What's made you smile today?

[porta]

Sort of..

I look back on it as OLD, where in reality.. It wasn't (in the modern era a 9 year old car with less than 50k would fetch a premium..)

I recall a conversation at a TeaBreak in an Engineering place 15 years ago..

With these era cars:

No expansion tank.. Spat coolant on the floor

4 speed gearbox

Optional slot in the front bumper

If you went to look at a used car it was all about corrosion.. And smoke..

And anything over 50,000 miles you would just walk away

Conversely.. Before Alloy heads.. Headgaskets were a rare failure and low coolant just made the heater even worse (despite the sheet of cardboard..)

I’m trying to remember the truck/van I drove that was CoE and the expansion bottle was affixed to the cab, so every time you tilted the cab you couldn’t check the level. There was a flap in the grill, to top up the level, but you couldn’t see anything other than the cap so, inevitably, you filled it till it touched your finger

 

[The Panda Nut]

Think what you've encountered there is the difference between nostalgia and reality.

My dad had a selection of 3 year old cars growing up, he spent most Saturday's fighting rust forever sanding a panel back or spraying it. Exhausts lasted 12 months and usually fell off on the coldest day in January...starting on cold days was optional from time to time, 90mph was to all intents and purposes as fast as you wanted to or as fast as it would go. Wouldn't demist more than the windscreen and heated rear window and if you did both at the same time it ran rough due to the electrical load...

But modern cars are terrible...

Yes demisting was a big issue. It was 1971 when my dad finally bought a car that would demist the windowsr at least the central bit, enough to see out of. I remember sitting in the front, BEING the demisternwith a cloth. I suppose the way the heater works has changed and air con is something else. But individuality has gone. Im sure our dads would agre that we are better off even if we harp back to our past.

 

[The Panda Nut]

This reminds me of my 1st car older than me, it was rusty. When you drove through puddles the front carpet used to ride on the fountains that spirted up through the holes in the floor. The body work it did have was plastic padding old socks and newspaper reinforced with chicken wire. Hydraulic brakes only on the front wheels the rears were cable operated, If you hit the brakes you had to be ready for it to lurch to one side until the opposit wheel locked up, and then catch the lurch to the other side..... and stopping distances... distance was the appropriate word, meaured in tenths of a mile not feet. Lever arm dampers that didnt and had 3" of free play, doors that flew open going round corners, until I fitted the old safety chains uou get for the front door. Windows that fell down over bumps and locks that you opened with a coin. I did 65K in that thing in the first year. It did teach you just about everything about car control though.

 

[The Panda Nut]

100mph in the cold on one of those! No KINFEAR. I think exciting at about 15 to 20 and terrifying at 30 to 40 above that I would just stop living,

 

[Cheest]

This reminds me of my 1st car older than me, it was rusty. When you drove through puddles the front carpet used to ride on the fountains that spirted up through the holes in the floor. The body work it did have was plastic padding old socks and newspaper reinforced with chicken wire. Hydraulic brakes only on the front wheels the rears were cable operated, If you hit the brakes you had to be ready for it to lurch to one side until the opposit wheel locked up, and then catch the lurch to the other side..... and stopping distances... distance was the appropriate word, meaured in tenths of a mile not feet. Lever arm dampers that didnt and had 3" of free play, doors that flew open going round corners, until I fitted the old safety chains uou get for the front door. Windows that fell down over bumps and locks that you opened with a coin. I did 65K in that thing in the first year. It did teach you just about everything about car control though.

Sounds almost like my 1964 MG Midget Mkll.

I had a 1967 AMC Ambassador 2 door hardtop in high school. In the winter months, the rear window was eternally frosted on the inside. But it would be the only vehicle that would start on the coldest days.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Sounds almost like my 1964 MG Midget Mkll.

I had a 1967 AMC Ambassador 2 door hardtop in high school. In the winter months, the rear window was eternally frosted on the inside. But it would be the only vehicle that would start on the coldest days.

Austin A40 Farina so yes more of less identical mechanically

 

[The Panda Nut]

Sounds almost like my 1964 MG Midget Mkll.

I had a 1967 AMC Ambassador 2 door hardtop in high school. In the winter months, the rear window was eternally frosted on the inside. But it would be the only vehicle that would start on the coldest days.

Most of the old cars would start if the points were clean. I used to like these old cars because you could do the ignition timing by ear so with a bit of thought it would run really well while all around were juddering and spluttering along. The car could never be timed with a light. Ran like a bag of mails when set to factory settings.

