All Blog Posts (509)

Hi All - Though new to blogging, I'm not new to the DOC and have been a member (off & on) for the last 14 years, while I've been to proud owner of a lovely orange (red?) Melos 1.3

Sadly, it's now up for sale as I no longer have the motivation to drive it and want to sell it to an aficionado who has.

It was meticulously built by a retired engineer in 1987, with full instrumentation and a superb interior. I've done 6000 miles in it since 2004, and it has been maintained by a…

message to Andrew pounder .saw your blog and I am a trimmer by trade if you need any help or work doing

I have finally taken the plunge and purchased the remains of a Dutton B type. In addition to my head looking at I think I’m in need of some weather gear. Is there any thing out there? Or is there a company out there making new items? 

For all who know Margaret. On Saturday night not to well. Sunday watching the rugby taken ill again.

Monday morning big yellow box with flashing lights outside my house for an hour saved her life. Another huge episode yesterday in intensive care. Not well enough for op yesterday. Under going big op this morning, promised she will be fit again soon. Bit of plumbing and rewiring and right as rain.

Hello all, and belated HNY to everyone!

I didn't manage to get the Phaeton out as much as I'd have liked last year, and I'm still waiting for that first win. Even in little events where it's me versus three Micras... quite embarrassing.

Anyway, I got the rear leaf spring mounts beefed up nicely after on failed. One rear damper was shot so it's on new spax gas adjustables at the back, and polybushes on the whole rear end. Other than that, we didn't really upgrade…

im looking at possible options for a 5 speed box to fit in my leggera over the winter i could go for the type 9 box but they are getting pricey these days and i would have to change/do some chassis mods to get it in there .so i was thinkin mx5 or rx8 i believe these are both rwd boxes but im not sure of size in comparison to the type 9  also the prop could be an issue if they are different splines .any one with experience on this ??? your advice would be appreciated 

After almost a decade in the garage, I have finally had the time and motivation to start getting my Melos back on the road. LED lights all set up for the front end now. Polybush suspension. New fuel tank and pipe work next along with silicone cooling hoses, new exhaust system required and interior to clean up. Replacing the pepper pot wheels with a set of smart 15" alloys in anthracite.…

Wednesday 11th near midnight, my Grandad past away after going into hospital for stomach pains a few days prior. My family has set about getting the funeral arranged and looking at clearing the house to put it on the market. It's a big place with a lot of "treasures" (as my Grandad called them) from charity shops, but also quite a lot of important family related docs/pics/items so will actually take quite a while to fully sort through. This gives me a little time to make arrangements for the…

so today it begines to look worse before better body work, not to bad most cracks were bad paint reaction dug out the star cracks and it was only in the gel coat so using the carbon fiber filler…

well what can I say only just got back on this lol

2017 was a crap year for me dad got terminal cancer and found out on my birthday so was looking after him most of last year till he passed bonfire night and my best friend passed away nearly same time so no work on Dutton as no money to do anything , 

2018 came right got to get my arse in gear lots have happened to my Dutton 

got it though mot new brakes all round new exhaust full service and electronic ignition, new…

For quite a while now I've been battling with my rear suspension and replacing the rear shocks (as well as holidays etc). I originally just wanted to replace what was required to test drive it to decide if I liked the car. If I did then the plan was to upgrade it to a 5 link system as many have suggested. (Keep this in mind for a sec).

However, cutting straight to the point; my Grandad has been diagnosed with terminal cancer in multiple places including the liver. The doctors don't…

i have a Melos body with bumpers and a hard top need to move on let me know if you are interested.

been digging foundations and relaying driveway ready to build mums 'summer house'

finished bike (mot pass / advisory rear tyre low) knobblies then next :) but they did snap my kickstart grrr

wood framing next to get rid of the wood to make space to get frame back inside - yay

Can't remember if I updated the blog earlier this year or not, but last time I was out playing in the Phaeton I battered it over a cone and into a ditch. Not sure if it was the ditch or the cone, but I burst the radiator and put it out of action for the day.

So, not wanting to pay Mk1/Mk2 Escort tax on a new radiator, I ordered a 3-row aluminium radiator. Intended for a Honda Civic, but cheap at £59 delivered and looked like it could be persuaded to fit. Needed a bit of angle…

So I wrote a letter into complete kit car magazine and got the letter of the month.

Gave a shout out to you guys too for being awesome.

Wow I haven't done an update in a long time :/

Cliff notes

- New fuel tank ordered...issues encountered.

- Master cylinders refurbished, honed and now with new seals. Refitted.

- Pedals cleaned up.

- Brake calipers fully refurbished with all new parts including a repaint.

- Brakes refitted and bled...then one seized, assumed it only minor so temporarily ignored.

- Clutch slave cylinder refurbished, honed and now with new seals.…

hi folks just wondering what fixing some of you guys are using on the legerra soft top front fixing the ones that are on mine are a bit fiddely to get located and locked down i wid be soaked by the time i had managed to get the roof on i had removed the fiddely ones and replaced them with m6 bolts and thumb screws makes it a bit quicker and easier but interested what other folks are using  thanks in advance 

So for the past couple of weeks I've been gearing up to fully service the engine.

- Radiator removed and checked, seems in good condition with no leaks...until I tried to force the drain plug which split the solder and created a leak. Currently getting that fixed.

- New water pump fitted along with a new belt.

- Oil drained out and then spilt on the gravel driveway...genius. Sump plug came out okay which was a result as reading the Vitesse forums a lot of people have…

I have started to dimantal my car, If any body wants parts that are postable feel free to make contact

New hood trial fitted only  £175 posted

side screens as new         £120 posted

 hi guys im fitting a ford v v carb to my legerra bought off ebay  was wondering if any one had a vacume pipe diagram or even a decent pic of how you had done it any help on this would be briliant . desprate to hear it running again :)