Citrojim's AX, Pixo, C3, Running and Cycling Tales

[CitroJim]

The colour is Bleu Liberte Matt, code EMZ... Some sources call it Pacific Blue. Apparently it's a rare colour for an AX and only used for one year...

It's a solid colour and responding to restoration beautifully...

Also like the unusual font of the numberplate too.

I'm not sure those plates are entirely legal to be honest Matt... No makers name or BSAU 145 markings on them and as you say, the font looks a bit... I'm trusting they'll be OK as they would have been fine when the car was new... Back in those days there were all sorts of fonts around

I may have an explanation for those plates next week

I nearly bought you a NOS tail light today, but the vendor only had LH ones...

That's a shame Mike bit if you do ever see an NOS RH grab it please! Likewise any other choice AX stuff

[mickthemaverick]

I just came across this Jim which may be worth a call:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CITROEN-AX-B ... 635-2958-0

[CitroJim]

I just came across this Jim which may be worth a call:

Thanks Mick It's a series 2 but likely to yield a few bits I'd like..

I got given a car today at parkrun

One of our regular volunteers, knowing I'm into Citroens, presented it to me - was her late father's who collected many serious model cars and not just Citroens... She's been slowly passing them onto enthusiasts as an when she finds them...

I'm absolutely delighted and highly honoured Parkrun was good too, a special anniversary day for me

I do enjoy my volunteering

[mickthemaverick]

I think you should count that as your Distinguished Service medal Jim

[CitroJim]

I think you should count that as your Distinguished Service medal Jim

[mickthemaverick]

FYI An 95 reg AX 11 Forte 74000 miles in burgundy sold at £1400 at Anglia Car Auctions today. Needed general tidying.

[CitroJim]

FYI An 95 reg AX 11 Forte 74000 miles in burgundy sold at £1400 at Anglia Car Auctions today. Needed general tidying.

Gosh! That's very strong money for an S2 in need of a bit of TLC Mick I dare not even think of how much Bluebell may be worth when she's fully sorted...

Happily, today's Salcey Forest Duathlon wasn't rained off and I enjoyed it greatly... I was in need of a good Duathlon fix as it's been a while since the last one... The run legs through the forest were particularly good and the road leg was a well thought out one with just the right amount of challenge about it

Here's me in action on the bike leg... Not a tremendously good photo but it catches the atmosphere well... It looked a lot wetter than it was...

(c) Active Training World Official Photographer via Facebook..

I'll be back in action ext weekend at the Remembrance Day Duathlon around Debden Airfield in Essex...

[CitroJim]

Bluebell went in for her MoT today...

She was somewhat calmer than I was... Truly I was in bits and anxious beyond words...

Happily, for both of us, she passed with a very clean sheet and very complementary words from the MoT Tester

Unusually for me, I stayed with her and ended up being the MoT tester's assistant... It was quite an education to see a very detailed and thorough MoT test taking place... No corners were cut although the tester did comment on how nice it was to MoT a nice simple uncomplicated car...

Bluebell attracted a lot of interest not only from the staff but also from a visiting Aston Martin engineer from across the road... Her choke control was the source of some amusement

Now to submit a whole wodge of paperwork (and a fat cheque) to the DVLA to re-register her in the UK - she's currently an illegal immigrant having been permanently exported to France before being brought back home. I have no evidence she was ever registered in France and believe she spent most of her time there stored in a barn, her primary use apparently being for journeys between the UK and French homes of the first owners and seemingly little else... The new V5C will likely show me as only the second owner/keeper...

And now I can get stuck into more detailed aspects of her restoration

[Hell Razor5543]

Yay!!!

[mickthemaverick]

Great stuff Jim, well done - now the real work begins!!

[MattBLancs]

...



Unusually for me, I stayed with her and ended up being the MoT tester's assistant... It was quite an education to see a very detailed and thorough MoT test taking place... No corners were cut although the tester did comment on how nice it was to MoT a nice simple uncomplicated car...

That's my version of a perfect MOT station - they've clearly not money to burn making it spotlessly clean, just nicely functional, and better yet an MOT-er who's happy to have you follow on behind - would much rather be in amongst it all and see what led to a fall, than sat behind a screen like a (generally rare occurrence now) about-to-be dad on the edge of his seat outside the maternity ward!

