Doesn't sound like a good selling point for new owners buying a sports car.
Re the mileage , we would never trust mileage on old cars as once they got to 100k they would reset to zero, hence the dodgy car salesmen's trick of an electric drill to wind them on, some would even dismantle the speedo to set the mileage where they wanted it. Remember no one recorded Mot mileage data much in those days. Also even if the car did less than the average 10k per year, at the age they are now they could easily have gone around the clock many times.So it seems a.i. possibly answered my question, my speedo is likely a European possibly older gray market , vegila Borletti model, someone must have installed prior to my ownership...so its not original to my spider...and unfortunately I'm guessing at this point, neither would be the mileage.....
I bought a 1971 London Taxi many years ago with around 80k miles recorded, many have actually done 200/300 and some nearly 600k miles.Re the mileage , we would never trust mileage on old cars as once they got to 100k they would reset to zero, hence the dodgy car salesmen's trick of an electric drill to wind them on, some would even dismantle the speedo to set the mileage where they wanted it. Remember no one recorded Mot mileage data much in those days. Also even if the car did less than the average 10k per year, at the age they are now they could easily have gone around the clock many times.
And now @Slotman and @smahaley have me puzzled
Given that the boot seems to fit securely over the torsion rod and is clamped around the c/v body, plus is fairly well protected where its located, the only potential reason I've come up with is that perhaps the grease used to originally lube the torsion bar end where it contacts the c/v piston, has over decades, broken down/deteriorated and attacked the aluminum body??
I need to learn more about working on diesels, I have a military chevy truck that I think will almost last forever like your taxi.I bought a 1971 London Taxi many years ago with around 80k miles recorded, many have actually done 200/300 and some nearly 600k miles.
It ran well apart from a diesel fuel blockage causing multiple breakdowns , this was in early 80s when I was less familiar with diesel issues.
It was great fun to drive with an incredible turning lock allowing you to turn around in most roads in one go.
Sounds like a fun vehicle, at least with it being diesel you have slightly better economy with the low gearing, though if diffs are locked tyre wear on the road maybe high.
