Some of my toys

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Lew
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2012 6:55 pm

Some of my toys

#1 Post by Lew »

Hello all,
I'm Lew, I'm 19, I've been into classics since more or less day one really. Based in Bedfordshire so reasonably central with a lot of good classic meets around us.
I'll start with my humble Landy, I bought this when I was 12 and ever since then she's been something of a rolling restoration. 1975, kept on local farms for most of its life. I bought it with the intention of selling on and making some money, but of course it never happens like that.
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The rear crossmember was in need of some love, I got to work with the grinder. There was no going back now...
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Cut out my own templates using card, then made up the new sections from scraps I found in a local engineering company's bin. In some places the chassis is three times thicker than the original steel, and I'm pretty pleased with the results.
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Before this when I was forced to own smaller machinery I bought myself a couple of autotrucks as used on market gardens.
We have a late 1950s Wrigley motor tug
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And a Bonser truck I am currently restoring, when I bought this it was in a right state.
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A couple of years ago I acquired this 1973 Beetle. It was originally a Swiss car with one owner all its life, hence it being LHD. He moved over here in 1980, so the car was re-registered in the UK on a V plate.
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This was moved on fairly quickly, despite being a fantastic runner and driver the rust was a bit beyond me at the time, and I've never been a great fan of VWs.
Through a family friend we were given this 1992 Granada Scorpio V6. This was a lovely car, and came from a time when Ford could really do luxury properly. It was hugely comfortable but again doesn't really have that 'classic appeal', so again was moved on.
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Next is my baby, my 1982 Toyota Celica Supra. 2.8 injection, stored in a heated garage from new, one owner, 60k on the clock and with a huge wad of history. All servicing and repairs done at Toyota themselves. An impressive car in its time. To find one of these that isn't an absolute basketcase, particularly a narrowbody as this is, is rare now.
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The daily driver is something not quite so impressive, but certainly practical. 1988 Nissan Micra K10.
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People laugh at this car but it just keeps on going. It's been great to me and I've spent literally no money on it.
Saved the best till last, some of mine and my dad's larger toys, a 1954 Daimler Ferret armoured car
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Literally the best fun you can have on four wheels
And our 1973 Alvis Spartan armoured personnel carrier. 4.2 Jaguar straight six, makes quite a howl but has the thirst to go along with it. We get 3mpg on a good day.
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And in its natural habitat...
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Apologies for such a picture heavy first post!
Regards, Lew
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JPB
Posts: 10319
Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:24 pm

Re: Some of my toys

#2 Post by JPB »

:o Loving that K10. I suspect that another forum member will be along presently to express some more love for the car.
Famous Micra K10 owners include Janet Dibley, who once lost the fuel cap from her silver & black Collette just by where I was working at the time and of course Anna Friel loves the K10 so much that she probably has several mint, low mileage examples tucked away in her mansion. :)
J
"Home is where you park it", so the saying goes. That may yet come true.. :oops:
Topaz
Posts: 246
Joined: Fri Oct 12, 2012 11:52 am
Location: Derby

Re: Some of my toys

#3 Post by Topaz »

Amazing Collection - thanks for sharing that with us.

Mike
Willy Eckerslyke
Posts: 225
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 2:35 pm

Re: Some of my toys

#4 Post by Willy Eckerslyke »

Great work there - I love the Landy, well done for keeping it straight and not sticking chequer plate all over it!
The K10's nothing to be ashamed about either (apart those wheeltrims...) - cracking little cars!
Lew
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2012 6:55 pm

Re: Some of my toys

#5 Post by Lew »

Thankyou chaps, it's a great little car the K10. I'm not sure I'd trust any other 24 year old car to take me on a long journey and back with no fears like I do that one. It's touching 106k now so isn't looking bad for its age! MOT booked for this coming Saturday, so fingers crossed all goes well. As for the wheeltrims, it was originally on 12 inch wheels, 145 in width I believe. When these were worn out I spotted a later model K10 being broken on eBay, gave the guy a ring and off I went to collect my new 13 inch K10 rims, albeit with slightly lower profile tyres so the circumference was roughly the same. Unfortunately these came without wheeltrims, and it was surprisingly difficult getting hold of proper Nissan items. Dad came home with those in the back of his car from a local motor factors, so I couldn't exactly say no :roll:
As for the Landy, that's staying original on its nice skinny tyres and definitely free from the devil's own chequer plate :D. I'm hoping this coming spring I'll be able to get her insured for a reasonable sum after a couple of years of driving, so if anyone knows of any good classic insurance companies that do under-21 policies, it'd be well appreciated if you can pass their details on.
rich.
Posts: 6893
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:18 pm

Re: Some of my toys

#6 Post by rich. »

love the micra... you are so lucky!!! more pics soon please :D :D :D
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Paul240480
Posts: 466
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 4:28 pm
Location: Nivillac
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Re: Some of my toys

#7 Post by Paul240480 »

Fab post, thanks! And yes, please do keep us updated about them all :D
Lew
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2012 6:55 pm

Re: Some of my toys

#8 Post by Lew »

You'll all be pleased to know the Micra passed her MOT today with no advisories. Thank God for that, I can get to work on Monday morning ;)
rich.
Posts: 6893
Joined: Wed Jan 05, 2011 9:18 pm

Re: Some of my toys

#9 Post by rich. »

reliability.....one of the many reasons i love japanese cars
congrats!!
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