St Tropez restoration blog
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
Des you can get some good car covers for sensible money to use in winter months....
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
I bought an outdoor BX sized cover from these folks;Tim Leech wrote:Des you can get some good car covers for sensible money to use in winter months....
http://www.coverscars.co.uk/generallistofcovers.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I can honestly say it's brilliant and completely water proof. Infact I've been looking at the foldaway garage they do for 500 odd quid - would pay for itself in garage rental in a couple of years.
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
Paul296 wrote:I bought an outdoor BX sized cover from these folks;Tim Leech wrote:Des you can get some good car covers for sensible money to use in winter months....
http://www.coverscars.co.uk/generallistofcovers.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I can honestly say it's brilliant and completely water proof. Infact I've been looking at the foldaway garage they do for 500 odd quid - would pay for itself in garage rental in a couple of years.
How brilliant Paul? I have read many discussions on classic car sites and forums and witnessed for myself cars that have rotted much quicker under tarps and covers that apparently don't allow the cars to breath trapping acid type moisture, these discussions have mentioned better quality 'breathable' type covers but if they are breathable are they still water proof? The general consensus was that the only really effective type covers are the cocoon type that have a built in pump which keeps the cover off the car and has continuous air flow preventing moisture build up?
Kevan
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
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1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
2020 Fiat Panda 4x4 Cross Twin Air.
1997 Mercedes C230 W202
2003 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 Facelift TD5 - Daily driver / hobby days and camping.
1993 Land Rover Discovery 200tdi Series 1 3 door - in need of TLC
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
There's always drawbacks to anything that isn't a climate controlled garage. You just have to take notice of what the drawbacks are and manage them - that's just part of sensible maintenance. The cover I bought is both waterproof and breathable - having said that I take it off a couple of times a week when I start the car and give the suspension a work out. If I left the cover off I know for a fact the car would be covered in all the shit that Mother nature can throw at it - ruining the paintwork into the bargain. I suppose it's down to individual preference in the end - I prefer to keep my cars covered.Defender110 wrote:Paul296 wrote:I bought an outdoor BX sized cover from these folks;Tim Leech wrote:Des you can get some good car covers for sensible money to use in winter months....
http://www.coverscars.co.uk/generallistofcovers.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I can honestly say it's brilliant and completely water proof. Infact I've been looking at the foldaway garage they do for 500 odd quid - would pay for itself in garage rental in a couple of years.
How brilliant Paul? I have read many discussions on classic car sites and forums and witnessed for myself cars that have rotted much quicker under tarps and covers that apparently don't allow the cars to breath trapping acid type moisture, these discussions have mentioned better quality 'breathable' type covers but if they are breathable are they still water proof? The general consensus was that the only really effective type covers are the cocoon type that have a built in pump which keeps the cover off the car and has continuous air flow preventing moisture build up?
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
Without wanting to turn this thread into one on car covers (unless Des wants it too - it may be a step upwards from licking?) I bought one for the van last winter. It's a bugger to put on as it's heavy with loads of straps, so I only put it on when I know I'm not going to be using it for a week or so, but it survived the first winter of continuous use fine.
As a test I put it on once when the van was wet and it dried out the next time it stopped raining. Water pools up on it where there any folds so it seems to be completely waterproof. I did notice in the winter than if it's both very cold and damp, there is some moisture on the metalwork. I assume this to be inevitable condensation rather than leakage though. Time will tell how well it works, but without an identical vehicle uncovered I'm not going to know for certain how much, if any, it slows the inevitable. But it certainly seems to keep the vehicle drier in my case. I don't know how breathability is affected by the wind though - we live in quite an exposed location which may help.
As a test I put it on once when the van was wet and it dried out the next time it stopped raining. Water pools up on it where there any folds so it seems to be completely waterproof. I did notice in the winter than if it's both very cold and damp, there is some moisture on the metalwork. I assume this to be inevitable condensation rather than leakage though. Time will tell how well it works, but without an identical vehicle uncovered I'm not going to know for certain how much, if any, it slows the inevitable. But it certainly seems to keep the vehicle drier in my case. I don't know how breathability is affected by the wind though - we live in quite an exposed location which may help.
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
Forget all that about waterproofing and breathability, what flavour of cover goes best with vanilla paint?
Diagonally parked in a parallel universe
1991 TZD hatch (Triton Green)
1992 Hurricane
1991 TZD hatch (Triton Green)
1992 Hurricane
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
My Honda motorcycle lives outdoors under a breathable cover. Never had any issues with corrosion forming in over 8 years. If moisture does penetrate, then by virtue of being outside it soon aerate's and dries out.
Mark Smith
Is it just me or is everything shit?
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Is it just me or is everything shit?
