Zel's Fleet Blog - BX, Jag XJ-S, Sinclair C5, Mercedes 208D & 230TE, AC Model 70.

[Zelandeth]

As some folks might have guessed lately I've generally been feeling spread a bit too thin with the fleet lately.

The Jag needs a bunch of things done and I'm just not finding the time for it. It's not a car you can really dip in and out of jobs with - you really just need a good few hours at a time to tackle things.

Likewise the Xantia. She's just got to that classic mid 90s car stage where quite a few jobs need doing. None of them are particularly major, but I'm just really struggling for the time. Likewise it's a difficult car to dip in and out of working on.

I've also come to realise something over the last couple of years, and it's that I really don't find working on cars from this sort of age bracket to really be rewarding. This in itself is making me put things off. I'm just far more comfortable with 70s-80s vehicles.

I'm also acutely aware that the Activa isn't getting any younger and is a special enough car, especially given how well known it is, that it really should be preserved. I really enjoy *driving* the Activa, but I just really don't enjoy working on it.

An opportunity has arisen however in that someone else locally has stepped up who has a long, long history with Citroens (DS, 2CV, at least 2x Visas including a cabriolet, XM and a C15 plus several I've probably forgotten) who has stepped up saying they'd like to take it on.

This is good...as I really didn't want to have to deal with selling an obscure and cosmetically challenged Citroen to the general public, and I equally wanted to be sure the car ended up with an enthusiastic owner. It moving less than ten miles is an added bonus. It also means I'd basically have an open invitation to have a shot of it in future pretty much whenever I liked.

Have received some more photos of the likely inbound vehicle, and it's much as I expected. Bit shabby in a few areas but fundamentally sound. Only thing which is giving me cause to hesitate just saying "Yes, when can I pick it up?" Is a slightly sticky brake caliper as the car hasn't seen a huge amount of use recently (which car has?). Given I've got a 350-ish mile drive home I'd really like not to be worrying about the brakes.

I've done that trip before in a car with one working brake and it's not an experience I particularly wish to repeat.

Going to look into transportation options (as offsetting that against return journey fuel costs and a hotel stay it might not be that horrific) before I decide how to go. New calipers are pretty readily available for around £70 so changing it's not the end of the world - just want to budget for changing the offending caliper *and* every single pipe and fitting all the way back to the master cylinder! Been there, done that, bought the T shirt. Otherwise I'd be tempted to just buy one and take it with me.

Other things which we know will need doing: Leaky cam cover, duff tailgate gas struts, driver's seat could do with reupholstering really, maybe a set of rear springs, and the paint is quite tired.

It is however being offered to me for far, far less than you'd normally expect so I'm pretty much ready to push the button on this plan even with the knowledge that I'll be going into it needing to spend a day or two fettling the car before it's ready for regular use.

[NewcastleFalcon]

Intriguing post and no doubt some more interesting content for your blog Zel.

REgards Neil

[Michel]

The local man wouldn’t be DDB would it?

[Zelandeth]

TPA was out and about again today.



Uneventful trip, though between running later than I'd planned and trying to outrun some very ominous looking weather I decided it was about time we tested something out - how would she handle the motorway?

Answer? Absolutely fine. Thrums along quite happily at 60, and the smoother road surface makes it seem positively relaxed compared to the A45 on the way out.

Didn't find I got blown around too much, only vehicle which required any actual correction for was a coach which did shove me a bit to one side...but not badly so. Only directional annoyance was there being a seam for several miles right in the lane where I really wanted my front wheel to be! Eventually realised that there's actually a lot of lane to play with when you're in such a small car...so just moved a foot or so to the left.

Being absolutely honest she holds speed at 60 better than the van. Doesn't feel intimidating at all which is nice. While I'd done these speeds before this was by far the longest I'd ever held her at 60 so I was keeping a careful eye on the temperature - didn't budge from 155-165C, so absolutely no worries there - nice to see given that cruising at speed wasn't ever really on the requirements list when she was designed.

I'd always been quite hesitant to take her on the motorway and had taken twice as long to get a few places because of that, but honestly I've zero worry about using it again...only proviso is I wouldn't want to try it on a windy day...that would probably be terrifying.

She will definitely do 70, but it does feel you're making her work though. 60 though feels well within her comfort range - well 62 is what I'll probably actually use when not in a 60mph average speed trap - so I'll basically wait till I spot a coach going my way and just slot in behind them. It's not a major issue though to buzz up to 70 to overtake a lorry...or dawdling Prius though which is nice to know.

If I do ever embark on my round country trip knowing that motorways aren't terrifying will definitely be a bonus as trying to avoid them entirely during that would be a real pain.

