First Name: Not Known Last Name: Not Known Membership No: Not known
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Figgy owner,
A very warm welcome and we are delighted to bring your our latest newsletter a few days early.
Every time we put these together we are both surprised and warmed by the news articles we receive. As an example, the continued development of new Figaro products from the likes of The Figaro Shop and Garage FK10 is great news. There are already many parts of the Figaro that are NLA (no longer available) from Nissan and logic tells me that this list is only going to continue to grow. In this addition, we cover 16 new Figaro products from these two, and we know there are many more on the way. The net result of these initiatives means our Figs will continue to live on, and that's got to be good news.
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Luxemburg, here we come!
In 3 weeks' time, 21 figgies will be heading to Luxembourg to participate in this rally. We start the week with a lunch in Marche-en-Framenne Belgium on Sunday 21st and then onto the hotel at Vianden. Our thanks to Dennis Case for stepping in and organising this event. We will cover this in full in our next newsletter.
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Thanks to all the contributions in this addition |
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INSURANCE VALUATIONS
Priced at £16 our 2 Year Insurance Valuation Certificates are highly recommended to protect your value
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BUY & SELL FIGARO STUFF
Our online platform allows you to buy and sell Figaro Cars, Parts & Accessories
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FIGARO CLOTHING & GIFTS
Our Figaro Store contains over 20 designs and hundreds of gifts to keep any Figaro enthusiast happy
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VIDEO TUTORIALS
We have produced dozens of Videos which will help you carry out ownership issues and repairs.
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ARCHIVE NEWSLETTERS
We have published over 100 Newsletters containing OWNERSHIP SUPPORT, MEMBERS STORIES...
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A personal welcome from us both |
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Sue and I love running this little friendly club and are here to help in any way we can. Although I personally don't claim to know everything about the car, as a club we are truly blessed to be surrounded by such helpful and friendly members whom we can turn to, so ask away.
Lastly, we wanted to remind you that we are always on the lookout for great stories and helpful and interesting articles so please don't be shy and do get in touch.
Kevin, Sue & Belle (Figaro)
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MEET YOUR UK & COUNTRY CHAPTER COORDINATORS |
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UK CHAPTER COORDINATORS
We now have 11 coordinators located throughout the UK who represent the club locally. They are all volunteers so please support them in their roles and try to help them with meetings, events and networking ideas.
CONTACT YOUR CHAPTER COORDINATOR
If you have an idea about an event or can offer help email your local coordinator by Click here
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BRIAN CROCKETT
UK CHANNEL ISLANDS
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ADAM WOODS
UK EASTERN ENGLAND
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VACANCY
UK EAST & WEST MIDLANDS
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VACANCY
UK NORTH EAST & YORKSHIRE
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VACANCY
UK NORTH WEST ENGLAND
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JOANNA FIREK
UK NORTHERN IRELAND
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ALYSHA HALL
UK SOUTH EAST ENGLAND
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KITTY MUFFETT
UK SOUTH WEST ENGLAND
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WORLD CHAPTER COORDINATORS
We have 10 members outside the UK who represent the club. Called Country Coordinators again they are volunteers so please support them in their roles and try to help them with meetings, events and networking ideas.
CONTACT YOUR COUNTRY COORDINATOR
If you have an idea about an event or can offer to help email your country coordinator by Clicking here
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JEAN-MICHEL DECROIX
FRANCE
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PASCAL & JOYCE SNELL
HOLLAND
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Events
If you’ve never attended a get-together, event or rally before we urge you to give it a try! There’s something magical about joining other Figgy owners and showing off our cute little cars.
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Featured Event - Triumph Factory Visitor Experience & Coombe Country Park
Sunday 11th June 2023
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Our club have been invited by Triumph to bring our Figs to their headquarters based in Hinkley.
We will spend the morning enjoying The Triumph Visitor Experience – an exclusive never-before-seen motorcycle and memorabilia collection. The Triumph 1902 Café – a premium coffee shop experience with free Wi-Fi. The Triumph Shop – features an exclusive collection of Triumph merchandise.
After lunch, we plan to drive (in convoy) for 25 mins to “Coombe Abbey” which is a 500-acre park offering walking and wildlife in woods and by lakes, a restaurant and craft studios.
