#1993 Erin Berlose(Mk 2) Lex 2.7
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The Car
A 1993 Erin Berlose Mk 2, in standard mid-range affair. The car that defined Erin’s 90s renaissance; sadly not its V8 powered, AWD stablemate, but still the smooth bodied executive saloon that has become a favorite among those buying second-hand Erin’s.
This particular one, UK registration L480 NDA, rolled off of the production line in Wythenshawe, Manchester, on September 18th 1993, and has since done close to 150,000 miles. Almost all of the original documentation is still with the car, including a tattered pamphlet entitled “Your New Erin…” that would have been given to the first owner upon collection of the car. The Sundried Red paint is looking a little faded, and premium upholstery hasn’t been maintained at all, but the black plastic detailing has survived and almost all of the car is still working.
Most of the time, that is. The 2.7l i6 is a bit down on power, probably due to a dodgy oil change a few owners back that has left the camshafts covered in gunk. The starter motor is seeing its age, and the exhaust probably ought to be replaced. It occasionally makes a very distinctive ‘pu-pap-pap-pap-pu-pap’ sound, but only sometimes…
Interior electronics aren’t all up to scratch. Could be down to a few blown fuses, but that doesn’t explain why the driver side electric chair only reclines so far before just sort of stopping. Nor way if it gets above 25 degrees outside, the air conditioning simply cannot keep up. There are also quite a number of rattles. In fact, a lot; one of the previous owners seems to have used this thing as a family run-about and the kids were evidently keen on playing with everything.
Still, as a car to do a rally in, it offers great comfort with good driving dynamics, decent acceleration and (hopefully) sturdy reliability. The team bought the thing for £499 - this being a world where £=$ - and so far, on the few road tests they’ve done, it’s driven without a fuss. Speaking of the team…
#Team ‘Southend Or Bust’
Three third year university students from Cardiff University who fancied spending their holidays not getting shitfaced on VKs and bottles of Echo Falls.
[ul]James Hurley - 21 year old actually named after the Twin Peaks character by his mother, and not even for a joke. Your stereotypical CarThrottle fan. Wishes they were doing the rally in a BMW, has a thing for Emma Stone and can make even the most mundane food taste amazing.
Seb Anitolo - 20 year old Spanish student studying in the UK. Has been known to attract both women and men with his thick black hair, which he keeps perfectly maintained via a kit-bags worth of products. Studying Geography, not for any particular reason, but it has earned him the position as team navigator.
Martin Deenham - The only one with proper mechanical experience, and very, very particular. Spent 4 weeks just researching which engine to go for, let alone the car itself. Secret but undying love for The 1975. Very non-secret hatred of sleeping in a tent.
[/ul]
“TSOB” as they’ve nicknamed themselves have done a bit of work on the car; it’s had a good clean with a jetwash, Martin sorted out some off-roading tires and wheels to fit them (via his mate Terry from the local garage) and the boot has been converted into a storage space for all the beer they’ll need on the journey.
Plus some practical things like some extra fuel cans and a tool box.
Aux cable and iPhone dock setup on the dash, extra pillows packed for Martin and car running fine (at the moment); Team ‘Southend Or Bust’ are go.