Beta Coupe GCRE upgrade

[betabuoy]

Ooo thats interesting to know

Don’t get too excited… I looked at that option and found nothing really available below £250!

[Ferrit]

Pants! :-/

[A Ross]

Hi Mark - sorry I didn't get to meet you at the NEC  - I was there displaying my red saloon on the stand. It might be worth having a look at the Luisi wheel range. They are made in Italy and I have the Luisi Mistral fitted to my Beta Coupé. It feels fantastic and is priced quite keenly too. I discovered Luisi 2 years ago at the NEC when Kevin was displaying his fantastic AlItalia works Beta which had one fitted, mine came from Ricambio - but there are other stockists. Alex

[Ferrit]

Evening Chris,

do you think the expansion tank you fitted would work in a standard layout?  Where was it from?

[betabuoy]

Been catching up with a few jobs recently:

-   During refitting the steering rack, I caused an oil leak by snagging one of the tie wraps securing the end of the main gator. Rather annoying because it was smelly (dripping oil on a hot exhaust) and messy to clean up.  A new tie wrap is in place and its now holding an appropriate amount of oil.
-   Guy (@SanRemo78) kindly supplied me with a selection of his surplus Siem headlights that were all better than the ones I'd been using.  Lights are now in with good/new plastic fittings and I'm thinking about restoration options for the reflectors of the lights I've removed. Some good advice from Peter (@peteracs) so far, thank you.
-   Took the Coupe to Automark in Stokesley today for a rear wheel bearing, oil filter and fresh fill of 10w60 fully synthetic engine oil.  Mark always has a reassuringly careful general look over the car too.
 
Then a lovely drive home this evening, and it's feeling in great fettle. Over 200Nm torque is always going to be fun, but the brakes and suspension are spot on this year; on a quiet but fast B road, I was grinning from ear to ear!

[SanRemo78]

That's one back on song again! How's the engine rebuild of the Austin coming along?

[betabuoy]

That's one back on song again! How's the engine rebuild of the Austin coming along?

Thanks for asking, but it is taking a while. To replace the sheared two-bearing crankshaft, I have a brand new item from Phoenix. This is currently away with the balancers and everything else is ready for the rebuild. Costs have, however, mounted somewhat! Given we were into a full rebuild, the engine now has new liners and pistons and the rods have been away for white metalling (ouch, that bit was expensive!). But since the engine failure in January, the rebuild should be complete in a few weeks and our 100 year old car will be back on the road as soon as I can collect and install the engine.
   

[Ferrit]

Afternoon Chris.

Love the colour of your car.  I have a question, as an owner of multiple classic cars, how often do you drive them all?  Post getting my garage sorted and one top of the first one, I would like a second project car maybe??

[betabuoy]

Hi Mark,

I have control of three classics – and that’s probably enough. I say control, because the Morris Traveller belongs to my four children, but I’m entrusted with its storage and care, and the Chummy was my Dad’s car for over 60 years before being passed down to me.

They each have very different roles due to their age/performance etc, but I ensure each averages around 2000mls per year in their own special ways. Each is very special in its own way too! Pictures below show my daughter using her Traveller as her wedding car, and the Chummy during a break on a VSCC reliability trial.

I love old Ferraris, Astons and GNs, but even if I had the cash there’s no space either in the garage or in my life to give them the use they’d need. So I guess three is the answer, but for me they must have different roles.

Chris

[SanRemo78]

I'm going to jump in here with a little comment. The car is only the start of the journey, it's who you meet along the way. They're people you wouldn't meet were it not for the car but who share a common interest. The Stratos replica arrived in 1988 and it introduced me to so many friends, many of whom have moved on to other vehicles or are no longer able to drive their cars but still remain friends. The Beta is exactly the same, it's a return to earlier roots for me, sure, but the most important thing about ownership is the community of like minded lunatics and getting together in person or through social media that enriches all our lives.

[Ferrit]

I get you.  I would want something different for the next car.  Something like a A35 or MM van, or even A35 race car :-)

https://youtu.be/VMtrlPGtc5E?si=mXAka35tsaSA-cfh

[betabuoy]

but the most important thing about ownership is the community of like minded lunatics and getting together in person or through social media that enriches all our lives.

Totally agree Guy... well said!