sqh1969
New Member
Hi everyone
I'm new to the forum and posted to the Welcome section recently, having set out to buy a Series 1 V8 and ending up with two. Please skip the next paragraph if you don't want the background to me getting the cars...
I have liked the P6 ever since my Uncle Bert had a '64 2000 in the '70s and '80s and I always wanted a Series 2 V8, so bought one in the early '90s. It was Monza Red with black leather, a Webasto sunroof and 'S' wheel trims, but often they were just old bangers then and when it finally packed up I let it rot in the garden before giving it away to a workmate who wanted the engine - when I think of all the parts that could have been kept! Over the years I occasionally found myself hankering after a Series 1 but never really had the money to get anything decent. When I did I started to miss out - ideally I wanted a 1969 in white with a red interior, but replying to adverts they had either been sold, or the seller had changed his mind, or the car didn't seem right somehow. A couple of cars in other colours I liked such as Arden Green came up for sale but they were in Ireland, and I'd almost given up hope and decided to concentrate solely on my other classic car when OFC855H came up.
OFC is Brigade Red with a Buckskin interior which had been in a barn for nearly twenty years. The second owner had only driven it a few times before the auto developed a fault, and eventually he asked his car dealer neighbour to sell it. Someone was already interested but he called me back when they decided against it and I didn't need much persuading. It wasn't cheap, but it had obviously been cared for and was solid, it was complete and apart from fibreglass front wings it seemed original. The paint was scruffy but the chrome was okay, the carpets had gone through in the front footwells but the seats weren't too worn and the dash was good. The auto fault had only been a lack of fluid and they'd managed to get it running. To top it off it had been supplied new by a dealer near to me in March 1970 and so had one of the local registration prefixes.
I spent several pleasant hours getting rid of years of dirt, T-cutting the paint, polishing all the chrome and cleaning the interior. Because I am hopeless at anything much beyond changing sparkplugs it then spent several months away with my mechanic neighbour Dave having a proper overhaul. The carbs needed a de-gunk and tweak and with the plugs, leads and hoses replaced it starts first time from cold and sits at 80-85 degrees when fully warmed up. Obviously the brake system was fully redone and it stops really well. I took the opportunity to have some small upgrades such as electronic ignition and electric fuel pump, fog and hazard lights, and halogen bulbs in the headlights in place of the old sealed units. The exhaust fell apart almost straightaway and has been replaced by a stainless steel system which sounds fantastic, and it sits on new 185/80 tyres.
I'm now driving the car just on fairly short journeys to see what problems crop up. It creaks a bit when coming to a halt and over speed bumps, the auto is a bit clunky when engaging reverse and sometimes it's a bit lumpy when idling. So it will go back to Dave for some more work before going on any long trips. The underseal is peeling off and there is surface rust so I need to scrape off and treat the metal before resealing. The leather and vinyl needs another clean before the seats are treated with hide food. Finally the scruffy paintwork and the door to window rubbers will have to be tackled. I'm very happy with the car nonetheless. It really moves and sounds great, and people admire it and ask questions even as it is.
Below are some photos of OFC. Later I will post some info about and photos of NJT 953J.
Simon
I'm new to the forum and posted to the Welcome section recently, having set out to buy a Series 1 V8 and ending up with two. Please skip the next paragraph if you don't want the background to me getting the cars...
I have liked the P6 ever since my Uncle Bert had a '64 2000 in the '70s and '80s and I always wanted a Series 2 V8, so bought one in the early '90s. It was Monza Red with black leather, a Webasto sunroof and 'S' wheel trims, but often they were just old bangers then and when it finally packed up I let it rot in the garden before giving it away to a workmate who wanted the engine - when I think of all the parts that could have been kept! Over the years I occasionally found myself hankering after a Series 1 but never really had the money to get anything decent. When I did I started to miss out - ideally I wanted a 1969 in white with a red interior, but replying to adverts they had either been sold, or the seller had changed his mind, or the car didn't seem right somehow. A couple of cars in other colours I liked such as Arden Green came up for sale but they were in Ireland, and I'd almost given up hope and decided to concentrate solely on my other classic car when OFC855H came up.
OFC is Brigade Red with a Buckskin interior which had been in a barn for nearly twenty years. The second owner had only driven it a few times before the auto developed a fault, and eventually he asked his car dealer neighbour to sell it. Someone was already interested but he called me back when they decided against it and I didn't need much persuading. It wasn't cheap, but it had obviously been cared for and was solid, it was complete and apart from fibreglass front wings it seemed original. The paint was scruffy but the chrome was okay, the carpets had gone through in the front footwells but the seats weren't too worn and the dash was good. The auto fault had only been a lack of fluid and they'd managed to get it running. To top it off it had been supplied new by a dealer near to me in March 1970 and so had one of the local registration prefixes.
I spent several pleasant hours getting rid of years of dirt, T-cutting the paint, polishing all the chrome and cleaning the interior. Because I am hopeless at anything much beyond changing sparkplugs it then spent several months away with my mechanic neighbour Dave having a proper overhaul. The carbs needed a de-gunk and tweak and with the plugs, leads and hoses replaced it starts first time from cold and sits at 80-85 degrees when fully warmed up. Obviously the brake system was fully redone and it stops really well. I took the opportunity to have some small upgrades such as electronic ignition and electric fuel pump, fog and hazard lights, and halogen bulbs in the headlights in place of the old sealed units. The exhaust fell apart almost straightaway and has been replaced by a stainless steel system which sounds fantastic, and it sits on new 185/80 tyres.
I'm now driving the car just on fairly short journeys to see what problems crop up. It creaks a bit when coming to a halt and over speed bumps, the auto is a bit clunky when engaging reverse and sometimes it's a bit lumpy when idling. So it will go back to Dave for some more work before going on any long trips. The underseal is peeling off and there is surface rust so I need to scrape off and treat the metal before resealing. The leather and vinyl needs another clean before the seats are treated with hide food. Finally the scruffy paintwork and the door to window rubbers will have to be tackled. I'm very happy with the car nonetheless. It really moves and sounds great, and people admire it and ask questions even as it is.
Below are some photos of OFC. Later I will post some info about and photos of NJT 953J.
Simon
