As of yesterday afternoon the coupe is being locked up in the cow shed. My insurance will expire in an hour and she wont be taxed when it runs out later this month.

Times as a graduate designer are tough so I don’t know when she'll be back on the road. I know its not a permanent thing but seeing the coupe go from daily use (as a toy, mostly) and cared for, to locked up in the dark under a dust sheet for the foreseeable future is a sad occasion.

Here's hoping she wont go downhill in that time.

What sort of graduate designer are you? Graphics, web, product, interior etc?

Fair do's though mate. Many people (like myself) would run their coops on a shoestring and it'll be a heap for it. (only now am i getting it back up to a good standard).

I say well done for caring about the car enough to A: not sell it, and B: not risk it falling into ruin by keeping it locked away until you are ready again to drive it.

She looks like an absolute beaut

I totally agree with T-t-t-truffle <shudders at the thought of agreeing with T-t-t >

It's what I've done: can't afford to run her recently, so rather than let her break down or try and run her on magic beans and cheap oil/parts, I've put her under SORN and when funds allow, or if circumstances change, then she'll come out of retirement and be one of an even rarer breed on our roads, and with a fairly low mileage too!

You've made a very sensible decision!

By the way, how do you design a graduate? Start of with an ordinary person and make them really scruffy?

I wouldn't worry too much. I parked mine up in an open sided carport over winter a couple of years back for 6 months, no ill affects, just charged the battery, fired her up and drove off :-)

Hope you get your funds sorted soon!

Automotive is my title. I can also design yachts, products and regularly undertake graphic design.

I just need someone to give me an opportunity to get a bit of post-uni experience under my belt, but that’s another story.



This is it. I'm not willing to let it go for nothing and up until now I've kept up on the pre-maintenance.

Sometimes it seems like the sensible thing to do would be to cash the money and run!


It's a complex process.

I hate to have to do that! On the other hand though your keeping the miles off it, and when you come to take that sheet off and start her up again........mmmm

One of the main reasons for taking it off the road is due to needing a cam belt. Having been sat for a good while I wont risk starting it. I'll probably have to get it trailored to one of the specialists when I'm ready to put it back on the road.

That's what I did with mine but it was off the road for 4 years(in storage) I also had the brakes replaced all round

Automotive designer, quite a hard field to break into from what I've heard and you will have to travel to get the right job. Getting that first design job is always the hardest but the good thing is that once you're in then you're usually in.

I was an industrial design graduate back in 1997 and now run my own agency specialising in exhibitions. Best bet is to offer your services free for 2-3 weeks to potential employers. If they don't respond to email but you really want to work there, just go and pay them a visit - be thick skinned and persistent.

If your portfolio is good then I suspect most will bite your hand off for a bit of free labour (provided of course you are a self starter and won't need too much 'hand holding'). Plus once a job does become available then your name will be first on the list (this like any other industry is all about personal relationships as much as talent).

Good luck and you'll have the Coupe back on the road soon no doubt.

Thanks for the advice Andy. It sounds like I'm on the right track. As you say, getting a foot in the door is the key and as a result, I'd be more than happy to work for free if an opportunity were to show itself. I'm learning quickly that its all about experience.

The other way to look at it is motivation to get into work, earn well and look after the coop.

It's that easy?

Hey dude dont worry

Get onto those agencies, job sites and raise the word. We all in differnet fields, so maybe someone might spot your talent here..

I've been plugging away doing just that for months in my spare time. Who knows, something might pop up around the corner.



That'd be a dream.

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Back on topic;

The Coupe has just had a good service with top notch oil. What other precautions should I take to keep her in rude health?

I'm thinking;

1/. Over inflate the tyres
2/. Trickle charge
3/. Leave a window open an inch or so
4/. Treat the leather/rubber seals
5/. A thorough clean (detail)
6/. Handbrake off and leave in gear

Yea you will I was speaking from a metaphorical place.
But still! when you drive it again.....mmmmmmmm