Cars with manual chokes need them on until they warm up a bit. The engiones will not run when turning hte choke off while cold. Auto chokes work in the same way, either by warm water or warm air, a bit like a thermostat works.
I've not had a manual choke in over 20yrs so bit rusty on the usage. I was going by what my Scimitar likes which is very little choke to start then push in very soon otherwise it floods itself. Guess its the opposite on the Bambi. The qwerks between older cars but all adds to the fun.:)
@@DipstickUK I started to drive cars in hte 1970's and also had 1960's cars as my first cars. They all had manual chokes and I soon learned how to use them, even sometimes forgetting to push the choke in, but they never flooded themselves. Some were sprung and the choke cable / knob used to slowly go in on its own. I preferred the auto choke myself when they came out on the later cars. I know the small 2 stroke and 4 stroke single cylinder engines prefer hte choke opened just after starting, just like 50cc moped engines.
Indeed! I was thinking the worst case scenario with fuel delivey being an issue but that failed to happen and it started very very easily. Just a shame I have to pass it on to somebody else as just won't get it done :(
Years ago my friend had a Bedford rascal van he put mini light alloys on a momo steering wheel and cherry bomb exhaust but if I can remember it was a 1.3 even painted it black was a good little van we had some fun we was 19 years old the days where you could work on your own vehicles and they was simple as well
Awesome...yeah they are nippy with the 1.3 suzuki power. A lot of older Japanese wheels fit them to....80's Celica's etc etc and look cool. Few nice builds over on retrorides website of a few. Just wish I had time and space to do this one BUT needed something that I can use next summer as have wasted this one without a camper/day van.
He only had he's cheap because it needed welding and good mate I was did it for him as I had a year into college being a welder fabricatior the mini bits was from me as I had a few minis and was building a turbo mini out of a metro turbo the engine was highly modified 1360cc was fast but dangerous them was the good days when cars was simple and easy fords was after that mini and still are I've got MK1 focus 1.6 2004 full service history 30 thousand miles
@@petergrinnell2500 Brilliant. That's the way to do it!! Love everything older than the modern crap we have now. I'm itching for a classic mini...the R50 doesn't quite cut it...fun but not old enough. Still got to sort that out as an ongoing project. Next up a full Hornet exhaust and some tlc.
I did have a hornet rear box on mine a cherry bomb 3 inch tail pipe it's on eBay as I've got sportex back box cherry bomb middle box I built it myself cost me £150 and less when the other box sells not keen on them BMW mini but the simitter with the ford Essex 3L is better old school I would love a Capri but never afford one
I had little doubt it would start , when you mentioned that it turned over . I had a 1990 Rascal Mover van , and that was ridiculously reliable . Extremely simple 997cc engine , there really was little to go wrong . Typical Japanese motor , unlike the modern electronic wizard machines of today . Built under licence , it's basically badged engineering , in other words a Suzuki in disguise . Both Vauxhall and Bedford got in on the act . Not much protection from a frontal impact , even with mine that had a bull bar as standard , that's what killed them off . Suzuki continued with an updated series two , or what was called the Carry , where they simply just glued an empty bonnet on , and production continued till about 05 . Water leak looks to be the water pump , fairly simple job . Where the series one fails , is rot though . Place to look is just behind the front wheels , that's what killed mine , i also notice the front turrets , are looking a bit rough . Whoever buys that has got some work cut out for them , but the engine piece of cake . Engine parts can be a challenge now , requires a little thinking outside the box if you know what i mean . I've got a series two now , one of the last built . Fuel economy is about the same , nowhere near what others say , but man does it go . You got to be careful with it , it's very tail happy . 1.3 , 16v , put your foot down and it growls , seriously , but i do suspect it's being chipped . I get about 30 , though others reckon they get 50 , never had that nearest was 44 , and that was tickling the right pedal , with a lot of Mexican overdrive thrown in .
Mine had a bullbar to but removed and sold it as preferred the look without. As with all things I had great intentions for this but reality has bitten and needed something I can use next summer hence why the Mazda Bongo replacement. If it doesn't sell i'll keep it and restore it as planned. I had a Daihatsu Hijet van a few years back and that was scary enough on corners let alone a Bambi with a massive arse!!! Must take a special breed to drive these!!!
