Author | Lightnews

Grand Thrift Auto

@grandthriftauto.bsky.social

190 followers 150 following 670 posts

My name’s Martin and I’ve got too many scabby old cars. YouTube: https://youtube.com/@grandthriftauto

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Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · Jan 31

Go on then, I’ma give Bluesky a go.

As a first post, here’s a photo of my first car.

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Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 2d

It’s not just you, I entirely agree.

It looks ok (albeit not my kind of thing) forward of, say, the front axle.

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 2d

Does it need to be a laptop? You’ll get a chunk more graphics card etc for the same money with a desktop. You’ll need a monitor, but that’s a big advantage for video editing anyway.

Either way, I buy my kit from EuroPC - refurbed ex-display etc, and you’d never know.

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Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 2d

OMG

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 2d

Can I just say, I’m enjoying this BL colours series a lot more than is probably normal.

The Car Factoids @thecarfactoids.bsky.social · 2d

Know Your BL Colours:
No:54 Pharaoh Gold

In 1980, the majority of the SD1’s original colours were replaced & several were introduced to coincide with the Series 1.5 model.’s arrival.

These colours proved short lived as they were dropped when the Series 2 was launched.
(📸: IG a/c finecarbrochures)

This colour replaced Midas & the Triumph TR7/8 also used it as both were built at the SD1’s Solihull factory.

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Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 4d

You know you’re at the bottom of the depreciation curve when “Made My Own Number Plates” is the headline selling point.

GLWTS

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 4d

I’m not fishing for compliments here, just being honest. I’ve turned off replies, in fact.

It’s an interesting question and has got me thinking.

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 4d

I have a minimal competence in writing, painting, music, photography, video production, coding, metalworking and cabinet-making, but no real talent for any of them.

I don’t focus enough on any one thing to elevate beyond adequate at best. And I am running out of years.

I need to regroup somehow.

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Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 4d

I found this a surprisingly challenging question.

I think I lack the single-minded passion to create art. I live to create, but am a mile wide and a millimetre deep and it shows.

Juanma is Creating Lightly 🎨🖌😬 @creatinglightly.art · 6d

I have a question. Just between you and me:

What's stopping you from creating art?

Be honest with yourself.

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Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 4d

Very true!

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 5d

Absolutely.

The thing I like about SD1s is they’re equally suitable for bank managers and bank robbers.

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Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 5d

Last Panda Italia 90 I saw was at FOTU in 2022 — complete with THOSE wheeltrims.

It seems it’s currently off the road but I hope that’s just temporary. It looked to be in lovely order.

A Fiat Panda Italia 90 with wheeltrims patterned like a football

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Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 5d

My favourite SD1 colour — but I’m biased.

Mine (shown) has those same factory option alloys but they’ve been painted a darker grey and had the rims polished. Not by me, but I rather like the look.

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Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 5d

Gosh, I haven’t heard anyone call it CSO in decades. Was beginning to think I’d dreamt it. Thank you for that.

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 5d

And now there’s a k in ‘now’.

WHERE’S THE EDIT BUTTON, DAMMIT

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 5d

I did manage to resolve this by cutting a slot in the pointy end of the bolt with the grinder, so we know have a firm, clean earth connection.

The nut and bolt are zinc plated. I’ll add a layer of vaseline as well.

The car still won’t turn over though, obviously.

A shiny nut and bolt securing a braided earthing strap to a galvanised chassis rail, which has also been cleaned.

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Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 6d

Ah man, that’s rough.

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 6d

Yikes, I’ve just seen your Trekka post. Puts my issues into perspective 😬

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 6d

Where’s the fun in that though? 😉

Yes, that’s kind of what I’m doing in fact. I’ve released the bolt by notching the end and getting a screwdriver on it.

It definitely wants cleaning/replacing, even if it turns out not to be the only thing wrong.

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 6d

Very well put. I may have to steal that.

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 6d

I’m still battling with Espace electrics. I suspect the main earth strap from the block to the chassis - feels loose.

The connection is concealed under an engine mount.

Instead of just fitting it to that nice accessible bolt, it has its own hidden one under the mount.

Engine out for access. FML

An engine mount bolted to a chassis rail showing an earth strap disappearing underneath it.

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Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 7d

They did like the Starion - that qualified as Interesting (“miles better than the RX7”), as did later Colts, Shoguns and the Space Wagon.

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 7d

They liked the Galant, which made it into Interesting in the GBU, but I think that was the exception rather than the rule.

A picture of CAR magazine April 1986 saying:
Mitsubishi Galant — For: smooth styling, competent fwd handling (unlike before), refinement; Against: rather vague steering, not that roomy in rear; Sum-up: vastly improved car, turbo diesel and turbo petrol specially good, but expensive

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 9d

You might do better if you dig in and escalate it — you certainly should, that’s very poor from them and the regulator/Ombudsman would be on your side. But life is short.

Tbh I’ve never heard anything good about Lancaster. Personally I won’t touch them.

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Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 9d

Talk to your insurer — their supplier, their problem. The Consumer Duty regulations require them to deliver good outcomes for customers.

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Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 10d

Quality. That’ll set you up.