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Many of these are free to attend so go on, make this year the year you get out in your Figaro and make more Figgy friends! |
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Videos
Enjoy our latest videos. For more, head over to our YouTube channel which contains over 150 videos covering all aspects of the Figaro
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As you can see I've been super busy with my Go-Pro since the last newsletter with no less than 5 new videos to enjoy. |
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Comprehensive 1 hour Figaro buyers guide video |
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One of the things that really upsets us is when we are contacted by an owner, shortly after they have bought the car and after a short while it's clear that they have paid well over the odds for a really poor Figaro. Only a few weeks ago, we were asked to provide a valuation for a car that a lady had paid £11,000 for and we had to tell her that it's probably only worth half of that figure. And if that wasn't bad enough, the cost to put the car right is going to costs £££££!
We understand that the car is such a pretty thing and more often than not people get taken in by the shiny bodywork and quirky features, they forget or don't have the knowledge to dig deeper.
Presented by me, this comprehensive one-hour video covers the inspection of 28 critical areas and test driving of the car. Even if you've owned your car for a number of years it may still be worth a watch as it includes so much information on what should have been included!
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AREAS INCLUDE:
1 – BODYWORK GAPS
2. ROOF
3. ROOF ALIGNMENT
4. REAR WINDOW
5. LOWER BOOT
6. BUMPER
7. TRIM
8. REAR LIGHT CASING
9. REAR WINGS
10. BREAKDOWN FLARE
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11. WATER DRAINING
12. LOWER DOOR SILLS
13. ENGINE SERVICING
14. CHECK MILEAGE
15. ALARM SYSTEM
12. LOWER DOOR SILLS
13. ENGINE SERVICING
14. CHECK MILEAGE
15. ALARM SYSTEM
16. HEATERS/AIR CON
17. ELECTRIC WINDOWS
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18. DASHBOARD TOP
19. CLARION CD/TAPE PLAYER
20. ACCESSORIES
21. TYRES/POLOS
22. FOG LIGHTS
23. CARPET/SAFETY BELTS
24. FRONT & REAR SEATS
25. START THE ENGINE
26. TEST DRIVING
27. DOCUMENTATION
28. EMISSIONS
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We have published this on our YouTube channel and hope that people find this and watch it before they go and view the car. Watch now
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Figaro grill badge - Product review video |
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This 'limited edition' Figaro grill badge has been the talk of the Figaro community since it was launched last year. The printed gift box is akin to an 'apple' product' and the quality of the badge is clear for all to see.
In this video, I unpack the badge and look in detail at the quality and fixings used. Also talk about how to install it by removing the grill, inserting the studs through and using the retaining plate, to secure it.
ACT QUICKLY! There are only 20 left of the limited run of 100 so be quick if you want one. Read more
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How to remove and replace the wiper blades video
Even I get a bit confused when changing wiper blades so we thought it would be helpful to shoot a video.
The wiper size on the Nissan Figaro is 450mm (18″) for both the driver and passenger. You will need two identical blades and some sets are different sizes. Below is a link from Halfords’ but we recommend shopping around. Read more
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How to remove and replace your hockey sticks video
Called a 'hockey stick' (and you can see why by the shape) these plastic chrome trims are located on either side of the car in front of the front wheel and behind the rear wheel. Garage FK10 use the same process as the originals (which are now NLA).
Over time they can become crazed and dull so if you are looking to bling up your Figaro then they are worth it. Read more
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How to clean your gutter roof lining video
The roof gutter trim runs around the top and aligns with the roof liner when closed. Over the years the ‘fur finish’ can be damaged and or become very dirty.
The process involves. Removing the trim, Heating up 3 kettles of hot water, Adding the powder featured below (We used 6 x tablespoons), Leaving to soak for an hour, Scrubbing off the fur and dirt, Rinsing with fresh water, Drying and Installing the trim.
The results are amazing and the trim looks like it's just rolled of the production line. Read more
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How to adjust your bonnet/hood height video
This video shows you how easy it is to move your Bonnet/Hood up or down and align it with the car’s bodywork.
Nissan provided two bonnet height adjuster rubbers which are located inside the corners of the bonnet/hood. Few owners know that these can be turned to allow the height of the bonnet to be adjusted. The process is easy and allows you to create an even gap between the body panels.
They do break and wear out causing misalignment between the panels and can cause a vibrating noise to occur. Also, they can be missing! Read more
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General News
Read the latest news about the car, services, products and more...
