rover SD1 VDP

consul 57 · Joined: 09 Nov 2017 Posts: 631 Location: somerset

took the consul to my mates garage and had the rear diff seal replaced, been leaking for a while but without a ramp & little strength now in my arms i would struggle to do it myself.
as it turned out the hardest part was getting the old seal out as the axle had been painted a while ago.
now not as much oil on the drive to contend with!

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7701 Location: Derby

This is something that I could do without. My P38 Range Rover is now 26 years old. (Does that make it a classic? I don't know.) and time has not been kind to the old girl. In particular the interior where plastic clips and catches are prone to failure. It is just an age thing with plastic ...but what I didn't expect was for all the screws in the centre 'windows /mirrors' control box to fall out. This then allowed the buttons to drop down out of reach.

What has happened is that the 8 plastic posts for the retaining screws have all split apart and nearly all the screws have fallen out.

I am not quite sure how I will fix this but one option seems to be to grind off the broken posts with my Dremel and stick hard rubber blanks in their place. I should then be able to screw the two back together.

How successful it will be I have yet to discover.
.

badhuis · Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1506 Location: Netherlands

Good luck with that Ray. One of my pet hates of all cars aged 50 or newer is the overuse of plastic, especially clips etc. Plastic may be fine for a couple of years but over the years it looses it flexibility / becomes brittle and will break/snap.

My 1975 Lotus Elite has generic plastic Lucas toggle switches which I am trying to repair as some are broken (plastic snapped).

_________________
a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7701 Location: Derby

My first attempt worked O.K. but I am not happy that it will last very long, so I will have to do it again ...but this time with slightly bigger bits of rubber.

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7701 Location: Derby

Not my car but the MG TF belonging to my good friend and neighbour. He has been diagnosed with a terminal condition and can't do as much these days. He was worried about finishing the interior trim so I volunteered to tack on the hidem banding.

It took a few hours ...but who's counting?

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2860 Location: South Cheshire

Cleared a bit of space around my Audi coupe in the shed as I need to take some photos for the insurance. I got it lifted onto a set of wheel dollies, but I failed to take into account how difficult it is to move it on the rough concrete surface, so I might need to take it down again and just push it. Hard to steer, though, because it doesn't run. I ran out of time because I needed to get some fuel in the car I'm taking to Cholmondeley Castle tomorrow.
_________________
1976 Vauxhall HP Firenza, 1976 Vauxhall Sportshatch (x2), 1986 Audi coupe quattro, 2000 Audi TT