Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Members Cars => Topic started by: Piper an on Wednesday,May 20, 2015, 07:55:23 PM
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:lotus:Is it me or have I deleted my blog? Last post zetec conversion future plans spider chassis 2 lt engine 5 speed box 45 carbs new wheels total body stop plenty to do!?!
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Hey Piper,
Is this what you were looking for? http://www.lotuseuropa.org/LotusForum/index.php?topic=1041.msg8431#msg8431
I thought you had more than seven posts though...
That looks really good! Which tranny are you using? Is it going to be a street car or are you going to race it?
Keep those pictures coming!
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Espace g/ box I've anew zetec crate motor saving for spider chassis nice piece of kit cheers Derek
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Photos of car when it was driven! In to barn 18 years ago
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I'd never heard of the Espace! Since Renault hasn't exported cars to the US since the Fuego, we don't hear much about them over here. Renault seems to have made a lot of different transaxles that can be used in a mid engine configuration. I never understood how the Fuego was put together and not have it have a long snout, but maybe that's become sort of a trademark for them sort of like the rear engine configuration is for Porsche.
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Early espace 1999 glass fibre body made by mantra simca big to us 7 seater also made racing cars
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Transaxle
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Early espace 1999 glass fibre body made by mantra simca big to us 7 seater also made racing cars
I remember Matra Simca from back in the day. I'm having a harder time envisioning how the engine and transaxle fit in the Espace! There doesn't seem to be enough car in front of the front wheels for the engine to fit so I assume the engine is behind the transaxle?
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Your not the only one?
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The French have "interesting" ideas... :D
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Just sold this had car 40 years
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Cool car! 8)
Love the engine, looks like it sounded pretty good too...
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:) oooooo, I remember those !!!
Your pictures took me back well over 40 years to the first time I ever saw one. It was blue and I was, as a typical spotty "youf" of the day, riding a motorbike. I caught it up and was just stunned that I could look down on the driver..... I was easily amused in those days as well ! But it left a lasting impression on me which to this day I've not forgotten.
I haven't seen one in years and even back in the 60s & 70s they were rare cars. The new owner is very lucky to get yours.
Brian
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Hi Brian roughly 70-90cars made I know ill regret. selling lots of mods on car around 130bhp big valves high lift cam gas flowed swaymar head used to go to loads shows may not be practical but loads of fun Derek
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Ahh, a production run of 90 or less explains why our local Asda wasn't packed with them, doesn't it ?
By the mid 70s I'd got into cars and had a Marcos, which was very much the same sort of thing. I'm betting if you had the Piper in the 70s you would have been to the Marcos Owners Club weekends at Donnington in the Midlands ? Although it was billed as MOC day we used to get all sorts of sporty cars from the 60s turning up and I can remember being there one year with a line of Pipers parked up on the grass. The large rear screen always took my eye and I bet it must have got very hot in there at times.
Brian
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I can remember the Dagenham Girl Pipers, but I don't think there was 90 of them in Asda car park in Dagenham (the Detroit of Essex).
The TVR Tuscan or Grantura was from that era, as was the Clan Crusader, the Ginetta, the Mini Marcos, the Marcos which had I think either a 1600 or V6 3 litre, the Mrcos Mantis, the Davrian, the Darrian
Where have all the fun cars gone now? Legislation or just not economic to make hem any more. The demise of TVR was very sad as they made a good product until Russian intervention made hem go out of business.
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That piper looks great! Hadn't heard of them before.
I found a clip of the 1970 sports car show, showing a Piper GTT and a Europa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pT9NkCQQXY
Serge
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Yes went to donnington good turn out of pipers liked vid will see if this works pipers on rd ex chief club man car now in Japan Derek
Can't seem to load it any wayutube pipers on rd
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Hi Brian the piper is leaving this weekend leading me a merry dance I think it's trying to tell me something ,didn't realise been off rd 4 years due to illness clutch stuck engine wouldn't fire despite electronic ign got it all running lovely master switch fails all together now we been together for 40 years and it don't seem a day to much ! Derek
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:)
Now that's a '60s car interior, yards of black leathercloth, more switches and dials than a 747 and barely enough room to move once you're inside..... who needs airbags, you're not going anywhere once you've made it into the seat !
