TimFF

So let me introduce the reason I sold a perfectly good Zed. On the basis that a picture speaks a thousand words... It's a numbers matching 1969 Ford Mustang Mach 1 with a 390 cubic inch big block motor, hooked up to an autobox. It's a rare beast, only 1.5% (4600 ish) of that years production of 300,000 came with that engine and box combination. Originally a sort of iffy metallic wine red, it's now been painted in Chrysler Intense Blue. And I think it looks glorious in the sun... This was built in San Jose in February 1969 - that's a few months before man landed on the moon. It was sold to Portland Oregon, but we know nothing of its history until 2007 when it was bought from the Title holder by a guy in Mesa, Arizona as a 'fit for a restoration' project. The guy in Arizona bought nigh on $8000 worth of parts but also stalled and put it up for sale. It was snatched up in early 2012 by a well known Mustang importer / restorer in Scotland who proceeded to ship it to the UK and complete its restoration from this sorry looking car Despite its looks it's actually an amazingly original car - there was / is no rot (Mustangs are well known for being rust buckets) so all the sheet metal is as it came out of the factory bar the passenger rear quarter which has been replaced. Fortunately it seems it happened early in it's life as it was properly repaired and was only found on close examination from the inside of the boot. It has the optional tach dash which is great - except you then lose the big block critical oil pressure gauge, hence the AutoMeter addition under the dash. It's also got a Moto-Lita wheel I added which looks 10,000% better than the original 60's Ford spindly plastic thing. The rear seat folds down, and there's a hatch in the boot which means you can theoretically take long loads - but it's only a boot not a hatch back so its usefulness is rather limited... One 6.4 litre big block motor! Rated at 320bhp on the SAE scale (which is literally a bare engine, no ancillaries driven i.e. waterpump) it also contains 435 ft lbs of torque which, as Rolls used to say, is 'adequate'. Especially with 60's brakes and suspension technology... Even the power steering is simply the addition of a bl00dy great ram under the chassis, it runs a steering box so one sort of guides it along rather than steers it precisely. It does NOT possess 350Z dynamics, or even 240Z I reckon. The bit you can hear! True 2.5" dual exhaust with just a small box each side just in front of the axle. What comes out of there is the most beautiful noise you can hear... One modern trick to pass the MOT is to use LED rear lights which allows the stock red lenses to be retained. Using yellow for the turn signals shines through the red and avoids the need for turning the reversing lights into indicators. The side markers also have the same trick, although I've yet to wire the rear ones in. The clock is easy to read. For the passenger... Console is a later addition, but the 8 track is a factory original and works apparently. I know the radio does, but I seem to have mislaid all my 8 track cartridges! The comprehensive hifi fit also includes the single speaker on the top of the dash... One of the model year 69's unique design features - the other is the twin 5.75" lights at the front. Originally even the Mach 1 (the nearly top model in the range, think Capri GT to GT XLR...) came with hub caps. These were an option of the time. Just to let passers by know... These are great - nearly as addictive as watching the Silver Lady in a Roller! And just to show we're a patriotic household, the red white and blue of our driveway yesterday.

I did indeed debate splitting the rims and tyres, but I'm trying to get space back, not eat more up! I don't have a car that can fit the 4 fitted tyres and wheels in, let alone loose wheels and tyres... As Wasso pointed out, those tyres are NOT cheap and at £750, assuming reasonable Rays are £300, they're less than half price with around 15% wear... Just thought I'd try here before heading to fleBay, if there's a better place for 350 specific stuff I've yet to find it.

