gjm

Quite, Father Ted Andrew.

It's a fabulous engine. Pistons as used in the Aprilia RSV1000, valvetrain from a GSXR750. Budget meant it got a cast crank instead of the planned forged steel one but Racing Green will sort you a billet item. Get the valvetrain sorted, too.

Is one of the darkest... There's other cars around that have also been treated. I'll try to find details of a blue that has a similar disconcerting property. It makes things look 2-dimensional.

Novus and Smith & Smith are as bad as each other. Under-paid staff, poor quality glass (when it fits) and barely adequate (if you're lucky) fitting. Attention to detail is often lacking, care of vehicle similarly disappointing. Yet they get lots of positive feedback...? A friend has an Isuzu Gemini TC coupe. Great little car - GMs 'world car' from the late 70s. Opel Kadett, Holden/Isuzu Gemini, etc. Went to get a screen for it and was categorically assured these cars never came with a top tint - which is b*ll*cks. Of course they did. It's just that the cheap glass suppliers don't make one. Unfortunately glass supply is some of the issue. My Merc W126? I'm looking for a good used front screen as they are no longer made. And that's going to become an increasing problem for may vehicles in years to come.

Mental motoring. At least the bodywork won't have rusted.

Parts for the big, black Mercedes. ? Actual value is more than this but the shipper has offered a 'gift'... Can't see that working on car parts. Best not to rattle that cage. Declared value can be whatever I'd like it to be - this seemed like a good figure 'til I ran it through the calculator. Maybe $135 (US) is a better idea. However... Post-new rules, I'll only pay GST on what's coming in, so it'll actually be cheaper! (At least, that's how I've understood the changes - duty will only be charged on consignments valued in excess of $1000 - under that you get hit for GST regardless of declared value. )

Election time next month. Vote for a new Mayor.

Not all councillors are like that... I know our Mayor has been having stand-up battles and arguments with folk from central transport agencies over their nonsensical "it's safer" bullshit.

Not mine. Not yet, anyway, although I could be tempted... Needs a lot of work although appears structurally sound. Does look like an MG Midget next to it.

It's a 4-cylinder kit.

Certainly looks way OTT. That said, they can go for up to $1k here. In perfect condition, of course.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/223655924876 ?

Here's an unusual one. Built by Antem Mochet, it runs a 750cc engine from BMW built by the Centre des Etudes des Moteurs à Explosion et à Combustion (CEMEC). In post-WW2 France, CEMEC continued the construction of BMW motorcycles taken from the German occupying forces. Two were built. One for Mochet himself (who was a maker of microcars) and one for racing. The car didn't reach production and Mochet went back to much smaller engines.

It's the 1970 Garmisch concept. A bit awkward from the front but much better in profile.

I'm looking at suspension for one of the Mercs. Commercial sellers in the UK and Germany are happy to sell ex-tax.

Aye. It's a very sad situation. The 320d at my old landlord's place. I asked him to look it over - it won't start. Turns over without any issue whatsoever, but just does that - turns over. doesn't fire. It's been standing for some time but fresh diesel isn't changing anything. As it stands it's probably worth little more than parts, and I'm not in a position to break it and achieve any value from it. It's a very sad way to part with a car that we've looked after so well for so long, but practicalities are that this may be the only solution.

Received this from YouShop. I might disagree with the bit about 'competitive disadvantage' but I understand where they're coming from. Of course, if we weren't sometimes so thoroughly price-gouged we'd probably not be looking overseas for stuff anyway! As a YouShop customer, we want to keep you up to date about some upcoming policy changes from the New Zealand Government that will affect your YouShop experience.What’s changing?From 1 December 2019, all items purchased from overseas and shipped to your YouShop address will have 15% Goods & Services Tax (GST) applied. GST will be charged on the total value of the goods and YouShop services purchased. What does this mean to me if I’m using YouShop?If you’re buying from overseas retailers and shipping to your YouShop address, the retailer will not charge GST at the point of purchase (as they will not be aware that the items’ final destination is NZ). Instead, NZ Post will collect the GST on all purchases (irrespective of value) on behalf of the New Zealand Government, when you pay for your shipping to NZ through YouShop. If the value of your consignment* is over $1,000 then Customs may also collect duty (and GST on the amount of that duty) at the border. *A consignment is one or more parcels that have arrived together in New Zealand addressed to the same address/person. Why are these GST changes being made?With the growth of eCommerce, NZ businesses are at a competitive disadvantage compared to offshore suppliers, as they are required to collect GST on all sales, while overseas retailers don’t. These changes will help level the playing field for local businesses. Want more information?The New Zealand Government has released a comprehensive Q&A that explains these changes and the rationale behind them in greater detail. You can read this here.YouShop allows you to shop from any retailer in the U.S. and Europe and have it sent to your unique U.S. and U.K. address. So, even if the retailer doesn’t ship to New Zealand, YouShop will have you covered. It may even be cheaper to have your item shipped through YouShop over the retailer’s international shipping rates, so it’s always a good idea to check.

Same true of one or two Land Rover specialists down there, asking 2-3x what the vehicles are worth.

Alpina (had) manufactured (by Ronal) something very similar, but these are not Alpina or Ronal rims. They were available in 13, 14 and 15" diameters, typically in 6, 6.5 and 7" width. If they are for a 2002, I'd expect (offs)et to be 15 or so for the 7" rim, and 20-25 for the others.

Daily driver. Gotta be. I drive a 1989 5 litre V8 Mercedes every day - a 50km round trip of twisty rural roads, and decent highways. What's that? A BMW V12 wouldn't survive...? Seriously - this needs to be driven.

If I had that money to throw at that type of car, I'd be looking for a Mercedes W124 500E. And I'd be getting a lot of change... Buy carefully out of Japan (for example) and you'd be getting towards having a pair of cars for that price.

My issue is that a buyer needs to pre-empt an order by completing a form, and so on. If you're on eBay and see an auction ending in 20 minutes for a widget that you've been after forever, most people will bid. In every other country I've lived in that works - item is bought, shipped, possibly held at border for duty payment, and delivered. But not in NZ. Here you have to apply for a number before you can buy something! C'mon. WTF is that about? Why????