4yrs is a long time for webers to stand idle, these days the petrol in mine seems to evapourate and gum up much quicker than it ever used to do. 40yrs is a long time to stick with something though, that's going to leave a big hole in the toy box.
Brian
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hi serge good find on video clip re piper/ Europa ,when I bought piper all those years ago didn't know to buy that or Renault alpine 110 worth huge money now Derek
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did a little on s2
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The surgery went well doctor!
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yes DR Waterfall of coarse !
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taking dash out to sort cracked vanish every thing. rusted. nearly there will post pics Derek
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a few pics rusty rev counter
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:)
It may be rusty, but it's still got the "smiths guarantee" sticker on it, which will probably be worth a fortune on Ebay ! It looks like a classic case of finding a broken one on Ebay for pennies and transplanting the dial, needle & innards... or maybe converting with one of those spiyda kits just in case you fancy changing to a non-standard ignition ?
( https://www.spiyda.com/magento/index.php/smiths-rvi-rvc-conversion-board.html (https://www.spiyda.com/magento/index.php/smiths-rvi-rvc-conversion-board.html) )
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i will clean rev counter up insides look ok Derek
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Hi all went to piper club AGM heritage centre Gaydon 2016 50 years anniversary piper cams & piper car im still associate member good day and a look around museam few pics off the pipers del
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Pretty cars and apparently very rare! Looks like a nice intimate event!
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few pics lotus m100 elan piper
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few pics
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more pics last fomation flight of Vulcan .no more flying end of this year fantastic aircraft ,l belong to supporters club southend ,426 does taxi runs thirsty beast
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A brilliant shot of the Vulcan and I was also sad to hear they aren't going to keep it airworthy after this year. I can understand the reasoning but even so it feels wrong not to keep at least one example airworthy if only because it's so strikingly different from the others in the fleet.
moving back to cars.... that front bay is looking very tidy, are the reservoirs for a dual circuit brake system or have you put in an hydraulic clutch ?
Brian
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Hi Brian not my front bay spyders zetec demo nice car offered it to me for £22000. which i dont have lm going down the same route zetec + espace box & hydralic clutch + their chassis still lots off dosh! check out classic car free ads Europa cheers Derek
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Hi everyone im going down the zetec route anyone have suggestion for radiator 2 ltr engine Derek
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I'm using the China Special
(http://www.lotuseuropa.org/gallery/albums/album13/Aluminum_Radiator_2.sized.jpg)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALUMINUM-AUTO-RADIATOR-FOR-Lotus-Europa-S1-S2-TC-/351092213905?hash=item51beba0891&vxp=mtr
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Thanks for that Joe looks like just the part , long way off yet pick my Spyder chassis up soon lots of money but nice bit of kit cheers Derek
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Hi Brian did i ever answer on donnington , yes used to go my first trip in Piper after rebuild 1980 , got there late loss all water due to dodgy pipe that was only 10 miles from the start ! made it though ,another time going down local motorway at a reasonable rate of notts blew a badly fitted core plug all the top piston rings broke , of coarse c./ plug was-behind flywheel engine rebuild no2 Derek
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a few pics spyder chassis
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Not Lotus pipers at NEC this weekend inc car bought back by a Director
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I see the white one broke down eh ? Could almost be a Lotus..... ;)
Brian
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Ohh they look cool.
I'll be there at the NEC tomorrow.
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Hi Dave Brian the white one just been restored on trailer just for transport , they are next door to Marcos cars say Hi for me Derek
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Hey, if you're going to the show, how about taking some pictures for us lesser mortals ? I'd like to see what the Marcos scene is like these days although I can't ever see me getting back to one.
The Pipers look cool and it's one of those things that gets me all misty eyed. When you think back to the 60s & 70s there was undoubtedly a load of rubbish around the Kit Car scene but equally there were some little gems that your average bloke might actually get to own. I've been scanning some old Donnington photos recently and some of the things you used to see....
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Brian, will do, interested how some of those early cars are valued now. an early Marcos can fetch good money, havent really looked at Pipers recently.
I'll take a few pics and post.
Dave
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A good condition Piper £20000.00 to£25000.00 dealer/ show more like I've said before owned mine for 40years sold to nice chap Derek
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Those are some wild looking cars! Very nice!