This little car keeps surprising me. I expected the motorway test not to be a huge deal but I was really surprised at the ease she dispatched the test!


Regarding the new purchase I've come up with a plan of attack. The one known mechanical issue it has currently is a brake caliper which - occasionally - sticks. Probably be fine...but having quite a long drive home I'd rather keep Murphy's Law at bay. I've decided that I'm going to order a new caliper (well probably two actually as if one is playing up the other will probably cause issues in the future), and depending on the type of fitting, possibly the flexible lines as well. With that, a decent selection of fittings and some brake line so if we need to we can just change it. Our first stopover point will be roughly an hour from the collection point so hopefully that will give us a decent bead on how the car is behaving. I'd rather not change a caliper in a car park, but if we need to we will be equipped to do so!

PS. I've been wearing this thing two days now.



I am utterly fed up with it already!

[NewcastleFalcon]

I'm just far more comfortable with 70s-80s vehicles.....

Have received some more photos of the likely inbound vehicle, and it's much as I expected. Bit shabby in a few areas but fundamentally sound. Only thing which is giving me cause to hesitate just saying "Yes, when can I pick it up?" Is a slightly sticky brake caliper as the car hasn't seen a huge amount of use recently (which car has?). Given I've got a 350-ish mile drive home I'd really like not to be worrying about the brakes.

I've done that trip before in a car with one working brake and it's not an experience I particularly wish to repeat.

Other things which we know will need doing: Leaky cam cover, duff tailgate gas struts, driver's seat could do with reupholstering really, maybe a set of rear springs, and the paint is quite tired.

It is however being offered to me for far, far less than you'd normally expect so I'm pretty much ready to push the button on this plan even with the knowledge that I'll be going into it needing to spend a day or two fettling the car before it's ready for regular use.

The FCF awaits the reveal Zel, but there is all the evidence we have in a nutshell to speculate
Without giving too much away...

Does the "I'm just far more comfortable with 70s-80s vehicles." hold true for your prospective acquisition

At "350 ish drive home" that's got to have you over the border and into Scotland for the pick up but not as far as Aberdeen, as any other direction would have you in the sea West or East

As for the car it has "tailgate struts"....ergo it has a tailgate.

REgards Neil

[Zelandeth]

I'm just far more comfortable with 70s-80s vehicles.....

Have received some more photos of the likely inbound vehicle, and it's much as I expected. Bit shabby in a few areas but fundamentally sound. Only thing which is giving me cause to hesitate just saying "Yes, when can I pick it up?" Is a slightly sticky brake caliper as the car hasn't seen a huge amount of use recently (which car has?). Given I've got a 350-ish mile drive home I'd really like not to be worrying about the brakes.

I've done that trip before in a car with one working brake and it's not an experience I particularly wish to repeat.

Other things which we know will need doing: Leaky cam cover, duff tailgate gas struts, driver's seat could do with reupholstering really, maybe a set of rear springs, and the paint is quite tired.

It is however being offered to me for far, far less than you'd normally expect so I'm pretty much ready to push the button on this plan even with the knowledge that I'll be going into it needing to spend a day or two fettling the car before it's ready for regular use.

The FCF awaits the reveal Zel, but there is all the evidence we have in a nutshell to speculate
Without giving too much away...

Does the "I'm just far more comfortable with 70s-80s vehicles." hold true for your prospective acquisition

At "350 ish drive home" that's got to have you over the border and into Scotland for the pick up but not as far as Aberdeen, as any other direction would have you in the sea West or East

As for the car it has "tailgate struts"....ergo it has a tailgate.

REgards Neil

It is a marque which is or has been represented on fleet before. Though that leaves quite a list!

[Michel]

I've been wearing this thing two days now.



I am utterly fed up with it already!

I see your wrist support and raise you a steroid injection into the subtalar ankle joint a couple of days ago and worrying “neurological issues” in my right foot. I’m booked to see a neurologist about that.

[Zelandeth]

I've been wearing this thing two days now.



I am utterly fed up with it already!

I see your wrist support and raise you a steroid injection into the subtalar ankle joint a couple of days ago and worrying “neurological issues” in my right foot. I’m booked to see a neurologist about that.

Yuck...not fun.

Thinking about the marques of car I've owned (or bought & looked after in the case of the ones my folks had in the couple of years up to my starting (officially...) driving) the list might be helpful...

Going back starting with the first car I actually bought for running around on the private roads associated with a farm just round the corner from us...

Order of some might be a bit wonky but you get the idea.

