Let the games begin!

    Taking the 41 apart has become a fall ritual but I'm hoping this is the last year I'll have to do this.  This year's plans call for a paint touch up on the front end to repair all the chips, converting the rear main seal to a one piece by machining the rear of the block, adding air conditioning with heat and defrost and reinstalling the stock 5 lug axles in the rear with wheels to match the front wheels.  The door panels are going to have to be removed too in order to readjust the driver's door and fix the lock mechanism.  Both vent cranks don't work right and a couple of the window cranks need to be replaced.  There's a few other items on the list that will become apparent later.
     I had some spare time today so I got started with the disassembly.  The chrome trim down the middle of the hood was removed along with the grille, headlights, parking lights, front bumper and hood.  That pretty well cleared the front end and makes it ready for removal.  In order to remove the hood, the first step is removing the hood springs.  I failed to take pictures last year of how I was able to accomplish this without any special tools.  14 large fender washers are all that is needed to remove the springs.  First, lower the hood as far as possible while still being able to get your forearm between the hood and front fender.  This will stretch the spring and separate the coils.  Next, insert the washers between the coils taking care to add washers to the back as well as the front of the springs.  Here's a picture of the spring and washers with the hood nearly closed.

And here's a pic with the hood open after the washers are installed.  I only inserted 11 washers but I was still able to work the bottom hook off the bracket. 

Once the bottom hook is removed, the bolt  holding the upper bracket needs to be removed and raised a bit in order to remove the upper spring hook.  To remove the washers, use a floor jack to stretch the spring a bit until the washers can be easily pulled out again.  Lowering the jack will restore the spring to its original shape.

Removing the front bumper makes accessing the rest of the front end parts easier.  Here the floor jack is used to support the bumper so I can remove the bolts holding the bumper to the frame horns.  Jacks stands are under both sides of the frame for safety.  Notice the hood trim has been removed from the center of the hood.  I was unaware that the hood is actually a two piece unit and bolts together in the middle. 

     With the bumper removed, the rest of the front end parts were easy to unbolt and remove.

     That's all I was able to accomplish today.  It's Halloween and my grandson's birthday.  He is coming over later to trick or treat.  ;)

Fire up the... Suzuki Kizashi (UK version)

PART of the problem with new cars these days is that what you see isn't usually what you get. Unless you pay for it as an optional extra, that is.

It's one of the car industry's worst kept secrets that paying for life's little luxuries can add hundreds - sometimes even thousands - of pounds to the price of your pride and joy, but Suzuki is offering an intriguing alternative for anyone infuriated by the confusing, expensive and downright mind-boggling world of the options list.

Put simply, the Kizashi doesn't have one. There's no messing about with gadgets and gizmos on this one - it's £21,995, take it or leave it.

Nor, by the way, is this an accidental reprint of a roadtest that's already appeared in these pages. Life On Cars did get to drive the Kizashi earlier this year, but that was very much a test model to see whether us fussy Brit buyers would go for the idea of a Suzuki saloon, whereas this one is the finished product, subtly retrimmed and re-engineered with the UK's motorists in mind.

That original test version got the thumbs up because it offered buyers things they couldn't get elsewhere and it's much the same story here, with a package that offers saloon virtues without the sheer size of say, a Mondeo or an Insignia. More importantly, while Suzuki's thumbed through the options list on your behalf they've been quite generous with it - the Kizashi's got full leather trim, plenty of toys up front to keep you entertained when you're not pressing on, and a 178bhp, four cylinder petrnl engine when you are.

Yet I'd raise the biggest eyebrow of all at the transmission, because unlike just about any other saloon of its size you can press a button and a four wheel drive system comes to life, which should come in handy if you live off your local council's gritting routes. It's mated to a CVT automatic gearbox, and while you can change gear manually using paddles on the steering column, Schumacher-style, the car's character suits leaving it in auto and letting the technology do the hard bit.

The Kizashi then, is the perfect car for people who don't really like cars very much. If you're looking for a no-nonsense package which will get you where you need to be, in all weathers, take a look at one of the 500 Suzuki's planning on shipping over.

Jaguar builds a speedboat

EVER wondered what would happen if let Jaguar's style gurus loose on a speedboat rather than a car?

Well wonder no more because the shapely creation you see here, designed to help plug the launch of the not-exactly-ungainly XF Sportbrake, is what they've come up with. It's called the Concept Speedboat and is apparently inspired by the likes of Jaguar's original XJ6 of 1968.

Ian Callum, Jaguar's director of design and the man behind Jaguar's XF and XK, Nissan's R390 GT racer and the Aston DB7, said: “The Concept Speedboat looks powerful. It follows, in so many ways, the idea of a traditional speedboat but with the sleek and fast characteristics that you would expect from a Jaguar car.

“I hope our design inspires people to think about our products in a much broader sense, especially in lifestyle and enjoyment.  I have always had a passion to create such an object and it seemed fitting that we relate this to a lifestyle vehicle such as the Jaguar XF Sportbrake.  The two sit together perfectly.”

I, for one, think it looks fabulous. Jaguar, being a car company rather than a boat builder, has no plans to make a production version.

Maybe someone at Sunseeker should give them a ring?

Life On Cars Magazine issue twelve!

IT'S back!

If the miserable weather and the clocks going back is giving you the winter blues, then the latest edition of the Life On Cars magazine should help to brighten your spirits.