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Hi BDA,
The first is a kit car of the period, a Concept Centaur. A very far out car but the basic theme was taken from a show car produced by the Adams brothers who had a long association with Jem Marsh and Marcos. The car they made was called the Probe 15, followed shortly by the Probe 16 & then 2001. The 16 was the one used in the Kubrick film "Clockwork Orange" and probably the reason the Centaur kit was offered. If you think a Europa is low, then you need to see one of those !
The second is a Costin Amigo, designed & produced by Frank Costin and again of "Marcos" fame - he's the "cos" bit in the name. It's a wooden monocoque with vauxhall engine, fibreglass bodywork and lots of ingenious touches - the bulbous door hinges were ventilation scoops at one point for example. Incredibly cramped inside and definitely not for "mature" drivers ! More trivia - the lady with the mass of hair looking inside and wondering if she'll fit is my wife.... probably wondering if I was going to buy it as I knew the owner back then.
The third is another Piper. (getting common, aren't they ? ;) ). When I saw the white one posted by Piper an I wondered if it was the same car 40yrs ago so checked the photo, but it's not. Different reg and model I think.
Brian
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Hi Brian yes ones a GGT the other laterP2 phase two with pop ups whats the reg on ggt ?
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Hi BDA,
The first is a kit car of the period, a Concept Centaur. A very far out car but the basic theme was taken from a show car produced by the Adams brothers who had a long association with Jem Marsh and Marcos. The car they made was called the Probe 15, followed shortly by the Probe 16 & then 2001. The 16 was the one used in the Kubrick film "Clockwork Orange" and probably the reason the Centaur kit was offered. If you think a Europa is low, then you need to see one of those !
The second is a Costin Amigo, designed & produced by Frank Costin and again of "Marcos" fame - he's the "cos" bit in the name. It's a wooden monocoque with vauxhall engine, fibreglass bodywork and lots of ingenious touches - the bulbous door hinges were ventilation scoops at one point for example. Incredibly cramped inside and definitely not for "mature" drivers ! More trivia - the lady with the mass of hair looking inside and wondering if she'll fit is my wife.... probably wondering if I was going to buy it as I knew the owner back then.
The third is another Piper. (getting common, aren't they ? ;) ). When I saw the white one posted by Piper an I wondered if it was the same car 40yrs ago so checked the photo, but it's not. Different reg and model I think.
Brian
Interesting, Brian! Wood monocoque! I was wondering what those "scoops" were. Thanks! And great picture of your wife! Frank Costin sure got around, didn't he? I guess it runs in the family with his brother Mike!
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Hi Brian yes ones a GGT the other laterP2 phase two with pop ups whats the reg on ggt ?
I think it is RAK 51J but the photograph is typical 1970's "happy snap" photo printing and none too sharp. It was even printed on matt paper to make it worse !
Enlarging and adding contrast in photoshop gives a better idea so I did a quick check on the DVLA site and that number does belong to a Piper which in 1986 was off the road and painted Blue. So it's probably stored in someone's barn just waiting for rescue.
Vehicle make PIPER
Date of first registration 25 September 1970
Cylinder capacity (cc) 1600cc
CO₂Emissions Not available
Fuel type PETROL
Vehicle status Not taxed
Vehicle colour BLUE
Vehicle type approval Not available
Wheelplan 2 AXLE RIGID BODY
BDA - Frank Costin was a much underrated engineer compared with his brother Mike and some of the things he did were typical of the "mad genius in a shed" mentality. He did a lot of aerodynamic work on the early Lotus cars but the Amigo never made serious production, I think there were only around 10 made because it was very expensive to produce. If you ever see the book "Flying on Four Wheels" by Dennis Ortenburger it's all about Frank & his creations and definitely worth a read.
You've just got to admire a guy who designs & builds a car and then entitles the driver's handbook - "Pilot's Instructions" :)
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Thanks Brian yes RAK 51J is known to club present wearabouts not sure Derek
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A few pics of marcos cars NEC
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ahhh you beat me too it! Photos still on my phone
Did you find any europas though!
Had a chat to the Piper lot.
