Hello all!
Thought it was time I began a thread about my three money drainers.
My first machine is Daisy, my 1977 Series 3 ex MOD. Bought in November 2008 and my first motor. In her second day under my ownership the brake master cylinder failed while going down a hill, so my life with her got off to an interesting start
. She was my daily driver for a couple of years until a robbed my brother of his Vauxhall Astra.
In May 2015 she took me and my wife from our wedding ceremony to the reception. At this point however I knew the chassis and bulkhead was getting ready for some work, so I ran her until August and then began. The work included:
New Footwells (Done before wedding)
New Dumb-irons (Done before wedding)
Two outriggers
Bulkhead Mounts
Underseal and Waxoyl
Complete respray
New canvas top
She passed her MOT last Friday!
Here she is fresh from the garage stood beside the next project, May, my 1954 Series 1 86''.
A few years ago, me and a friend had an agreement that if he bought a Lorry I'd buy a Series 1... So he did and that was that. What makes her stand out for me though is she was sold brand new locally at Central Motors Retford, I have the original brown logbook for her. She worked at a farm near the town and when (if) she gets done I'll see if i can take her back. She will need a complete strip down and I'm hoping to have the roof off and get her in the garage before Christmas.
While Daisy was in bits, I borrowed my good friend John's Series 2 109'', Vera. His brother bought her from the police force when she was three years old. She was used as a radio outpost, and when he acquired her she was then used as a support vehicle for the brothers collection of steam rollers and their traction engine. John assures me his brother cared for the machine deeply, servicing it at certain mileages wherever they where even if at the side of the motorway! Her cylinder head has apparently never been off. I borrowed her for a couple of rallies as she's useful since I can sleep in the back over a year ago, and she hasn't gone back!
I replaced her original water pump a couple of months ago. I'm eventually going to clean it up and mount it like a trophy! Before she goes back I'm hoping to underseal and waxoyl her chassis and fit at least new rear springs as a thanks to John for lending her to me for so long. I didn't want to be without one while Daisy was under repair and she has been incredibly reliable this last year.
Here both Daisy and Vera sit outside the Church at my wedding with Johns Aveling and Porter Roller 'Amy'.
I could go on with stories about them but that's all for now! I'll post up about May's restoration when I start it in a while. Going to have a break having just finished Daisy so I'm going to enjoy myself driving her again.
Jono