New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Well, I am surprised I have never signed on over here.....

I have been on a few forums for some time here in the UK.

Born in South Africa, transfered to the UK in August 2002 by my previous company.

Probably qualify as a post whore on Retro Rides and UKGSER.com as I have been active there the most over the years, as well as on Garagejournal.com

Anyway..... More about me.

Love all sorts of cars, love older cars from Ratlook to High end and competition cars....

Being a South African, Pickup trucks were always a first love.

Have ridden motorbikes since age 14 and still do. Got a BMW R1200GS and a Scorpa 250cc Trials bike.

50 in January, so passed my midlife crisis without any major damage. Have however got a wife who is a petrol head and encourages me to do things automotive.

In the past I have had a few older cars and still not quite what I always dreamed about.... a 1940's to early 50's American Pickup truck.

BUT..... More recently we have narrowed it down to possibly an early 60's Chevy C10/20/30 Fleetside.

Past cars include a '67 Ford Anglia 1200Super, '63 VW beetle, '59 VW Beetle, (not in the same league, but a rare 1977 Audi 80 GLS Estate)

Currently we own a 1963 Ford Taunus Transit, (GOOGLE That to see what it looks like) known as the "Grizz-Mobile" which runs an 1800cc Zetec engine and is on adaptors with Midland Wheels Radars in 15 inch size.
My wife Nicola has a very stock standard 1956 Ford Anglia with rare 3 bar grille, original reg plate and having been owned by only two families before her, has done under 40k miles..... Known as Myrtle.
Both cars have threads running on Retro Rides and I have a garage thread showing the other stuff I get up to on the "Garage Gallery" section of Garagejournal.com titled as Mixed Grill.

I also built an American style Teardrop caravan a couple of years ago which we went on honeymoon in.

Currently both our cars are for sale as we want to get that American Pickup at last.

My Garage thread

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ht=mixed+grill

Teardrop build thread

http://retrorides.proboards.com/inde...y&thread=67389


1963 Ford Taunus Transit

http://retrorides.proboards.com/inde...y&thread=37192

1956 Ford Anglia

http://retrorides.proboards.com/inde...y&thread=60718



I do hope to learn from here, and hopefully to find a truck or some pointers to where if someone has one hidden away somewhere.


For those who cannot be bothered to read the build threads.....

Here are a few pics.

My German import 1963 Ford Taunus Transit van.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...x/P1080880.jpg

My wife Nicola's 1956 Ford Anglia 100E

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...x/P1090065.jpg

Turned this.......

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...x/P1100398.jpg

Into this......

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...x/P1080212.jpg

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...x/P1080287.jpg

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...x/P1080214.jpg


So there you have it.

A South African enjoying a wet cold winter living in England.

All comments and advice appreciated.

Also pointers to hidden trucks that can be quantified as "Barn Finds"

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Welcome to the forum :D

You've built some nice cars and a cool trailer.

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Bienvenido

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Welcome Grizz; I dig the Anglia.

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

welocme Grizz. i will also be in the UK about mid next year at RAF Lakenheath. i cant wait to get into the classic car/truck scene over there. i am hoping i can take my 63 C10 but i am worried about the MOT and SVA inspections. do you have any insight as to the laws concerning American classics being imported? you can PM me the details so it doesnt clog up your build page. Thanks

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Thanks to all for the welcome.

I am truly at the blunt end of the stick with these trucks and what does or does not work on them.

Nicola and I only know what we like and the look we want, beyond that we are learning from scratch.

Stealth......

I never see responding to stuff as clogging a thread, a we often learn from each other, which is why most of my threads are so detailed, to help others the way I learn from them.

Here is probably the perfect answer to your questions...... I have sent you a PM as well, with links to threads I started for you on other UK websites.

Talk to Jean at:

Mildenhall Auto Centre

They've been looking after US personnel and motors off the bases for many years, they're right next to Mildenhall base, 10 minutes from Lakenheath.
They're also about the fastest way you'll get a late model US import SVA'd and on the road in the UK, I had my Dodge from the the docks and on the road within a week.
Very highly recommended, if he's at Lakenheath I wouldn't go anywhere else and they understand the old stuff too
Al

CLICK this Link get closer to your answers.

http://www.mildenhallautocentre.ltd.uk/


Hope that helps.

