Tor
Well-Known Member
Hey all,
Thought I'd share with you my latest reason to be happy About two weeks after deciding to sell my 5-speed clone due to a mismatch between work needed and mechanical resources available, the car I was hoping to find to replace it showed up - many thanks to fellow forum member roveratle. A mate was selling his cherished, never-welded original 'S' after 14 years, on condition the buyer would provide a good home, due care and attention. The description and photos I got had me getting on a plane (!) to fly across the country on a committed blind date: ETs, PAS, great original interior, good paint gloss, recent engine rebuild, electric fuel pump, Koni Classics, Rover rubber mats, and more. I hadn't sold the first one yet...
She actually started life in the UK in '73, was taken to Sweden in 1976 and LHD-converted (down to dual-circuit brakes), then to Norway in 1995 where she gained SunDyms and PAS (and legally required, stupid extra side indicators). The Swedish owner had done good work on her - everything I touch and prod gives me sticky fingers from antirust product, and an engine bay as good as anything I've seen. Atle's friend has kept her in very good shape too, and helped make the transaction as good as a car purchase gets. Apart from the odd small paint bubble I haven't seen any metal needing attention, no sign of tin worm *anywhere* so far. She's been kept in a tempered garage, not used much for several years (last EU inspection was in 2000), she might never have suffered road salt. She needs a full exhaust and rear brake seals for her inspection, and a tune-up. The rear springs sag and bottom out, esp. the left one, which makes her roll and twist in right-handers and over bumps at speed.
No hesitation, though! Last night I completed the 7,5-hr journey from Oslo to the west coast (I mean, who SHIPS their cars anyway 8)), choosing the quick route through the southern mountains for two reasons - time saved and gorgeous, swooping, bendy ups and downs for hours on end. The radio was out but the forward silencer was opening up nicely, so I was well entertained while the suspension rubbers got into the motion of hairpins, hard braking and rude frost heaves at 100km/h - she showed herself to be a good, tight vehicle on the road. I was cruising. I'm over the moon.
Thought I'd share with you my latest reason to be happy About two weeks after deciding to sell my 5-speed clone due to a mismatch between work needed and mechanical resources available, the car I was hoping to find to replace it showed up - many thanks to fellow forum member roveratle. A mate was selling his cherished, never-welded original 'S' after 14 years, on condition the buyer would provide a good home, due care and attention. The description and photos I got had me getting on a plane (!) to fly across the country on a committed blind date: ETs, PAS, great original interior, good paint gloss, recent engine rebuild, electric fuel pump, Koni Classics, Rover rubber mats, and more. I hadn't sold the first one yet...
She actually started life in the UK in '73, was taken to Sweden in 1976 and LHD-converted (down to dual-circuit brakes), then to Norway in 1995 where she gained SunDyms and PAS (and legally required, stupid extra side indicators). The Swedish owner had done good work on her - everything I touch and prod gives me sticky fingers from antirust product, and an engine bay as good as anything I've seen. Atle's friend has kept her in very good shape too, and helped make the transaction as good as a car purchase gets. Apart from the odd small paint bubble I haven't seen any metal needing attention, no sign of tin worm *anywhere* so far. She's been kept in a tempered garage, not used much for several years (last EU inspection was in 2000), she might never have suffered road salt. She needs a full exhaust and rear brake seals for her inspection, and a tune-up. The rear springs sag and bottom out, esp. the left one, which makes her roll and twist in right-handers and over bumps at speed.
No hesitation, though! Last night I completed the 7,5-hr journey from Oslo to the west coast (I mean, who SHIPS their cars anyway 8)), choosing the quick route through the southern mountains for two reasons - time saved and gorgeous, swooping, bendy ups and downs for hours on end. The radio was out but the forward silencer was opening up nicely, so I was well entertained while the suspension rubbers got into the motion of hairpins, hard braking and rude frost heaves at 100km/h - she showed herself to be a good, tight vehicle on the road. I was cruising. I'm over the moon.