Bx rarity.

[Richb]

Hi all!

Had a bx 17rd back in the early nineties. Was a mk1 on a c plate. It's long gone to bx heaven.

Why am I rambling on? I'm after another one.

I've seen the mk1 on eBay recently and it's pretty close to what I want. Only trouble is it's town near gravesend and I'm near selby.

Are mk1's so rare now that it's worth getting? Or are there any left in the north?

I'm not bothered about work as I restore triumph cars for a living

Any help / ideas.

Rich

[MULLEY]

Mk1's are rare & probably the purest looking & if its an early one has slightly different front suspension which means they ride very nicely. I live nr to Chesterfield & went all the way to Glasgow to buy a BX, & if you use shiply you can get cars transported for not a lot of money, i recently got a bx delivered from Fareham (Hampshire) to Bourne (Lincs) for £160.

[Tim Leech]

Don't do it for the money as you won't make any, BUT a mk1 is a vet different experience to that of a model, the interior for instance makes it feel you are in a different car all together and as Mulley says the mk1 rides brilliantly if a little wallowy and the brakes are pin sharp.

I love my bxs and a mk1 is a lovely car to have, and rare now, the 17RD is slow and without power steering will keep your arms in trim!

[Richb]

Ah. Good info. I used to love the dash and lack of stalks on my old BX.

[MULLEY]

17rd's only have 60bhp, but they are quick enough, just don't expect to be able to overtake stuff in an instant if you're used to a more powerful car. I've had a drive of Paul Handley's 1700 diesel, & i thought it went ok, they are quite light so aren't as rubbish as you may think. Only do up a car to keep for yourself as Tim has elluded to, they are slowly going up in value, but will take some time to make them a business proposition, if ever, who knows. Shitty Mk1 escorts go for mega money, pug 205's have recently started rocketing up in value, so who knows. Currently it makes no ecomonic sense to spend thousands on a BX, however, i don't think it makes sense to spend £25k on a new car & after 3 years it's worth £12k if you're lucky.

[Richb]

Yeah I can remember how slow my rd was. Even seem to think 75 was a push with 5 in. Would like one again tho. Would have to be a mk1 to be worthwhile for me. I'm not bothered about the work required to get one re-commissioned as I restore triumphs day in, day out, so to me the parts would be the only cost to me.
I bought my 206 new but as mentioned. Why change a good car (ok some may argue about that;) )
I'm not in it to make money, just trying to get the back a bit of my youth (I'm 42 this year!) and restore something different.

[MULLEY]

Go for it, BX's have plenty of character & each one is quite different to drive regardless of whether they are petrol or diesel, i really like them.

[pitman]

[...]
Are mk1's so rare now that it's worth getting? Or are there any left in the north?
[...]

I am in Bradford and because we are moving I need to get rid of this car:

http://www.bxclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic ... 20&t=20543

When I am getting her out of the garage in the next days, I can tell more about the condition of the chassis. I can then add some photos to the posting, too.

I fear it needs a lot of welding to replace the part of the frame behind the offsite front wing. At least, the insurance company said no cover without a new MOT. I got a new MK1 wing and an indicator but it was then pointless to bodge it if the frame behind wouldn't have got dealt with properly.

A few years ago, I sold a left-hand drive VW Polo with almost no rust anywhere and this car was already 27 years old.

Otherwise, my BX had the hydraulic pipes replaced that run underneath from front to back. That was a few month before the accident. I believe those have been build from copper. It was done by the independent Citroen garage Citraulix in Eccleshill in Bradford.

[Richb]

Hmm worth considering. Although of course would prefer rhd.
Let me
Know when you have the car out.

[Richb]

Hmm worth considering. Although of course would prefer rhd.
Let me
Know when you have the car out.

[pitman]

Hmm worth considering. Although of course would prefer rhd.
Let me
Know when you have the car out.

I have taken the car out today and I have taken a bunch of photos: Here is the link to the album:

http://someimage.com/U1CD

I know that those photos don't answer the main question: how much rust is underneath.

[rutter123]

You could always drop a t/d lump into it? A stock 17D could always use a little extra oomph, i hac a C15 van years ago with a 17D dreadful performance but great mpg's.

[Kitch]

You've seen the red mk1 I put in the for sale section?