Ill post my pics when I get them off my phone
Dave
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Hi dave no i didnt go nick photos off macos club! hopefully you found Europa Derek :)
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Didn't find Derek but had a good chat with one of the guys...who I've forgotten the name of.. Talking about lotus power lumps, he owned the lime green car.
Dave
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Hi Dave yes thats Dave McConnel loveiy car twink engine owned long time ,no i didnt go due to illness 1 of the reason for selling my car after 40years Derek :blowup:
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Well I hope illness is only temporary..
40 years with the car that's not bad! Am surely you had a lot of fun...and grief! with it.
It was very very busy there, so our chat got interrupted, had quite a chat about twinks water pumps
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Wow - well, Marcos owners always did do "Flash" well, it seems to have moved up another ten notches since I last saw one. The yellow car is almost an exhibition piece rather than something you'd actually want to drive on the road.
Brian
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Yes 40years had a lot of fun i rebuilt the car around 1980 shot blast chassis just surface rust , during paiting drop can of paint what goes down comes up head to toe in paint ! in hair when i had some! or the time engine ticking over checked rad cap stops had gone took skin off arm what fun ,once sorted very reliable Derek :)
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few more pics nec
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sorted my m100 eian boost problem ,semi stuck waste gate drives a dream now Del :blowup:
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o
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Happy New Year every one Derek :headbanger:
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Happy New Year to you and the rest of the inmates of this asylum. ;D
BTW piper, you can edit your post! :)
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what have u all been up to del
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what have u all been up to del
Hi Derek,
I don't know what the weather is like around your way but in our bit of Lincolnshire it's wet and muddy..... so as far as "what have I been up to ?" the answer is "not a lot".
Living next door to fields is great in summer but when it rains the tractors drag it all over the place and I quickly get fed up of cleaning cars these days. Even the dog is getting a bucket wash outside every day before he's let inside, so things are going to be quiet on the toy car front until it clears up a bit.
So off-topic from cars I've been tinkering about with one of those little action-cam things to see what you can get with them. Hopefully some in-car footage in the summer, maybe a bit from the bike as well, we'll have to see. Steven Spielberg I'm not......
Brian
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Hi Brian yes preety wet down here o for a decent garage ,been collecting bits for europa as money allows , the waterfall name & familys live in the gedney broadgate area ,so i know the local quite well cheers Derek
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It was so wet in Norfolk that progress on 3755R was very slow over Xmas.
I did manage to use a strobe on 4129R to time it at 3000rpm at 26BTDC (QED recommended figure) to stop it backfiring through the Webers.
I have had to clear out a space under cover, to take the windscreen out to recover the crash pad (badly cracked due to sunshine through the screen). You can't get at the 8 fixing screws with the screen in.
The carpet was soaked, so with the screen out, at least it should dry.
Then I start on the dash wiring and the carpet replacement.
All the fields around me are full of standing water. Roll on warm dry weather.
Alex in Norfolk.
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Hi all not much going on with europa just buying few bits not sorted dash yet ,but have new laminate for it striped off old laquer ,got some new bonnet locks. . next job after dash rebuild front suspension cheers for now Derek
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forgot to post pics of my old piper getting there on repaint in primer
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NOICE
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Chuck, are you channeling your inner Aussie? ;D
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BUGGER! IVE BEEN FAHWNED AHWT!!
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my s2 has no fron :lotus:t spoiler was f/g moulding or rubber ?,del
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If I can read between your typos :) (said the guy who NEVR haz a tipo!) I don't think there was a front spoiler on the S2 but if there was, it was almost surely fiberglass.
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Hi bda sorry about that should have put me specs on + preview text ! what i meant to say any non lotus , lotus look spoilers ,dif subject no pun intended any one have a good elan or +2 diff casing Derek
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Ahhh! I see what you were after! Clever! In case you're interested, there is a cow catcher front spoiler out there. I got mine from Dave Bean (www.davebean.com) but I presume they are widely available. I also heard many years ago that a 240Z front spoiler fits on the Europa.
Good luck with the Elan diff casing!
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I know its not a lotus been working on seats g/f ,making them wider labour of love , this car bit special never registered or driven on rd just been recommissioned should be nice car Derek
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Had to show my old car with new coat on
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:)
A very 1960s colour, all set for the Kings Road.....
