Fool?

[quk@sievers.com (Phil Payne)]

In message <v01540b01ae4b55868071@[194.176.128.113]> gregory@innotts.co.uk (Ian Gregory) writes:

> It is fair to say I think that if people like myself don't purchase the
> lower end of the market and try to bring them back then the numbers of Ur
> q's will dwindle that much faster.

Wait until you see what turns up at the Plough.  John Coughtrie's A-reg, in 
particular, was in a very sorry state when he bought it and is now almost 
indistinguishable from a new car.  David Preece's superb 20V is a 
restoration of a badly damaged car.  Each week brings a novelty. At the last 
meeting, a new member turned up with a recently purchased ur-quattro. As is our 
habitual custom, we ceremonially opened the bonnet - to find one of the very 
first Tresser engines.

"Fool" is a fraternal greeting.  It echoes around the car park at the Plough 
(and the Robin Hood at Buckler's Holt, near Buckingham, first Thursday of each 
month). Anyone who has owned an ur-quattro, of whatever vintage, or knows a 
great deal about them and then buys another is _invariably_ greeted in this 
manner.

There's not much difference between the cost of running an urq and restoring 
one, incidentally.  The money I've spent on parts and labour over the past 
three years would have bought me any but the two most expensive of the 20 cars 
on this month's "for sale" list. 

At present, mine's in bits at BRM.  New exhaust manifold (old one cracked and a 
stud broken), new crankshaft oil seal, new clutch plate, new inlet to turbo 
hose (GBP120), new rear exhaust section, front driveshafts stripped and 
repacked, new wheel bearings, new water temperature sensor (block), new 
water temperature sensor (main radiator) and two new injectors.

I think "fool" is justified.  Anyone with any sense would buy a Ford.

--
 Phil Payne
 phil@sievers.com
 Committee Member, UK Audi [ur-]quattro Owners Club