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Welcome Grizz.

For help finding a truck eBay can be good so is Craigslist. I use Search Tempest to search both of those sites from 1 place.

Cheers!
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Bus as delivered.....

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...x/P1080674.jpg


Camping after lowering, wheel adaptors and new alloys.

http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i2...g09/RRG17a.jpg


The day the original engine spat out its oil pressure sensor..... Nicola still smiling in the rear of a broken down van...... whats not to love??

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...x/P1090096.jpg

Arriving at Santa Pod Raceway later than the rest of the guys and getting the "What took you so long?" looks and mocking.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...Pod2009016.jpg

The way you find many of them.....

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...hartatt034.jpg

Last pic, the bus on a good day...... weather was decent.

http://dirklottering.smugmug.com/Car...4_swd5r-XL.jpg

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

OOOPPSSSS...

Forgot to mention that my original plan had been to paint the bus in Sinclair Oil colours.

I had spoken to a girl called Britney in their Legal dept to get permission to do it.

As long as not for commercial gain it was fine.

Photoshopped ideas on different wheels etc.

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...rizzvan1-1.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../Grizzvan3.jpg

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Ditto!!!

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Welcome Grizz,

I think I have seen you awesome work before on the Garage Journal?

You have a garage build on there I believe.

Bret

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Welcome, Grizz and hope your visits on here are happy. I love the Anglia, with a big PLUS for the 'under 40k miles'! It looks really too nice to alter; but I just gotta say it looks like it would be a neat place to hide a small-block Chevy. I think, with our help on here, you could be directed to add the v-8 with a 700R4 and get some fantastic gas mileage....and your follow-posts and final product would then make us all 'eat our hearts out'.
When this project is complete and ready for disposal, I want 1st chance.
I'm already brainstorming for a cool left-handed shifter for the 700!
Sam

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Welcome, Grizz!

You'll have a blast on this site. Great people, beautiful trucks, LOTS of excellent tech info, and everybody gets along without the silly bickering you see on a lot of car websites.

We're all truck geeks here, and we make a special effort to help each other out, whether it's advise, technical info, or parts. We're all in this together.

You've got some really nice vehicles, and whenever you get your 60-66, I know it'll be a knockout.

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Thank you all very much !!

I have already gotten the feeling that this site does not have the usual pissing contest, or very narrow interest culture of some sites.

I always see any newby as a potential champion of the future, some guys are just destined to build great trucks and cars, others less so.


I love my forums, and learn a lot from them, and also try to give back as much as possible, so often the threads I run are detailed with too many or at least a lot of photos so that others can learn and take the short cuts first time around, rather than waste time and possibly lose their MOJO.

Here is a thread I did on rebuilding my kitchen in October.

LINK: http://retrorides.proboards.com/inde...&thread=138058

And of course my "GRIZZ-POD" build thread. Possibly one of my favourite builds ever.

LINK: http://retrorides.proboards.com/inde...d=67389&page=1

We know very little other than that we want one and will be getting one, especially now the "End of the world" has come and gone like most such dates till now.

What I can offer is a couple of bad photos of a truck I am investigating at the moment.

Colour/color is presumably Crocus Cream with a white roof.

Going by this paint chart.

http://www.xframechevy.com/wp-conten...aint-chips.jpg

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...3/IMG_5403.jpg

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...3/IMG_5402.jpg

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...3/IMG_5401.jpg


All of this is still in very early phase of investigation.

I do not even know if the truck is for sale yet.

Hope to find out in the next two weeks.

It has a 350/700R4 combo, airbags, and the front has a 5 stud disc brake clip, rear runs a 6 stud hub, so far from perfect, but I am excited at this point.

Now we obviously need to learn as much as possible about these trucks and any potential pitfalls before committing a load of money to it.

What is in its favour is that it has a load of stuff done to it which I would not have to do, and more importantly, it is already registered and taxed in England.

Thanks for your help and advice.

We really want to get this one right first time around.

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

welcome Grizz, I really dig your rides

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

...WELCOME FROM OREGON!! TAKE YOUR TIME....CHOOSE WISELY...64-66 are the most common and easy to modify..(MY OPINION) ....WELCOME.

