Hi,
Thanks for the link Colin; yes I believe my Champ was ex forces and was finished in drab olive. It was a real Tonka Toy to play with and great fun but at huge cost due to the fuel consumption; I used to think the main jet was merely a bit of half inch hose?
It sat "heavy" on the road being very solid; as you rightly say Refugee it sure had some power and I never did try reversing at 50mph although I was never in the position of rapid retreat from the enemy. I shudder to think what a set of tyres or engine rebuild would cost these days for a Champ. I saw one local a few months ago but this is the only one I've ever seen since owning mine.
I enjoyed the short time I had my Champ but if I now had the choice I would go for an old beam axle Land Rover which to me is the best 4x4 ever designed even though these too like a drop of fuel as I've owned both long and short wheelbase versions. 109" and 88" if my memory is correct.
At the other end of the market I've owned a vintage Bond three wheeler where the bonnet would be lifted to kick start the engine; I also owned a Bond 875 the one with the Hillman Imp engine but this was an ugly brute which I didn't like at all. One of the fastest cars I owned regarding acceleration was my Bond Bug finished in John Player colours; this could leave most cars standing from the traffic lights and again was great fun to own; Bron and I ran the bug for quite a while shortly after we married and we were more than pleased to own it for cheap transport. Another favourite was our two tin snails; these were Citroen 2CV's and both did a tremendous amount of work for us from everyday running to carrying floorboards and stones; slow yes but we always arrived.
Whilst single and living with my parents in a large detached house I made friends with a rag and bone guy who used to visit our area and as I was always playing around with motorcycles he said he knew of a big bike in need of a lot of work; I bought it costing £6; it was a BSA Golden Flash 650cc; the spokes were eaten through with rust as it had been left out in a field or allotment for many years.
I completely rebuilt this bike lacing the wheels myself; I fitted it with high compression pistons and hot cam; the snag then was that I wasn't heavy enough to kick start it so had to run it off but it performed well; I traded this in for my first BMW R75/5 receiving £150 for it in part exchange. During this period the rag and bone guy arrived one day with at least a dozen motorcycles in a friends furniture van; I could have started my own bike shop with this lot and eventually they were shared out between my friends.
Happy days and fond memories but I've rambled enough so I'm about to take Bron out for some retail therapy before winter sets in again?
Kind regards, Col.
Thanks for the link Colin; yes I believe my Champ was ex forces and was finished in drab olive. It was a real Tonka Toy to play with and great fun but at huge cost due to the fuel consumption; I used to think the main jet was merely a bit of half inch hose?
It sat "heavy" on the road being very solid; as you rightly say Refugee it sure had some power and I never did try reversing at 50mph although I was never in the position of rapid retreat from the enemy. I shudder to think what a set of tyres or engine rebuild would cost these days for a Champ. I saw one local a few months ago but this is the only one I've ever seen since owning mine.
I enjoyed the short time I had my Champ but if I now had the choice I would go for an old beam axle Land Rover which to me is the best 4x4 ever designed even though these too like a drop of fuel as I've owned both long and short wheelbase versions. 109" and 88" if my memory is correct.
At the other end of the market I've owned a vintage Bond three wheeler where the bonnet would be lifted to kick start the engine; I also owned a Bond 875 the one with the Hillman Imp engine but this was an ugly brute which I didn't like at all. One of the fastest cars I owned regarding acceleration was my Bond Bug finished in John Player colours; this could leave most cars standing from the traffic lights and again was great fun to own; Bron and I ran the bug for quite a while shortly after we married and we were more than pleased to own it for cheap transport. Another favourite was our two tin snails; these were Citroen 2CV's and both did a tremendous amount of work for us from everyday running to carrying floorboards and stones; slow yes but we always arrived.
Whilst single and living with my parents in a large detached house I made friends with a rag and bone guy who used to visit our area and as I was always playing around with motorcycles he said he knew of a big bike in need of a lot of work; I bought it costing £6; it was a BSA Golden Flash 650cc; the spokes were eaten through with rust as it had been left out in a field or allotment for many years.
I completely rebuilt this bike lacing the wheels myself; I fitted it with high compression pistons and hot cam; the snag then was that I wasn't heavy enough to kick start it so had to run it off but it performed well; I traded this in for my first BMW R75/5 receiving £150 for it in part exchange. During this period the rag and bone guy arrived one day with at least a dozen motorcycles in a friends furniture van; I could have started my own bike shop with this lot and eventually they were shared out between my friends.
Happy days and fond memories but I've rambled enough so I'm about to take Bron out for some retail therapy before winter sets in again?
Kind regards, Col.
Happiness is a wreck of a cabinet to restore.
