RUMCars Forum

General Category => RUMCar Mart => Topic started by: Big Al on April 22, 2014, 08:32:08 AM

Title: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Big Al on April 22, 2014, 08:32:08 AM
It was with some sadness I have let go of my Scootacar Mk2. As it happened Steve Vine put one on eBay in the midst of my negotiations with my buyer. So the deal suddenly looked off, as Steve was asking considerably less than I was. However its prompt disappearance, to sold status, rather proved my contention that the cars are desirable and it is a case of what your happy to pay for owning one of few left. So the original deal was agreed to. The car remains in Britain, as does Steve's, and I get to help in the restoration of my old car.

So this week I have to get into my shed and clear to the back to extract the Scootacar and Larmar, which are both off to pastures new. I have to sort out four other Microcars sold over Easter as well. These also need a bit of a sort out to make them into the complete projects promised. This has started the great clearance. Must get round to register them before they go.

Next to come to the market are likely to be a good barn find Messeschmitt on the road. Nice easy restoration. Also I want to get a Velorex back here and serviced. might Mot but my gut feeling is it will head back to Czecho. Several inquiries on this and I no longer want them. The Reliant Mk5 Saloon wants a new home. Nice as found condition minus front seats and engine, I am told it is worth £750. Comes with 35 years of dust! After these there are some 20 big cars to be got rid of but if a good bid comes in on a fine restored Vellam Isetta, mint original unmolested Bamby, and possibly a Messerschmitt Sport restoration project, then space can be made to get them sorted and away.

So the clear-out starts. Dare I mention the chance of Invacars/IC of differing sorts. Several caches coming up. Now they are registered as cars they have to be Microcars by default, and much more so then some machines that have active pressure groups stretching the definition to get in. Whatever, the interest is there even if the Controller of IC is out of communication again.
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Barry on April 22, 2014, 08:52:14 AM
Lots of bargains coming up then AL?

And the IC's have suddenly become microcars.................Good news to have it confirmed, must add £££££££££££ to the value?   ;D :) ;)
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Big Al on April 22, 2014, 09:51:31 AM
Depends on your definition of a bargain I suspect! Certainly the bigger cars will be, but will return a margin just because of the length of time I have had some of them in free storage. That is the issue with them. Now the council are asking for rates it is no longer free storage so time to out them. Probably sell the yard to myself in 5 differing plots as a dodge on the rates threshold and later on stamp duty and CGT. The things you have to do to avoid being ripped off.

IC worth more as Microcars? Well they might be as I am not sure why the foreign buyers are coming in on them. I think they see an odd Microcar, not a vehicle with a stigma looming over it. It is partly that that has pushed the prices up to where they are now. So you might be right. They cannot understand why the home market is not interested in them, save the few who can divorce themselves from the original use and see an interesting bit of engineering at a price less than other, often inferior, machines. Whatever turns you on, though. Those other cars deserve saving, too. Stuart now has many of the previously doubting Thomas's asking for a cheap Type 70 for £500. Gone are the days, so they missed the boat but still smell a profit. Telling in itself.

The fact is that while there are IC out there I think the easy finds and accessible multiples have been mostly consumed. So the bulk of the cars left are known. Only two new Type 70 in 18 months, for instance.
Clearly part of my interest is I love finding caches of cars that have not been touched. Very unlikely with Microcars now, though I know of several stashes fiercely guarded by aging owners. Be fun to get into those. A roulette with other big performers like Andy, Steve etc. There is far more chance of finding an IC cache as no one has really been looking till recently. I am onto a few good leads. I would like to expand my collection to include ICE Tippen Delta, Harper and such. I really only like the small cars rather than the older carriages. I am not really into Electric powered stuff either.

I remain aware of your interest in up to 3 rotting or parted out Type 70. At the moment nothing. That was why Stuart suggested the Type 12's of Ian's deal. The Mk 12 based Mk 14 and 15 are part of collections so are not being broken up. Not sure the shells would be a lot easier to alter to fit than the Mk12 anyway. Guess they look closer to the Type 70. As long as you can stash the powered floorpans happily who knows what might turn up though.
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Barry on April 22, 2014, 10:33:23 AM
I am still trying to decide what to do with the Model 70 rolling chassis. I don't want to break them and have avoided selling parts off - dash boards etc.
I would like to sell off a few of the drive belts that are taking up a lot os space and will devote a bit of time to finding out what else they may fit.

