| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Stella |
Posted - 01 Oct 2011 : 10:09:29
Hi.. we have just acquired this lovely car and are anxiously awaiting delivery here in France. Dark blue body, white roof, pale blue seats, she looks to be in good condition, just needing some TLC (carpets and door seals etc). Registration is EOU 268D and if there is anyone out there who knows this car.. please get in touch. We plan to spend the Winter getting her tip-top and checking her mechanics, then get her out onto the roads next Spring. Whilst my husband Clive will be doing most of the work.. this will be MY car and I am very keen to get behind the wheel.
ciao (If I can figure how to post a photo.. I will!)
Stella |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Stella |
Posted - 09 Oct 2011 : 09:43:22
Thanks Paul.. yes, I think I shall have fun finding out all about Sunbeam Rapiers ... I shall be joining Classic Sunbeams and Rootes de France asap.
When I showed my pictures to french friends (Perigueux Auto Retro) they were very excited.. knew of the car but had not seen one "live". We hope to take her to the monthly meeting on Sunday.... Protocol demands that we all "wet the baby's head" ... it's just a case of any excuse over here!!!!
regards
Stella
quote:
Originally posted by Paul
I haven't the foggiest idea so my ignorance is as great as yours!! - Like I said: that's what they call whatever it is they have three of which aren't Series Rapiers!
I can only assume they're Fast-backs but you'll have to delve deeper into their Club magazines than I have.
My Alpine won't float!  I need one which does!!
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| Paul |
Posted - 09 Oct 2011 : 01:52:04
I haven't the foggiest idea so my ignorance is as great as yours!! - Like I said: that's what they call whatever it is they have three of which aren't Series Rapiers!
I can only assume they're Fast-backs but you'll have to delve deeper into their Club magazines than I have.
My Alpine won't float! I need one which does!! |
| Stella |
Posted - 08 Oct 2011 : 18:45:15
Hi Paul... alright, so I am showing my ignorance.. but what is a "type c"??
stella
quote:
Originally posted by Paul
quote:
Originally posted by Stella
Have you joined the Sunbeamania.purforum.com??? It looks quite interesting and is based here in France.
There is also a proper French Sunbeam Club which has been through various incarnations usually known as the Sunbeam Club de France and who used to organise superb rallies - I've been to four. There is still a site under the name of the Sunbeam Club de France but it hasn't been updated since January 2007 and there is the newer Classic Sunbeam & Rootes de France which took over the now dormant Yahoo! Group "classicsunbeam" but now runs the Sunbeamania forum you mention. Amongst their full Club members they have four Series Rapiers (a II, a III and two IVs) and three of what they call "Type C"s.
Somewhere, I've still got a membership card issued when Eric Delamare was President - Membership number 007!!!
My Alpine won't float! I need one which does!!
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| Paul |
Posted - 08 Oct 2011 : 15:49:26
quote:
Originally posted by Stella
Have you joined the Sunbeamania.purforum.com??? It looks quite interesting and is based here in France.
There is also a proper French Sunbeam Club which has been through various incarnations usually known as the Sunbeam Club de France and who used to organise superb rallies - I've been to four. There is still a site under the name of the Sunbeam Club de France but it hasn't been updated since January 2007 and there is the newer Classic Sunbeam & Rootes de France which took over the now dormant Yahoo! Group "classicsunbeam" but now runs the Sunbeamania forum you mention. Amongst their full Club members they have four Series Rapiers (a II, a III and two IVs) and three of what they call "Type C"s.
Somewhere, I've still got a membership card issued when Eric Delamare was President - Membership number 007!!!
My Alpine won't float! I need one which does!! |
| Stella |
Posted - 08 Oct 2011 : 11:09:06
Hi John.. we seem to have similar stories.. we bought our ruin in 2001 as holiday home/10-year project. Clive had spent years working on various car projects as "anti-stress" then a change of life..in 2003 we trailed a "tired" LHD TR4A over here and settled permanently. Since then he has rebuilt the house and the car. A few MG's have come and gone but the TR4A stays and has been joined by a 1961 Renault Ondine and a 1925 Citroen 5HP Trefle. I am not been happy driving LHD cars which is why we have bought the Sunbeam |(I fell in love with it).. I am perfectly OK driving on the RH side of the road so long as the wheel is on the RH side as well.. we have no white lines here in the country and I like to see where the ditches are!! I now understand why so many french drivers are always in the middle of the road!
quote:
Originally posted by johnc
Hi Stella,
Sorry about incorrect assumption re Normandy car but Rapiers are so rare in France it seemed likely.What other cars do you have?
I have been a member of the SROC for many years and spares sourcing from Mike Langley and technical advice is first class.The exchange of information and advice has been essential to me during my restoration.
The saga of my resto.is just that a saga.I'm not a prof.just an enthusiast,for Rapiers.I purchased my car 11 years ago as a 'hobby'to distract me from work in the UK.After buying the ruin in France some 10 years ago I put it into storage and finally brought it here 4 years ago after completing the house and moving here in 2006.
