Welcome! First of all, I am calling this a 'resurrection' as my newly owned 1989 126 BIS has been sat dry stored in a garage for the past nine years, so this is a journey from neglected classic to... appreciated daily driver!
Me and a friend collected the car on the 21st October 2012, traveling the (approximately) 600 mile round trip in 15 hours. From North Devon, to Suffolk and back. After what seemed a smooth transaction, we departed it's then previous garage 'home' and set off back to Devon. My previous two cars were both Renault 5's, so I initially thought the 126 would be a right breeze to start driving. How I was wrong! I could
not stop laughing when attempting to get used to the four gears, almost central pedals, and the sheer brilliant handling of the thing!
We stopped off around a third of the way, in Swindon for a bite to eat. Upon returning to our cars, I suddenly realised I had a flat tyre! No problem - whacked the spare wheel on and set off. Started engine, and pulled out of the space. Car dies. Wouldn't start up to save it's life! Fuel gauge said a 1/4 tank! Turned out it lied. Filled up, and after a few turns of the key to pump the fuel back through, we were off! When we finally got back to Devon I was absolutely exhausted from the fear and terror of a blow out or blow
up!
Home and settled in my garage.
First on the list of things to do was get some new rubber! Purely for peace of mind. Although the tread of the then current tyres were almost like new, they had infact been fitted in 1997!
Also ordered - tax disc holder (as the then sellotape one didn't cut the mustard for me) and a locking fuel cap.