As this is the microcar area I will not say anymore about IC's for fear of getting told-off of.

Good luck with your clear-out and keep me in mind if any Model 70's with good (ish) bodies turn up that are not otherwise salvageable.  No engines or rusted-out etc.
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: milnes on April 22, 2014, 06:33:55 PM
Good luck with the clear out Al, Mmmmmmm is this an opportunity for me  :-X
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: richard on April 22, 2014, 09:30:30 PM
Yep best of luck with it all , it sounds great fun - I have first refusal on a micro that I will have to part with my Bond G Tourer project to finance , and find space for . I have 4 projects and nothing mobile - this woulld remedy that at least .
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: skootashaun on April 22, 2014, 09:44:07 PM
Sad to hear you are practically forced to cull your collection by the council charging rates on a starage yard  :(
But, I still have a few hundred spare if you still want to shift that Bambox.

Shaun.
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Barry on April 23, 2014, 04:54:07 PM
Yep best of luck with it all , it sounds great fun - I have first refusal on a micro that I will have to part with my Bond G Tourer project to finance , and find space for . I have 4 projects and nothing mobile - this woulld remedy that at least .

Bond G Tourer may like it in Suffolk?
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Big Al on April 24, 2014, 09:13:46 AM
Sad to hear you are practically forced to cull your collection by the council charging rates on a starage yard  :(
But, I still have a few hundred spare if you still want to shift that Bambox.

Shaun.

That is not quite what is happening but is part of the tale. I just have far to much stuff. If I keep it 20 years what does it achieve. Maybe uplift but the car will be no better and someone else can have the joy of ownership and I can reinvest in what I want to keep. I always hated horders but I find I have become one.

Yep. The sidecar, actually saw it last week. It will be out of the locked storage in about a month. So we can talk about it then.
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: skootashaun on April 25, 2014, 11:23:02 PM
Hoarders, there is a bit of that in all of us that like the quirky vehicles,
Normally space is the dicatator, and you obviously have had too much of it  :D

The sidecar is a deffo want, and I have the perfect restored scooter (hoarded/loved for 15 years plus) to attach it to, bracketery allowing.

I shall watch this space Al,

Thanks,
Shaun.
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Big Al on April 26, 2014, 07:10:43 AM
Good enough, you will have first nod. I long wished to put it on a Heinkel A2. I have owned 3 good ones but each time got into a financial prob, had to sell some stuff and lost the Scoot. I am crap on two wheels so need a sidecar to prop me up. I think the chances of me Scootering are limited now. Much as I would like a few Scooters they would get no use.
I have a Goggo 200 Scooter sidepanel somewhere too.
2 original NOS tarten seat overcovers. Not sure of model. Came from Scooter dealer in Gosport.
Bound to be some other stuff.
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Barry on April 26, 2014, 07:41:53 AM
An A2 seat pan would be nice to have for my scooter - anything in your store?

My two IWL Trolls are now UK registered so I will be able to have a bit of fun this summer.
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Barry on April 26, 2014, 08:12:38 AM
Last bit about scooters before I get told off!

Our friend Steven Last has a nice Lambretta series I outfit.  Also doing well in scooter racing with his standard looking no.76


https://www.facebook.com/steven.last.1/media_set?set=a.1211090630586.2031065.1028360166&type=3

(Stuart Day non-standard for comparison)

If you were thinking of getting a Lambretta engine rebuilt for speed or touring, look no further than The Scooter Doctor - Steven Last.
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: milnes on April 26, 2014, 09:41:03 AM
I like the light Blue/White scooter and sidecar Barry, what type is it?
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Barry on April 26, 2014, 10:54:07 AM
Lambretta series I Scott.   The head light in the front cowl rather than in the head set.  Normally 125cc or 150cc.  This one has a super powerful engine in it though.
Not sure about the make of sidecar but I am sure others will know.  A nice set-up.

Steven Last helped with my Lambretta engine which is now much more 'lively'.
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Rob Dobie on April 26, 2014, 02:40:48 PM
 The sidecar is a Watsonian Bambini. They also made the Bambox, same bottom section but with a locking lid instead of the windscreen and hood.
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: skootashaun on April 27, 2014, 03:09:26 PM
Cheers Al,
I will keep looking in.

