How-doo!! Me an' me Bubble sayin' ello from sunny Southport!

[Mike Wood]

Greets Peeps!

Brief intro from moi, Mike Wood off of Southport, long-term bubblecar enthusiast but recent first-time owner.

I acquired Little Beemer in 2012 (Little 'cos it's small; Beemer 'cos it makes you  ! ).

It's a 1960 Brit-built Isetta 300 3-wheeler... with a badge to make M3 owners 











Had a few teething problems in the early days  like the first journey home on the back of an AA low-loader after a 5-hour road-site wait  and a door-hinge failure which left me spread-eagled against the car front on a bright & sunny Sunday morning outside a popular sweet shop with a zillion kids out spending their pocket money, but heck! we battled through!

The Yellow One only comes out when the sun's a'shining, but we hope to see yous at rallies-a-plenty in the forth-coming years!

Mike Wood

 

[Rusty Chrome (Malcolm Parker)]

Welcome Mike!

[Big Al]

Are you in touch with Alan Town and David(?) Tattishall of that Parish?

[marcus]

Hello and welcome, nice car!

[Bob Purton]

Yes, welcome Mike. Same car as mine LHD 1960. I have to ask though, what is the black line around your door?

[Mike Wood]

Are you in touch with Alan Town and David(?) Tattishall of that Parish?

Hi Big Al,

I have met both Alan and David at the Woodvale Rally / Ormskirk Motorfest / Life's Motors and passed over my contact details, although I don't have theirs. We've quite a few "little" cars around Southport, and it would be fun to hook-up for an occasional meet.

I have to ask though, what is the black line around your door?

Hello Bob,

The door is fitted with the wrong door seal. I think this may have ultimately led to one of the door hinge bolts shearing, and the door fit being quite poor (unless the footwell is actually fitted with air-conditioning!). One of 2013's tasks is so to source and fit a new door seal from Bromley Bubble. Currently I have to lift the door bodily when closing, so will be replacing / realigning both hinges and fitting the new seal when the weather is better.

MW

 

[richard]

welcome mike i am on wirral , so not too far away . no car on the road but hope to have soon - mid/ late summer . occasional meets sound a good idea.

[Bob Purton]

I'm sure Dave Tadman will sort you out with a door rubber and what ever else you need, he has always been most helpful to me. Maybe I will see your car sporting said new door seal at Malvern in August?

[wilksie]

Mike, good to see that your Isetta XHR183 has survived against the odds, as it was bought as a spares car for another Isetta back in 1980. Both were purchased from a farmer in the Cotswolds for £200 for the couple. As mentioned in IG 348 (Autumn 2012). Not only has it survived but seemingly it has thrived under someone's careful ownership!

[Big Al]

welcome mike i am on wirral , so not too far away . no car on the road but hope to have soon - mid/ late summer . occasional meets sound a good idea.

'Wirral going on a, summer holiday.....'

[richard]

don't suppose you can ox-ford one

[Big Al]

Ah, the city of dreaming Spires, snoozing Londis, catknapping Costcutters and nodding independents. The city where water was proven to have an IQ of 8 by knowing how to flow downhill but round the flood defences, but it makes up for not being by the sea, I guess. But indeed it is not Ox-fordable or affordable for holidays for me. Wirral sounds better as they allow cars in. We Oxfordshire carrot crunchers avoid Oxford if at all possible. Its a nightmare!

[Mike Wood]

Mike, good to see that your Isetta XHR183 has survived against the odds, as it was bought as a spares car for another Isetta back in 1980. Both were purchased from a farmer in the Cotswolds for £200 for the couple. As mentioned in IG 348 (Autumn 2012). Not only has it survived but seemingly it has thrived under someone's careful ownership!

Wowser!!  That's news to me!  I have a fairly extensive restoration file which came with the car, and a sheaf of bills which tot up to £QuiteALot.  My car was lovingly restored by a private owner in Morecambe, and to a good standard. Won't win the Pebble Beach Concourse, but then again, I haven't got the shelf-space for big trophies...

I'd be grateful if you could forward the Article to me (info AT theoldwatchshop DOT com)

Mike Wood

 

[richard]

Of course it might be a completely different car itself - read my lips.    By the way mike we can post email addresses in full but if you want you can look up members on the list and send them a confidential message if that's better for your needs

[Big Al]

Wonder if it was from near Chippy. Chris Goffey, then of Top Gear, told me about it, as he saw it when out riding his horse.