@@DipstickUK Sorry this took so long , yt wouldn't let me post . Now to be honest , i doubt you would run into to many problem , as it's unlikely to be that quick . If you had the 16v motor from the later Carry models it maybe a different story , but basically the Bambi is just a rebirth of a much earlier version . Back i think in the 70's a company released what they called the Romahome . Pretty much identical to the Bambi except it was demountible so it didn't have the walk though from the cab . It was designed as an add on to another forward control release of the time the Honda Acty . Now this vehicle in very rough form was an identical copy of the Suzuki Super carry , though really it the other way round , the Suzuki is a copy of the Honda . The concept was identical , what the Japanese call a Kia car , there is however one very important difference . The Honda only had a 550cc engine . To be honest , i don't remember much about the specification of the Acty , but i do remember there was a road test with the Romahome on the back , to which the tester said 55 , 60 was its limit . Now like i said , the Romahome was very basic so it would have been lighter , where the spec on the Bambi is actually higher so my guess is , it's likely much heavier . Also the Suzuki base is certainly heavier , so you have a heavier outfit , so my guess is performance would likely be very similar . Fuel economy will certainly take a hit , but i never found the van to be that great anyway . Around the 30 , 35 mark clean , but stick a roof load on , and that dropped to 27 . Where you would gain is traction , both the Super Carry and the Carry are rear wheel drive , and both are tail happy . I will be honest and say the Super Carry is much less so , where the Carry is almost constant , especially in the wet . The extra weight would put weight where it's most needed on the back end .
@@mickey1299 Wow excellent post that must have taken some time. Amazing insights and knowledge. I just wish I had started the project properly 3yrs ago. It will be a sad day when its sold as its currently on ebay with bids :( BUT if it doesn't sell i'll do it. I just had to make a decision as the Bongo needs priority as do my other 22 cars so something had to go and that was unfortunately the Bambi.
I know exactly!! Definately think they tried to start it at the auction without the choke. The younger staff members have probably never dealt with a car with a manual choke. Glad it was an easy one to sort..even the fuel line was just a return to filler neck. I'm due a tricky one for sure!!
@@DipstickUK Yes youl get a tricky one soon to test you out!🤔 Manual choke is a bit of old school to the younger generation, don’t know how they would get on with a starting handle🤣
WOW! I used to have one of these, fantastic little camper,went all over in it! Very slow, but quite big in the back! Got a spare gearbox for one if you need one?
It was supposed be a day van/weekend local trips camper but it simply wouldn't have got done by next summer so its now a misfiring mazda bongo to sort instead.
@@jaggass Not by me unless it doesn't sell this week...but it currently is on ebay. I just need to put my energy into the Bongo nd the other 22 cars i have unfortunately.
Love these little campers 👌🏻👍🏻
I was hoping it didn't sell on ebay but unfortunately its got a bid at £500 so looks like its moving on.
@DipstickUK that's quite a project for someone!! 😎
Cars with manual chokes need them on until they warm up a bit. The engiones will not run when turning hte choke off while cold. Auto chokes work in the same way, either by warm water or warm air, a bit like a thermostat works.
I've not had a manual choke in over 20yrs so bit rusty on the usage. I was going by what my Scimitar likes which is very little choke to start then push in very soon otherwise it floods itself. Guess its the opposite on the Bambi. The qwerks between older cars but all adds to the fun.:)
@@DipstickUK I started to drive cars in hte 1970's and also had 1960's cars as my first cars. They all had manual chokes and I soon learned how to use them, even sometimes forgetting to push the choke in, but they never flooded themselves. Some were sprung and the choke cable / knob used to slowly go in on its own. I preferred the auto choke myself when they came out on the later cars. I know the small 2 stroke and 4 stroke single cylinder engines prefer hte choke opened just after starting, just like 50cc moped engines.
Old style mechanics . The engine sounds great .
Indeed! I was thinking the worst case scenario with fuel delivey being an issue but that failed to happen and it started very very easily. Just a shame I have to pass it on to somebody else as just won't get it done :(
Years ago my friend had a Bedford rascal van he put mini light alloys on a momo steering wheel and cherry bomb exhaust but if I can remember it was a 1.3 even painted it black was a good little van we had some fun we was 19 years old the days where you could work on your own vehicles and they was simple as well
Awesome...yeah they are nippy with the 1.3 suzuki power. A lot of older Japanese wheels fit them to....80's Celica's etc etc and look cool. Few nice builds over on retrorides website of a few. Just wish I had time and space to do this one BUT needed something that I can use next summer as have wasted this one without a camper/day van.
He only had he's cheap because it needed welding and good mate I was did it for him as I had a year into college being a welder fabricatior the mini bits was from me as I had a few minis and was building a turbo mini out of a metro turbo the engine was highly modified 1360cc was fast but dangerous them was the good days when cars was simple and easy fords was after that mini and still are I've got MK1 focus 1.6 2004 full service history 30 thousand miles
@@petergrinnell2500 Brilliant. That's the way to do it!! Love everything older than the modern crap we have now. I'm itching for a classic mini...the R50 doesn't quite cut it...fun but not old enough. Still got to sort that out as an ongoing project. Next up a full Hornet exhaust and some tlc.
