Happyoldgit

True and exactly what I said earlier 🙂

Did you witness any of the "Masters Of The Air" production activities?

True on all counts. Besides, it's not mine 😁

Just reviewing this thread as admin, sorry I can't answer your question specifically but I'm a bit confused after reading through what you've said. Initially you stated.. ...but your last post states that the whole gearbox has been replaced? If you could clarify what your issue is and what has been attempted / replaced in order to rectify the issue it may avoid misunderstandings. Naturally I realise it can be tricky if you have not been directly involved in the workshop and are having to rely on feedback from mechanics / technicians🙂

When the new one first came out my Missus went to have a look at the dealer and went dangerously gooey eyed. Fortunately I managed to persuade her to get something far more practical space wise and it stayed that way through various new cars ...that is until last year....

Surprising what you can do in, and inside a Mini. The van version I had in my yoof was a bit more accomodating for certain activities too....

Doh! I forgot we had an earlier thread on the same subject so have merged the two.

The first car I owned was a Mini. I rebuilt the thing and in the end I doubt there was a component, nut, bolt or screw I hadn't faffed with. A full colour change to bright orange with Matt black bonnet and boot lid. A real Carlos Fandango job that saw me through a couple of alcohol fueled late teenage years ...until I ran it into the back of a van. RIP Mini.

The last trailer I did was one of our previous horse jobs. I redid that in keruing hardwood that I had machined into tongue and groove planks, marvellous stuff but heavy. Around the same time I redid the floor and some of the framing in a 1950's heavy horse tumbrel [tip cart] in the same stuff but got the local sawmill to do most of the machining for both jobs as it's a tough old timber to work with. The last horse trailer we had was French, the floor in that was actually plastic so no worries about rotting out. Current job is my Ifor, plenty of transverse support...

That's a very generous offer!

I have a trailer that was left outside for an extended period due to my ill health and now the original phenolic ply flooring has suffered and required replacing. Prices for sheets of phenolic ply / Buffalo board have gone through the roof since I last did a trailer floor. Obviously there are local stockists but anyone know of a competitively priced supplier of something suitably long lasting who offers delivery too? I don't want to use chequer plate or standard marine ply. The trailer bed is 16ft x 6ft.

I've had vehicles, classics and day to day I swore at the time I would keep forever but circumstances [not necessarily monetary] and interests change. Nothing is forever. The longest I kept a classic was 20 years and even though I swore it would be with me for good once shows started to charge to attend / exhibit I decided it was time for someone else to get some fun out of it. I was torn to let it go and spent a long time finding the right person to pass it on to, my son wanted it but the vehicle would inevitably deteriorate even if kept in the heated building while waiting for him to mature and be responsible enough to take on. I regret selling a number of my classics, in fact I regret getting shot of the last late production 110 that I bought new with the intention of keeping it for good but it was clear that the vehicle was going to be nothing but hassle, life is just too short to be obliged to regularly spend chunks of my time dealing with vehicle centric hassle - moreso when they are new. I'm almost through my bucket list of classics I would like to own, restore if required, use and enjoy. I've come to the conclusion that owning several at one time that require work is a recipe for getting bogged down with flitting from job to job on all of them rather than concentrating and getting one sorted before moving onto the next, but that's just me.

How many left now Ralph?

The way the world is at present who knows what the state of affairs will be in three, six or twelve months. We are facing huge challenges with regards cost of living, energy and potential spread of conflict not far away. The old norms could well be gone forever, or at least for an extended period. An old vehicle that has some financial value now could well be virtually worthless in the not too distant future, alternatively things could settle down, who knows. These are very uncertain times.

Plans, hopes and aspirations can be dashed in an instant. If you don't have health you might not be able to continue in the manner you have done previously.

Sell it and buy gold with the money. If you were going to restore or do something with it you would have done it before now.

Duly moved...

I'll move this to the Defender section as it may attract more attention there.

Just wondering - as the content of this this thread has expanded if it would be better placed in another section of the forum?

A few of the 1970s motorway patrol vehicles were fitted with mechanical sirens as above in addition to the old compressor powered two tones. The ex Midlands motorway patrol 2 door I had was originally fitted with a mahoosive extending blue domed, multi rotator extending light (Stemight) unit that had scene lights mounted underneath the rotators. The whole lot would extend from a box mounted on the roof. To the front of this I think they had the usual Wipac stainless steel bodied adjustable spotlights popular across the board at the time. Early 80s saw a few adopt Federal Signal 'Twinsonic' 'Aerodynic' or 'Jetsonic' light bars ' or twin beacon 'Visibar' warning lights until Code 3 started marketing their cheaper versions. Other US makes trialled were Dietz & Signal Stat etc. Prior to that it was Lucas, Britax, Bosch, Hella rotators.

I've had both and have an OEM one without IR on my new truck. Reversing lights, side lamps and brake lights all provide adequate illumination.

The population as a whole needs to drastically cut down on it's breeding. There I said it [set aside the fact that my wife and I produced two sprigs ourselves]. Granted there is a balance to be had regarding national earning and tax potential v demands on utilities, housing, food production, goods, social care, transport etc but my personal view is that the relentless growth in the population is simply unsustainable.

Work is overrated. My brush with the grim reaper last year taught me many things - one of which is live life for today! Be happy, enjoy, the present. Be prepared to adapt and don't forget that something will usually turn up and make things right.

Aye, another reason why I won't entertain oil here but realise it is sometimes the only option for some.

Get hold of some of that stuff caravan types use to remove the green crud that builds up on their pride and joy if it doesn't get washed for a while.