Practically Classics Forum

I had a bit of a head scratching moment recently when I realised that the telltales on the phase one and phase two dashboards are laid out differently. Went to send an e-mail to the chap that wants some of the dash binnacle to find he'd already e-mailed me to warn me of this as he'd encountered the same issue swapping from a phase one to a phase two, the reverse of what I'm doing. The main issue is the tubes that direct the light for the telltales on the phase one are straight, but on the phase two they're wiggly to go to the new locations. I have no idea why they changed this, it makes little sense, but it should be a case of stripping down each dash and rebuilding with the appropriate clocks and pipes being careful not to damage the circuit board.

Since it's easier to get the binnacle out without the steering wheel in place I reckon I'll figure this out at that point. I've got the nut for the current wheel soaking in WD40 as it's being a bit stubborn, but the Princess wheel I got has been cleaned up and is ready to go on now. In the meantime, I removed the old bent bumper and tried out the new one.



What surprised me is that the car is actually a lot straighter than I thought it was. The front bumper bracket fixing location on the left hand side actually needs bashing back as I've pulled it too far forwards which is making the bumper sit too low and too far forwards. All the holes on this replacement bumper lined up perfectly and since the brown car had no signs of crash damage I think that probably means I did a reasonable job of straightening the front end out.


The new bumper chrome isn't very good, but then this bumper was very cheap because of the condition of it. The new bumper sits further forwards, which really highlights how bent the brackets had been on the old one, it looks like my old bumper absorbed quite a lot more impact than I gave it credit for.


I need to relocate the number plate again as the new bumper obscures it hence it being removed at the moment. I also have confirmation from the scrapyard that the nose on the brown one can be chopped off for me and they'll let me know when it's ready for collection. Reasonable slam panel, top half of the valance and headlight brackets for £40 is not to be sniffed at and when am I ever going to get the chance to get those panels again? Really couldn't pass up the opportunity to get the repair section and I've gambled on getting that instead of the calipers or spheres as it's marginally more difficult to acquire.

A bumper that did its job eh? Wow, there's something you don't see much these days, the beige car certainly looks pretty straight at the front end in the piccies. I just love the Japanese taxi-style mirrors though, they should be fitted to every new car instead of these wretched door-mounted ones.

Those mirrors are fantastic. They were an eBay purchase and worth every penny, I've never driven a car with better mirrors and while the way they look can divide opinion, the functionality is second to none.

I have always fancied owing a princess. I have to admit though, the mirrors are not to my taste although I do own a TR7 so maybe I'm not the best person to advise on style and fashion!

Well both cars are a similar shape......

I want a TR7 when I've finished the HLS. Or an Allegro. Or a Rialto. As someone else once said, the only taste I have is in my mouth.

Let me know when you succumb to temptation and start your Rialto hunt, I sort people out with decent ones for sensible money as a result of the peculiar company I keep.
There's still a healthy demand for decent Rialtos (or MK2 Robins - the only difference is in the name on the V5C) as Aixams, MIcrocars and Ligiers are such horrid pieces of sh*t to live with and nothing like so durable as a well kept Tamworth tripod.

I've swapped a couple of ADO71s for Reliants before now and I know no fewer than one other Reliant enthusiast type who shares the love for things wedge-shaped as she owns a lovely Ambassador and a TVR Tasmin which easily out-wedges the TR7. Yeah, she's one sick mare, but at least the voices told her to buy unloved retro cars as opposed to going out murdering babies so it's all good.

There is a lot of wedge love out there

Well... looks like the spare axle I bought recently is actually scrap. I am quite disappointed about this, but knew it was a risk I might have to take. I'm trying to get a price on the axle from the brown breaker I visited recently and my current plan is to use the axle from my HLS on the HL to get around the problem in the meantime.

Not a great situation to be in, but that's 30+ year old spare parts for you.

Is this the metal beam across the rear? If so, I have one in teh shed that was came in a job lot of Princess bits. If it's any good, you're welcome to it as I have no use for it whatsoever.