Anything goes - All Comments

re: Paul Newman: one of the greats

Beowolf — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:44:50 GMT

What a great man in so many ways: the sparkle in his eye will live on with so many of us forever.

re: 1500 miles in an Insignia

Bruce Wayne — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:03:00 GMT

What a total bag of spanners ! Hope it had a good suit jacket hook behind the driver's seat.

re: 1500 miles in an Insignia

ESP deactivated — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:14:10 GMT

Be honest, Col: how many people thought you were a taxi and tried to hail you?

re: 1500 miles in an Insignia

David Harrington-Wright — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:11:22 GMT

So that's where you have been hiding.

Very interested to read this, have new model mondeo that has now covered 47k, and looking to change!

re: 1500 miles in an Insignia

Quattro369 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:40:40 GMT

Should be a good read. But can you make sure it includes alot of info on the car, rather than a Clarkson style review were the actual motor is only mentioned in the last two sentences.

re: 1500 miles in an Insignia

julianphillips — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:30:23 GMT

Looks like a BMW 6-Series in that second picture...

re: Originality is the classic car sin

James Ruppert — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:09:57 GMT

Yes Rallyman I am a fan of Bristols in all the incarnations and the thought of a specialed up 405 sounds great, I'll have to go and find a shell now/ Love the idea of a Laurel engine in one, that would make Bristol purists spontaneously combust.

re: Originality is the classic car sin

hybridrallyman — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:24:21 GMT

James good to see You're a fan of Bristols (the marque that is). I have had a few over the years. I had a 401 fitted with a Nissan Laurel 2.4 motor which was really sweet. The chap I sold it to fitted a 280Z engine. I also had a really solid 411 series 3 with uprated brakes and suspension. A Dubliner bought it with plans to fit a modern Turbo D Merc engine and use it as his daily driver. What an under rated car the 411 is!

My pet project for when I have more time is a 405 with a shortened 2 door open body, similar to the current Bristol Speedster but fitted with a modified Armstrong Siddeley 234 4 pot engine and o/d box. These are really strong pokey engines and there are plenty of 405 rolling shells about that have had their 6 cylinder Bristol engines pinched for racing cars. I suspect a Bristol Siddeley Special would get invitations to some historic motorsport events.

re: Originality is the classic car sin

Straff — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:06:14 GMT

Citroen/Honda DS? Great idea - beautiful car in every way apart from that dog of an engine. Having said that; weren't Citroen originally going to put a flat 6 in the thing? I'm thinking Subaru here...

re: Movie trivia: ask British Car Auctions

williams1 — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:13:57 GMT

Used cars in Baltimore will add transportation comforts to your everyday

routine in the more enjoyable spot in east cost and its neighborhood

cities like Dun talk, Loch earn Catonsville and Middle River and so more.

Good used cars are good in condition..

==============================================

williams.

re: Movie trivia: ask British Car Auctions

williams1 — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:13:07 GMT

Used cars in Baltimore will add transportation comforts to your everyday

routine in the more enjoyable spot in east cost and its neighborhood

cities like Dun talk, Loch earn Catonsville and Middle River and so more.

Good used cars are good in condition..

==============================================

williams.

re: Originality is the classic car sin

James Ruppert — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:35:03 GMT

Aidan, full marks for your pioneering work and especially on my very favourite marque. The electric is a great way to go and I have been thinking diesel too as there is an outfit near me who have an american V8 truck engine and trick 11 speed autobox that delivers 70mpg at 70mph so plumbing that into something as sublime as the Bristol would be a great idea. When my Saab gives up then I will following your shining example. Please keep up the good work

James

re: Originality is the classic car sin

AidanP — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:01:36 GMT

I've been reading with interest. My only and everyday car is a Bristol 411 Series 1 (with a similar but not identical Chrysler V8 to the Jensen). The previous (Dutch) owner had already converted it to run on LPG so this has been my fuel of choice through almost 6 years of ownership - a few issues but none that couldn't be sorted and as I average 10mpg at least it means that I can affored to actually go somewhere in it. Everything else that has been changed or modified has just been sensible stuff to make it more reliable and dependable. Better modern cyclinder heads with more cooling capacity, a modren alternator so that you can sit in traffic in the winter with the lights and wipers on without worrying about battery drainage. Better shocks and slightly fatter tyres to stop and go round corners better etc etc. The most important change was so simple. Changing over from LPG to petrol was a bit hit and miss in the past as petrol had to be drawn up by vacuum before the thing would get going which involved much battery sapping engine turning and the risk of nothing happening until it was flat in winter. Modification - a small additional pump and under dash switch and hey it all works perfectly smoothly. It's all about reducing stress and just getting on and enjoying using it. The interior is tatty as hell but I don't really care - it feels lived in. The outside is sparkly and shiny even after 6 years (nice non orginal semi-metallic Mercedes spec paint) and as it lives on a London street the aluminium body is a joy rather than getting depressed about creeping rust spots. My next project - a second Bristol converted to run on those fancy powerful electric motors they will use in the soon to be launched Lightning GT with the batteries sited to keep the weight distribution about right. Could be extremely expensive but if legislation catches up with thirsty, dirty classics maybe there will be a market for retro-fitting other ways of propelling them in the rapid fuss-free way that owners of large V8 automatic classic cars are used to. Food for thought! Aidan

re: Originality is the classic car sin

tortoise — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 08:22:29 GMT

My first car, yes that old gag, was a Mk2 Cortina 1600E.

Metallic purple with the full wood dash, white leatherette interior and a white webasto sunroof.

If I could re buy it I'd fit a 2 litre fuel injected sierra engine with 5 speed box and some decent stoppers.

Then drive like I used to........

re: Originality is the classic car sin

James Ruppert — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 22:07:32 GMT

I do love the upgraded Jensen though paying a six sum for one is a problem, my local garage actually looks after two and plumbing an LPG system into one is a very good idea, otherwise I would love a properly sorted XJ6, I tried to sort my dads one out but it was beyond me. I like the idea of a fully functioning XJS...I also like Minors with 1275cc Marina A series and Metro seats...J