I had a MK2 after and put a new engine in 998cc rather than 848. All the copper pipes were burnished, double valve springs and polished ports and fancy air cleaners. Garage men were all pretty staggered when they saw the prisitne polished engine in the old wreck. I must have increased the power output by at least one bhp. If I could have all the money I spend on that wreck, I could have bought a Ferrari or a Rolls. I am now cured of mods. 99% are a total waste of time and money and probably make things worse. If you want a better car save up and buy one LOL

 

[There all puntos]

Was also cheaper to run a car 15 -20 years ago, as parts and labour weren't the premium they are now.


Then most of my 90's Fiat Unos were pretty basic in engineering terms. None had antiblok brakes, no servo, no Esc, no air con (Ohhh yes they did, if the floor was rotten and the doors never fitted right from the factory in Torino) crap one-way radio cassette, very dangerous garden shed robot welded body shell in a 30mph smash, as they just folded up no matter what direction the crushing force came from.

The 903 Ohv engine was unburstable (unless you let it run out of coolant or oil) gearbox leaked at driveshafts, floor and body shell rusted under the outer panels. All four speed Porsche designed gearbox.

My 1998 Punto was a half decently built Fiat. Then my and the wife bought our first new car, a 54 plate 1.4 Stilo (Should have kept it) it was a massive improvement all over.

I smashed one on the motorway at sixty, and then was then rear-ended by someone else who couldn't stop in the rain either. Sat in what was left of it. Not so bad, have most options ticked. Nice car, well built, still looks top notch. Thanks Fiat

Because of that, I'm still alive and smiling today.

Went out and bought another Stilo, Same spec, same colour (Verde Crystilino) and scrapped what was left of our first one.

 

[PuntoHowTo]

Ordered this new old stock door seal on eBay, and it arrived with genuine 1990s bird poo on the box, that the seller had kindly packaged up inside the plastic bag.

If it has sat for 30 years in a warehouse in Italy it may even be authentic Italian 90s Bird poo !!

 

[portland_bill]

Austin A40 Farina so yes more of less identical mechanically

As I was reading your earlier post, describing the car, cable rear brakes and lever arm dampers, I thought probably an A40 Mk1, or an A35. Winner. Much better as the Mk2, with hydraulics on all four wheels. A pretty car, plenty of space, and I think, much nicer to drive than the ubiquitous Minor 1000.

My first car was a DAF 44. 850cc of air-cooled flat twin. Demisting was almost instant, as the cooling air was passed across the exhausts and cylinder heads, and diverted into the car.

 

[portland_bill]

Made a comment on another forum, was almost immediately met with a derogatory comment. I countered by calling them out about their rudeness, suggesting they could present an alternative viewpoint without rudeness or spite. That poster has been quiet, but another has joined the fray, apparently trying to back up his compatriot, by being more rude and spiteful. It made me laugh.
I was about to say that they may need to get out more, but on second thoughts, they might just need to get out.

 

[Cheest]

I co moderate a forum and 99.9% of the participants behave themselves, but there's always that one turd in the punch bowl.

 

[The Panda Nut]

Made a comment on another forum, was almost immediately met with a derogatory comment. I countered by calling them out about their rudeness, suggesting they could present an alternative viewpoint without rudeness or spite. That poster has been quiet, but another has joined the fray, apparently trying to back up his compatriot, by being more rude and spiteful. It made me laugh.
I was about to say that they may need to get out more, but on second thoughts, they might just need to get out.

I dont use other forums but have noticed that the folk on the Fiat NL site are as nice a bunch as people on here. Some great points and occasional differences all without the need for rudeness. Its often good to have differences of opinion, mostly on here is seems people looking at things differently, which is good, because when you have only one view, matching your own sometimes you miss things. When it gets personal it reflects badly on those who are rude. Its horrid to read and offensive when its personally directed at you. Nearly everyone here is quick to say sorry if their words cause offence and that makes Fiat Forum a great place to spend time. I learned , albeit not well enough, that poorly chosen words can at bets seem kurt and at worst offensive, even when non was intended. Im still poor at times, bur hope its never offensive.