See below - willing to split tyres from wheels... 4 18†Rays with standard sized Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 winter tyres – the Rays all have kerb rash (not me!) but are otherwise almost pristine. I can find some tiny scratches but there’s no lifting or corrosion. I can email the original images if you want a closer look. The tyres were bought in December 2011 and by my mileage records have just over 3000 miles put on them. If you can read upside down (sorry, the cheapo depth gauge doesn't have an accelerometer…) you can make out there’s c7.3mm tread remaining. The pros and cons of winter tyres have been debated on here, but I can only say that I felt so much more confident on icy roads. I'm asking £750ono – the tyres alone cost me a lot more than that. I’d much prefer collection (I'm near Gatwick) but at a push I would be prepared to send via Paisley Freight (or Shiply etc). That looks to be around £40 itself but I don’t have anywhere near enough cardboard or bubble wrap here at home so would need to buy or scavenge some. Drop me a PM if you’re interested. August update...These are still up for grabs, despite PMs from several members saying variously 'I definitely want them, I'll get back to you soon' or 'I just need to check with someone but will PM you next weekend'. I'm still waiting... As per a post below I'm now in a position to split the Rays (£350ono) from the Michelins (£500ono - still less than half price new...) should someone want either just the rims or the tyres... TimFF

Was that at Whenuapai? I went to a couple of race meetings there back in the 90's when I was in Auckland a few times.

I meant to post these a while back but then misfiled them - and stumbled on them again... As a child our earliest family holidays were taken at at Westgate in Kent, not far from Margate. For the 5 year old me that was an epic road trip from South East London - for my dad it was probably an epic making sure the family car actually made it there! But the day the 5 year old me always looked forwards to most was the trip to the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. I was in seventh heaven. Many many years later the slightly older me discovered that it was now possible to actually drive one of the locos on the railway out of season. So I have, several times now... It's a bit different to the Zed, or indeed any other car bar a Stanley Steamer. It's all analogue - if you don't do the right thing at the right time it's very easy grind to a halt, melt the fusible plug (the failsafe 'wastegate' that prevents the boiler going bang if you forget to add water) or literally blow a cylinder up (condensed steam is water and not compressible). No arguing with a failing sensor here, just listen and adjust with a large spanner... And I'm wasn't the only Zed driver there - this guy (who I apologise to, I've forgotten your name!) works there

Thread resurrection time... I did keep an eye out for Ed signing up, but the initial 'hello' was posted on a busy work day and I then had a week and bit off 'enjoying' myself decorating. Which reminds me that I stumbled on some images of the Zed this time last year when I was playing with a much older bit of machinery - I'll post them up later when we recycle a system. I've kinda got over seeing the Zed every time I walk the mutts round the block, but the boss still finds it odd to see it on Eds drive. But at least I hear the combination of Berks, Stillen and Tanabe as he drives by! The Zeds 'replacement' edges nearer - without trying to give the final reveal away we've been thwarted by some wrong parts and administrative shenanigans. Great.

Mine recently sold through Autotrader, and our 205GTi sold through eBay Classifieds... You might want to consider both / either?

Our office is just a few metres from the Farnborough runway centreline - you should feel that shake when the air show is on and some one is hurling a fighter around...

As someone who's just kinda been in this situation (albeit without the mechanical capabilities you have!) then I think your mind will make itself up. I've been lucky and able to indulge in some nice cars in the past, and over the last year or so a germ of an idea became a caterpillar before becoming something rather more tangible in the form a big blue butterfly I couldn't get out of my mind... It meant selling the Zed, but I have no idea what's around lifes corner for me so I'm scratching that itch now!

So that's it, 'my' Zed has gone to a new home... Can we lock this thread now please?

I just KNEW you were watching this... Get back to work, at least I'm on a day off! Gonna have to update my avatar too now, dang

Thanks for the wishes - and it seems the virtual hoovering worked! Well, on Wednesday the call finally came - 'Can I come and see your car?'. Deal done last night and a deposit is in my piggy bank. Quite amazingly it's going to a new home just around the corner, and the new owner and I have passed many times as he heads off to work and I take the mutts on an early morning walk. I'm pretty sure he'll sign up on here, and I'll get to see it every time I take the mutts round the block. And hear it from the outside! And while this was taking place we sold the 205GTi too, so the new toy now has garage space waiting. More details when I have it in my grubby hands (and if Vincent is reading this or Ed finds this post PLEASE keep quiet as you both know what it is!) and I'll do a reveal. I will admit to it being blue...

