This has to be my best impulse buy yet!
1970 Austin 1300 - bought off TM sight unseen for $401 Also the only pre '84 car I've owned.
The guy spent a fuckload on the engine fixing run bearings, bringing up the compression a little and adding some nice things like a spin-on oil filter but didn't check the rings. He then found they were fux0red and got fed up.
The car made it home despite nearly overheating (3/4 of temp gauge along K Rd), not idling, running so rich that my mate who drove me over was choking on the fumes behind me on the motorway and randomling bogging down as I pressed my foot sometimes.
The overheating is because the radiator is original and not in good condition/full of sludge.
Today I thought it would be fun to replace the ignition system (only other bit of engine that wasn't replaced by the guy), unfortunately I epically failed due to never having done it before/having no idea what is involved and trying it by myself. It went from running very badly to no spark at all and all I did was replace the points So, I have decided that points are ghey anyway and I'm looking into converting to electronic ignition.
I also found that the smell in the car wasn't from the 'leather' (interior is near mint ), it is from the slaters living under the sopping wet/rotten front carpet, though the rear is fine.
Pictures tomorow.