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MAY & JUNE 2020 NEWSLETTER - ISSUE NO: 110
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Who would have thought that when I wrote my update a month ago the majority of the world would today still be in lockdown. I get the feeling everyone's Figaro has never been so clean and shiny. It appears we are all ready to go with nowhere to go! Events have been cancelled or postponed left, right and centre, sadly there seems little light at the end of tunnel as a write this.
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HERO. NHS Nurse Catherine returning to work
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So I thought I would report on some good a positive news like member
Catherine Clark who is a
NHS Nurse and works at the
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. on the 23rd April Catherine returned to work after testing positive for Covid 19 on 8th April.
Although Catherine tells me
'she is only doing her job', it's still an amazing ask, especially considering the lack of PPE. I was fortunate enough to be on our Figaro Stand at the NEC Classic Car Show with the lovely Catherine and Steve back in 2018 when they exhibited their Topaz mist Figgy. What I would give for all that hustle and bustle again!
If you live in the UK don't forget to stand outside and rattle some pans to show your appreciation for the fantastic NHS next Thursday at 8pm.
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Test your Figaro knowledge with our online quiz!
Today it seems everyone is participating in online quizzes testing their sports, music, history and general knowledge with family and friends. So we thought we'd join in the fun and host a
Figaro Quiz. Next Friday the Club HQ (room in the house) will become the hub for this one-off event hosted by me(flying by the seat of my pants) and my lovely wife!
8PM FRIDAY 8TH MAY ON FACEBOOK
Thanks for all your lockdown pictures, we have a fabulous gallery below and
Prem Reynolds for sharing his extensive restoration. Also
David and Judy Kerr for sending over all the wonderful pictures of their New Zealand adventure. Couple of helpful guides too from me including changing the oil & filter as well as replacing the rear panel vinyl.
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ALL EVENTS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS
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EVENTS ON OUR FACEBOOK CHAPTER PAGES
If you are on Facebook don't forget to checkout our chapter pages which often include local events and member ownership help -
Join here
SEND US YOUR EVENT/MEET/GET-TOGETHER
We are always keen for members to create their own get-together simply complete our form
Click here
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Technical Forum gets a cleaner 'new look'
Our forum was launched o
n April 1st 2013. Since this date we have seen 5,820 threads and 35,439 posts.
Early on we decided to take the route of creating an A-Z list of items to help members locate the help quickly. The cleaner look means there are less options to search on as an example if you look under Battery in the A-Z list you will now see every topic such as wiring diagrams, common faults, videos and more. Check out our new look forum Click here
We have created two new video tutorials to help you get more from our forum
- How to use the Figaro Owners Club Technical Forum Watch now
- How to post a Question on The Figaro Owners Club Technical Forum Watch now
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Member enter race to build electric Figaro
A few weeks ago member James Brown contacted us about a project he is working on. James has taken a different route to converting a Figaro to electric by using a Gen 1 Nissan Leaf motor as a donor engine. He will attempt to run the motor through the leaf gearbox and use the original driveshafts from both vehicles to make temporary shafts and then fabricate custom drive shafts to fit.
We will be reporting on this project with interest and hope to update everyone on the progress.
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Toby Brooks shares tips and hacks
Over the last 3 weeks The Figaro Shop founder Toby Brooks has kept many owners entertained and informed with his live Facebook broadcasts. During these Toby has covered a wide range of subjects during which he revealed tips and tricks learnt over working on hundreds of Figaros.
You can still enjoy these excellent tutorials
Watch now
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Download Figaro colouring artwork
Nissan have launched a DRAW DRAW DRAW initiative. 23 newly created, downloadable colouring pages featuring the Nissan Figaro. Nissan designers from around the world created the pages over the last few weeks, a time during which many people have been staying home because of the global coronavirus pandemic.
View/Download/Print
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New - Lace Seat Covers
When the Figaro was launched back in 1991 it was possible to purchase lace seat covers which fitted over the original seats but unfortunately no longer available from Nissan!
However there is great news as a lady named
Audrey Harris contacted us and sent us some pictures of the her covers. Audrey has recreated the covers and hand makes them from beautiful
Italian lace and UK supplied fabric.