1989 BX GTi 16 valve. Blanc Alpine. Completed the Citroen Classic Challenge Ecosse and 1337 miles without a hitch.
2000 XM VSX 2.1 td Auto. Rouge Magenta.
TGD saloon many years ago.
1990 Swift 'Corniche' 12/2 aka BXClub HQ.
Honda Firestorm. Gone, but not forgotten.
2015 Triumph Tiger Explorer XC.
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
Stop Press!!! First pics of the complete car shiny side up.
![Image](https://bxclub.co.uk/forum/images/ext/426395ed9eaca3c810ba3e5a35301254.jpg)
Final fitting-out being completed
![Image](https://bxclub.co.uk/forum/images/ext/aae9010ba94bfdf32ee8e813908031d2.jpg)
Front end with new number plate
![Image](https://bxclub.co.uk/forum/images/ext/426395ed9eaca3c810ba3e5a35301254.jpg)
Final fitting-out being completed
![Image](https://bxclub.co.uk/forum/images/ext/aae9010ba94bfdf32ee8e813908031d2.jpg)
Front end with new number plate
BX14TE St Tropez 1990 - now sold
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
Lovely, WAM, BAM thank you ... Des!.
On the cover side, I sail a lot and the breathable poly cotton covers save the deck varnish on wooden boats a huge ammount. The solid PVC ones get condensation on the inside and keep that moisture there which is what does the damage. The small difference in price is well worth the difference in maintenance. I believe the same would apply to cars. My preference is to have no direct contact with the paintwork and the cover ie leave an air gap. Effectively a boom up cover does this on a dinghy.
On the cover side, I sail a lot and the breathable poly cotton covers save the deck varnish on wooden boats a huge ammount. The solid PVC ones get condensation on the inside and keep that moisture there which is what does the damage. The small difference in price is well worth the difference in maintenance. I believe the same would apply to cars. My preference is to have no direct contact with the paintwork and the cover ie leave an air gap. Effectively a boom up cover does this on a dinghy.
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
Wow, that looks stunning! ![Applause =D>](./images/smilies/eusa_clap.gif)
![Applause =D>](./images/smilies/eusa_clap.gif)
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
Wow, definitely lickable Des!
On the car cover side of things, I use a breathable indoor cover for my GT. It's garaged, but the garage is slightly leaky and water also comes through the breeze blocks that are the back wall (it's a council garage cheap job) and the cover stops all manner of shite from getting onto the car (cobwebs, dust etc), the only time it has been moist under the cover is when we have heavy rain but this is just humidity getting through rather than water in liquid form, and it dries off very quickly even with the cover on. The cover is 'Sahara' by coverzone, which was recommended to me by a classic car mag - can't remember which one.
On the car cover side of things, I use a breathable indoor cover for my GT. It's garaged, but the garage is slightly leaky and water also comes through the breeze blocks that are the back wall (it's a council garage cheap job) and the cover stops all manner of shite from getting onto the car (cobwebs, dust etc), the only time it has been moist under the cover is when we have heavy rain but this is just humidity getting through rather than water in liquid form, and it dries off very quickly even with the cover on. The cover is 'Sahara' by coverzone, which was recommended to me by a classic car mag - can't remember which one.
I'm not a Saint, or a James, but a Tom Saint-James!
Mes voitures:
1985 Citroen BX19 GT
1988 Volvo 740 2.0 GL Hearse
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Mes voitures:
1985 Citroen BX19 GT
1988 Volvo 740 2.0 GL Hearse
2006 Lexus RX 400h SE hybrid
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
Looks very nice (even though I prefer red myself
) and I'm glad to see them putting cavity wax on the behind bumper areas - exactly what I do as an extra layer of protection. Am I right in thinking it will be at the National? I hope to be there to have a look at in in the flesh.
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
Yes Mat, you will be able to eyeball it at the National! I'm due to pick it up next week, although Rob is teasing me by not committing to a specific day yet. As for red cars, when they are polished, they are undoubtedly the best looking-colour. The downside is the amount of work required to keep it looking good is significantly more than other colours. I loved my last MX3 to bits, especially after a good dose of Autoglym, but keeping it that way was always a bit of an albatross. There were places where the paintwork was almost down to the primer - not good!
BX14TE St Tropez 1990 - now sold
Xsara Forte 1.4i 2000
Kawasaki GPz550A4 1987
Xsara Forte 1.4i 2000
Kawasaki GPz550A4 1987
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
I must say that it quite beautiful. Well done to you for splashing out!
1991 Citroen BX 16v
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Re: St Tropez restoration blog
In all seriousness, although I do like red as a colour I think white really suits the shape of a BX. I'm puzzled by the fact that apart from the few bits of paintwork it's had, the finish on my BX is remarkably unfaded. I only wash it every few months (although I hose the underneath more regularly) and polish maybe every year or two. Perhaps the lack of frequent sunlight is the key?