Scimitar owner since 19 minutes ago! :)

[speedy555]

Hi all
Think the title says it all really! Ive just bought the beige GTE thats been on ebay (Unseen, despite saying I would never do that again!)
Im totally new to scimitars, so excuse my ignorance...Im not even sure if its a series 6a?? Looks like its been looked after at some point in its life & enthusiast owned, so hoping its reasonably OK and I havent paid too much.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120525162366



No scimitars, but plenty of car experience though...restored a beetle, moggy, several minis, just failed a rebuild of a Chevrolet Caprice ... I race stockcars of different types on & off - Im currently the 2009/10 1300 champion.....er , oh yes Im a signwriter / vinyl graphics man by trade.

Anyway, Im sure you'll be hearing a lot more from me very soon
Thanks.
Dave

[scimjim]

welcome Dave - definitely a 6a (chassis # 3983 and one of the series with an M suffix).

Possible previous cooling problems? (Pither pot and spare Ford overflow bottle) but stainless water pipes and at that price you can't go too far wrong!

Look forward to a project thread

[philynnbob]

Hi Dave, welcome to forum.I very much liked the look of this car and had a good feeling that it would be a good buy. I hope this proves to be the point
regards phil

[Roger Pennington]

Hi Dave, and welcome. looks like a reasonable buy, look forward to hearing more.

(oh and Jim, "one of the series with an M suffix" ? )

cheers,

....Roger

[turbster]

Hi Dave,

Just over the hill from you and need my new race car stickering up soon, I'll give you a shout??

Paul.

[Coco La Blanc]

Dave,
Congrats on joining 'The Loopy Clan'. Once sorted you will see what fun a real classic British sports car can give you and, comparetively, they are sooooo cheap to run and maintain if you're willing to get your hands a little messy now and then. Best of luck with the refurb.
Regards,
Viv

[scimjim]

oh and Jim, "one of the series with an M suffix" ?

There's a number of cars that have a letter M at the end of their VIN

chassis # 2679 (a LHD built in April 1977), # 3579 (LHD built in November 1977), # 3859 (LHD built in January 1978) & # 3927 (LHD built in January 1978) were the first examples I found - this led me to think that it may be an export code?

Unfortunately, it then goes:

3933 (RHD)
3934 (RHD)
3948 (LHD)
3951 (LHD)
3967 (RHD)
3981 (RHD but later exported to USA)

3983, 3996, 3997, 3999, 4009, 4014, 4046, 4049, 4052, 4056, 4057, 4066, 4091, 4096, 4104, 4105, 4107, 4136, 4142, 4147, 4148, 4154, 4157, 4162 (Avon GTC), 4176, 4186, 4189, 4192 (later exported to Norway) - all of which are RHD

Interestingly I only have 17 LHD SE6a with the 12 digit chassis number - all between 2054 (Nov 76) and 3951 (Feb 78).

So I'm not sure exactly what the M is for

[speedy555]

Perhaps it was built on a Monday by Mike ?

[speedy555]

Hi Dave,

Just over the hill from you and need my new race car stickering up soon, I'll give you a shout??

Paul.

Yes no problem - 99% of my work is race cars & bikes of one sort or another! Ill do you a favourable rate of course

Anyway, just spoke to the seller of the car, and hopefully picking it up this evening, (Not sure about the comment of 'make sure you have a winch ) so will let you all know whats what once Ive done my initial assesment.....fingers crossed!

Just did a quick insurance quote online....suprised at only £83 for the year, fully comp (My transit is £500 ) .... though that might be a way off being needed yet

[Roger Pennington]

Jim, thanks for that info, as the old saying goes, "you learn something new everyday". It would be nice to know what it stands for, obviously it's a Mystery!

and Dave, good luck with the collection!

cheers,

....Roger

[speedy555]

Well, picked it up!
Its got issues as I expected, but nothing thats frightening me yet Despite the pictures on ebay looking good, the paintwork is shocking - lots of bubbling, but very few cracks/crazing. Needs a steering lock and / or column, drivers door drops a bit etc.
Lots of bills with it, including a recon auto box, stainless exhaust, stainless tank, tubular manifolds etc ..... and an old valuation from graham walkers for £2700
I will start a resto' thread in the relevant section when I get started with it.

Biggest problem is we cant get it started!
It turns over ok, and tries to fire, but just wont go. Pops back up the carb and has a strong smell of petrol.?
The cap / leads / plugs look relatively new on a quick inspection, and theres a good spark at the points. Newish coil fitted too, and fuel seems to be there.....just wont quite start.

[turbster]

Sounds like timing's a mile out, maybe somebodys had the dizzy out and put it back 180 degrees out, or even plug leads in wrong order??

[speedy555]

Sounds like timing's a mile out, maybe somebodys had the dizzy out and put it back 180 degrees out, or even plug leads in wrong order??

Thanks - Simple things, but ones I havent checked yet....I shall have a proper look at it in the morning and hopefully get it going

[DGMHGTE]

Hi Dave,

Just round the corner from you (Littleborough). Re-entered the Scimitar fold back in October last year after a couple of years out with an SE6b.

Look forward to seeing it knocking round when you get it going. I'm still learning the mechanical bits so...

Taking mine to Monaco at the end of April and need some vinyl decals doing for the run.

Regards


David