Photos sorted - that's what comes of trying to wedge everything into a working day! Thanks for the heads up... The beast will be unveiled once it gets here, it's currently in the workshop being fettled.And the workshop is hundreds of miles away - I flew there to see it and do the deal.

It’s ironic – this is a rare colour and there are 2 for sale now… Why am I selling? Simply because I’ve indulged in another car somewhat different to this and I’m not able (read ‘allowed’) to keep both. I’ll leave this as the only advert for the weekend, it’ll go on the usual other sites after then. Drop me a PM if you’re interested. The ad: “Mine since March 2011 and 17475 miles, and I’m the 3rd owner. Both previous owners kept the car for only a year; I bought it at 2 years old as the then owner had a cash shortfall for school fees. Being a late car (registered 12/01/09) it comes with the GT spec as standard – heated seats, cruise and the Bose head unit (although see later in the ad) and speakers with subwoofer. It’s not got the built in sat nav, but (and this is a personal observation!) you’re better off with CoPilot on your phone for £25… You do get the nice big cubby instead – and you can get a tablet in there. It’s in the rare Midnight Blue with a black leather interior. I love this colour – it looks almost black at times but see the sun shine on it and it comes alive. The wheels are standard 18†Rays in pretty good condition, and I have all 3 keys (2 remotes, 1 valet key) here. The V5 is present and in my name, and I HPI checked when I bought it. It showed an outstanding finance agreement much to the vendors surprise – it turned out to be an administrative error in the finance company not removing their lien. It’s clear now. In my 3 years it’s rarely been used for short journeys – my commute is 50 miles each way on every sort of road. If it is used on a short trip I always make sure we’re up to normal temperature before turning it off. I’ve never revved it from cold either, although it does like running at 2,000rpm when first started from cold – it quickly drops as it warms. It was serviced by Nissan for the first 2 services and Abbey Motorsport since then. I have the stamped up service book and more importantly invoices for all work done in my time. Non service items have been a 4 wheel geometry check in August 2011, replacement of a gear linkage gaiter in September 2011, the fitting of a Superpro Bush kit in March 2012, an air con service at a local specialist in July 2013 and new discs and pads all round in January this year. Service History P1 26/01/2010 9466 miles West Way Basingstoke P2 06/04/2011 17615 miles Crawley Down Nissan P1 15/02/2012 21762 miles Abbey Motorsport P3 03/01/2013 25372 miles Abbey Motorsport P1 07/01/2014 29160 miles Abbey Motorsport The current MOT is valid until 12/01/2015 (no advisories), the tax until 31/07/2014. Tyres are Bridgestone RE050s with between about 4.5 and 6mm tread depth left. Having joined the 350Z forum I have inevitably made some modifications - some minor and some not so minor… All are reversible, but some will be staying, and some I realise may not be wanted and I’m happy to remove those prior to sale and revert to standard fitment – yes, I kept everything. The biggest change inside the car is that I’ve had installed an Alpine IVA-W520R ‘Mobile Media Station’ double DIN head unit with a KCE-400BT Bluetooth interface – it plays CDs, DVDs, USB sticks & controls your iPod. It will also stream music via Bluetooth and it’s connected to the steering wheel controls using an Autoleads set. Alongside this I added an Alpine PXA-H100 Imprint audio processor which coupled with the Alpine HU and standard Bose speakers and subwoofer provides a far better sound than the standard Bose HU. That cost £1110 fitted by a specialist, no way was I about to get that lot in and working! It’s also got genuine Nissan mats, Parking Dynamics hidden rear parking sensors, an S2000 stubby aerial, carbon bonnet struts and clear front reflectors. I also ‘indulged’ in a ‘ZED’ registration plate – originally it was ‘YUK’ and no way was I about to drive around in a 350Z with that front and rear. Under the bonnet and the length of the car lie the less obvious but more audible modifications. It’s been UpRev’d, has Berks HFCs, a Stillen Y pipe and a Tanabe Medalion exhaust. This all goes together to give a lovely burble when not pressing on, and a lovely but not droney or oppressive howl when ‘making progress’ – and subtle rasp on the over-run. The Berks and Stillen were new; the Tanabe was second-hand (but far from cheap). It’s got Cosworth air filters too. It’s also got Eibach spacers front and rear – the biggest you can fit without arch rolling. There are a few stone chips to the front, but I have a genuine Nissan touch up set. The drivers seat bolster shows slight wear too. So why am I selling? I’ve taken the opportunity to acquire a bit of a beast, and I’ve been informed that to have that then the ‘toys’ have to go. And this is one of them – in any case my commute has dropped over the years from 30k a year to now once in every few months thanks to the wonders of tele-commuting (Citrix does have its uses!). I’m asking for £12,500 with everything as listed above included (the UpRev & complete exhaust would cost you over £2,000…). However, if you don’t want or need everything then I’m happy to remove and adjust the price downwards accordingly. I’m just off the M23 very close to Gatwick.â€

