First Time Buyer!

[Guest Dan Yeates]

Hi,

 

I am new here, but have been a member on Piston Heads and the Vauxhall VX220 forums for a while. I used to rebuild accident damaged VX220's and have owned a few. Now I am saving, I want something fun, but that isn't going to cost the earth, something I can run alongside an everyday car - the VX220 wasn't too practical as an only car.

 

Anyway, I have found a Robin Hood which I love! It's a 2B with a 2 litre Pinto. Twin 45 dellorto carbs, head work etc... Looks really nice and I plan to look at it this weekend.

 

Can someone help me out with what to look out for. I have never even been in one before!! I have driven Lotus Exiges and Formula Renaults etc.

 

Any help with what to look for or advice would be greatly appreciated!!

 

Thank.s

[Guest chris brown]

The one thing I would say Dan is don’t go for one with sliding pillar front suspension unless you get it cheap as the conversion to wishbone costs around £700 and is something you would want to do very soon after purchase. Otherwise it all goes down to build quality and personal preferences as there is no 2B's the same.

 

PS welcome to the site

[Guest Dan Yeates]

Thanks. THIS IS THE CAR Can you tell which this has from the pictures?

 

Also, (I know I am on a Robin Hood website, so it may be biased - but I am a complete beginner) how does the 2B compare to the Tiger Cat E1?

[Guest Dan_Beeston]

Soemone seems to have had off with the cycle wings?!?.............

[Snapperpaul]

It's a sliding pillar and is the less popular of the second hand choices.

The sliding pillar uses fixed bottom and top mounts for the sliding front suspension (like a morgan) made to look like wishbones.

I would advise you go and look at the different variety of 2b's at a show or club meet and talk to the owners direct before committing to buy.

[Dave R]

looks like sliding pillar to me

 

its not ideal , but its also not as bad as some on here would say

 

saying that i may be cutting mine off this winter!!

dave

[Swan Jnr]

i'd, certainly recomend havig a look at as many as you can before you buy.

the more you see the better idea you'll have about whether you're buying a good un or not.

 

but i'd be curious aboutn where the front wheel arches have gone!

[Guest craig030774]

i have just stripped the front end of mine to strenghen the cycle wing brackets and had a good look at the pillar all okay but idid make a spacer for the top bearing to spread the load as the rhe way was crude to say the least

 

it was just a peice of pipe that eventually broke the bearing

 

but obviously not as desirable as the wishbones which have also had their issues

 

btw looks a decent build

 

craig

[Guest chris brown]

As Craig says it looks like a decent build except for the dash and I don’t know what has gone wrong with the hood hoops as they look very strange. Also if you have contacted him what is the reason for having the front wings and half of the brackets off?

[Guest fozzy2007]

is it not illegal to drive a car with open wheels?? i am sure it has to have the cycle wings or gul wings over the wheels to be road legal!!! you can fail an mot on al other cars if you tyre just sticks out beyond the wings so i assume this is a failure too!

[Guest erichetherington]

You got it! Illegal to drive on a public road with open wheels.

[Guest shaggy]

Sliding Pillars - everyone seems to have it in for them. I did at one point, but changing the weak springs as supplied with mine (which look the same as the one for sale, has made a huge difference. I put 8 inch 300lb springs on the front pillars and this made a huge difference and now sticks to corners like glue, rather than bouncing around like it used to do, so for £40-50 a sliding pillar can be transformed handling wise if you don't want to shell out £700 for wishbones.

 

Si

[Guest salty_monk]

It will still be a harsh ride compared to the wishbones but the handling on a sliding pillar is not that bad... I got some decent track times at Barkston with mine.

 

You probably will want to convert it.

 

Considering it has the weather gear, gauges & a 2.1 pinto it's not a bad price, if you could get it a few hundred cheaper then it would be a reasonable buy.

 

One thing worth a mention is that the cars using the new RH conversion actually look to have a better setup on the wishbones than the purpose built wishbone 2b.... It would probably be a better car.

 

That £700 includes new coilovers all round I think... or maybe that is the fitted cost front only, I'm not sure. Someone will be able to clarify.

 

Take your time, the market is a little flat at the moment so another one will come along if you're not sure. This one is not a remarkable deal by a long shot but it doesn't seem too bad.

 

Dan

[Guest ultima dreamer]

Dan

have replyed to you questions back in .org

cheers

 

Tim

[robjob0]

I have a slidding pillar car ( not on the road yet) I was wondering what poundage the springs are and wether it is worth getting some new ones until I can afford to have a conversion

cheers Robin