V8 Stylus Build

[Antnicuk]

that looks lovely. im sure you will get it sorted.

[MattD]

at the third attempt..... the man from the Ministry he say Yes....

IVA passed

just DVLA inspection & number plates to sort out.

[stylussprinter]

I smell a party brewing

[Antnicuk]

good work Matt

[hearbear]

Well done one thing I will say is when the car was painted I wasn't to sure about the colour but once he had trimmed it out I have had to change my mind I think it looks pretty good now .

George

[MattD]

Thanks Guys

The colour is a grower - sometimes it looks almost black, until you actually go up to it. Othertimes it looks a bit burgundy.
Certainly different

Anybody notice the one-off ali boot - saved 7Kgs over the GRP one filled (a lot) & flatted by the painter.

[DH2]

Well done Matt & Uncle - nice looking car.

DH2

[flipper123]

well done guys!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MattD]

Well, the V8 has finally made it onto the road

Just a bit more background on the ministry red tape....

On getting home from the successful IVA test (& having MAC certificate in hand), Ken phoned Portsmouth DVLA to sort out getting road registered.
After two weeks, & multiple promises of "correct forms in the post" - he filled out an old version of the form we had & send that + cheque for the registration fee.
Another week later & a date of vehicle inspection was given for late Sept - at the IVA testing station in Southampton.

Now this has changed, as for my Stylus I had a 5 minute walkround/chat with a man with a clipboard at the DVLA office - simple "that looks like a nice car, oh its red & has 4 wheels !" - apparently they now want someone that knows the difference between a Ford crossflow & a Rover V8, so that the origin of the parts is properly checked.
Does beg the question why the checks weren't done during the IVA test though !

Anyway - it passed - & Friday's post saw the arrival of a consent to buy number plates & tax disc. All on an age-related T-plate rather than the expected "Q".
So this weekend another retired hooligan has hit the road running.... local mileage so far.... nothing's fallen off.... but it does seem to naturally idle & cruise faster than any other vehicle around it

[MattD]

Bit of sad news to report.
My uncle Ken who built this car passed away last weekend aged just 68.
He'd been totally fine up until Easter, but then had a short battle with cancer, spending the last 3 months in hospital.

The Stylus was a substitute for a part-built Cobra kit he'd bought that was proving very difficult to complete.
So I rapidly parted with the Cobra on the auction site (sold it in a day) and Ken used the cash to buy John Rockey's Stylus which had been sat in his drive for over 10yrs unfinished.

Late 2011 saw the car on the road, and I know it was put to good use locally.
In summer 2012 I badgered him into going to the Retro Rides day at Prescott, and we had a fun drive to & from the event. We were both P'd off about the afternoon bookings to run up the hill - told to come back at the prescribed time, only for them to open up & sell all the slots before then. Not happy !!
Thanks to all those Stylus people who made the old bugger welcome on his one & only proper trip out. I know he enjoyed the day overall.

Most of all I'm pleased that the Stylus build all got done & he had 18 months fun for his efforts. I think that bloody Cobra would still be sat in the garage now unfinished.
The good news is that my uncle Les, Ken's brother, is having the car. I'm glad its staying in the family.

Obviously its all still a bit raw, but what it tells me is to get on with life, & do what you want to do. Stop thinking about it, just get on with it.
My Stylus has been broken & I haven't driven it for over a year. Expect that to change very soon

Rgds to all.

Matt

[stylussprinter]

I would agree with your last statement Matt . You lose people and have your own health issues and it just serves to push you further along the road of your dreams and fancies ------------------------ do it

[DH2]

Sorry to hear about Uncle Ken, Matt.
I'd also agree with the sentiment - it's easy to lose track of the "just do it", and forget to enjoy the ride...

Dave

[CMA]

Sorry to hear about Uncle Ken. Saw the car at Prescott and glad to hear it's staying in the family.

Thoughts with you and the family.

[hearbear]

Sorry to hear your sad news Matt it does make you realise you must get on with your life, Teacher at wife's school retired in the summer to have a fall in her 1st week off ended up in hospital only after lots of tests told she is terminal, life can be a real Sh#ter. I have a week of in October and garage is going to be cleared out, son it going the wire garage for lights and sockets and I will be spending the winter in there pulling my finger out.

[stylussprinter]

Good on yer George