What did you do today?

[PhilA]

Went bought two ride on lawn mowers for $100

Neither run. One isn't seized. It does have plants growing out of it though.

[mercrocker]

Everybody likes a bloke with a trailer......

[DodgeRover]

Went & got this:-

667163D8-F957-4A4B-9A4F-16F07E714A91.jpeg

With the Lancia.

104455C0-5BBF-4760-AE43-1D8FD3BD20E2.jpeg

You may recall I offered, & was turned down- then he came back, a few days later with a price lower than I had offered! I bit his hand off, paid immediately, collected today.

It’s horrible to drive. Desperately in need of a service, running far too rich, with a near seized throttle ( on/ off seem to be the only positions) spongey brakes, wandery steering etc. winch seems to wind in, not out.
But I knew most of that, from when I went to see it. It looks “ok” which wins it for me, and it’s legal long enough for me to get it sorted before it’s next mot.

I was chatting to a motorcycle rozzer at Sutton Scotney ( on A34) as we both filled up ( he was curious about the car) without any ‘ attitude’. So, a winner that’ll probably drive me mad.

Hey ho

Can't see as on mobile but remember all four wheels secure when on the back is what VOSA dvsa want this week.

[SiC]

Went bought two ride on lawn mowers for $100

Neither run. One isn't seized. It does have plants growing out of it though.

Going to do a video for YouTube on them? Mustie1 seems to get decent amount of views of bringing such garden tools back to life.

[SiC]

Just clamped them in place to get a rough idea of alignment and a fair bit off to actually welding them on, but always satisfying to do.
Full panels with accurate fit are so much easier to work with and far quicker way of doing a restoration. Reminds me why the Dolomite is such a pain as so much needs to be fabricated.

[angrydicky]

I’ve never repaired anything with that sort of repair panel availability, what an incredible timesaver that must be.

[SiC]

Basically every black panel in that picture is a whole panel piece. Ridiculously cheap panels too.

Steelcraft rear repair wing £170


Ashley Hinton inner sill £14.50


Ashley Hinton outer sill and closing panels (and repair panel for rear wing that I didn't need) £27.50


A post hinge panel with fixings £30


A post skin £22


Footwell side panel £12.50


And so on.

So cheap and readily available that if you make a mistake, then you haven't destroyed a £200+ repair panel that is unobtainable (as is the case with the Dolomite). Many of these are stocked by Moss (just more expensive) and I can pick them up same day. Plus they all fit with barely any modifications.

A lot of these repair panels are made by a chap called Ashley Hinton. Some are steelcraft (same company as Heritage repair panels but not original tooling) and of course genuine heritage panels from original (but often worn out) tooling.

While I don't mind fabrication of panels, I'm no expert and it takes a long time. Whereas sticking together these big panels makes much quicker and satisfying progress. I imagine with a spot welder, this would be an even quicker process.

The Mini has an even greater selection of suppliers of repair panels. I suspect it's a good reason why not only so many are about but why project Minis go for so much.

[angrydicky]

Dirt cheap! And if they actually fit that's even better!
Makes you wonder why it wasn't repaired properly in the 1990s, if the panels are available and so cheap there's no excuses really.

[PhilA]

Went bought two ride on lawn mowers for $100

Neither run. One isn't seized. It does have plants growing out of it though.

Going to do a video for YouTube on them? Mustie1 seems to get decent amount of views of bringing such garden tools back to life.

Maybe? Hadn't put much thought to it, to be honest.

[christine]

Went & got this:-

667163D8-F957-4A4B-9A4F-16F07E714A91.jpeg

With the Lancia.

104455C0-5BBF-4760-AE43-1D8FD3BD20E2.jpeg

You may recall I offered, & was turned down- then he came back, a few days later with a price lower than I had offered! I bit his hand off, paid immediately, collected today.

It’s horrible to drive. Desperately in need of a service, running far too rich, with a near seized throttle ( on/ off seem to be the only positions) spongey brakes, wandery steering etc. winch seems to wind in, not out.
But I knew most of that, from when I went to see it. It looks “ok” which wins it for me, and it’s legal long enough for me to get it sorted before it’s next mot.

I was chatting to a motorcycle rozzer at Sutton Scotney ( on A34) as we both filled up ( he was curious about the car) without any ‘ attitude’. So, a winner that’ll probably drive me mad.

Hey ho

Can't see as on mobile but remember all four wheels secure when on the back is what VOSA dvsa want this week.

Look here , it's inverted and still secure