I requested the return of my deposit, Richard agreed. Unwillingly, we decided that the chassis that we had formally toiled to see deserved one last look, feeling that the journey across the moors should not be an absolute disaster. The chassis was up ended for closer inspection; just as Richard had promised it was genuinely original seeming to be better than we first thought. We decided to buy it. Richard disappeared into his office to return with a huge 12 inch angle grinder, a ski cap plus semi-opaque plastic glasses.
The prime reason for the safety gear was because it was necessary to remove the rear outriggers, to both fit in the van but more importantly, to fulfil the spec of the Burlington. Sparks flashed everywhere, job done.
Richard and I carried the chassis over broken, terminal twisting wrecks, pools of congealed oil interspersed by abandoned rusting engines to our waiting Transit. A little bubble rap supplemented by decaying carpets protected the van from damage. We were still in credit from the telephone transfer so there followed some negotiation for a workshop manual, plastic indicator cowlings, front suspension wishbones together with a handbrake, which eventually concluded all the transactions. We calculated that we owed Richard £65.00p, Chris gave him £60.00p and Richard gave us £5.00p back. This was a result, either we gained £5.00p or Richard has poor numerical skills.
The Goth, perfectly content in her micro bubble, continued to dismantle the head as we left for the motorway at 6.15 pm.
Neither happy or sad, up or down, just shell shocked harbouring a little disappointed, still not knowing whether or not we had made a huge mistake. We discussed the merits or not of the chassis on the way back to Lancashire. After dropping the chassis at Westmead we returned to the Transit hastily moving on to the Oak.
Chris recounted our adventure on planet Sheffield to anyone who was polite enough to listen. Later that evening Chris phoned me to tell me, that after a thorough investigation, the chassis was in fact the ‘dog’s bollocks’. Success.
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