The bodywork is now complete and ready for paint and the mechanical rebuild is finished leaving only some tuning issues to resolve.Completing every stage of work myself has been a challenge
but very rewarding.
Regards
John
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| johnc |
Posted - 02 Oct 2011 : 18:39:53
Hi Stella,
Sorry about incorrect assumption re Normandy car but Rapiers are so rare in France it seemed likely.What other cars do you have?
I have been a member of the SROC for many years and spares sourcing from Mike Langley and technical advice is first class.The exchange of information and advice has been essential to me during my restoration.
The saga of my resto.is just that a saga.I'm not a prof.just an enthusiast,for Rapiers.I purchased my car 11 years ago as a 'hobby'to distract me from work in the UK.After buying the ruin in France some 10 years ago I put it into storage and finally brought it here 4 years ago after completing the house and moving here in 2006.
The bodywork is now complete and ready for paint and the mechanical rebuild is finished leaving only some tuning issues to resolve.Completing every stage of work myself has been a challenge
but very rewarding.
Regards
John |
| Stella |
Posted - 02 Oct 2011 : 16:42:49
Hi Nick... Yes, you were close.... 30 mins down the road... St Paul la Roche.
(were you visiting Cara and Greg by any chance??)
regards
Stella
quote:
Originally posted by electricnick
quote:
Originally posted by electricnick
quote:
Originally posted by Stella
Hi Jonc.. we are between Limoges and Perigueux.. whereabouts are you??
Ah, coincidence, we were in Bussiere Gallant last week, right on the Haute-Vienne / Dordogne border. We might have been close!? N.
PS: welcome to the forum. I'm a H120 owner oh and a series convertible.
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| Stella |
Posted - 02 Oct 2011 : 16:38:34
Hi John.. NO, mine has not come via e-bay/Normandy and YES, we have already sent application and payment to join SROC. I think the SROC could be very handy for spares and technical info etc.
ref Immatriculation en France: Yes,we shall be going the CGCollection route, with the help of the FFVE on this occasion -as a Certificate of Conformity is not available.
We tend to have our cars checked out at our local centre every 2 years for peace of mind as much as anything .. as they are used nearly as regularly as our modern car... and we belong to the LVA Club which gives us a discount off the price for each CT and the voluntary "interim" checks are not quite so expensive. (every little helps)
How many years have you been working on your car??? and are you an enthusiast or prof??
My husband Clive is an enthusiast, nearing the end of a 3-year labour-of-love rebuild of his 1925 5HP (Trefle) and he is feeling very chuffed!
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| johnc |
Posted - 02 Oct 2011 : 12:26:34
Hi Stella,
I've just realised is your car the one that was for sale on e bay in Normandy a few weeks back? I was tempted to go and have a look but I thought better of it as I have been working on mine for more years than I care to think about and it would have distracted me from finishing it.
I assume you have looked into re-registering using the FFVE to give you the concession for a CT every 5 years etc.etc.I've got all the paperwork ready for mine but can only do it when the resto.is complete and the car,VIN plate etc. can be photographed.
I've had a look at the Sunbeamania site,it is interesting to see that Rootes cars do have a solid following in France.
Are you going to join the SROC?
regards
John |
| electricnick |
Posted - 01 Oct 2011 : 21:11:06
quote:
Originally posted by electricnick
quote:
Originally posted by Stella
Hi Jonc.. we are between Limoges and Perigueux.. whereabouts are you??
Ah, coincidence, we were in Bussiere Gallant last week, right on the Haute-Vienne / Dordogne border. We might have been close!? N.
PS: welcome to the forum. I'm a H120 owner oh and a series convertible. |
| electricnick |
Posted - 01 Oct 2011 : 21:09:53
quote:
Originally posted by Stella
Hi Jonc.. we are between Limoges and Perigueux.. whereabouts are you??
Ah, coincidence, we were in Bussiere Gallant last week, right on the Haute-Vienne / Dordogne border. We might have been close!? N. |
| Stella |
Posted - 01 Oct 2011 : 13:40:10
Wow.. you are a bit north/west for us. Nearest we have been was Laval with our Paris pals, during a tour of the Mayenne in the TR's.
Have you joined the Sunbeamania.purforum.com??? It looks quite interesting and is based here in France.
bye for now
Stella |
| johnc |
Posted - 01 Oct 2011 : 12:49:20
Hi Stella,
We are in Finistere (29) close to Pont Aven.Serious distance between us so I think the Rapiers are destined never too meet.
Regards
John |
| Stella |
Posted - 01 Oct 2011 : 11:04:11
Hi Jonc.. we are between Limoges and Perigueux.. whereabouts are you?? |
| johnc |
Posted - 01 Oct 2011 : 10:30:27
Hi Stella,
Welcome to the forum.I too am in France and think there is only one other Rapier over here in addition to my Series IV,which is undergoing a total restoration.
Whereabouts in France are you?
Regards
Johnc |
