Practically Classics Forum

To be fair, I've just bought a Hyundai Santa Fe in the US..that's as close to a Victor Meldrew style I'm going to get over there I think..

3xpendable wrote:I've just bought a Hyundai Santa Fe in the US

We have huge problems with those. The steel is so thin, to fit mobility equipment (person / wheelchair lifting hoists) they need huge spreader plates where as fords, vws, etc it can just be bolted in.

I'm not surprised, but I bought one because my brother who is a veterinary surgeon abused one (and I mean abused) for many years and he still couldn't kill it. Cars or astronomically expensive in the US compare to here so we needed something reliable and basic as a runabout until we get on our feet.

Had a good week last week on the car, got all of the plumbing done except for the relocation of the fuse box and some other assorted wiring.

Brake lines, wiring and fuel line:



Fitted a joiner in case we ever need to change a section:











Also fitted a battery kill switch, I've placed it so that the i could access it even if god forbid I was trapped in the drivers seat.





Brand new handbrake cable, broke seconds after fitting



Finally got the bootlid lined up and on!



Also checked out the cranked gearlever positioning with the gaitor on, looks like it all fits pretty good.



After all that I did an oil change on the MINI

Well, it will probably come as a shock, but here is where my involvement in this project ends. I had a week off between finishing my job and moving to the US and I wanted to get the MG engine running before I left just for a morale boost. Well, long story short, due to a number of things going wrong the car pushed me over the edge so I priced up what I had put into it and began asking around about what it might be worth. A gentleman from the Netherlands has bought it for a very reasonable price and so it has gone, was collected on Saturday.

It is a sad way to end things, but the car was causing me more stress than enjoyment and was still a long way from being complete. It would have fallen upon my dad to finish it off and I didn't want him spending all his time on it when he has his own cars he wants to work on. So in a way I'm sad, but also relieved. The car was becoming a headache and for what I sold it for, I am already looking at nice 4 cylinder GT's out here.

Thanks for reading.

sometimes, moving on is the best way, its not failure just an admittance that you have taken a project as far as you can.
might I ask what you are going to do in the states?

Good luck for your future

Kev

There's certainly no shame in taking a decision of this sort and, when that decision brings with it a reduction to your stress levels, then there can be no doubt that you've done the right thing. Moving to a new home is one of the most stressful things for anyone, but doing so to a place overseas must be indescribably stressful.
Here's wishing you well with the relocation. I'm reliably informed that there's internet access in the States too, so please keep the posts coming.

Thanks guys, yes I don't intend to be without a classic for long so will keep you posted.

If I recall a certain alabbasi of the parish is stateside as well

He is indeed and with his project collection:
https://www.youtube.com/user/aalabbasi/videos
He may be a good contact if you are looking for a classic state side.