Rescue Car: R1
Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2020 7:02 pm
Al and I had a very tiring few days, entirely our own fault due to forgetting stuff and having to go back and get it. Plus we took Snazzy with us for a bit of electrical tlc from Jeff only to discover that the bodyshop had done something untoward when they refitted the fuel tank. We simply could not get fuel in from the pump, so Al ended up dispensing fuel into a can first, then using the thinner nozzle on that to get it into the car. Made filling up quite tediously slow, but it was great to have her back on the road. A lot of heads turned, and a pair of eastern Europeans in a very expensive looking Merc stopped on a garage forecourt and asked if she was for sale. They claimed to be car dealers from the biggest outlet in Milton Keynes but who knows? Totally irrelevant anyway, I'm sure they would have promptly lost interest if I'd given them a price. Dropped Snazzy off with Jeff on Sunday, nice socially distant meal in his local pub's garden, lots of chat about cars and fun with the floof, then off to our Travelodge for a good night's sleep.
Up and out early Monday to collect the car trailer and off we set for our rescue mission. Lovely bright sunny day, perfect for the drive and luckily it was easy to find. The wheel arches felt as good as they looked on the pics and the body was generally nice condition which was reassuring but inside looked a rather sorry state - badly faded interior panels and no seats but the carpet was surprisingly clean with no rust stains round the seat runners and no big ole greasy stains from being used as a cupboard for bits of 480. Even the rear lights will look presentable once polished.
First things first, battery was flat, even the big one didn't have enough charge so Al's lorry jump leads came out and between them they started it. Engine sounded very smooth once it got over the shock.
and off she set for a new adventure, squeezing behind an 1800S ~(terrible bodywork after 30 years in a container on a farm)
being loaded with a big ole toolbox in use as a driver's seat
Once safely loaded, we had a 'quick' tour round to see the other cars there, I began to think I was never going to drag Al away. You would never have guessed we had a fairly tight time schedule to get the trailer back by 5.
On the way back to Jeff's we had this wretched Volvo tailgating us all the way.
what's that peering in the back for ? Tried driving faster but we just couldn't get away from it
We kept in touch with Jeff so he knew how tight time was going to be, and had everything ready for a quick unload. Sorry no photos that end, I was too busy laughing. Al looked hilarious reversing her off the trailer with no toolbox to sit on. Only his head was at window level, no sign of a body ! Off we rushed to return the trailer and got there with just 7 minutes to spare. After the long tiring day and last minute stress we managed to forget yet another item - left our rear numberplate on the trailer ! Fortunately Al realised when he was filling up near the hire place, so we werent far away. Trailer return deadline was 30mins before closing to give them time to tidy the trailer yard so we got our plate back OK, then off to Jeff's to collapse on a garden chair with our first coffees of the day along with some yummy cakes our neighbour had made. Once recovered we had a better look at R1 and Jeff talked us through all the nightmare wiring. He couldnt wait to get started and we needed to be on our way back to Norfolk. Finally got home at midnight, and very glad to fall into bed after a satisfyingly successful mission.
Over to Jeff for the next update on this thread.
Up and out early Monday to collect the car trailer and off we set for our rescue mission. Lovely bright sunny day, perfect for the drive and luckily it was easy to find. The wheel arches felt as good as they looked on the pics and the body was generally nice condition which was reassuring but inside looked a rather sorry state - badly faded interior panels and no seats but the carpet was surprisingly clean with no rust stains round the seat runners and no big ole greasy stains from being used as a cupboard for bits of 480. Even the rear lights will look presentable once polished.
First things first, battery was flat, even the big one didn't have enough charge so Al's lorry jump leads came out and between them they started it. Engine sounded very smooth once it got over the shock.
and off she set for a new adventure, squeezing behind an 1800S ~(terrible bodywork after 30 years in a container on a farm)
being loaded with a big ole toolbox in use as a driver's seat
Once safely loaded, we had a 'quick' tour round to see the other cars there, I began to think I was never going to drag Al away. You would never have guessed we had a fairly tight time schedule to get the trailer back by 5.
On the way back to Jeff's we had this wretched Volvo tailgating us all the way.
what's that peering in the back for ? Tried driving faster but we just couldn't get away from it
We kept in touch with Jeff so he knew how tight time was going to be, and had everything ready for a quick unload. Sorry no photos that end, I was too busy laughing. Al looked hilarious reversing her off the trailer with no toolbox to sit on. Only his head was at window level, no sign of a body ! Off we rushed to return the trailer and got there with just 7 minutes to spare. After the long tiring day and last minute stress we managed to forget yet another item - left our rear numberplate on the trailer ! Fortunately Al realised when he was filling up near the hire place, so we werent far away. Trailer return deadline was 30mins before closing to give them time to tidy the trailer yard so we got our plate back OK, then off to Jeff's to collapse on a garden chair with our first coffees of the day along with some yummy cakes our neighbour had made. Once recovered we had a better look at R1 and Jeff talked us through all the nightmare wiring. He couldnt wait to get started and we needed to be on our way back to Norfolk. Finally got home at midnight, and very glad to fall into bed after a satisfyingly successful mission.
Over to Jeff for the next update on this thread.