In 2009, whilst at a local classic car show, I was told of a very low mileage Dolomite 1300 that had been given (free) to a young club member. The car sounded superb: under 20,000 miles, dry-stored since 1991, only one owner etc. I was intrigued so, doing my best Sherlock impression, managed to track down the car's new owner, sending him a cheery 'if you ever fancy selling...' e-mail. A few days later the guy got in touch and explained that much as he liked the car, he preferred his Spitfire. If I was prepared to make a contribution towards the Spitfire's respray, the Dolomite could be mine.
Like all good stories, this one took place on a cold and dark night. I found myself back on the mean streets of Southampton, not far from from my student house of some years before. Sitting on the driveway, just yards from what I knew was a pretty dodgy pub, the car looked good. Very good. I was greeted by it's owner, a man in considerable distress as he had just consumed a fearsomely hot chilli to win a bet. I knew it was going to be an odd buying experience.
Cursory checks were made - I had already decided that it was definitely coming home with me - and a price agreed. Undamaged, unpainted, unwelded, fantastic! Deposit paid and hands shaken, I drove home happy. Happy and a little concerned. It was a little too close to that pub. What if someone decided to 'tank' the car whilst under the influence?! Stressed. When back in my own area I paid a late-night visit to my local 'friend with a Beavertail' and plans were made to collect the car the following evening.
If anything the night of collection was worse than the night of purchase, it was absolutely chucking it down. A friend of many years had decided to join us, simply as he enjoys poking fun at the ridiculous vehicles I buy. Nice. To my relief the car was there and unharmed. My recovery guy loaded it very quickly, money was exchanged and we set off home. Very quickly. very quickly indeed. It transpired that he had agreed to do a number of collection jobs that night and he was anxious to get back. he cheerfully explained that when the needle on his speedometer pointed to a particular screw on the dashboard, that meant 90mph. I despaired. Despaired and offered him more money to slow down. The Dolomite was bouncing around on the flatbed like some sort of crazed rabbit. Fortunately we got home safely and the car was safely unloaded and pushed onto my drive. Phew!
Then nothing. Absolutely nothing, until earlier this year. I always had the best intentions for the car and spent a fortune in the intervening period on NOS parts and accessories, but life, other cars and my caring responsibilities always got in the way. So it sat, wrapped up and protected, until 2013.
So, with time on my hands, the planets aligned and a few quid in my pocket, I decided to take the plunge and put it on the road. Fluids were changed, checks were made, a rear exhaust section fitted and that's about it. I didn't even wash or hoover it, just put it straight in for an MOT and....failed! Oh well, only a track rod and a lower balljoint, so not bad at all really. I replaced the track rod ends and balljoints as pairs and re-bushed the suspension as it seemed like a good opportunity to do it and re-submitted the car for a test: passed! Crikey, that was easy!
So the car is back on the road for the first time since the early nineties. I filled the boot with all sorts of spares, expecting something (hoses etc) to blow at any time and pressed it into daily use - what could possibly go wrong? Well, as it transpires, nothing. It has been used for everything and endears itself to me more each day. As you can imagine, everything on the car is tight and new-feeling: the engine needs to loosen a bit, the gearbox is slick, the rear axle silent, lovely!
Now the confessional: I still haven't cleaned it. I mean I've washed it off roughly with a sponge a few times, but I've not polished it, hoovered it or done anything of any consequence to make it look better. The paint is tremendously dull at present. However, changes are afoot! Over the course of the next couple of weeks the car is booked into a local bodyshop to have some very small areas of paintwork done: the paint has crept away from the rear wheel arch lips, there is a bubble on the bootlid, a chip on the valance etc. Once this is done I intend to remove all of the exterior trim and clean and detail the body - I want everything as new. Being white the awful 'shadow' dirt lines behind the stainless trim are even more pronounced. I have NOS grills and a NOS spoiler for the front and will also fit NOS bumpers. The interior will be removed and deep cleaned. Underneath will be steamed and totally repainted. I hope to ensure that the car is protected and really looks the part.
Now, if you have been bored by these ramblings, you may have scrolled down and seen the pictures below...the wheels...let me explain: what we have here is a set of Cosmic Mk4 alloys, as fitted to the Panther Rio Especiale. The colour, well, it was a bet: my girlfriend gave me a HotWheels Datsun 510 (in white) that sported a particularly vibrant set of blue wheels, "bet you wouldn't paint your wheels that colour..", well, a bet's a bet! Rest assured, whilst the wheels are staying (for now), the colour will soon be changed to something rather more sober and in-keeping.
The MGB steering wheel is a temporary (failed) experiment and will be replaced by a NOS TR8 Mota-Lita. These changes aside the car will remain standard, but a Retro-Sound iPod based stereo will be sympathetically installed at some point too - no trim will be cut, of that you can be certain! New number plates from Framptons are pending too. I'm fighting myself on fitting the redundant set of coilovers in the garage...
I hope everyone likes the car and excuses the wheels! I'll update this thread as and when improvements are made.
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Their colour will change though, promise. 