and from a bit further south and just south of Gatwick aka Crawley...

I've had crap few months due to work, and that has just made up for it in one go... That was a real 'spit the coffee all over the PC' moment. Thank you so much - and thank your mum even more!

Oh go on then - mirror module for me please...

We did just what you're thinking of in Galley Bay Antigua 10 years ago and it was utterly painless. And as the island is a recognised British Colony, it's all legal in the UK too. The hotel had a member of staff who helped you along, and basically the process involves arriving on the island a certain number of days before the event and having an 'interview' with the Registrar to prove you are both legally able to marry i.e. divorce decrees, birth certificates, passports... Once that's all checked out, it's time for The Day. The hotel will also organise (if wanted) a cake, flowers (our room was decorated from to to bottom on the day), musicians et al. You'll need a couple of witnesses on the day, but you can find them at the hotel - we've been asked before now. Most hotels on the island have a dedicated wedding gazebo - the one at Blue Waters is on the end of a promontory out into the Caribbean. We got married right by the beach and the photos all have the sea in the close background or were taken on the beach. Trouble is, where we went is likely to blow your budget... but don't be afraid to go directly to the hotels and ask for room rack rates, we find it's much cheaper to do that and book our own flights than buying a package. I hope you manage to sort something out to make it a memorable time. TimFF

I've always known the metal cross panel where the release mechanism is bolted as the 'slam panel', hence I'm also one who drops it from about a foot. A mate (many years ago) ably demonstrated why 'positive engagement' was A Good Thing when he carefully pressed his bonnet home, heard it 'click' and set off down a motorway slip road. He'd not cracked 60 before it released...

If you take a look at the website, you pick the item to hold, then the car and model to fit it to. Then it tells you what clips you can get for whereabouts in the car - some cars offer more than 2 (low left and right, upper air vent etc etc...)

I've got my Garmin satnav on a Brodit clip - I used the LHD version to move it away from my left leg. Not cheap but I've used them in 4 cars now and they're very effective. Just pick what you want to mount and where... Mine have all come from here: http://www.dsldevelopments.com/

my bunch, thought of over a couple of hours whilst we wait for the networks guys to plug in the cable someone tripped over... Chained To The Wheel - The Black Sorrows Crawling From The Wreckage - Dave Edmunds One Piece at a Time - Johnny Cash Slow Down - John Miles Lifes Been Good - Joe Walsh Road to Nowhere - Talking Heads Daytona - Chris Rea Crossroads - Cream Drive All Night - Dion Take It To The Limit - The Eagles Silver Machine - Hawkwind Driving Away From Home - It's Immaterial Highway of Dreams - Jeff Healey This Wheels On Fire - Julie Driscoll Swarfiga - Kasabian Gunbarrell Highway - Midnight Oil Knights of Cydonia - Muse Locomotion - OMD On Days Like These - Matt Monroe

Simples - Abbey in Oxted... Tim

Coz the cost is out of all proportion for the fun in entering just a few events now all the MSA regs on helmets and suits have been 'elf & safetied'! And the small matter of time! But when Lotto or Ernie finally deals the right numbers, who knows?

Looks like Three Bridges is the centre of gravity for Zeds round here...