New Arrival - Black '53 Reg Roadster - "BabyTwo" - Now with Photos

Started by budfox, July 28, 2017, 13:50

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1979scotte

Quote from: "mikek"Yellow= someone puked on a silver

You've got a 2zz what do you know about anything.
You're just envious of my 2 extra cylinders.
:p
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Free Ukraine 🇺🇦

The Other Stu

That's a tidy looking car and sounds like you got it for a very reasonable amount of money!
No Longer Here

budfox

Quote from: "The Other Stu"That's a tidy looking car and sounds like you got it for a very reasonable amount of money!

Yes it really is in lovely condition. Very original indeed. All I can see that needs attending to are the usual problems with crystallisation in the fog lights, the wheels needing a refurb and a bit of yellowing on the driver's side headlight.

It is overdue a service (based on time, not miles) so I think that's the first thing to spend money on after I've done a couple of tanks of fuel  :-) :-) :-)

Will do some more pics in a nice location on a sunny day.

Thanks for everyone's comments.
Previously - \'03 Roadster in Island Green "Baby"
Now - \'53 Roadster in Black "BabyTwo"

budfox

OK, well just a quick few words about my first proper chance to drive the car today. (Waited until 1st August to tax it). It was a 60 mile round trip to Woodbury Park in Devon, across the Blackdown Hills, through Dunkeswell and then to my destination via Honiton.

Such fun! Had the roof down all the way despite a bit of rain. Discovered a minor rattle in the driver's door and similar from the glove box. I also remembered that I can put the hood down from within the car but not put it up again.

The handling remains a joy, the gearbox sublime and I'm even learning to like the red seats. The only negative for me is that I also recall from my previous ownership that the car really could do with just a bit more power. I'm never going to do anything about that, I'm not an engine-swapping kind of person, but whilst the engine is a free-revving bundle of fun, it does lack a little punch. (Between my previous Roadster and the one I had now, I owned a 3.0Si Z4 Roadster. That really did have some power but I just didn't enjoy it).

I'll give the car a lovely clean soon, then take it somewhere nice for some better photos. I think I'll also go for the Toyota £200.00 service deal for older cars.

I've certainly decided that this will be a car that I only drive on nice days. The rest of the time it can live in the garage so something like 4k miles per year seems likely.

Finally, insurance. Aviva were happy to apply my existing no-claims to this car as well, so with me and the wife having three cars, the extra cost until December came in at just £45.00. (Other cars are an Aygo and a Leaf so that's quite a result. Having said that, we're in our 50's which seems to be a very sweet spot for insurance costs).
Previously - \'03 Roadster in Island Green "Baby"
Now - \'53 Roadster in Black "BabyTwo"

delhusband

Quote from: "budfox"I also remembered that I can put the hood down from within the car but not put it up again.
You can  s:) :) s:)  but not without sliding the seat all the way back. reach your arms over and behind your head, and pull up and over - i'm 5'6", so short, but i can manage. I just learned this trick recently  s:D :D s:D
Hate pointy animals

budfox

Took the car for a proper drive today, from Wellington and across the Quantock Hills to Watchet. Not the nicest of roads but the bit from Milverton to Wiviliscombe does allow for a nice bit of spirited driving:

 m https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.03613 ... 312!8i6656 m

Plenty of sunshine along the way, and we were going to get the steam train from Watchet to Dunster, a total of seven miles. But they wanted £12.00 each so I thought "For £24 I can hoon there in the car, we can have tea and a sandwich, hoon back again and still be in pocket. Sorry West Somerset railway, your pricing sucks.

Anyway, the drive did throw up a funny clicking sound when depressing the clutch (see my thread in maintenance) but it was still great. Does anyone else's other half try and use brake pedals that don't exist on the passenger side?
Previously - \'03 Roadster in Island Green "Baby"
Now - \'53 Roadster in Black "BabyTwo"

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