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Print your own Figaro Service Schedules
To help you keep your Figaro in tip-top condition we have put together a set of downloadable service schedule forms. The forms are available as a PDF which can be saved and printed on A4 paper allowing you to address each item be ticking the box when completed. Items such as the Cam Belt must be replaced to stop the car overheating and causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
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Earn money from your Figaro (UK Only)
Maybe not the best of timing but Oldencars is a new website which allows you to hire out your Figaro. The platform provides, security, marketing, payment gateway and support between you and the and hirer.
We understand this is the first of its kind to offer this unique service which we hope will be of interest to our members. Joining is free and once registered you can list your Figaro, upload pics and set your hire rate.
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What do those stickers on my Figaro say?
Ever wondered what some of those window and chassis stickers on your Figaro say?
This one is actually a 'PARKING PERMIT' often found on the rear window and this was issued by the chief of police! In this example it allows the owner to park their Figaro anywhere within the Prefecture Hyogo Region in Japan.
Our Website include all the other windscreen stickers found around parts of the car. Read more
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Gummi Pflege Rubber Care Stick
We used this on 'Belle' over the weekend and can strongly recommend it for application onto all the rubber areas on the Figaro. It conditions and protects the weather rubber seals on the doors, roof and boot.
Also nourishes and softens rubber to a natural new look finish. Although expensive you don't need much so it will last for years! Click here
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Support the NHS | Stay Home Rally Plate 2020 - £10
We think this is such a cool idea! What better way of showing your support to the amazing NHS whilst furnishing your Figaro with a keepsake. When the lockdown is over how proud will you feel driving around with this on your car!
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Sue and I love our 'Belle' :)
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Lastly, a great big Figgy Welcome!
To all our new members. Please remember Sue and I are super friendly so
get in touch if you have a Figgy story or picture to share.
Catch you in a couple of months :)
Kevin, Sue & Belle (Pale Aqua Figaro)
Club Founder, Assistant and love of our life Belle :)
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POEM BY CLUB MEMBER IAN MARTIN
Revved up and nowhere to go !
Well we've woken Figgy from her slumbers Dusted off the cobwebs, charged the battery Had a full service, new oil, filters and bits So she is firing on all cylinders once again.
We've taken Toby's advice on what to do Polished Figgy properly, gleams like a mirror Soft top cleaned and yes it really is white! Didn't win the competition so no new exhaust!
Cleaned the leather interiors, hoovered the carpets Polished chrome with a fancy new cream Parking stick and eyelids look like new And tyres all blackened, hub caps sparkle like new.
We've ironed carefully, our expanding shirt collection Selected wild goggles, practiced map reading. Researched were we will travel to this year?
Who we will meet on our Figgy travels?
But sadly all our rally's and meets are cancelled We've got our Stay Home Rally plate mounted So I guess we are all revved up and nowhere to go And will see you all the other side of Lockdown!
Stay safe, Be kind and keep polishing!
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WATCH OUR COMPREHENSIVE VIDEO
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Or follow the sequence of pictures below
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Our son Daniel back in June 2008
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How the club started
Our son Daniel had always wanted a Nissan Figaro having seen the car at our local garage when he was just 16! We confess we had no idea what a Figaro was? A few years passed and after saving for a number of years (plus a small contribution from his mum and dad) he brought an Emerald Green model in June 2008 and named it 'Figgy'.
Following the purchase we searched the internet for an 'owners club' in the hope that he could attend events but were amazed that none existed at the time.
And so the Figaro Owners Club was born!
Initially we created a basic website and forum and on the 1st March 2009 pressed the 'publish button' and waited to see if anyone wanted to join. Within a week we had 10 members, a month 35 and a year 478 members. That was all we needed to confirm that there was clearly a need for such a club.
Today the club has around 1,200 members worldwide in countries including
New Zealand, Japan, Australia, USA, Canada, Germany, Spain, France,
Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden and many more.
We are grateful to you and all our other members for help and encouragement throughout our journey as the club has grown into a passion which has taken over our lives.
Warmest Regards
Kevin & Sue
Figaro Owners Club Founder
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