I sold this a couple of months ago after owning and using it for its intended purpose for eight years;
Still got this which is both tax and test free, not a daily drive any more (its predecessor was but I’ve got a scooter for work now) but still very useable;
… and now you know where the site username comes from.
The old 45 cruises about 55 so motorways can be a bind (I do go to Europe on it regularly though) so for longer hauls I’ve just imported this from the USA, goes on the road in spring after the salt’s gone;
1979 ElectraGlide, last of the 1200’s.
Regarding the tax exemption cut-off; at the time it was an unexpected bonus, especially since owners not only got free RFL thereafter but also a rebate on any extra we had paid. For most it’s a perk which allows us to keep classic vehicles on the road for pleasure; there are a few though both on two wheels and four who push the boundaries by having modern engines and running gear registered as exempt vehicles. Land-Rovers are the worst culprits for this but custom bikes aren’t far behind; and for some reason it’s perfectly legal.
I’ve owned lots of cars over the years, but this thread has got me thinking about which ones I’d like back.
I would give my left bollock for a serviceable 24v 3.0l manual Vx Senator, fully loaded of course, possibly the best affordable luxury saloon car ever made.
I’d sacrifice the remaining bollock for a 3.0l Ford Capri Mk2 Ghia with ‘Alice’ in the passenger seat. Happiest days of my life without a doubt. Probably why they cost $illy £money these days
Sidevalve:
I sold this a couple of months ago after owning and using it for its intended purpose for eight years;
Still got this which is both tax and test free, not a daily drive any more (its predecessor was but I’ve got a scooter for work now) but still very useable;
… and now you know where the site username comes from.
The old 45 cruises about 55 so motorways can be a bind (I do go to Europe on it regularly though) so for longer hauls I’ve just imported this from the USA, goes on the road in spring after the salt’s gone;
1979 ElectraGlide, last of the 1200’s.
really like the 45 harley-very nice,but i dont think the foot clutch/hand change was the best idea ever…
That went after a while on a p/x against a 205 GTD
Then had a few ‘sensible’ cars, then after my first divorce i saw an advert for an RS ■■■■■■ for £1000, at the time a decent one would set you back around £1600+, th e bloke selling it didnt drive, but his mate who lived with him had just moved out and owed him £1000 rent, didnt have the money so gave him the RS, it did need a new clutch but was in very good nick, i bought it for £850, spoke to a boy racer in the local town, he liked the different alloys and the bigger exhaust it had, he gave me £50 and we both went to an exhaust centre where his mate changed the wheels and exhaust over. I then had a bog standard RS Turbo, i wish id kept it in storage, i had it around a year and it never let me down, i eventualy traded it in for a Golf GT TDI
(picture was before the wheels and exhaust swap)
Regarding the tax exemption cut-off; at the time it was an unexpected bonus, especially since owners not only got free RFL thereafter but also a rebate on any extra we had paid. For most it’s a perk which allows us to keep classic vehicles on the road for pleasure; there are a few though both on two wheels and four who push the boundaries by having modern engines and running gear registered as exempt vehicles. Land-Rovers are the worst culprits for this but custom bikes aren’t far behind; and for some reason it’s perfectly legal.
theres a whole magazine devoted to this picked one up some time ago full of old cars with modern engines mk1 escorts with ecotech 2.0 twinks mk1 mantas with 2.0 lets chevettes with the same
Latique:
theres a whole magazine devoted to this picked one up some time ago full of old cars with modern engines mk1 escorts with ecotech 2.0 twinks mk1 mantas with 2.0 lets chevettes with the same
Not quite the same thing as I meant. I was alluding to “historic” Land-Rovers whose only bit of pre-72 is the chassis plate; the rest is modern stuff like a Defender cab, 300TDI engine etc. Or a bike registered as a 1950’s Triumph, with a Japanese engine, custom frame and disc brakes etc. In other words, making a mockery of the exemption, in fact the only reason for doing it is to avoid paying the duty. In short, tax evasion and that’s wrong.