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£3 Club subscription price increase |
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A couple of weeks ago we wrote to you regarding future price increases. Just in case you missed it, from the 1st of November 2023 the cost of renewing your club membership will increase by £3 to £18 a year.
Since we started the club 14 years ago, we have never increased our prices, but like everyone, Sue and I are now experiencing a significant rise in costs across the board. Everything it seems, is going up and coupled with other inflationary factors we simply have no choice but to make this small increase.
Thanks for everyone's continued support :)
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The release of documents under the Public Records Act 1967 has revealed that Nissan applied to Her Majesty the Queen for a Royal Warrant which would have seen the car launched as The Royal Figaro.
Certain documents are only released after a period of time, due to their being particularly confidential or sensitive, or those associated with matters relating to the Sovereign as advised by the Privy Council.
A Royal Warrant sent a strong public signal that the holder supplied goods of a quality acceptable for use in the royal household. Current holders of a royal warrant include Cadbury, Twinings of London, Bollinger, Fortnum & Mason, Heinz and Axminster Carpets. In the motor industry, Aston Martin, Land Rover and Jaguar are also holders of the Royal Warrant.
In documents recently released under the 30-year rule, Professor Alexandra Mary has discovered a file called “The Royal Figaro” which referred to proposals from Nissan Motor Co. Ltd to launch their new 2-door coupe simultaneously in Japan and the UK as The Royal Figaro.
The car would have seen the Royal Coat of Arms displayed in 22 places around the car, and the parking stick double as a mast. It is believed that the car’s Fleur De Lys branding came about instead due to the Royal Warrant being declined.
While the formal reply wishes Nissan well in their future plans, the rejection of the application in this matter was noted as “offered to products and services of long-standing merit as opposed to new enterprises” but added that Nissan could reapply again at a future date “on condition of an extensive test drive to hear that turbo whistle.”
We reached out to the Royal Household for further comment and were advised that members can look out for a response on social media by searching #aprilfool
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The Figaro Shop launch 10 new products |
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Didcot-based Figaro specialists, The Figaro Shop contacted us with exciting news about a whole bunch of new ‘no longer available from Nissan’ products that they have developed to ensure the longevity of the Figaro.
"This is excellent news for owners and enthusiasts of the car as it means we can still source parts and keep our wonderful little cars on the road for many years to come"
The list covered the following items. Most are available from stock but note that due to the short runs and manufacturing process, some items are only available on pre-order.
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And Garage FK10 launch 6 more... |
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And Glasgow-based Garage FK10 have also been super busy, creating 5 new Figgy products!
1 - Nissan Figaro aerial collar
They have reproduced the original now unobtainable aerial collar (top nut). Click here
2 - Reversing light lenses
They have managed to reproduce the original Nissan Figaro reverse light lenses. Click here
3 - Alloy wheel centre caps
The original type has now long been discontinued.
They are manufactured using the exact same method as the originals and supplied with a new locking ring too. They come supplied as a set of four. Click here
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4 - Upper boot lid struts (pair)
The upper boot lid has two gas struts which help lift the boot and keep it supported when it's open.
5 - Stainless steel rear corner bumper bracket
A common problem people find when changing their rear bumpers is the corner brackets rusting and the fixing bolts snapping! Read more
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6- N/S/F (passenger side front) hockey stick
Nissan Figaro N/S/F (passenger side front) reproduction hockey stick. After lots of development, we are proud to offer these reproduction hockey sticks.
They also offer these as a complete set at a discounted rate, available at the link below
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Stainless Steel Bumper Price increased to £1,099. |
Dan also gave us the heads up that the cost of manufacturing their stainless steel bumpers has increased! From the 1st of June they will go up from £1,079 to 1,099 so get your orders in!
This is still a great price for the quality! They are made from 2mm thick stainless steel 304 grade (original being 1.5mm chrome plated mild steel). Click here
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Sylvanian Families Picnic Van (looks like a Figaro)
We wanted to share this fun story by Instagram blogger Chris Colouryum...
There are quite a few weird little Japanese cars built off the K11 platform and I have known about the Mitsuoka creations for a while which is basically Micras with very old English car styling. My brain went into excitement mode and I knew that there must have been something weird like this toy actually created in real life... Well, there kind of was. It was called the Nissan March Princess Wagon.
