The classic vehicles thread....

[pwdrive]

The RR B40 was also fitted to a batch of Series 1 miltary Landrovers but the project was ditched.

Lawrence.

[Refugee]

I have been told stories about champs being used to pull armored vehicles out of deep mud and that if this was done from a metaled road the engine was powerful enough to twist the chassis.
Perhaps that would explain why they were not used by the armed forces in any great numbers.

[Retired]

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.

[camallison]

Well, it seems we must have led almost parallel lives! My first bike was a BSA Gold Flash 650 twin, propped up by a side car. I completely rebuilt it before selling it for about 4 times what I paid for it originally. My next motorised vehicle was a Reliant Robin van (like Del boy's) light blue in colour. It could outclimb anything in the Dales. Buttertubs was a mere gentle incline to it. We used it to carry all the ropes and other gear when we went potholing in the Dales. Plastic pig is what I think it used to be referred to.

Now, I wouldn't dare venture under the bonnet too far since all the extras just serve to confuse. My son's 2003 Zafira was misbehaving and so, following an idea in a Vauxhall owners forum, I removed the EGR valve, blanked off the hole it left, and left it dangling on the wiring harness so that the ECU thought it was still doing its job. Since then, I have done the same to our Renault Master-based diesel motorhome and it also performs much better. The Renault Trucks service place reckoned most fleet owners do it too. So, why is it there if it causes so much heartache?

Colin

[Nebogipfel]

If I don't see a distributor and plug leads I'm lost.

I like cars you can fix on the side of the road

No good on a classic diesel then!

You know the old saying .........diesels are like babies, noisy at one end and smelly at the other

EDIT: as for plastic pigs, I foolishly convinced myself that a Robin would be a cheap form of transport for work. I can honestly say it was the worst thing I have ever driven. It drank petrol, was rattly and draughty and I traversed most corners on two wheels (at less than 20mph). They banger race the horrible things around these parts and that's the best thing to do with them IMO

[camallison]

If I don't see a distributor and plug leads I'm lost.

I like cars you can fix on the side of the road

No good on a classic diesel then!

You know the old saying .........diesels are like babies, noisy at one end and smelly at the other

EDIT: as for plastic pigs, I foolishly convinced myself that a Robin would be a cheap form of transport for work. I can honestly say it was the worst thing I have ever driven. It drank petrol, was rattly and draughty and I traversed most corners on two wheels (at less than 20mph). They banger race the horrible things around these parts and that's the best thing to do with them IMO

.... but you really loved to hate them didn't you! The reason I had one was that you could drive one on a motorbike licence and it only cost me £400. Once I had passed my car test, then I ditched it. Had to save up for the car first though as I was still a student. No such thing as bank of dad in those days.

Colin

[Retired]

Hi,

We do have a lot in common Colin. I passed my motorcycle test on a BSA Golden Flash this being fitted with a double adult sidecar; Watsonian I think the sidecar was. The outfit belonged to my cousin Tony; the day of the test I was accompanied by my own personal black cloud which still accompanies me; it absolutely threw it down with rain and as I rode into the center of Dewsbury the test examiner stopped me and asked if he could ride in the sidecar; I belted around the test course not caring whether I passed or not because I was fed up of the rain; I passed without problem.

Two things I remember well about riding motorcycle combinations; slow right down on left hand bends otherwise the sidecar wheel quickly becomes airborne and that the steering damper needs nipping down otherwise fingers receive a pounding against the petrol tank due to a fierce steering wobble. Riding with a bare sidecar chassis was very entertaining.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6402669.stm

Most people think Del Boy's Reliant was a Robin when in fact it was a Regal; I've owned both a Regal and Robin. Our Robin used to shake it's air filter loose at every opportunity but it was extremely reliable and we didn't find it too uncomfortable but in our short summers the plastic covered seats sure burnt our bottoms and backs. At the time Reliant also made a four wheel car this being the "Rebel". The few spares ever needed (rear springs) were bought visiting Michael's of Selby.

Modern cars are throw away consumables; we change ours about every three years when the first MOT is due; let others have the hassle of repairs we've had our share of car problems. I too like vehicles which can be taken apart/repaired using a handful of spanners; a couple of screwdrivers and a big hammer. Our Aygo engine is hidden under lots of plastic and I don't even know if modern cars have spark plugs and I don't even care as long as it is reliable and cheap to run? Many cars now come with a manufacturers five year warranty and having our Aygo serviced by a main Toyota (Pentagon) dealer is cheap enough unlike the old days of constant oil and filter changes together with decokes; who remembers decokes?

I'd like a Hummer; the standard one not the stretched; it would look great on our drive because it wouldn't squeeze into the garage. It might even be more economical than my old Champ?

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=hummer&hl=en&newwindow=1&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=l0xlUc7kMYnZOvWZgKAD&ved=0CEkQsAQ&biw=1920&bih=955

We've just returned from Pudsey and it was most strange driving in sunshine.

Kind regards, Col.

[camallison]

My sidecar was a Watsonian - I even remember the reg nr of the combination - PUT 951, and I bought it for £75 from a company in Nottingham who usually sold ex-WD bikes. My dad had an M20, solid girder forks and a real bone rattler.

As for servicing, one of my early cars had a twin Weber carb and it conked out in the middle of nowhere because the carb float had sprung a leak and was flooding. A piece of chewing gum got me to the dealer and I bought a Weber carb repair kit (the float wasn't available separately), and fixed it in the road outside.

Our current car, Vauxhall Zafira '08 reg, is still going strong with just over 30k on the clock. My local village garage does the service and MOT each year and gives me an OAP price - genuinely lower than normal. He also goes over the bodywork ensuring that any scuffs or scratches are taken out. All no extra charge. He has a good client base locally and aims to keep it.

Sun - yes - the dog and I have donned sunglasses here and are busy lapping it up ....... from inside because it is perishing cold outside.

I hope the sun stays a long spell for you Col as it certainly lifts the spirits doesn't it.

Colin

[Refugee]

I used to think that series 1 Land Rover tires fitted the champ.
It was 35 years ago and the only time played about on a champ that was un-roadworthy and only driven on private land.

[boiss]

Hi Col,
Would that be a real Hummer (As in US HumVee) or a GM? toy?
Mike