Diaries:

Whats new in the Hollands world of Classic Fords!

Thursday 08th February 2007 :

Those of you who own a Classic Ford (or any kind of classic undergoing restoration for that matter) will know the feelings that i am currently... er... feeling! Many important decisions have to be made when it comes to restoring a car to its former glory (and beyond of course), but its not engine or wheels, or even what sort of seats i should i have. No, whats bothering me and hurting my fragile brain is... colour. What colour should i spray the Anglia.

Those of you who have batted through the website would have no doubt come across the 2nd of our Galleries and come accross a particularly nice looking MK1 Escort, this has a nice new shiny yellow paintjob (albeit covered in dust at the mo) and although at time of writing is currently not in motion, it looks stunning! I would like to achieve the same aesthetically pleasing visuals with the box and i am still caught in 71 minds about what colour to do it!

I have a choice of 3, well, i have unlimited choice but i have narrowed it down to just 3 colours, each with their own pro's and cons!!

Firstly, i was thinking maybe BLACK! Would look particularly stunning in the sunshine and there aren't too many black Anglias about (that i've seen anyway! On the downside the bodywork would need to be absolutely flawless, which it isnt, and to get it that way would cost me the budget of the Netherlands! + As a mainly summer car, it would be 4000 degrees kelvin in the cockpit. Hmmm!

Secondly, ORANGE! Not sure which particular orange, but the one on the Focus ST's is a very nice one. In a 2-Pac this could look absolutely stunning and would be very 'look at me', not that you wouldn't anyway because you can hear the car from Surrey... in Newcastle! But then the 'look at me' bit puts me off slightly as it would attract unwanted attention from crazed 18 year olds in Vauxhall Nova's wanting to race me and potentially getting me arrested, or killed! But this is my generally favourite choice!

Thirdly, BLUE! Now the car is currently blue so it would mean not having to change the interior too much! Thinking along the lines of either Ford Electric Blue (as a few MK1 Escy's) or even Golf Jazz Blue (very similar), both are mid blue and very very good to look at. With the right set of rims it would look amazing! But, blue is boring! BMW's are blue, Volvo's are blue and there's also quite a few Anglia's that are a blue shade!

I just dont know and as much as i have time to think, i've been thinking about it for 5 years and still havent decided! So you see my predicament! Im going to try and set up a photo booth (on the site) and display the car in a variance of colours and see what i think! Any views would be welcome, or even suggestions! Not that i need to rack my brain any more you understand!

Tuesday 03rd June 2008 :

Well its been a long while since i wrote anything in this diary, so what better time than now eh.

Things, you will be suprised to hear, are progressing along at a fairly leisurely speed i admit, but nonetheless they are progressing. Tonight, Steve and myself have agreed to put the gearbox back in the Mexico (its been out having an oil leak sorted), also fit the new ignition as well! With that the car will be road bound. Hurrah. Papa Holland just wants to get his exhaust sorted now (a shiny new stainless Powerflow a la Anglia is on the cards, courtesy of Scooter @ RSR Tyres in Croydon), and some seats. Our recent excursion to the Classic Ford Show @ Santa Pod (1st June) was a prime time to purchase, but alas, there were no seats that appealed to Steve's taste. He has his heard set on a pair of yellow trim rigid buckets, available via Midland Wheels, but they had none available on the day.

We didn't manage to take any of the motors to the Pod either, the mex was obviously out of action with no gearbox, the Anglia had no tax or MOT so what with the rain an all, we decided not to risk it. We spent Saturday gutting the thing to make it as light as possible, to no avail.

The Anglia has caused me headaches befre so you kinda get used to it. I think though now, after years of though (see above) i have decided on a colour. I would like to go British racing green with a white roof and chrom deep dish Compomotive's. I think that would look the dogs personally. Black the windows as well, all good. Would mean getting all the existing chrome re-done as some parts are a bit shoddy, but hey, it'll be worth it.

Also got a load of fibre glass parts for the Anglia on their way. Boot, Bonnet, Doors and front wings are go. A set of MK1 Escort front arches are the planned adaption to both front and rear of AXY to cater for the wider wheels (we saw them on a Cossie Turbo'd Anglia at the Pod, most pleasant). A new steering rack is a must too as the existing is fu**ed and will definitely not see the MOT.

So thats that. June 21st is the next RWYB at the Pod, we hope to show the old girls off there, and hopefully any Ace's Cafe meets that are due soon. Hopefully see some of tyou fellow enthusiast there.

Friday 05th September 2008 :

It was fun while it lasted, and certainly looked the part. But AXY has had to be raised both front and back. Anything more than 0.5mph over a speed bump and WHACK!! Your sills are crying. She is still undoubtedly low, but now you can actually go over the centre of speed bumps, WITH NO BANGING!! Amazing. You can also pull away hard and have LESS (it still does) chance of bottoming out due to the rigorous amount of right foot used! On the down side, we still have a knackered steering rack, cant find a 2.1 turn Q/R anywhere! 2.2's are about but are stupid money. If your gona pay that money you at least want to buy what your after. Not only that but there appears to be a severe knocking coming from the rear? Fear i may have broken a half shaft or something.

In Mexico news, we have a new exhaust!! A Powerflow nonetheless (same as the Anglebox). This one is a balck powder coated job with stainless roll tip exit pipe 2" bore. Sounds bloody lovely. Not quite as ridiculously loud as the Anglia, but much better than before. Looks the nuts too. In recent excursions it has certainly turned heads. Im also due to pick up some Yellow with Black trim buckets for it towards the end of September. these will help to tidy the inside no end. It will still need a bit of polishing up but its a start.

Steve got rid of the horrific vibrations that were coming through the car on tick over (you could see sweet FA out of the rear view. Or anywhere actually). A bit of filing on the sump front cured that. Not ideal but drastic measures were called for. Makes the car a million % better to drive.

We did have a few problems with the dipstick flying out. it appeared it was too long and the crank was whacking it out and pouring oil over the usually dinner friendly engine bay. that was cured with some 'temporary bodging', a Classic Ford term im sure.

We have also found a hole in the rocker cover, and a leak in the driver front leg (not Steve's, the car). More stuff to deal with!

We do intend to take both cars on a RWYB at the Pod in October. I'll stick the dates up on here. So if you see us please come over and have chinwag, hair of the dog an all that!! Look forward to seeing any of you about!