There are quite a few weird little Japanese cars built off the K11 platform and I have known about the Mitsuoka creations for a while which is basically Micras with very old English car styling. My brain went into excitement mode and I knew that there must have been something weird like this toy actually created in real life... Well, there kind of was. It was called the Nissan March Princess Wagon.
As funny as it was to find these strange little nuggets... It wasn't a Figaro Estate... So I had to just make one. Unsurprisingly as it's all on the K11 platform it fits seamlessly... Someone just has to go build it now! Swipe to see some of the cars mentioned. You can buy the wagon here
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How to review and upgrade the security of your car
Compared with the cars of today, the Nissan Figaro is an extremely easy car to break into and steal. It doesn’t take too much imagination to consider that not everything you see for sale on auction websites has been honestly acquired by the seller. The growth of the internet has made it easier than ever to sell Figaro parts with little or no traceability.
In addition to cars being stolen for resale, we have a theory here at the club that the high cost of Figaro parts has led to vehicles being targeted by gangs and broken for parts.
They identify the car, turn up with a trailer in the middle of the night and within minutes it’s gone. The car is then taken to a secret holding area where it’s stripped for the parts that are sold online. What remains is then taken to a breakers yard where no questions are asked.
Make sure you sort an alarm out ASAP
We recommend a very minimum of fitting an Immobiliser and if you can afford it, a GPS tracker too. Whilst you are organising this, as a deterrent we recommend purchasing a set of stickers like the ones below. They are only £3.30 for a set of 4 and sticking these in each window will hopefully help in the short term! Read more
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Windscreen Sun Heatshield heat protection - Save 10%
Manufactured by Heatshield this range of sunshades has been CNC designed to fit the Figaros front, side and rear windows.
The pictures are courtesy of US Member Bill Shimmel who reported back after ordering that it was a perfect fit.
"This is also an ideal solution for protecting the dashboard top which can suffer from cracking when exposed the extreme heat and UV"
You can also save 10% by using discount code FOC23. Read more
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Music lovers turn to traditional formats!
Another great reason to own a Figaro is you can enjoy the Clarion's brilliant built-in Auto Reverse with Dolby Cassette Deck. Unless yours has been upgraded in which case the cassette player has been disabled and the door glued shut!!
Some 195,000 were bought in 2022 – up 5.2 per cent in a year and the tenth annual consecutive increase, according to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). On ten occasions last year, cassettes accounted for more than 10 per cent of the chart sales of the No 1 album on the weekly Official Albums Chart. And more than a fifth of each album’s first-week chart sales were in cassette format.
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Figaro Fleur De Lys - Design
We are pleased to announce a new range of Fleur De Lys clothing, bags and phone cases and more is available through our Figaro Store.
Show your love for the car with this new range of merchandise Read more
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Lego 1:21 scale Figaro kit
This Lego kit was designed by Peter Blackert and can be built into 10 modules. It is featured on the website Rebrickable and has 436 parts in total.
To build it, you will need to order the instructions PDF which at the time of writing was $12 dollars.
Once you have the instructions, you can order all the parts or just the parts you require from the website.
I must admit I am so tempted to build this kit but it may have to be a 'winter project' Read more
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Figaro appears on TV
If you missed it, on Thursday at 9 am on Yesterday, one of our members appeared on the TV! Bernadette Collins' and her Figaro named Mayflower had problems with her safety belts not retracting.
Bernadette can be seen cleaning the safety belts webbing in a hot bucket of water which ended up solving the problem.
We plan to record the segments she featured in very soon.
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Buy Figaro Smiles on eBay
Facebook page Figaro Smiles has launched a range of merchandise on eBay.
This is a group for Nissan Figaro fans and Nissan Figaro owners, looking for a place to share their love of all things Figgy, help each other out with recommendations or advice, talk about and plan meet-ups, or just chat with other like-minded friendly members of the Nissan Figaro Club and the broader community. Visit eBay Shop
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Cold Climate Figaro
When the Figaro was manufactured. Nissan created a small number of cars specifically for very cold weather.
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Words and Pictures Kevin Fagan/Bill Shimmel |
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Last month, US Member Bill Shimmel contacted us about a visit he and his son made to Duncan Imports. The USA dealer has the largest stock (at the time 69 Figaro) in the world. Whilst nosing around the large warehouse with his son, Bill came across this Cold Climate Figaro. It's a cold-weather car with only 890 miles/1,433 on the clock. The car is priced at $52,977 (£42,500).