Brian
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Yes Brian its a lambo colour pearlescent orange with gold tint in sunlight well done to new owner
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back out of hospital time to reflect am i going to finish the Europa 2 weeks + lot of thinking off my health may mean bye bye , could be knee jerk reation i will give it a few days del :huh:
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Hi Del,
Reading between the lines (not always a sensible idea) I'm guessing your stay wasn't inspiring. All I would say is that regardless of how gloomy things look, you're usually better off if you have an interest to drive you along - toys, projects, decorating the house or even work ! It doesn't matter what you pick as long as you have something to take your mind away from real life for a while. Swearing at stubborn car bits works for me ! ;)
Catch ya later
Brian
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thanks Brian yes two weeks of tests no further forward accept may be up the list on transplant liver not through drinking i might say , does make you reflex Del
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Del, I'm really sorry to hear of your health problems! Good luck with your liver transplant! I think Brian's right, get something to take your mind off that but please keep us informed.
Get well soon!
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Hi all getting over the hospital blues yes your right do need a focus , Europa staying for forseable future ,pics of my old car new owner doing well cheers Derek +cat!
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:)
That bundle of fur looks unimpressed, you've obviously not brought food ! I find animals of any shape or form are great for taking your mind off yourself and onto them. With us it's either a ball being dropped on your foot (several times if you're slow on the uptake) or a surprisingly heavy lump landing on you to announce meal time.....
Brian
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Hi everyone getting more stable been working on m100 elan , bought a plug & play ignition for zetec must be feeling bit better Derek pics of cat & mr2'
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typical pet, always finding the warmest place in the house......
is it your MR2 ? I'm a big fan of the MR2 in any guise and one of those MK3's made our short list a few years ago, but we ended up with an MX5 instead. Boring practicality, the MX5 could take us on holiday but SWMBO said the MR2 was too small. And then several years later I bought an old 1980s Mk1 and we went round Scotland in it complete with both boots full of luggage and the dog in the passenger footwell. (SWMBO thought it was great)
Good to hear you're on the up. Keep at it !
Brian
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Hi Brian yes the MR2 mine swaped it with a dealer for 1800 mx mk1 brg , the mk3 are cheap to buy at moment they can have a few issues oil consumption some say pre cats break up engine eats the bits change to stainless manifold on mine ,nice car to drive good handling & light 40 mpg too cheers Derek
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I can see your cat lives a charmed life! Hopefully, you don't have the mouse/rat problem Chuck Nukem had (has?)!
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Hi BDA chesny the cat brings lots of presents , hes a lovely boy dispite tripping over him on top of stairs ! still have bad back 2 years later hes a lovely boy ! ! !
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Chesny should learn to watch out better! After all his sponsor has his frailties!
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Just going through pics found this Europa v8 powered i think i have seen the car at silverstone found pic on web Del
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Hi Brian yes the MR2 mine swaped it with a dealer for 1800 mx mk1 brg , the mk3 are cheap to buy at moment they can have a few issues oil consumption some say pre cats break up engine eats the bits change to stainless manifold on mine ,nice car to drive good handling & light 40 mpg too cheers Derek
Ahh, you've pressed my nostalgia button.....
I wanted a Mk3 because it was supposed to be the modern version of the Mk1, which we both wanted back in the 80s but couldn't afford. So after we moved here I bought an old Mk1 to "scratch that itch" and it ended up staying for 3 years including that Scottish tour. Ironically it wasn't much bigger than the Mk3 but this time it was "great".
Mam Ratagan Pass in Glenelg with the dog doing what he did best.... ;)
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Yes the mk1 find a nice one , heading up classic hill price wise , a 190 brake engine swap would be interesting ,going to paint wheels anthrasite keep it standard Del
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getting there wit m100dependent on weather couple of pics
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photo
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banks europa for sale with a dealer thought i would share pics
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Richard sure does great work!
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Wow, now that's stunning paintwork. And everything else really, although I must admit it's a bit too eye-catching for me to drive around town !
A great addition to any toybox though.....
Brian
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Yes lovely paint and looks great,... mostly. But what's with the rectangular headlights, that spoils it for me.
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He did a couple with square headlights, I think they were trendy at the time. I've got to admit I think they spoil the lines having seen one in "the plastic", but each to their own....