OV9

Ste explained why he got rid of the Caterham in the GT3 thread, it makes sense. If you're going to get something different, get something really different .

I understood why he got rid of it. I don't understand what he replaced it with.

You guys are not so much running uphill with me on this one, but more like swimming up a waterfall, so let's move on.

You know what, I really don't have a plan. This was a purchase based mainly on quantities of gin. Gin, nostalgia and that video of the orange V8 one.

I definitely will commute in it; not every day but more than I commuted in the Caterham.

The only kind of thing I have approaching a plan is:

- Find time to get up to Manchester. Drink beer with my brother and my Dad. Wake up the next morning, have one of my Mum's breakfasts and point Justin southwards bound probably via the Peak district. I may even call on Dan Webster if he's about and his kettle is working as I know he likes a laugh.
- Get it home and drive it about a bit. Make a list of stuff it needs to make it more usable. I'm thinking cigar lighter / power socket will be a good start. As will some kind of retro in car entertainment; either one of the retro looking bluetooth headunits or maybe just a bluetooth speaker hidden somewhere.
- Get it sitting right. It's already got a set of Rostyle wheels on it with much wider than standard tyres. It should have 145/70/13s on it but it's wearing Caterham tyres - 185/60/13 front and 205/60/13 rears. It needs wider wheels on it though, especially on the back and they need pusing out into the arches more. As it's one of my cars it also needs lowering a foot or so. I'll keep it '70s though; nose down, arse up and some big old tyre sidewalls. I have a set of r888 Caterham sized tyres here, they might make their way onto it just because they look ace.

Then I'll make a decision about how it goes.

- Period mods. My Dad had one of these and did a cam, HC pistons, different carb etc and he reckons it went well. I saw a Blydenstein kit for one on eBay recently. Cam, bigger port head, big valves etc. Having a Blydenstein badge on the boot with the proper retro bits under the bonnet would be cool.
- LSV8 makes lots of sense. Light. All the noise.
- Redtop, obviously.

But there are some more leftfield options

- Rotary, probably with a big turbo
- S50 BMW engine. I know these well, know the software and a straight 6 singing through a carbon airbox is a lovely thing. Heavy though.
- K20 (did I mention seeing Dan further up there? Hmm) 300 NA BHP in this, loads of room for a big airbox, loads of room for a proper exhaust manifold and exhaust that could be reallyu optimised and doesn't need to snake about like in an Elise.

These are 700kg cars. They have a huge engine bay, a big transmission tunnel and loads of room at the back for a proper axle and the necessary links. Look at '70s saloon car races and how Gerry Marshall cleaned up in Old Nail and Baby Bertha. These can be made to go really well around a circuit.

I may well do absolutely nothing, but the above are all on the 'let's see how this goes' list of maybes right now... And you know what, I just like cars in all of their varied shapes and sizes. I like buying them, researching them, titting about with them and taking them apart, improving them and driving them. It's just an old car and just a bit of fun kids.

Have a fucking blast doing all the above - matters not one fuck what I think about it.

I was just sad to see the Caterham go, bizarrely sad in fact. In a way that an internet stranger owning or not owning a car 3,000 miles away shouldn't really cause.

ste wrote: Tue Aug 07, 2018 11:49 amMy Dad had one of these and did a cam, HC pistons, different carb etc and he reckons it went well...

...compared to other family cars on the road in in 1970.

ste wrote: Tue Aug 07, 2018 11:49 am I like buying them, researching them, titting about with them and taking them apart, improving them and driving them. It's just an old car and just a bit of fun kids.

make it do this...then ill approve

GP010204 by Scott Armstrong, on Flickr

Yes I know thats an escort.

No, I think it's an Elise.

ste wrote: Tue Aug 07, 2018 1:11 pm No, I think it's an Elise.

Maybe i should go check..im sure it was an escort.

That car is screaming for banded deep dish steels, a red top on 45s for noise and a flashing blue beacon by the rear diff for making burnouts look cool!!

Dave!

ste wrote: Tue Aug 07, 2018 11:49 am

- Find time to get up to Manchester. Drink beer with my brother and my Dad. Wake up the next morning, have one of my Mum's breakfasts and point Justin southwards bound probably via the Peak district. I may even call on Dan Webster if he's about and his kettle is working as I know he likes a laugh.

Yes! Bring it on down.

This week we amused ourselves by leaving a cardboard box with 2 pistons, 2 rods and 2 cylinder liners outside the roller shutter of one of chaps on the site that just took delivery of a 4 pot cayman, we rang his doorbell and ran away

That's exceptionally well played

Very good.

Nathan wrote: Tue Aug 07, 2018 11:23 am Ye have little faith.

You must realise Ste will turn this around in a way that will make you change your mind on Mk1/2 Escorts and do something like this

I like that.

Ste has levels of attention to detail and taste which will make it ace, of that I have no doubt.

Do I want it more than his SLR? No. Do I want to see where he goes with it? Absolutely.

Oh I'll be glued to the updates as per, not saying I won't!!

JLv3.0 wrote: Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:20 pm Oh I'll be glued to the updates as per, not saying I won't!!

I suspect you and I are broadly aligned JL, except I've got a Caterham of my own so won't miss ste's that much.

duncs500 wrote: Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:34 pm

JLv3.0 wrote: Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:20 pm Oh I'll be glued to the updates as per, not saying I won't!!

I suspect you and I are broadly aligned JL, except I've got a Caterham of my own so won't miss ste's that much.

I get to Drive Neil’s Westfield so also won’t be overly upset.

So whilst your Superlight of R
Drew admiration from afar
There’s less fever for your Viva
Some think all your marbles leave ya

mik wrote: Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:51 pm So whilst your Superlight of R
Drew admiration from afar
There’s less fever for your Viva
Some think all your marbles leave ya

Bravo mik, you're wasted in international espionage!