Driving me round the bend............

..and then along the road, up the hill and on for another 20 or so trouble free miles! That would be a successful test drive then.
This was a momentous time for the Hillbillies as "Claude" was towed to the MOT station and today was the first time he had been driven on the road for some 10 years or so.
Driving him did show a few niggles that'll need sorting before the off (four weeks today!) but nothing major.

In the papers

Long awaited drive!

Six weeks to go.................

What have I been up to for the last fortnight? Oh yes, that's right, I've been working on a van. But, it's starting to pay off now.
So, what have I done to it? I've fitted a handbrake, gear lever, allsorts of interior trim, number plates and most of the exterior panels.
I've also fitted the fuel tank and had the engine running.
Today saw us travelling up to Halifax to fetch four new tyres for him, at 60 quid for 4 Michelins (off Ebay) it was hard to resist.
Not much lef to do now, see what you think.

Light at the end of the tunnel.......

Anybody ever had any experience of 6v cars that have been converted to 12v without the addition of fuses or other safety features like insulation etc? Neither had I until this weekend!
So, where to start? Simple, I started by ripping out the entire origimal front half of the loom. Okay, so I've got a replacement loom from a late right hand drive 2cv saloon, but this is an old left hand drive van, it can't be dificult can it?
Wrong! It was a pig of a job, how many wires did Citroen cram into that loom? Certainly too many! After about 8 hours of multi-meter and wiring diagram action, we have lights and wipers etc.
In the meantime this weekend, the engine has gone in, so has the windscreen and the front light bar.
It's coming together quite quickly now but still seemingly not as quick as Scally Rally is coming around. Less than 8 weeks left now.................

Oops, I forgot my manners!

So, I decided to tell you all a bit more about what we're doing and why and who for.
Right, are you sitting comfortably? Than I'll begin.
On Thursday September 13th, Rachael and I will get into Claude (our lovely van)
and set off from home We head off then to Dover to get our ferry to Boulogne We head off to Calais then to meet everyone else at Cite Europe, our starting point Leaving Cite Europe on the Friday morning, our destination for that day is Basel . Day 2 sees us winding our way up and down some pretty immense hills to Como
Day 3, and we're off to Cortina on our penultimate days driving
Finally, the last days driving takes us from Cortina to Rimini for a well earned party followed by a very good nights sleep I hope!
The following day will see us start to head back towards home which we'll probably take a little more leisurely!

So, why are wqe doing this? Simple really, it's because we're mad as a box of frogs! That and the fact that we want to raise loads of money for our chosen charities which are the RNLI and Swanage lifeboat and MacMillan cancer relief

Please watch this space for details of how to sponsor us and look out for us at local classic car meetings and most big 2CV GB and Citroen Car Club events between now and September.

Hope you're still awake.................

Putting the brakes on things.....

well, fitting the brakes on the van. That's what I've been up to today, but to do that on a 2CV, first you have to fit the gearbox as they have inboard front brakes.
Consequently, it's been a fairly prosperous day for the little van (AKA Claude). The shell is bolted down, the gearbox is in along with master cylinder, all new brake pipes and a shorter steering column and slightly less bus-like steering wheel to help in the Alps!
Tomorrow should see an engine slotted in, fingers crossed!