• Among the highlights of the November 2012 issue are:

• A look at the Paris Motorshow stars conceived, designed and manufactured in Britain

• A six page special looking back at some of the best shows across the North West this year

• What Life On Cars thinks of the long-awaited Toyota GT-86

• Driving thrills in North Wales with a trio of very different drivers' cars

• The latest news and reviews

Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I've enjoyed making it...

Open publication - Free publishing - More carfest

Cotswold Wedding as the Season Nears It's End

Our penultimate wedding this year saw the Daimler travelling over to Burford in the beautiful Cotswolds.

Keith and Alexandra were married in the pretty village of Swinbrook, about 10 minutes drive through the countryside from their home in Field Assarts, near Witney. The close proximity to the church meant we could make two trips taking family members before returning for the Bride and her Father.

The church is a popular stop on the Cotswold tourist trail and a number of people waited outside for the ceremony to finish so they could look around it.

St Mary's Swinbrook

After the formalities we took another short drive to Burford. To allow guests time to get to the venue, we took a drive around the town before arriving at the Bay Tree Hotel for the reception.

Alexandra & Keith outside the Bay Tree, Burford

Cotswold Wedding as the Season Nears It's End

Our penultimate wedding this year saw the Daimler travelling over to Burford in the beautiful Cotswolds.

Keith and Alexandra were married in the pretty village of Swinbrook, about 10 minutes drive through the countryside from their home in Field Assarts, near Witney. The close proximity to the church meant we could make two trips taking family members before returning for the Bride and her Father.

The church is a popular stop on the Cotswold tourist trail and a number of people waited outside for the ceremony to finish so they could look around it.

St Mary's Swinbrook

After the formalities we took another short drive to Burford. To allow guests time to get to the venue, we took a drive around the town before arriving at the Bay Tree Hotel for the reception.

Alexandra & Keith outside the Bay Tree, Burford

Autumnal Sonning Wedding

The Daimler and Jaguar were both booked for Victoria and Neil's wedding this weekend. The Jag was chosen as the Bridal car and went straight to Oakley Court Hotel to collect Victoria. Not to be outdone Groom Neil, the Best Man and the Ushers also wanted to travel to the church in style so the Daimler picked them up from Twyford to take them to St Andrew's church in Sonning. It then drove over to Oakley Court to collect the Bridesmaids and Mother.

The churchyard at Sonning was awash in Autumn colours on a very chilly day. The garden of the pub next door is normally buzzing with customers when we are at this location but today it was deserted with the punters very wisely staying in the bars.

Following the ceremony and photos we took the wedding party on to Lillibrooke Manor in Maidenhead.

Victoria & Keith at Lillibrooke Manor

Autumn arrives at St Andrew's Sonning

Autumnal Sonning Wedding

The Daimler and Jaguar were both booked for Victoria and Neil's wedding this weekend. The Jag was chosen as the Bridal car and went straight to Oakley Court Hotel to collect Victoria. Not to be outdone Groom Neil, the Best Man and the Ushers also wanted to travel to the church in style so the Daimler picked them up from Twyford to take them to St Andrew's church in Sonning. It then drove over to Oakley Court to collect the Bridesmaids and Mother.

The churchyard at Sonning was awash in Autumn colours on a very chilly day. The garden of the pub next door is normally buzzing with customers when we are at this location but today it was deserted with the punters very wisely staying in the bars.

Following the ceremony and photos we took the wedding party on to Lillibrooke Manor in Maidenhead.

Victoria & Keith at Lillibrooke Manor

Autumn arrives at St Andrew's Sonning

Plymouth in the Trees and a Mustang on the lawn.

After leaving the hoard of Fords. My friend Mike and I followed up on some other promising leads we had either heard about or seen on drive. It definitely did not disappoint. The first vehicle we came upon sitting in a shed was a 67 Camaro SS. Not to shabby.






Continuing along our way we saw a open shed full of old trucks and cars, along with what looked to be a Mustang.






There was also a few Dodge Trucks that were smattered across the roadside on the way home. Some just literally sitting in an open field. Shows you what a difference it is from Chicago to Raleigh. If these had been sitting outside in Chicago, there would be nothing but a rust pile.









The last car we noticed was a lonely 74 or 75 Dart Swinger sitting under a car port.





The second day in North Carolina we decided to grab some local cuisine that took us near the US Car & Tool shop (http://www.uscartool.com/). So we swung by and said hello. The manager there gave us Rock star access to the whole place and parts/projects yard. There was a ton of cool cars in different states hanging around.





Hemi...yes please.






Mopar Muscle Magazine Project Car


The project/parts yard is really where the fun was.



70 Coronet R/T 440-6 bbl car!






1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst. A customers future project.





We did not pop the trunk, it was like that when we got there.










I had an afternoon flight to catch, but still had a few hours to burn, so we followed up on a few more leads.








We also drove past the Lizard Lick Towing place from TV. We did not go in though, as I have never seen the show!

But our last lead ended up being the coolest of them all, even if the actually car was nothing special. It ended up being a 1963 Plymouth Belvedere II. But it had been sitting so long in the same spot a forrest has actually grown up around it. It was quite the scene to behold.










After that I was off to the airport and on my way home. It was a blast seeing my friends and their family. I hope to make this an annual trip, to get out to North Carolina and see my friends and what cool finds are lurking in the hills!
Ryan Brutt
The Automotive Archaeologist
TheAutoArchaeologist@yahoo.com