Agent75

That is classic! They didn’t ask much of a car back in the 60s did they!

I think I just learnt a valuable lesson about the wide reaching tentacles of the internet! You are right, it must be yours. I hope I haven’t got my man Craig in too much trouble - in his defence I was annoyingly persistent about borrowing the magical machine. You can be assured it is in good hands and will leave mine in the same condition I received it. I’ll make the suspension a priority so I can get it back to you.

Going on the weight of the seats and the thickness and everywhereness of 1960s upspec sound deadening I’m not sure if 1100cc will be enough to pull its own weight!

You can see the useless blue lug in the photo of the pump. Hilarious. Engine sounds very solid - need to get my arse in to gear and put slave on so I can taker her for a run. It’s on bump stops on left side for now but I have a replacement hydrolastic displacer and borrowed the grease gun hydrolastic tool off the guy Craig too. I helped him pull it out which gave me a good idea of the cuntyness. Also shampood the carpets and headlining - carpets are very very good. Still original - photos to come. Headlining is very decent but still some mould stains to come out. And the seats..... did I mention the seats. They are unbelievable!- they look like they’re from a 5 year old car and the rear parcel shelf has been covered and is minty too. Suggestions for a good product to keep them supple? Mothers I guess but will take suggestions

A bit of progress on the ol girl over the past week. clutch was siezed “released” - new slave arrived now so I’ll pop that on. No fuel pump sound when car turned on. Slid fuel pump out and saw this ground wire not connected to anything (pump is In isolating rubber sleeve). Curious. Then found the body lug it should have been connected to connected to another lug connecting the body of the car to the body of the car 20mm away. Nice one previous owner. Cleaned and connected. Pumpin! Pumped some old fuel through and threw 10 litres of new in. Still no start. Pulled float bowls - no fuel and sticky valves - loosened up and cranked her over.....

I am astounded by the condition and quality of the leather seats. Faultless. I’ve got them out for a clean up and need to get some fancy leather treatment on to them. The carpets are pretty decent too. I gave them a shampoo last week but have been a busy boy since. Will upload photos for people who appreciate the finer things in life

Well I’ve started taking all the carpets out and will clean them up - they are all the original carpets and seem decent. A bit of water has got in to the car so drying everything out. Headlining is a bit grubby so I will need to google a solution that won’t stuff it or if anyone has suggestions. Steel work under carpets is remarkably good as is the rest of Car now that I’ve had a good look over it. Took spark plugs out and they are sooty but things look good in there . Clutch pedal was stuck up and Slave was stuck engaged - I loosened the slave and the actuator spring back - tested master and all good so only a slave needed here - no siezed clutch mechanisms- YAY!! . I have ordered a slave . Have been in contact with a local guy with the same affliction as me and he has a hydrolastic displacer I will swap out - involves removing rear sub frame so ..... yea . Will get battery and get this baby started soon - suspect dicky icky pump and shiddy fuel but who knows

POSITIVES nice straight apparently rust free body with original paint amazing chrome trim etc amazing condition seats and very good interior rebuilt gearbox electronic ignition engine bay looks good and clearly well looked after all the paperwork and documents NEGATIVES failed left rear hydrolastic displacer clutch seized - suspect hydraulics not clutch engine hasn’t started but turns over nicely - suspect old fuel/failed fuel pump may need a door hinge pin or two My biggest concern atm is sorting the hydrolastic but the rest is just a bit of pfaffing

The only “psssssh” sound I hear at the moment is the hydrolastic fluid leaking out

There is a reciept for extensive heat box work just before taken off road so all good - there has been work on the hydrolastic system but unfortunately the rear left unit is leaking dammit.

Well I’ve got her home and some books and receipts came with it - check out the bound vdp owners manual and brochure . The first owner was 200metres from my house ! It was actually first registered in the uk which explains the 1972 rego.

Cheers - will try to locate someone with the real deal locally first. Is yours a grease gun one?

Ooh I might have to join that group! It was 1972 now that I look. THey we’re quite expensive and strange so it may have sat in the dealer for 7 years!

Thanks very much - I may need a back left door hinge so I might hassle you once she arrives

Thanks, yes I used to have a 15/50 and I remember them having one - I might get in touch

They are so damn absurd that I love them - kind of like the ado16 better than mini in many respects. You would have your knees around your ears drinking whiskey off the picnic trays in the back ! i need a hydrolastic pump if anyone knows someone!

Want a Rolls Royce but can’t afford one? Then buy a Vandenplas Princess 1100. Connelly Leather seats, fold down walnut trays in the rear, twin carb 1100cc motor, walnut trim. Luxury front grill. Only two on the road in NZ ABSURD and therefore awesome ill be recommissioning it but it’s an excellent start point - I couldn’t help myself Bring it on runamuck - hit me in the comments Need to get it re checked as plates dead but will apply to keep black plates. 85000 odd kms. Strangely only first registered in 1971 even though 1965 - but not an import

So I bought this old dear. It is so utterly ridiculous that I simply had to have it. I pick it up tomorrow and hope she’ll be a fairly straight forward recommissioning of this barn find. Motor turns over but doesn’t start - looks and sounds good though and was driven to the shed it was parked in clutch is stuck but I believe that will be the pivot - not a deal breaker hydrolastic a little saggy on one side but there has been new pipes on it and some no signs of a leak interior and body are bloody good - check out those leather seats - they are mint! Body looks very very good and will clean up beautifully dead rego but all the papers and plates are present

Thanks! Yea pretty stoked with the stance and look of it. had a real win today..... she’s got a wof and rego now!!! Still 1000 little jobs to do but that’s the name of the game. Can blast around in it with no worries now. Decided to drive to my mates the other sat night at 10pm with no wof and it conked out on a major intersection because I’d hosed the bonnet down and soaked the dizzy or alternator. Had to push it off the intersection with cops 100m in every direction doing a sting. Had to call my mum to gontomly mates so he could leave his girls and come tow me. Ahh it was like being 18 again.

It’s been a while but I’ve made a big push lately and I’m looking good for a wof soon. Just going to sort out the gear change as it’s all set up for jag auto and th 350 slots don’t line up. Also the start inhibit doesn’t lock out reverse which could be a disaster and already almost has been.and reverse light switches halfway between P and R. I’ve welded up old slots and die grinding correct slots for detents. I’m going lock between P N R and D and straight shiftin with no detents between L 2 and D . What you reckon? Fixing start inhibit and reverse switch pretty straight forward after that. Took it for 140kph test run on motorway recently. Sits beautifully. 3000 rpm at 100kph though??? Big wheels and 3.07 diff with a tight feeling gearbox - methinks incorrect tachometer but apparently has been modified for 8 cyl - something to sort later

Yea did all that. I should have looked at the jet sizes while I was in there but forgot. It was strange as it is a new Carburetor but it had sat for 4 years and when I tried to run it the fuel absolutely pissed out of it and I had to reset the float lower than I would have thought. I might recheck once fuel has soaked In everywhere. It Would be great to have an o2 sensor for setting

Much appreciated. Yes I had to muck with the secondaries float as it was drastically high. I have a different body on my Holley that doesn’t have the bung hole (chortle) like you say - you actually have to take the whole float bowl off.