[Skull]

Bluebell went in for her MoT today...

Happily, for both of us, she passed with a very clean sheet and very complementary words from the MoT Tester

Well Done Jim

Glad I'm not alone in the tension that is MoT day

I'm jealous of your station - my old tester I used to use, was very friendly, allowed me under the lift and pointed out areas to keep an eye on - so much easier to repair faults when you can see the problem first hand.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Trivia alert!

I'll be back in action ext weekend at the Remembrance Day Duathlon around Debden Airfield in Essex...

I thought I had come across Debden airfield in my periodic delve into "Avengerland" an on-line resource of The Avengers and other series locations. I was mistaken, it turns out it was Denham Airfield (Bucks) a location where scenes of two "Persuaders" episodes, and one "Protectors" episode did a bit of filming.

http://www.avengerland.theavengers.tv/f ... %20Denham

Still, it turns out Debden Airfield your duathlon location, was also a film location. Used for some scenes in the George Formby Film (1938) called "It's in the Air".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Debden
The airfield was opened in April 1937 and was first used by the Royal Air Force. One of Debden's early and most bizarre experiences was when the airfield was chosen as a location for the film "It's in the Air" in which George Formby was to pilot a Hawker Fury through Hangar No. 3. The rather sharper angle of the hangars at Debden built around the tarmac apron allowed free access at both ends of the end hangar. The flying for the sequence was actually done by Flying Officer R. H. A. Lee who disappeared on 18 August 1940 when he was last seen ten miles north of Foulness Point chasing three German aircraft out to sea.

Regards Neil

[CitroJim]

Great stuff Jim, well done - now the real work begins!!

Indeed it does Mick, she'll be brought up to the condition she deserves.. The work to get her to MoT standard was just the start, a bit like giving birth is just the start of bringing up a child...

[would much rather be in amongst it all and see what led to a fall, than sat behind a screen like a (generally rare occurrence now) about-to-be dad on the edge of his seat outside the maternity ward!

Glad I'm not alone in the tension that is MoT day

Absolutely Matt and Skull! To carry on the childbirth theme, the tension of an MoT is almost exactly the same as being an expectant dad - and grandad - and the relief when you're handed a pass is palpable...

I'm jealous of your station - my old tester I used to use, was very friendly, allowed me under the lift and pointed out areas to keep an eye on - so much easier to repair faults when you can see the problem first hand.

I'm so fortunate to have such a garage almost on my doorstep. Steve's been MoT'ing my and my daughter's cars for longer than I care to remember and he knows and understands older cars, even hydraulic Citroens... Such places are getting rare around here... This particular garage is thriving... Steve enjoys a massive local reputation and is always busy... His waiting list is long but worth waiting for...

Happiness, I found today, is watching the brake tester dials recording even high readings on both axles

Still, it turns out Debden Airfield your duathlon location, was also a film location. Used for some scenes in the George Formby Film (1938) called "It's in the Air".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Debden
The airfield was opened in April 1937 and was first used by the Royal Air Force. One of Debden's early and most bizarre experiences was when the airfield was chosen as a location for the film "It's in the Air" in which George Formby was to pilot a Hawker Fury through Hangar No. 3. The rather sharper angle of the hangars at Debden built around the tarmac apron allowed free access at both ends of the end hangar. The flying for the sequence was actually done by Flying Officer R. H. A. Lee who disappeared on 18 August 1940 when he was last seen ten miles north of Foulness Point chasing three German aircraft out to sea.

Regards Neil

Wow! Never knew that Neil Quite a history! Nowadays the airfield is disused and only good for running around. The runways are quite potholed... The reason, I believe, is that the Army next door use the airfield for bomb disposal training - I just hope they are planning to take a day off on Saturday or our duathlon could be quite an explosive affair

[CitroJim]

Up early this morning and just completed all the paperwork I need to submit to DVLA to re-register Bluebell... Only took an hour and a half...

I have to do stuff like this early in the morning whilst I'm reasonably mentally alert - my mental abilities fall off a cliff as the day progresses...

Now I'm going to go for a run to recover...