Barry, your mates S1 and chair is stunning.
I restored a S1 with Mk2 bambini a few years ago, and regret parting with it.
I am hoping to fit the one Al has on my TV175 S2, I retored about 15 years ago.

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o194/Shaun_079/IMG_0139.jpg) (http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Shaun_079/media/IMG_0139.jpg.html)

This is it, and my wifes Vespa I restored 5 years ago.

Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Rob Dobie on April 27, 2014, 03:28:18 PM
How lovely, they're looking at each other.  :'(
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: richard on April 27, 2014, 04:33:46 PM
How lovely , the street name  :)
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Rob Dobie on April 27, 2014, 11:10:11 PM
Look, the cream one has a false leg sticking out of its trouser.  You have to be an idiot to post on here and I'm proving it!  ;D
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Barry on April 28, 2014, 11:37:27 AM
Cheers Al,
I will keep looking in.

Barry, your mates S1 and chair is stunning.
I restored a S1 with Mk2 bambini a few years ago, and regret parting with it.
I am hoping to fit the one Al has on my TV175 S2, I retored about 15 years ago.

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o194/Shaun_079/IMG_0139.jpg) (http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Shaun_079/media/IMG_0139.jpg.html)

This is it, and my wifes Vespa I restored 5 years ago.

The series I outfit is also very powerful - without lots of revs!  Steve really does know what he is doing with engines.
Another friend is also fitting a chair to his series II 175 at the moment.  Must be catching.
Your TV 175 - a lovely machine.  Will look just perfect with the sidecar on it.
I can't get very interested in Vespas - sorry.  It does look nice though.

Even way back in 1978 we were messing about with sidecars - probably about £50 in those days.
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Barry on April 29, 2014, 08:17:55 AM
Seem to have hijacked Big Al's thread.
(luckily it is in RumCar Mart)

Can scooters be included in 'Events' - I doubt it.

Just for interest.  Scooter event if you are near Cadwell Park this weekend.

From facebook:-
'Bsso 3rd round this weekend at Cadwell park come have a look and say hello. You'll be surprised how fast and how well these machines go round corners'  (Mike Bonett)
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Big Al on April 29, 2014, 10:14:35 AM
You absolute Cad, well, it is an event for a Lambretta to work for more than 20 miles, so I will let you off. Scratch your eyes out!

Scooter racing made big news with Wotsit Halem doing it prior to working his way up into Superbikes. Strangely its never really made a big mark on most peoples conscience, despite it being an unusual activity. A preserve of the initiated.
I think there should be Invalid Carriage racing. I used to think there should be Larmar Racing at the Nurbergring but I have gone off it now I sold mine. The only race that takes longer than the drive and ferry there. Slipstreaming on the straight at 46MPH would look like a Dotto Train. If you yawn you lose 3MPH.
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: Barry on April 29, 2014, 10:50:48 AM
We live within striking distance of Snetterton circuit.

It seems that at quiet times you can run what you brung - as long as it has an MOT and insurance.

I can imagin a possible Microcar meet-up and a few 'quick' circuits?

I went there a while back and watched some enthusiasts giving it there all from Renault Megans to lotus 7 clones and a few very fast Smart cars etc.

Wonder how they would feel about lapping a Peel P50 10 times in one Peel lap?
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: skootashaun on April 29, 2014, 07:51:26 PM
Cheers for the nice comments guys,
Barry, Vespa's have feelings too  ;D

If scooter racing isn't your thing, Tenby is holding a national scooter rally this weekend,
I will be loading up and heading off on sat for a weekend of sunshine, 2 stroke and cider  8)

I will try and find my sidecar pics later  ;)
Title: Re: Clear out moves ahead
Post by: skootashaun on April 29, 2014, 10:35:41 PM
Found some:

My boy with a Serie Speciale limited run of 400 Vespa P200 with a matching Squire sidecar:

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o194/Shaun_079/P4110013_zps7e590137.jpg) (http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Shaun_079/media/P4110013_zps7e590137.jpg.html)


And, again me and my boy trying to outdo my mate, we are on a 1959 S1 and MK2 Bambini, but it is harder to lift the wheel due to the tubular frame clamp attatchment, against the flat floor set up on the MK1 Vespa my mate is on:

(http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o194/Shaun_079/IMG_0260_zps333ea1f2.jpg) (http://s120.photobucket.com/user/Shaun_079/media/IMG_0260_zps333ea1f2.jpg.html)

I miss a third wheel  :-X