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Welcome to the forum Grizz from another UK member

That's a great looking truck - hope the sale comes off; let me know if I can be of any help

Same goes to stealth_weapons; I imported my 62 and getting it ready for the MoT was a breeze. I'm also not far from Lakenheath, so let me know if you need anything

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Thanks Chakah, I love the bus, but we need one car to share at shows etc, so need to move these on.

I am sure you are right, and the '60 is reasonably unique etc, but Nicola has got herself stuck on its looks, so I will try to find something that she wants as well.

Modification also means increased budgets.....

Thanks Barney,

I started to pull my finger out today by making space in the garage, pumping up tyres and getting batteries charged so that I can start to get cars started and sold out to make space for a new toy.

I have asked my contact for the pickup to keep his investigations slow and low key as I need to generate some cash first.

Seems there is a lot of older stuff out Cambridge way.

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Sorry, I should have replied earlier.

I am happy to hang around with truck geeks.....at least somewhere to get wisdom rubbed off on me.

I also noted the culture here, which is why I am here, thanks.

Thanks Mr Bowtie.... I suspect that a new owner may or may not moddify the Anglia.

All I am really interested in right now is getting my bus and the Anglia sold on so that I can make some space in the garage for a Pickup truck.

Hi Bret,

Thanks for the compliments..... Yes I do have a thread on garage journal.... It amazes me that it has had over 120k views.
I do tend to get up to some weird stuff.

Garage thread here: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...ht=mixed+grill

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

Looks like this may evolve into a build thread later as I am adding bits of info on here.... I hope the pics and story makes sense,and is OK.

Today I started clearing away stuff in the garage, and moved some stuff into the loft/rafters.

I also pumped up some tires/tyres and charged the Anglia's battery and my 3 reserve jumper batteries.... as I want to start her and test all functions before putting her up for sale.
The bus will follow.

I tend to leave the garage door open when I work down there on my own, in case I do something stupid to myself.....

Today was around 6'C out there, and with a nice breeze it was rather chilly....

What the garage looks like now.

Sachs Madass needs re-assembly and some bits need fixing and then selling on.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...013/garage.jpg

Chilly enough down there.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...garagetemp.png

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

In other news......

I love road signs, especially weird ones.... or ones that are a bit amusing.

I have also been collecting number plates and trade them internationally.

These are usually ones that relate to our hobby of cars and other related tut and "Collectibles".

I keep a thread alive on RetroRides of the stuff I find at council tips etc..... all FREE if you can remove it without getting caught.

LINK: http://retrorides.proboards.com/inde...d=89875&page=1

I remember last year driving down the M25 motorway near Clackett Lane Services , for about two weeks there was a sign reading "END" in the central reservation.... I desperately wanted to stop and pick it up a couple of times, but the traffic used to just speed up there.
It would be perfect to put up at the End of the drive, with a sign at the gate saying "I am at the End" or"Come to the End"

Anyway, I have been watching today's find for some months and today on the way back from the shop we stopped to take some photos to send to our local councilor to show the road that has been flooding lately.

When I wanted to pick this up, Nicola was on the horn....shaking her head and pointing that I should drop it.....

Of course I dropped it... then explained what it was and got it loaded and brought it home. (she does let me get away with murder)

I will let the pics speak further.

As found.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...repix/sign.jpg

Cleaned it and panel beated it to straigten it out, then mounted it on the side of my woodwork shed..... it will be moved when the garage area is sorted out.... I would like a garage forecourt scene one day.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...epix/sign4.jpg

Fitted.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...epix/sign1.jpg

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

I have a good mate who is a decent photo shopper and understands me with little explanation.

I was speaking to him about adding "Woody" panels to the truck I am investigating.

This is what he came up with.

Whatcha think???

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psa00ba746.jpg

This is the design I prefer, needs a bit of fine tuning though.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m...psfabd5803.jpg

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

I agree, 2cd design is the one
Posted via Mobile Device

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

nice truck. i wish it was 6 above here im working in minus 30 every day

Re: New Guy - Grizz1963 signing in from Rochester, KENT
 

I agree, 2nd wood design looks pretty cool. Amazing results on that mangled sign. What an improvement!