The only people I want to offend are the tories because I find them inherantly offensive in too much of their words deeds and acts. Apart from them, and I accept; its blind stupidity and thoughtlessness multiplied by a complete lack of understanding of being disadvantaged in any way, largely cuased by retention of wealth stolen by means of being able to afford a faster horse and a heavier sword many years ago that enabled them to get into their positions of influence, that many also have good qualities. I do allow that there are some genuine self made people who have worked hard and earned their position, but oddly these dont seem to have the innate sense of self mostlyworth that is sadly not reflected by the behaviour that the politically motivated tribe do ,but not always seem to have. They ar elike the folk on top gear, they have kept going after the ideas ran out. I do hear that the top gear trio have decided to call it a day for that very reason. Why dont the tories get a life and follow suit.

Suggestions,
1 take some steps to help the environment
2Fix the NHS and pay the staff properly
3 Stop lining the pockets of the super rich
4 Stop making excuses for genocide in Palestine and start pushing for somehting else. This is really disgusting.
5 See if you can fabricate a backbone. Even a cardboard one would be an improvement.

OK I shall keep quiet on this for a long while now, I was never any good at the not here and not now thing....

 

[irc]

I co moderate a forum and 99.9% of the participants behave themselves, but there's always that one turd in the punch bowl.

Sadly, many of the car forums (and Facebook pages) i have visited lately (and decided never to return to) are more like trying to find some punch in a turd bowl.

 

[The Panda Nut]

As I was reading your earlier post, describing the car, cable rear brakes and lever arm dampers, I thought probably an A40 Mk1, or an A35. Winner. Much better as the Mk2, with hydraulics on all four wheels. A pretty car, plenty of space, and I think, much nicer to drive than the ubiquitous Minor 1000.

My first car was a DAF 44. 850cc of air-cooled flat twin. Demisting was almost instant, as the cooling air was passed across the exhausts and cylinder heads, and diverted into the car.

The A40 was styled quite well I think, but built like a tank. I agree they did drive better than the Minors did. I often wonder about the big differences between the Minor / A40 / Autin morris 1100. Sme engines but very different perfomance, That first car and the brake rollers at my first MOT experience have a lot to answer for, as I cannot tolerate any faults in car brakes now, it has to be perfect. The OCD (Car) - or Panda, as it is now - can be traced back to my first MOT with that cable back brake problem. Daffo was showing something like 8% difference in the front brake performancel ast year, from one side to the other and my MOT man siad it was fine and that It wouldnt be noticable. As ever it was sent back for a retest after thorough cleaning and fettling and was back to around 2% difference. I cant stand seeing things like that and not fixing them, (MOT failure obsession) but know it is as good as its going to be. Even where the A40 bodywork was severely holed there was enough ironwork to support the thing. I had my second one (a Mk2) well sorted in the end. I could do a clutch in about 40 minutes in the end. Starsky and Hutch have a lot to answer for, as my driving style was modelled on theirs. The result was entirely predictable. A string a broken gear boxes, clutch worn out every 10K, broken diff, ruined prop shaft, new tyres every 3k, brakes around 12K and pretty obvious scutiny at most times by the fuzz, Sadly for them they never got me. I would have hidden underwater in a river if it had been required. I would resort to any tactics required to hide from them. How glad I am they didnt have thermal cameras in helicopters back then. As I remember that car, it handled well and there was a small amount of understeer which was really up to modern standards on the best low profile radial tyres, it would oversteer in the end but was so controlled it was a joy to hurl around. The absence of decent stopping power did make it a bit exciting when in all out 'run away mode' so the heavy constructoin was appreciated on the very odd occasion that a gate, hedge or fence got entangled. However that was different times and gladly nothing was damaged and no one hurt by by immaturity. I would like to say that looking back I could and should have behaved in a more civilised way. Had I done so as Clarkson would say, I would have a better house. It all came at a horrendous cost. I moved on to a Triumph Herald 1200 convertible, special export model with a souped up engine and disc brakes. I liked it because access to replace engines and gearboxes was much better. The gearbox could be done in a public car park so dad didnt see the half of the destruction that was going on, which was just as well.

Those were the days when you could drive the A1 or A4 and go for a mile or two without passing another car. I try and excuse all this by saying I was just making sure the entire supply of drive trains in scrap yards across the south of England was used until beyond repair. No waste, better for the environment.

Dad considered a DAF back in the 60's and I was disappointed he didnt get it. I felt I would have been able to take the car out for a spin had he bought one, (aged around 8 at the time) so on reflection it was a good thing. There were tails of belts slipping excessively, and snapping, and he was put off. Probably peole driving like me were behind that. Also I thought they looked smart. I really liked the 66, He must have been into his cars as the ones that were car of the year seemd to be his choices al, the time looking back.