1986 Vauxhall Nova 1.2L 2-door saloon. Had been sandwiched between two cars in a pile up and was a good foot shorter than it left the factory, then was forgotten in a field for about five years. New battery fitted she fired straight up...drove like a brand new car though. I believe the engine was eventually transplanted into another car and is still going to this day.



1989 Fiat Uno 60S.



1988 Proton 1.5GL Aeroback. Don't have a photo of this sadly.

1988 Vauxhall Nova 1.2 Merit 2-door saloon. No idea why this ended up in my end of the market as the only thing wrong with it was one crusty brake pipe.



1988 Renault 25 Monaco (God I miss that car).



1994 Fiat Panda 1000 Fire.



1991 Nissan Micra 1.3GL (that thing was like a rocket powered go kart).



1989 Vauxhall Astra 1.3 Merit. Less said about that one the better...but it was free.



1986 Austin Metro City 5-door (in brush painted brown - this was my first actual on-the-road car).



1981 Austin MiniMetro HLE. Excellent car...wish I hadn't sold it.



1997 Lada Samara 1.3S 4-door.



1988 Renault 11TC.



1996 Lada Niva 1.7i Hussar (also regret not keeping).



1988 Skoda 130GL (which promptly got wiped out by a diesel tanker).



1994 Ford Fiesta 1.1i Freestyle (Hated it because of why I needed it, but was actually a surprisingly decent car).



1996 Peugeot 306XNd.



1988 Saab 900i 2-door Auto.



1995 Vauxhall Corsa 1.5 TD LS.



1985 Saab 900 5-speed 4-door.



2009 Peugeot 107 Verve.



1991 Skoda 135 RiC.



1989 Saab 900i 3-door Auto.



1993 Suzuki Cappuccino.



1980 VW T25 Camper.



1998 Peugeot 306 1.6LX Sedan.



1995 Lada Riva 1.5E Celebration.



1986 Skoda 120LX.



1998 Citroen Xantia 1.9TD Sensation.



1995 Lada Riva 1.5E Estate.



1996 Citroen Xantia Activa.



1990 Mercedes T1 AutoTrail Navajo Camper Van.



1976 AC Model 70 (well...half of one).



1973 AC Model 70 (the "other" half of one!).



1985 Jaguar XJ-S V12.



1983 Citroen BX 14RE.



Mystery vehicle soon to be appearing here!

Edit: Went back and added photos!

[mickthemaverick]

Reading through your list and trying to work out which of those marques you'd travel 350 miles for Zel, my guess would be the Saab 900, possibly a Turbo, or a Renault 11 GTX?

[Dormouse]

I suspect it might be a certain low mileage 306 in the Scottish Borders on the A702. Yes?

[NewcastleFalcon]

Not going for a Peugeot, or Mick's suggestions, but this is my deduction for the mystery car.

If my supposition is correct I reckon its MOT expires on 20th April 2022 Zel! and it's white.

Many of the facts fit. Rightish distance. Right Country. Same marque as a vehicle in your long fleet list past and present. I see an MG is not one of the marques in your fleet list, but I do think a MGO could be joining TPA et al

The reveal is yours, as and when the deal is done and dusted, but I think I am pretty adjacent, but could be wrong of course. (er the £70 calipers may have ruled out my previous confidence )

Don't think the "facts" above will give others too many clues if I am right, and until I looked up the DVLA records Micks SAAB 900 may have been an alternative contender (with an extra 0 on ie the SAAB 9000 CS XS I 1992 in Blue)

REgards Neil

[daviemck2006]

PS. I've been wearing this thing two days now.



I am utterly fed up with it already!

I'm on 4 days with this, it has to stay 6 weeks. Fed up does not cover it! Then once this one is healed the other hand needs doing!

[Dormouse]

I have reconsidered my guess and it is not the 306 in the borders. Would your planned first stop be Berwick upon Tweed?

[NewcastleFalcon]

It is a marque which is or has been represented on fleet before. Though that leaves quite a list!

If its the one I'm thinking of, as posted previously, it was sold at Mathewsons within the last year or so. The vimeo video with the sales details is now unavailable, and Mathewsons have had a recent revamp of their website, which appears currently to have not yet accumulated the full details for previous and archived sales, including the gallery of photos. Glenmarch does have a screenshot of the particulars, but they are customarily brief.

https://www.glenmarch.com/ Screenshot

All academic if my guess is wide of the mark!

REgards Neil

[Zelandeth]

If my supposition is correct I reckon its MOT expires on 20th April 2022 Zel! and it's white.

Someone correctly joined the dots!

She's a bit rough round the edges but I reckon will be a good base for some gentle tidying up.

Given the crazy prices they seem to go for these days it seemed worth a punt!