I did have a hornet rear box on mine a cherry bomb 3 inch tail pipe it's on eBay as I've got sportex back box cherry bomb middle box I built it myself cost me £150 and less when the other box sells not keen on them BMW mini but the simitter with the ford Essex 3L is better old school I would love a Capri but never afford one
I had little doubt it would start , when you mentioned that it turned over . I had a 1990 Rascal Mover van , and that was ridiculously reliable . Extremely simple 997cc engine , there really was little to go wrong . Typical Japanese motor , unlike the modern electronic wizard machines of today . Built under licence , it's basically badged engineering , in other words a Suzuki in disguise . Both Vauxhall and Bedford got in on the act . Not much protection from a frontal impact , even with mine that had a bull bar as standard , that's what killed them off . Suzuki continued with an updated series two , or what was called the Carry , where they simply just glued an empty bonnet on , and production continued till about 05 . Water leak looks to be the water pump , fairly simple job . Where the series one fails , is rot though . Place to look is just behind the front wheels , that's what killed mine , i also notice the front turrets , are looking a bit rough . Whoever buys that has got some work cut out for them , but the engine piece of cake . Engine parts can be a challenge now , requires a little thinking outside the box if you know what i mean .
I've got a series two now , one of the last built . Fuel economy is about the same , nowhere near what others say , but man does it go . You got to be careful with it , it's very tail happy . 1.3 , 16v , put your foot down and it growls , seriously , but i do suspect it's being chipped . I get about 30 , though others reckon they get 50 , never had that nearest was 44 , and that was tickling the right pedal , with a lot of Mexican overdrive thrown in .
Mine had a bullbar to but removed and sold it as preferred the look without. As with all things I had great intentions for this but reality has bitten and needed something I can use next summer hence why the Mazda Bongo replacement. If it doesn't sell i'll keep it and restore it as planned. I had a Daihatsu Hijet van a few years back and that was scary enough on corners let alone a Bambi with a massive arse!!! Must take a special breed to drive these!!!
@@DipstickUK Sorry this took so long , yt wouldn't let me post . Now to be honest , i doubt you would run into to many problem , as it's unlikely to be that quick . If you had the 16v motor from the later Carry models it maybe a different story , but basically the Bambi is just a rebirth of a much earlier version . Back i think in the 70's a company released what they called the Romahome . Pretty much identical to the Bambi except it was demountible so it didn't have the walk though from the cab . It was designed as an add on to another forward control release of the time the Honda Acty . Now this vehicle in very rough form was an identical copy of the Suzuki Super carry , though really it the other way round , the Suzuki is a copy of the Honda . The concept was identical , what the Japanese call a Kia car , there is however one very important difference . The Honda only had a 550cc engine .
To be honest , i don't remember much about the specification of the Acty , but i do remember there was a road test with the Romahome on the back , to which the tester said 55 , 60 was its limit . Now like i said , the Romahome was very basic so it would have been lighter , where the spec on the Bambi is actually higher so my guess is , it's likely much heavier . Also the Suzuki base is certainly heavier , so you have a heavier outfit , so my guess is performance would likely be very similar . Fuel economy will certainly take a hit , but i never found the van to be that great anyway . Around the 30 , 35 mark clean , but stick a roof load on , and that dropped to 27 . Where you would gain is traction , both the Super Carry and the Carry are rear wheel drive , and both are tail happy . I will be honest and say the Super Carry is much less so , where the Carry is almost constant , especially in the wet . The extra weight would put weight where it's most needed on the back end .
@@mickey1299 Wow excellent post that must have taken some time. Amazing insights and knowledge. I just wish I had started the project properly 3yrs ago. It will be a sad day when its sold as its currently on ebay with bids :( BUT if it doesn't sell i'll do it. I just had to make a decision as the Bongo needs priority as do my other 22 cars so something had to go and that was unfortunately the Bambi.
I miss vans like this. If it had an auto gearbox it would have been near perfect for me.
You would not have got some of the later cars to come to life so easily after 3 years sam!🙂
And her indoors will say that’s one more off the drive🤣
I know exactly!! Definately think they tried to start it at the auction without the choke. The younger staff members have probably never dealt with a car with a manual choke. Glad it was an easy one to sort..even the fuel line was just a return to filler neck. I'm due a tricky one for sure!!
@@DipstickUK
Yes youl get a tricky one soon to test you out!🤔
Manual choke is a bit of old school to the younger generation, don’t know how they would get on with a starting handle🤣
WOW! I used to have one of these, fantastic little camper,went all over in it! Very slow, but quite big in the back! Got a spare gearbox for one if you need one?
It takes as long as it takes stick in there 😊
If it doesn't sell at auction next week then I'll hang onto it and will carry it on regardless.
It’s more known as a Sooty van 😂
I love Bambi's was going to buy one but lost interest in travelling.
It was supposed be a day van/weekend local trips camper but it simply wouldn't have got done by next summer so its now a misfiring mazda bongo to sort instead.
@@DipstickUK Will it still get done?
@@jaggass Not by me unless it doesn't sell this week...but it currently is on ebay. I just need to put my energy into the Bongo nd the other 22 cars i have unfortunately.
I'd love to have the Bambi if I could afford to buy it off you 😭
Its going up on ebay next week starting at £500 with no reserve. ;)
On Ebay now at £500 no reserve. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/296780588417
The sooty show
Yes indeed!! Remember their version on the original show well. Should have done a replica of it really but needs must and its already at auction.