CAR OF THE MONTH MARCH 2008
This month we feature the Wow factor Metro owned by Richard Sexton aka 8.32.
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WHAT IS SPECIAL ABOUT A BLACK "A REG" ?
The steering wheel may give a clue !
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Yes a custom made leather interior like no other.
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Lets hear the story from Richard himself:
The car started out as a standard MK1 VP, in black with blue interior.
I have not yet had any luck tracking down who did the conversion, but am continuing the search.
I am also waiting for confirmation from the DVLA as to the original owner.
I was told she was a titled lady, but my research so far strongly suggests the title was 'HRH' and that the car spent its first 20 years or so at Kensington Palace.
Not a major Royal, but interesting all the same.
This, though, is subject to confirmation.
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The conversion is fairly comprehensive - not just the seats and dash, but both carpets and headlining are bespoke.
Everything in the interior that appears to be leather is, in Connolly hide.
The dash, doors quarter panels right up to the headlining - all leather.
The seats and doors feature black piping but also matching leather gaiters for handbrake and seatbelts.
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Non standard features include : Electric windows, with the switches mounted separately in a small console to the right of the dash. Electric aerial, operated when you turn on the radio, with an override switch mounted on the switch panel by the fuses - it's the only one I've seen so far that doesn't have one blank switch there. Different door furniture - (Jag?)
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Blaupunkt Toronto Head unit - this is a source of dilemma for me as it is the original fit in my Lancia Ferrari and I've been looking for a mint one for years.
Rear sunblind Bespoke carpets and matching mats, with leather beading/edging. This extends to the boot also.
Mink effect headlining, Alarm and immobilizer, and Airhorn.
All the work seems to have been carried out to a high standard.
There are Unipart accessory relays under the bonnet for instance, to take care of the windows/aerial.
Nothing seems to have been jury rigged.
I picked her up on eBay when looking for a cheap runaround, and was a bit surprised to have won, tbh.
After I picked the car up, I gave to my tame mechanic and he identified a few things, so the points, dizzy cap, HT leads, plugs, fanbelt etc were replaced.
There were a few areas of the bodywork that needed a little attention - a couple of parking dings and stone chips, that sort of thing.
The gearbox seals were replaced and hydragas refreshed.
She is now showing 7,900 miles.
LOOK OUT IN APRIL FOR THE SILVERLEAF MG.
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