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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 · 4h

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 · 4h

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 · 4h

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 · 4h

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 · 2d

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 · 19h

Very true!

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 1d

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 · 1d

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 · 1d

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 · 1d

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 · 1d

And now there’s a k in ‘now’.

WHERE’S THE EDIT BUTTON, DAMMIT

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 1d

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 · 1d

Ah man, that’s rough.

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 1d

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

Grand Thrift Auto @grandthriftauto.bsky.social · 1d

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 · 2d

Very well put. I may have to steal that.

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

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 · 3d

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 · 3d

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 · 5d

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 · 5d

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 · 6d

Quality. That’ll set you up.

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

Ritmo. Ronda didn’t have *those* door handles.

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

I do - this is mine. Currently it only starts when it hasn’t rained for a couple of days, so next week I’m dismantling it until I find the bad earth.

Great cars though. Handsome, madly practical, enjoyable to drive.

Side view of an early mk1 Renault Espace in Bleu Sideral

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

Exactly like! Although with more hammers.

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

Back on the tools today.

Gradually knitting myself a new Rancho

A piece of hand-shaped sheet steel clamped in place over the lower corner of the windscreen of a rusty car.

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