These words struck a cord with me and speak of a mindset that I wish more people would take into consideration when undertaking any project, be that a life event or in the working world. In the long run it will save you a lot of stress and a lot of money.
For this very reason, not long after buying UGU and joining the MBCCWA, I made enquires to find a qualified mechanic who could give UGU a thorough examination and tell me exactly what I had bought. The mechanic recommended to me, from day one has been amazing, and whilst I am frustrated that I am not capable do the work myself, I take comfort in the fact a talented professional takes care of my car, and has always been knowledgeable, genuine and honest with me. Who else can say that about their mechanic?
When UGU's advertisement appeared on gumtree this is what it said:
Not a lot of information you will agree, and the photographs are not much better as they didn't even show the full car, but it was enough to get me excited and so I lifted the phone.
At this stage I didn't even know for sure that the car was a W114, but it was a coupe, it looked original and was in my price range. Being a relative novice to buying cars, and in particular a classic car, I actually didn't know what to ask when the seller answered the phone. I think I blurted out "why are you selling it" and "does it have its original number plates?"
The gentleman owner was selling it so he could get his wife a new car, and it did have it's original number plates. The very next morning I was standing in the seller's driveway, which as those of you who have read previous posts will know, lead to my purchase of UGU.
This may be a ridiculous notion, but I believe if a car still has its original number plates some 43 years since they were first fitted, it means the car has always been in the ownership of someone who has at least considered it important to keep the car licensed and roadworthy, which likely means it has been used and therefore maintained. (I am aware this will not be relevant in other countries, but in Western Australia if the car becomes unregistered, when it is reregistered, new number plates are issued).
During my inspection of the car I tried to look like I knew what I was doing, so I opened the bonnet, yep, there was an engine and it looked clean and unmolested with no obvious leaks. There were only a few oil stains on the garage floor where the car sat, I couldn't see any major rust in the body and the interior looked great. After further opening and closing of doors, bonnet, boot and tyre kicking I took it for a drive.
Straight away I was surprised how light the car was to drive and that it had power steering. It accelerated strongly, changed gears well and stopped quickly and in a straight line under heavy braking. I couldn't think of anything else to check so concentrated on trying to hide my excitement and smile while I negotiated the price with the owner. The deal was done.
My wife drove away in her car and I followed in UGU. At the first service station we pulled in and I got out to put some fuel in. My inexperience immediately became apparent as I wondered what fuel to use. Thankfully the car had the original manuals so I quickly looked up "fuel" and saw 98 octane unleaded was required. I got out of the car and wondered around it checking both sides for the fuel filler flap but couldn't find it. By this stage I was getting flustered as other cars started queueing behind me so I got back into the car I drove away from the pump and once again referred to the manual. How I missed the large rectangular flap next to the rear number plate I will never know!!
With the car filled up, a quick look underneath revealed no sign of leaks from the fuel tank, so I wound down the windows and headed for the freeway with a smile from ear to ear.
Three weeks after the initial purchase, and two weeks after my first contact with Walter Epple, I drove the short distance to his business, Auto Exclusive Perth located in East Perth.
UGU at Auto Exclusive Perth
I was so nervous leaving UGU there, not because of where we were, but because I was worried I may have bought trouble as I will admit my initial inspection was conducted with rose tinted glasses and excitement racing through my veins.
Walter Epple & UGU in the workshop at Auto Exclusive Perth
Walter was friendly and told me he would give me a call when the car was ready so I left. As with any car I had owned before, I assumed I would be picking UGU up the same day, but no phone call came so I waited. The next afternoon I called to see if I should come in, Walter advised me that he needed to replace a few bits and that the car would be ready the following day. True to his word the next day UGU was ready to go home. I went into the office and Walter went through the issues he had discovered, the most concerning was a fuel leak which was dangerously close to the manifold. He politely asked where the car had been serviced before and I told him the previous owner had a "friend" i.e. an amateur working on it. (refer to post title)
Once I told him this, he seemed relieved that what he was about to say was not going to insult me, "that person had no clue what they were doing!" Somehow the fuel filter had been put in back to front, starving the engine so the carburettors had all been messed about with to try and make the car run, the idle speed was wrong, the fuel lines were badly corroded, the fan was in back to front and the oil cap had no gasket. Not a great start but it could have been worse.
Since then, UGU has been back for much other work and maintenance, including a complete overhaul of the brake system including lines, hoses, discs and pads, further cleaning and adjustment to the carburettors, new tie-rod ends, new steering dampener, new subframe mounts, repair of dash cluster lights, new rear muffler, a rebuild of the gearbox (a bill not for the faint hearted), and most recently the installation of a replacement starter motor.
Rebuilt and reinstalled gearbox
Not long after the gearbox was rebuilt UGU went back to Auto Exclusive for a general service. I just happened to mention to Walter that sometimes when changing from 1st to 2nd gear the engine revs seemed to lift. I can best describe this as someone driving a manual car and changing gear without lifting your foot from the accelerator.
Later in the day I went back to pick UGU up and Walter said to me "I am really unhappy with your car", my heart sank fearing he had found something else wrong. He went on to tell me that the gearbox specialist he had outsourced the rebuild to had done another job for him and it had become problematic, and he feared the same would happen with me. Whilst that work came with a one year warranty, Walter said he was not happy going back to the same place and asked if I would be happy for him to keep UGU so that he could take the gearbox back out and send it away to be rebuilt elsewhere at his expense. I was so taken aback I didn't know what to say, I felt thankful and yet so guilty that he was going to be thousands of dollars out of pocket.
A week later Walter called to say UGU was now ready to go home. At Walter's workshop he showed me some of the pieces that had been taken out of the gearbox following the first rebuild. They included torn seals and pins that were too short as well as some other bits all meaning that the gearbox would definitely have failed again.
Six months on, every time I see Walter he always asks me how the gearbox is going, to which my response is always a positive,"very well."
All this work to UGU has come at considerable cost and many people would probably have just sold the car, but like most die hard enthusiasts, my car has become part of the family and even served as our wedding car in 2013. Whilst it is not ideal I am happy to make sacrifices elsewhere so that I can keep her on the road and my passion alive. After all, the cheapest car you can have, is the car you currently own.
UGU in her wedding attire