If it wasnt frosty I would be out 'OCD cleaning' Pandas all three actually need it at present as none cleaned for a while. I watched next door cleaning the 5 cars on their drive yesterday afternoon with some glee. I suppose central locking means the joys of frozen locks escape them. Watching the driyng cloth freezing to the paintwork as he was wipingit nearly had me in stitches.' You only wreck the sunroof and wipers on a car by operating them while frozen once!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Ordered this new old stock door seal on eBay, and it arrived with genuine 1990s bird poo on the box, that the seller had kindly packaged up inside the plastic bag.
View attachment 434214

If it has sat for 30 years in a warehouse in Italy it may even be authentic Italian 90s Bird poo !!

Free fertiliser for the garden, Make sure you compost the box. I think that would be known as the accelerator.

 

[vexorg]

4 Stop making excuses for genocide in Palestine and start pushing for somehting else. This is really disgusting.

I'm sure I got told off before for raising politics on this forum.
Both sides are as bad as each other here, no no sympathy for either side from me. A bit like ukraine and russia, and any other local war right now.

 

[portland_bill]

Dad considered a DAF back in the 60's and I was disappointed he didnt get it. I felt I would have been able to take the car out for a spin had he bought one, (aged around 8 at the time) so on reflection it was a good thing. There were tails of belts slipping excessively, and snapping, and he was put off. Probably peole driving like me were behind that. Also I thought they looked smart. I really liked the 66, He must have been into his cars as the ones that were car of the year seemd to be his choices al, the time looking back.

After the 44 I had a 66 for several years, wonderful car.
With the engine in the front, and the transmission under the rear seats, it had close to 50/50 weight distribution. Road testers rave about such things, but my experience is that you get no understeer, or oversteer, just lots of grip, then nothing. It lets go with all four wheels at once, which can be quite exciting. Waiting for 135 section Michelins to grip again feels like a long time. Managed to stay on the tarmac. So perhaps another good thing that your Dad didn't get one.

With regard to the belts, they needed adjusting every 3000 miles. Nothing else really done on that 'service', so most owners tried to miss it. Adjust them every 3k, they last 50-60k. Miss one adjustment, they fail quickly, often before the next 3k is done. All the failures are due to missed services. I worked at two DAF dealers, both would do the interim belt adjustment free for regular customers. With a 4-post hoist, or a pit, it was a 10 minute job. About 20 minutes lying under it on the road. Somewhere, I still have my special feeler gauge, for the gap between the pulleys.

 

[bugsymike]

I think doing "Pre Delivery" inspections on 1970s Moskvichs would cure any OCD tendencies @The Panda Nut on road test, brake hard and it would climb on the n/s pavement, drive another few yards and brake again , it would dive to the o/s! This was brand new cars with around 5 miles on them.
On stripping down the front drums you would find they still had all the cast iron machining dust from production, once all that had been cleaned out, you then had to file about 3/4 inch off the leading edges of the front brake shoes to reduce the tendency to grab on, you then had to manual adjust the self adjusting mechanism to get a half decent brake pedal. This involved pressing the pedal with the drum off, very carefully to push the mechanism out a little then slide the drums on.
Trade customers buying wheel cylinders would complain the brakes were binding as when delivered the pistons were screwed tight in the "slack" threaded ring that formed the adjustment, as brakes wore the ring was dragged further up the cylinder, the slack in the thread allowing the piston to retract slightly so as not to bind. So when fitting a new cylinder you had to unwind the piston a little to allow operation.
We were agents for Mazda,Wartburg, Lada and finally Moskvich in descending order of quality. The Mazdas were spot on from the factory, so a check list could be done in 30 minutes or so, conversely the Moskvich could take two days to make it somewhere approaching safe to use on the road. by the way from memory retail price new was around £999. So you get what you pay for!
Like Ladas though, one good thing was the heaters worked, I did own one for a short while, £70 for a 4 year old 427(estate model) needing a starter, in the Winter dropping a girl home her parents said it was the only car that got up their road in the snow so good for something.

 

[StevenRB45]

On an entirely different note...the season of buggering off to various seasonal things at the weekend has started.

No fake snow was required this year (it's actually nice to have winter weather for a change).

minus 2 obviously...and the lad kicked off about it half way round.

A1 was fun as per..good to see someone managed to wipe both ends off a Merc CLS in the chill and no one driving like there's likely ice around but hey safely home.

Tomorrow likely off to the open air museum to ride some trams...and look at the Xmas decorated houses and shops as run up to Xmas is significantly more Christmassy when it doesn't just feel like October but darker.