It's the first time the club have ever seen a Figaro with no A/C! You can see it has a bung in the dash where the switch normally goes. You can see the car by clicking on this link > Click here
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Just a few Figaros! Bill stood in the showroom warehouse |
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Additional cold weather protection around rad |
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The VIN plate is stamped with the unique code for cold climate |
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Only 890 miles/1,433 kms on the clock is reflected in the price |
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The Red sticker was applied by Nissan and means Cold Climate |
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Yum Yum. You could eat your dinner of the engine bay! |
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No Air Conditioning Switch?
This is the first Figaro we have seen where it has a plug/bung in the location where the A/C switch normally goes.
We know that A/C was an option for the car but obviously, Nissan removed this as being a cold version, they felt that the owner would not require cold air being blasted into the cabin.
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Words Kevin Fagan - Pictures Everyone
Thanks to everyone who took their figs out and joined in on Sunday 26th March.
Take part next year!
To hedge our bets on the weather front, next year we are spreading it over two days, Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th of June 2024.
Can you see yourself below?
We have 'zoomed in' versions of the collage below, just visit our club website page
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Watch the Video
Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy some Beach Boys and Figaro Owners Click here
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Owner Workshop
Top Boot Light– How to purchase all the parts required, wire and fit the optional top boot light!
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Words and Pictures Alan Sykes
The top boot light was one of the 55 accessories sold when the car was manufactured back in 1991. The light fits inside the top lid and switches on when the boot is opened. If you are interested in upgrading your Figaro and adding this then read on. Member Alan Sykes explains in detail where to buy the parts and how to wire the light to the existing circuitry. The cost is around £50.
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Why DIY and not OEM
I decided to install the boot light modification on Sue’s Figaro (Jeff), not because you need to be able to see when putting the soft top down, who would need that when it’s daylight, but for when the wet boot liner has been used as a storage area and you need the light when you arrive or set off in the dark.
At first, I looked for an original Nissan Figaro setup which includes the wiring harness, the bracket and the light, unfortunately, I couldn’t find one online. The Figaro Shop had them advertised, but at the time I went to order one, they were out of stock.
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Also, the cost was around £200 and I assume, plus delivery. Personally, I thought was a bit on the high side for a boot lamp, they are rare, and I guess supply and demand justified the high price to some extent.
After investigating, I decided to do some research with a view to installing a similar DIY system to the OEM version.
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VIEW/DOWNLOAD THE INFO
We have published an extensive article on our website. You can also download an A4 Document too.
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Norfolk Day Trip 2023 Sunday 16th
After such a long winter, 13 Figgies enjoyed some well-deserved roof-down convoy driving, stunning country roads and 1940s tea rooms.
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Words, Pictures and Video - Adam Woods Eastern Chapter Coordinator |
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We are so blessed in our eastern corner of the UK, to have some wonderful landscapes to enjoy! But I had promised myself for a while that we would visit the Norfolk Broads. In itself not the easiest thing to do as the roads can be very narrow... and while that makes for some great photos and videos, it could all very easily become unstuck with the wrong vehicle coming in the other direction! |
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Well, this year for the Norfolk Day Trip, we finally did it and made a trip across the Broads... we found some routes that would provide us with great sweeping views of the countryside, while the route would include a few landmarks like the Horsey Windpump and Happisburgh Lighthouse. |
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And so with 13 Figgys joining us, the day came, and I think this was the first properly sunny day of the year... and the first time that some of us had seen each other since last year.
So, of course, there were all the hellos and catching up... but even better we had some new folk coming along, and you will be pleased to hear that our new recruits were as mad as a box of frogs as the usual Figgy folk, so they fitted right in!
We met at the Waterside at Rollesby where some enjoyed some breakfast and a hot drink, and
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enjoyed the views across the lake... and then we were off, crossing country, past windmills, and any opportunity for a beep and a wave was taken full advantage of!
Our route across the Broads was fantastic, leading us to the somewhat quirky 1940s tea room "Poppylands" where we celebrated one of our regular member's birthdays with cake for everyone. The surroundings at Poppylands were proper vintage 1940s, and definitely made for a very different and memorable experience.
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"Our new recruits were as mad as a box of frogs as the
usual Figgy folk, so they fitted right in!"
