Had a really good run down to Plymouth and back, 3 hours either way - winter is the best time for empty roads in that direction. I was going to bring the Vellam Isetta back which I had bought once I dropped off a KR200 project and another set of panels for a second car in Devon. However on measuring it up I decided the chance of scratching the paintwork of this really nice car was to great as it needed to be lifted over the intruding wheel arches of the van. Not to be frustrated I therefore did a swap deal on a load of Heinkel and Fiat spares the Vellam fellow wanted rid of. These would not have fitted the car I planned to use for the second trip when I delivered a restored 'Schmitt Monocoque to the area joining the rest of that car. This deal then flushed out a rather sad Trojan which I am awaiting agreement on for a further swap of stuff. Hope so as it has a home to go to already for a swift half. So it looks like a full second load down and back as the Trojan will go in the van. All done without money changing hands, marvelous.
After nearly two months of inactivity with Chrimbo and illness it is great to get out and doing stuff again. That said light duties today to allow the leg recovery while I await visitors. I still cannot turn a deal down though and have added to my Heinkel engine collection. Still another two to collect from the South. Note to self, rebuild some of these engines and get rid of them!
All I actually intended doing originally was get the Vellam back which is a very nice car in itself and still something of a rarity. Fortunately this one seems to be practically complete and given a free hand I can probably finish it off in about three weeks of work when it will be one of the best left bearing in mind it is restored rather than in original condition which counts for something to me but not to all. If you like shiny then I have it. It is amazing how many new original parts are with the car. Many the last known stock from ex dealers/suppliers, though stuff trickles out ever after singly. The car is complete and correct so the big question is what the engine is like. Looking forward to that game.
So back to owning the big three. Messerschmitt, Heinkel and Isetta but with the advantage of them all being interesting and unusual ones. Also a happy day sorting out a van load of rubbish which I always enjoy. Plus we are out collecting more parts for Invalid Cars on Monday. Stuart has done the provisional clean up of two Type 70's and the workshop beckons for the first in line. This car does everything but run. So pretty simple with a possible engine change as I suspect low compression but it might be only a stuck valve after years of storage. Before that I have the KR200 to fault find and shove back on the road.
Winter is the time those who work in the cold get ahead. Hope you are all doing so as next year promises so many events. Once I have confirmed with the MEC I hope we will announce several supported events making it easier for Micronauts to attend and I think they will be ideal for RUMcar owners and not just Schmitts. This is the advantage of an MEC that is working well, it gives to the whole Microcar world. We seem to be sorting out the issues and getting things back together with a new look Take Off having just been released. The magazine Swap system requires updating as it has been let slip, another job to do.
Further news - Harald Duffield of Wolverhampton died at the weekend. Something of a controversial figure in the Microcar world but undoubtedly one of the best guys at nosing out cars over the years. He had owned just about everything at one time or another and I never found him to be anything other than a mischievous soul even when he and his wife's health started to fade. For those that listened he knew a lot more about cars and the industry than people gave credit for. You could not find two people of more differing backgrounds but it worked for us. For all his wheeling and dealing he always claimed poverty and I had many really good cars from him, lots of laughs and I will miss him as he was a real character.