The 1957 Dope Dauphine

[Adey]

I think that's Lee Maynard dauphine. Awesome machine

 

[Adey]

so ran up the dauphine this eve, probably a good 10-15min, and all looks fine with regards to leaks so fingers crossed thats sorted. Need to get some fresh fuel in there though as its gone a funny shade of brown. I did have the filler neck disconnected so i think its got a little moisture in it. With it running i again moved it up and down the drive a little. Next up with be brake lines and fresh fluid. All being well i can test drive it in the next few weeks still needs some work to the electrics too, brake lights dont work.... along with the indicators.

 

[Adey]

Managed to remove a shock ready for measuring up and a front brake hose. Popped over to the lads at hosetechnik/forge motorsport and had them knock me a up a set for the car. Orange in colour for no real reason. Got one fitted back up to test fitment and all seems good so far. I've not carried on as it was so bloody hot I couldn't work without sweat stinging my eyes.

 

[Adey]

I chucked some fresh fuel in and ran the car up for a fair amount of time now the water system is holding fluid, nothing there to tell me the temp but i wasnt too worried with the mechanical fan on there. The smokiness cleared and she seemed to run quite well, takes a few pumps of the throttle to get started but once up and running all is good. Getting closer and closer to a test drive....

 

[DaveL485]

Hub brakes all around? Yikes!

 

[Adey]

Indeed. Scary stuff but then a fart has more power and speed than this

 

[gtmatt]

so far so good , make sure you film the test drive

 

[Adey]

Not much more done tbh, being quite ill again recently but i wont bore you. Ive managed to replace another brake line and start bleeding the brakes on one side. I also needed to order a few little bits from france, the killer being the postage costing as much as the parts and now i need more..... Anyway i need to replace the brake lines on the opposite side of the car so that requires the car to be moved. What a perfect opportunity to give it its first very short and sweet test drive, off the drive and back on. I have a doubt that she isnt going to make retro rides next month now, there is a fair amount of work left to do that i currently cant deal with. Fingers crossed though.

 

[Adey]

New rubber seal for the cleaned brake res



nasty black fluid coming back through the lines before bleeding

 

[Adey]

And the first time its moved under its own steam off the drive

 

[Adey]

SOOOOOoooooooo, its been a little while. She didnt make it to retro rides gathering, tbh i had lost a bit of enthusiasm through being a bit ill and a few other things going on. She was in need of a few more bits to make her safe to drive there that i didnt have. Anyway today i received a new master cylinder and hand brake cables from franzose.de so hopefully i can pick up a little pace and get her running on the road (in a fashion) before we run out of dry weather. Not much has happened yet, i did properly re attach the front wishbones, and asses the master cylinder change but thats about it. So from what i can tell to give her her first run out in many many moons i need:-

fit one more brake hose
fit new master cylinder
bleed brakes again
make sure they stop all 4 wheels
wire in flasher relay for indicators
fit/make number plates

possibly fit up cowling to the radiator in the rear.
some working gauges would also be good as i have no idea on the engine temp or fuel level.

doesnt seem like alot but it will still take a while for me to work through.

 

[Adey]

 

[Adey]

Call me shop boy..... today the dauphine was picked up by her new owner. Was very sad to see her go but circumstances in life had changed a little and with so little free time, as the thread shows, she hadnt been touched in a long while so i decided to let her go to another retro petrol head. He did promise to get her back out and will be working on her over the winter. With a trabant, vw trecker and a daf 44 in his fleet already im sure he will be able to finish her off and get her running well.

 

[Chris Smith]

Sorry to see this Adey, however I think you made the right choice

 

[Duncan Grier]

It's just life messing you Adey but sounds like the right choice and gone to a good home

The days of working all hours on cars as and when we want are alas gone for a while

DG

 

[Adey]

Indeed, thing is when i get the free time i generally want to do nothing rather than go get dirty too. Maybe ive lost the passion a little, i dont know. Still have all the ideas and builds i could do in my head, i just cba when i do get the chance to do them, like its too much hard work? Maybe a little break is needed, just some light tinkering as and when i feel like it. Maybe something will come along that makes me want to work again.

some pics from her departure

 

[Duncan Grier]

Think its part of getting older and family life

3 boys 6,3 & 1 you know where outside of work commitments my 92% of time goes

It is always easier to grab that cold beer and zone out in front of the box for the hr of quiet than tackle jobs that you now with experience know are a mission lol

On down days I almost think of a normal car built to do what it was designed for and just enjoy it......................but then I realise that's just silly

DG

 

[DaveL485]

I'm kinda in a rut too but the other way around. I have the want to do it but there isnt enough hours in the day. Ive bitten off more than I can chew with the kids, house, garage, work is insanely busy and I cant skulk off and skive any more, Mrs to keep happy and so on. I have to plan my weeks in advance to get everything in. Ive also overstretched myself financially taking on a new project car last year so i'm also out of beans now.
Still. Got to keep grinding away at it.

 

[j8tro]

I know this has now gone buddy but thought you might like the following article posted recently on Speedhunters @Adey

Body By Renault, Heart By Yamaha - Speedhunters

 

[Adey]

seen this about on the net a few times, interesting conversion though the cars are silly light so would work well