Post by Sigmund Fraud on Jan 19, 2014 14:08:53 GMT
Two weeks ago I was quietly browsing the DAF OC forums, minding my own business. By pure chance*, I came across this topic, advertising a mimosa-yellow 44 for sale :
"I shouldn't buy another car !", I thought to myself, "I have far too many already". "Plus, I would have no use for it." "In fact, I have no space for it." "And I can't really afford it, either."
Those thoughts kept going around my mind, like some decrepit car collecting hermit's mantra. I lasted an entire day before I picked up the phone and informed the seller I would be buying it. "My name is Sigmund and I'm an auto-holic."
The car was a non-runner, so I had to find a way to transport it back to Fraud towers. Various options were considered and I eventually decided to rent a car transporter for the simple reason that I've always wanted to drive one !
Mrs.Fraud offered to accompany and assist me, because there clearly is no better way to spend quality time with your other half than to drive to the south west in a scruffy beavertail to collect an obscure, 42-year-old, tiny, yellow car
So last Sunday we picked up a well-used Peugeot Boxer from the local van rental place, filled the tank with 70 litres of diesel (OUCH !) and set off for Devon. The Boxer proved to be remarkably easy to drive and far more economical than expected, showing an average of 31MPG at a pretty constant 60MPH !
We arrived at our destination without any problems and were very pleased to meet the sellers : Ed, the previous owner, runs a 33 pick-up conversion as a daily and has been travelling all over the world on a humble Honda C90. Tony, Ed's father, is an engineer who used to work for a DAF dealership back in the day and has been passionate about DAFs ever since. Despite the heavy rain, they very kindly helped us load the 44 onto the beavertail. We then moved indoors, where paperwork was completed and old cars talked about before it was time for us to begin the return trip.
The way back was somewhat slower, due to a combination of torrential rain and strong wind, but we eventually made it to Fraud towers in one piece and the 44 was safely parked on our driveway.
I have a couple of pictures from the trip, which I shall upload when I find a minute. For the time being, just imagine a yellow 44 on a scruffy white beavertail and loads of rain
Now, I've owned numerous cars in the past but have never, ever given any of them a name. However, it appears to be an Essex DAFs tradition to name one's cars, so I spent some time thinking of potential names and decided that this little yellow 44 shall forthwith be known as 'Lazy'.
There are multiple reasons for this, including her very low mileage, chronic reluctance to start and, of course, her registration !
"I shouldn't buy another car !", I thought to myself, "I have far too many already". "Plus, I would have no use for it." "In fact, I have no space for it." "And I can't really afford it, either."
Those thoughts kept going around my mind, like some decrepit car collecting hermit's mantra. I lasted an entire day before I picked up the phone and informed the seller I would be buying it. "My name is Sigmund and I'm an auto-holic."
The car was a non-runner, so I had to find a way to transport it back to Fraud towers. Various options were considered and I eventually decided to rent a car transporter for the simple reason that I've always wanted to drive one !
Mrs.Fraud offered to accompany and assist me, because there clearly is no better way to spend quality time with your other half than to drive to the south west in a scruffy beavertail to collect an obscure, 42-year-old, tiny, yellow car
So last Sunday we picked up a well-used Peugeot Boxer from the local van rental place, filled the tank with 70 litres of diesel (OUCH !) and set off for Devon. The Boxer proved to be remarkably easy to drive and far more economical than expected, showing an average of 31MPG at a pretty constant 60MPH !
We arrived at our destination without any problems and were very pleased to meet the sellers : Ed, the previous owner, runs a 33 pick-up conversion as a daily and has been travelling all over the world on a humble Honda C90. Tony, Ed's father, is an engineer who used to work for a DAF dealership back in the day and has been passionate about DAFs ever since. Despite the heavy rain, they very kindly helped us load the 44 onto the beavertail. We then moved indoors, where paperwork was completed and old cars talked about before it was time for us to begin the return trip.
The way back was somewhat slower, due to a combination of torrential rain and strong wind, but we eventually made it to Fraud towers in one piece and the 44 was safely parked on our driveway.
I have a couple of pictures from the trip, which I shall upload when I find a minute. For the time being, just imagine a yellow 44 on a scruffy white beavertail and loads of rain
Now, I've owned numerous cars in the past but have never, ever given any of them a name. However, it appears to be an Essex DAFs tradition to name one's cars, so I spent some time thinking of potential names and decided that this little yellow 44 shall forthwith be known as 'Lazy'.
There are multiple reasons for this, including her very low mileage, chronic reluctance to start and, of course, her registration !