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From here we headed off again across the country, yet more beeps and waves, yet more sunshine, and this time heading near to the coast and beautiful red and white stripes of Happisburgh Lighthouse. All of this of course was leading to our ultimate destination for this year's Norfolk Day Trip - East Ruston Old Vicarage Gardens. Having parked up in our dedicated Figgy parking area, we were hosted by one of the owners of these wonderful gardens which he and his partner have been designing and nurturing for 50 years. After Alan gave his little talk, the time was our own to chat to other Figgy folk, and then head into the beautiful gardens, grab something to eat... and enjoy the wonderful weather.
This was another memorable day trip, made special by the wonderful Figgy owners who joined us - we are so lucky to own these cars, and have the opportunity to meet such wonderful people who share the joy of these wonderful cars!
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SAVE MONEY - USE YOUR DISCOUNT CODES! |
Remember, as a club member you have access to lots of DISCOUNT CODES across a range of Figaro products and services. Click the link below and enter FOCMDC
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Members Stories
Dolly Webb – My Restore Hero
Dolly decided after 14 years of ownership it was time for a total restoration. Joe came to the rescue...
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Words and Pictures: Dolly Webb
So, it all started in 2009 when my husband gave me the most wonderful gift for my 40th birthday. I never thought I would get close to seeing one let alone owning my very own Figaro. I called her Lucy, it was like seeing my children for the first time, I fell in love immediately. At first, I couldn’t afford to tax or insure her, so I spent many a year driving her just to my front gate and having a picnic on the lawn with her I cleaned and polished her as often as possible.
After three years, I saved enough money to get her on the road taxed and insured. Many a time she would break down. Not knowing anyone really to save her let alone work on her, my husband David and I fettled around with her and kept her alive. In 2016 I was having a conversation with my friend whose husband has many classic cars and she was telling me about a guy that doesn’t live too far away, Her husband went to college with him, and she told me he had a passion for all things classical and vintage and had every faith in this guy. I was very reluctant as I hated anyone going near my pride and joy.
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I took the plunge and in 2016 I met Joe from Allenwood Auto Service, and the rest is history! Joe has kept Lucy not alone alive but the best self that she can be. We bought an engine and Joe stored all the parts on a shelf in his garage for me. Over the years things broke for Lucy and he would always have a part to fix her. We have had many years of love, and laughter and let me tell you lots of tears when she would smoke up and break down. Even one day I locked myself out of Lucy and yes you are right, Joe came to the rescue again and opened her up for me. |
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In 2021 I had saved up enough money for Joe to give a full restore on her body, fixing all the rust. Imagine having a non-rusty figgy, it just blows my mind. Joe has a love-hate relationship with Lucy as she brings him great surprises and not-so-great surprises. When he stripped her down to rebuild, he rebuilt new wheel arches and rebuilt new sills on both sides. He rebuilt the back window everywhere, basically, anything that had rust was removed. He also changed all the under piping to copper piping and rerouted the drains so there was no more rust going into the sills. My radiator got reconditioned new silicone hoses put in, chrome bumpers a new roof from The Figaro Shop.
A big shout out to Toby and Chris and Danny for all their help and for getting all the parts I required for Joe. Nothing was ever too big or too small for them to help. Joe did so much more for Lucy, too much to mention, but I am ever so grateful for the time and effort, sweat and tears that he put into her. I also got second-hand mirrors and hinges from Chris in Scotland, thank you, Chris. I didn’t want my Lucy to look brand new, if I did, I would have just bought a new car. I did, however, want her rust-free and anything that could be saved to be saved.
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I managed to save everything inside Lucy. I repainted Lucy’s carpet by taking swabs from under the main middle console as this would be the nearest to the original colour of the car carpet coming out of the Pike factory. I got this paint from Phillip at Fabricspray. I was very happy with the colour and I also got Axminster underlay and glued this to the back of the carpet to give extra soundproofing. I then moved on to the leather seats. Kevin from the Figaro Owners Club recommended the Leather Repair Company. They were wonderful and even managed to make the exact colour of the original seats, we got a 15% discount for being a member of the club and they sent me everything I required.
Thank you to the Leather Repair Company, I prepped all the seats, cleaned and washed them, and then I did all the cracks with filler. There were two tears and I glued these and then sanded them down in between coats of painting and then finished with a seal.
