Hairy Bikers and Other Petrol Heads
- Thread starter Eastsidepilot
- Start date
Hi all
I find reliability a strange thing as it does not always relate to the age and/or value of the car. In 1976 I was a single parent, skint, with 3 kids, 4, 7 & 9 years old. I purchased a very old, colossal mileage LHD Peugeot 404 estate for about £80. totally reliable except about 80 miles/pint of oil. " years later I stuck a sale note in the window. I sold it for £30 to a man from somewhere in hot dusty Africa. He was going to strip it for mechanical parts as they never had rust problems but the mechanics ground to the point of being un-repairable.
Another cheap trade clearance car, about 1985 was a Hillman Avenger 1600 base model, PVC seats, rubber mats and a damaged OS front wing. Low mileage but inside was a giant ash tray. Two years & 40K later sold it for £100 and the only repair was a diaphragm in the carburetor.
Most of mine have been trade clearance because of age, minor damage or very high mileage but as I did my own servicing until I reached my 60s it did not matter.
The worst car with respect value/price was a brand new Renault Laguna 2lt company car about 1998/9. The ABS shuddered when it cut in but as I told the dealer the gear change & clutch was nearly as good as an old Maxi. I was glad to see the back of it.
My present car & may be my last is an ex mobility late 2001 Astra 1600 Auto (the dual clutch system) that is now just short of 50k It should do another 50k & at less than 5K/year I will be 90 by then.
I have some tales of some the others as well as the bikes but perhaps another day.
Regards
Allen Morgan
I find reliability a strange thing as it does not always relate to the age and/or value of the car. In 1976 I was a single parent, skint, with 3 kids, 4, 7 & 9 years old. I purchased a very old, colossal mileage LHD Peugeot 404 estate for about £80. totally reliable except about 80 miles/pint of oil. " years later I stuck a sale note in the window. I sold it for £30 to a man from somewhere in hot dusty Africa. He was going to strip it for mechanical parts as they never had rust problems but the mechanics ground to the point of being un-repairable.
Another cheap trade clearance car, about 1985 was a Hillman Avenger 1600 base model, PVC seats, rubber mats and a damaged OS front wing. Low mileage but inside was a giant ash tray. Two years & 40K later sold it for £100 and the only repair was a diaphragm in the carburetor.
Most of mine have been trade clearance because of age, minor damage or very high mileage but as I did my own servicing until I reached my 60s it did not matter.
The worst car with respect value/price was a brand new Renault Laguna 2lt company car about 1998/9. The ABS shuddered when it cut in but as I told the dealer the gear change & clutch was nearly as good as an old Maxi. I was glad to see the back of it.
My present car & may be my last is an ex mobility late 2001 Astra 1600 Auto (the dual clutch system) that is now just short of 50k It should do another 50k & at less than 5K/year I will be 90 by then.
I have some tales of some the others as well as the bikes but perhaps another day.
Regards
Allen Morgan
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Another blast from the past, we moved house 2 1/2 years ago and I'm still finding old photo's and stuff in boxes I'd forgotten about.
This was about '82, we weren't fair weather bikers back then
Col.
This was about '82, we weren't fair weather bikers back then
Col.
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
When I was 16 and the examiner said " I'm pleased to tell you that you have successfully passed the test" 
.....and that's why we have white hair and beards......did I hear the valves bounce ?
Col.
.....and that's why we have white hair and beards......did I hear the valves bounce ?
Col.
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Dog Star
Western Thunderer
Colin (@eastsidepilot),
By "travelling marshalls" I am referring to those marshalls who drove the course during a race and who were there to monitor / assist race entrants, such riders rode machines which were funded by the entrants. I think that there were five or six such marshalls at the time that I saw last a travelling marshall in the early 1980s.
regards, Graham
By "travelling marshalls" I am referring to those marshalls who drove the course during a race and who were there to monitor / assist race entrants, such riders rode machines which were funded by the entrants. I think that there were five or six such marshalls at the time that I saw last a travelling marshall in the early 1980s.
regards, Graham
Tim Humphreys ex Mudhen
Western Thunderer
Graham,
A quick internet search confirms that there were 8 marshalls in 2018 riding bikes supplied by Honda.
Tim
A quick internet search confirms that there were 8 marshalls in 2018 riding bikes supplied by Honda.
Tim
michael080
Western Thunderer
... and the exhaust pipe isn't really improving seating comfort.
Michael
Michael
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
.........wouldn't want to 'lay it down' in a defensive riding situation when some one pulls out in front of you, resort to the truck drivers mantra ....'just keep it straight and hit'em mate '
Col.
Col.
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Tony, you 'aint got an old Lister engine hanging about have you, we could build one of these
Col.
Col.
Len Cattley
Western Thunderer
Reminds me of when I used to drive our works dumper truck in Norfolk in the 70's.
Len
Len
simond
Western Thunderer
you’d need a crane to get it up again.
Then again, the lower frame rails ground clearance is measured in millimetres, and judging by the rear mudguard, it’s got a very fat tyre in there, so perhaps it just sort of “leans”
Osgood
Western Thunderer
Tony, you 'aint got an old Lister engine hanging about have you, we could build one of these:
Col.
You have a choice of 1 or 2 cylinders - how about a shaft drive twin?
Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Merlin, Allison or a Griffon .....suit you Sir ! 
Col......if you get the time watch parts 2 & 3.
Col......if you get the time watch parts 2 & 3.
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Eastsidepilot
Western Thunderer
Col.