Older cars with modern engines is nothing new,especially in rally cars and the like; people have been doing that since the 1920’s in one way or another; most of the ones you mention would still be paying VED to be on the road.
andrew.s:
really like the 45 harley-very nice,but i dont think the foot clutch/hand change was the best idea ever…
Best anti-theft device (along with the kick-starter) known to man.
Then got a mk2 XR2(internet picture, but it was this colour)
2
I then got a C reg ■■■■■■ RS Turbo, it was like being in a Scalextrix car!!(internet pic again, but it was exactly like this)
1
That went after a while on a p/x against a 205 GTD
Then had a few ‘sensible’ cars, then after my first divorce i saw an advert for an RS ■■■■■■ for £1000, at the time a decent one would set you back around £1600+, th e bloke selling it didnt drive, but his mate who lived with him had just moved out and owed him £1000 rent, didnt have the money so gave him the RS, it did need a new clutch but was in very good nick, i bought it for £850, spoke to a boy racer in the local town, he liked the different alloys and the bigger exhaust it had, he gave me £50 and we both went to an exhaust centre where his mate changed the wheels and exhaust over. I then had a bog standard RS Turbo, i wish id kept it in storage, i had it around a year and it never let me down, i eventualy traded it in for a Golf GT TDI
(picture was before the wheels and exhaust swap)
I now have a Golf mk6 GTD
0
The good news is those TSW Venoms you sold for 50 quid were probably worth as much as you paid for the RS Turb.
I bet you wish you’d kept the series 1 you had. I know I wish I’d kept mine. They’re worth proper money now
I wanted something that would not need any restoration [no time] and something that would not depreciate too much. I settled on this 2002 Ford Thunderbird. Which I hope will become a Classic.
I was glad to get rid of the Venoms TT, didnt like them at all, (i got better tyres on the RS rims as well.) and yeah, i wish id kept the MK1, it was fun!
Many of you will already have seen this, but for this thread
I confess that the wing mirrors are actually brand new (not actually fitted for this photo) as is the chassis
The headlights are modern sealed beams for safety and practicle reasons
The gearbox isn’t a “67” either- its a “59”
The engine and overdrive are off a “68”
and the roof is from a series 3- age unknown -
Like all proper Land Rovers of this era- she is a bitsa and when we restored her , we did so to reflect she had worked all her life and “Aquired” needed parts from whatever was around at the time- she was deliberately not done as a concourse restoration - something that very few restorations can get away with - but with old Landies is most acceptable
That’s a lovely looking motor Rikki. I struggle to understand why people but classics then restore them to within an inch of their lives and take away all the history.
You’ve done a brilliant job restoring that one and keeping the history
Land-Rovers whose only bit of pre-72 is the chassis plate
0
Many of you will already have seen this, but for this thread
I confess that the wing mirrors are actually brand new (not actually fitted for this photo) as is the chassis
The headlights are modern sealed beams for safety and practicle reasons
The gearbox isn’t a “67” either- its a “59”
The engine and overdrive are off a “68”
and the roof is from a series 3- age unknown -
Like all proper Land Rovers of this era- she is a bitsa and when we restored her , we did so to reflect she had worked all her life and “Aquired” needed parts from whatever was around at the time- she was deliberately not done as a concourse restoration - something that very few restorations can get away with - but with old Landies is most acceptable
Agree with you Rikki and as you’re probably aware it wasn’t that kind of thing I was having a dig at. I’ve owned Landies meself in the past (58 series 2 which I wish I hadn’t sold, and a 51 Series One) so I know what you mean. Nice, I like that.
This Vauxhall Victor is absolutely gorgeous and at 39 years old it’s a credit to its previous owners,
but there is one glaring problem with it? . . and it’s not the road tax.
Stanley Knife:
This Vauxhall Victor is absolutely gorgeous and at 39 years old it’s a credit to its previous owners,
but there is one glaring problem with it? . . and it’s not the road tax.
Stan
Erm… This advert sounds like an Agatha Christie story…