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You get a matte finish or a shiny finish however I wanted neither. So, I mixed the two solutions together to get a beautiful satin finish on my seats.
The results were amazing. I was so proud of myself. This was very time-consuming but very therapeutic. I then removed Lucy’s interior panels and washed and cleaned them to their best self. I then cleaned the seatbelts I pulled them down to their limit and clipped them with a peg and then outside the door I put the seatbelts in a bucket of hot water and washing-up liquid and left them overnight to clean. I then watched Kevin’s tutorial on how to re-puff/spring the front seats.
I was very happy with the result. I also managed to put the Forest Green piping around the front seats to match the dash and the horn so everything inside the car was tackled. She’s not perfect but she’s perfect to me. Joe has even managed to work around all the Japanese stickers to save them. Joe was so patient with me and indeed Lucy.
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"I would watch Kevin’s tutorials, and any classic car show like Bangers and Cash, Car SOS, and Richard Hammonds Workshop. I would text him at all hours,” after watching programs,” Joe are you doing this with my Lucy?” Joe, are you doing that with my Lucy?” “Richard said you should look out for this and that... etc. lol.” |
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The Smallest Cog Company has been my greatest inspiration to write this report about Joe. When I turned on the show for the first time I agreed with Neil on how good he was, and he reminded me of Joe.
I have already had wonderful memories with Lucy over the past 14 years, we have had many school runs in her when our main cars weren’t even working.
We have had many events with her from the Irish Chapter of the Figaro Owners Club and indeed English events, family days out, weekend road trips and even when she wasn’t working, we still managed to have a picnic with her, even on her 30th birthday 14th February, we went over to Joe’s Garage and had a picnic with her.
She brings so many fond memories to my family, from the love of my husband buying her for me in the first place in 2009 to the laughs me and my children would have when my husband would have to pick us up from a feis(Irish dancing comp) very late at night when we had run out of petrol LOL.
I can’t wait for our new adventures together. It’s now 2023 almost a year and a half since Joe took her for the rebuild. I will finally get to be reunited with my Lucy I get to show her off again on the 17th of June 2023. We are taking a road trip up to Kilbroney Classic Car Show where I will show her off and all the work that Joe and I have done.
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Meet our Members
We love to publish pictures of all our brilliant members with their Figs, so don't be shy and get in touch and we promise to include you in the next edition! Send us your pictures: media@figaroownersclub.com
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Zac Toumazi - Surrey - UK
I have finally taken my Fig out of the garage and spent most of the day getting rid of mould and doing some maintenance ready for the summer season. It’s so nice to drive around with the top down - Hopefully, the summer is going to be a good one.
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Michael Cohen - Florida- USA
Although we haven't done a formal photo shoot, the Southeast Florida Figaro Group as miraculously as it may be, with now 5 "Little Figgy's" registered in Palm Beach County Florida, did a little "coming out party" in the local tri-county vintage /classic car community.
"We met up and convoyed into a local classic car show here in Delray Beach, Florida! To say "we turned heads" and was apparently the "show stopper", would be an understatement as most folks on this side of the great pond have never seen even one Figaro before!"
Three of the Little Figgys also went home with a trophy prize!
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Wesleigh Alexandra - Dublin - Ireland
Wesleigh sent over these pictures. It looks like a wedding and the Figaro played a lead role!
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Roxy and Vlad Mares - Reims - France
Vlad sent us this picture of his Figaro named 'Figgy' parked on the old F1 circuit for our Calendar but unfortunately, the format didn't work. We keep them all as we love to publish everyone's pics!
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Jamie Broom - Stamford - UK
Jamie sent in this one of 'Agatha', parked up.
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Emma seed - Tyne and Wear - UK
Another great picture from Emma
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Our son Daniel had always wanted a Figaro having seen the car at his local garage when he was just 16. After saving for a number of years (plus a small contribution from his mum and dad!) he, at last, brought an emerald green model in May 2008. See him pictured with Figgy aged just 19 bless him >>
Following the purchase, we searched on the internet for a club in the hope we could attend events and meet other owners. We were amazed that at that time no club existed so the Figaro Owners Club was born!
"We decided to build a basic website and forum which took a few months 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!"
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.
Kevin & Sue Fagan
Figaro Owners Club
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58 Earl Howe Road, Holmer Green,
High Wycombe, Bucks, HP15 6QT
United Kingdom
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