Table of contents for May 2021 in Practical Classics

IN THE NEWS Plans are announced to build the World Trade Centre in New York, in a warehouse and electronics stores area of the city. Each business receives compensation of $3000. The architect of the seven office buildings, with two 110-storey towers as a striking centrepiece, is Minoru Yamasaki, and construction of the twin towers is completed in 1971. Their 2001 end, sadly, needs no explanation. AT THE FLICKS A new word enters common English usage, with the runaway success of Disney’s Mary Poppins at cinemas. Stage actress Julie Andrews becomes an international star in her feature film debut, and also wins an Oscar, but her main legacy is popularising Supercali… well, you know. It is a lot easier to say than it is to spell, trust us. IN THE…

Show us your lockdown classics My Excel in the ‘filthy daily-use Lotus’ corner of the Lotus factory car park. Richard Gosling All grocery shopping was done in my classic Mini. Dean Cosens My DS in a DIY store car park in Bucharest. I needed some plumbing bits for a bathroom repair project in my house! Razvan Spac I frequently use my Stag for work. Why wouldn’t I? It certainly makes going to work more enjoyable! Kevin Searles My Rover on Christmas tree duties! Paul Williams I found my Bond Bug to be a perfect tool for collecting some concrete! Mike Colour I’m a key worker keeping the aerospace and rail industry going throughout lockdown and drive my Series Land Rover each day. Sarah Headon I’ve been using my Astra GTE…

‘I got half of my money back when I restored it’ 1975 Jensen-Healey GT Tim and Kate Hatcher, South Molton It’s one of only 500 made and one of only 20 on the road here now. I found it after visiting the Bristol Classic Car Show. I went to the Jensen stand and got chatting to a guy with one. I told him how much I liked them and he offered me this. At that time it was a bit of a basket case and had been used as a parts car – it was totally rotted out. So many Jensen-Healeys have gone that way and even more have been broken for their Getrag gearboxes and drivetrains as well as their walnut dashboards. I said that I was interested and…

Why drive a P6 to Portugal? Well, since 2017, my company, MGBD Parts & Services, has sponsored the Portuguese P6 National Gathering. Today we know of over 200 P6’s that have survived, imported into the country via the Lisbon Rover distribution centre. Some of the cars then went on to the Portuguese territories like Angola and Mozambique, but today many are back in Portugal. For the first two events my wife Angie and I flew out to Porto, this time it would different though. I decided to show them what a P6 could really do and drive to the 2019 event in Figueiró dos Vinhos. The chosen car was our Rover P6 2000TC known as ‘The General’ and he was duly exhibited at the 2019 Practical Classics Restoration Show at…

Everything has plenty of heft, from the steering to the pedals to the weight of the door as you pull it shut. The V8 engine shrugs off all the mass, with the kind of linear power delivery you associate with locomotives. There’s no scuttle shake, no hesitancy, splendid brakes and lovely ride, so you find yourself judging it like a modern car…and it would be a match for many. Jim has managed to retain all the Mercedes solidity and high-quality feel, though the changes he’s made are noticeable too: the TT seats seem a tad higher than the originals, so the cant-rail is almost on my eye-line. That smaller Nardi wheel feels wonderful, but increases steering effort (and kneeroom). Best of all, it blocks my view of the fuel gauge……

Are you Frank Columbo or Jane Marple? Inspector Lestrade or Father Brown? Clouseau or Vera? Each fictional sleuth represents one of two largely distinct schools of detection: one has a hunch about whodunnit right from the outset, and uses the rest of the story to prove that the gut feeling they developed five minutes in wasn’t just flatulence; the other assimilates the clues as they arise and uses logic to finger the perp. It’s deductive versus inductive reasoning, the first using evidence to prove a theory versus the converse which uses evidence to create a theory. So, which type of detective are you? How about this: a Rover 90 is driving up a hill and suddenly sputters to a halt. What’s wrong with it? You must have been confronted with…

I watched a programme on alternative investments recently. It was the typically thin, inconsequential guff we’re so often served up on the TV these days. I’d zoned out until they turned to investing in classic cars. It’s always good to see classics on the telly, but what followed was nothing short of irresponsible, relying for guidance solely on the word of a high-end classic car restorer and dealer who had a clear vested interest. There was a brief mention that such cars need looking after, and you may have to pay for storage, though no numbers were attached to any of that. Then the dealer was confronted by the presenter’s big gushing ‘question’ while we gazed at a freshly restored Miura. ‘So, people are buying a Lamborghini like this for…

Idiot tech, or idiot warning? There is an era for me that represents the beginning of the downfall for driving enthusiasts. It happened around 2005 and coincided with the mass adoption of tyre-pressure monitoring systems. Yes, I’m aware that they were introduced in 1986, but those first systems were fitted to the Porsche 959 and - a decade later - the Chevrolet Corvette. And obviously they both get a pass. Pinning my theory about when car companies stopped caring about making driver’s cars on something as arbitrary as a tyre-pressure monitor is probably a bit of a leap, but bear with me. The system itself provides a valuable ‘idiot’ warning, but I see its introduction as the tipping point when the sluice gates of useless vehicle technology were flung open.…

You’ll have read much about my newly completed project CX, but the one you see here is where I’ve spent most of my Citroën-related time over the years. I bought it almost a decade ago and have had many adventures wafting through scenery at home and abroad behind that single-spoke wheel. There’s always been a strong whiff of nostalgia for me, too. This was the model my father owned back in the late Eighties - the one I pestered him about, after he decided to replace his Audi 100. I have fine memories of being dropped off at school and seeing the faces of my friends as the CX floated out of the car park. These days, some purists sniff at this facelift model’s plastic bumpers but compared to the…

2002 BMW 325i Touring auto Engine 2494cc/6-cyl/OHC Power 189bhp@6100rpm Torque 181lb ft@3500rpm Gearbox 5-speed automatic 0-60mph 8.1sec Top speed 147mph Fuel economy 29mpg Work done New handbrake shoes fitted to the BMW. Also Nigel’s garage 1970 TRIUMPH TR6 Still stuck in the garage waiting for better weather. 1977 RELIANT SCIMITAR GTE Dried damp interior out and cleaned some mould away. 1997 BMW Z3 ROADSTER Getting occasional use when the roads aren’t salty. A few months ago, at its last MOT, my BMW 325i workhorse showed an imbalance on the handbrake, with less effort recorded on the right rear wheel. The friendly MoT tester explained that handbrake deficiencies often go unnoticed on cars with automatic transmission because it’s unlikely to get much serious use; selecting Park will stop the car from…

Matt Tomkins PROJECTS EDITOR Our resident workshop puppet master, Matt has Morris Minors and A-series engines in his blood. This month: Getting to grips with the Austin Seven’s bodywork. Martin Domoney WORKSHOP EDITOR Former JLR technician, Martin, knows his modern classics inside and out. This month: Bulkhead repairs on his Series III Land Rover. Theodore J Gillam ENGINEERING EXPERT Former Motor Vehicle lecturer and classic fiddling perfectionist. This month: Organised his fasteners, and realised he’s better stocked than Screwfix! Ed Hughes WORKSHOP GENIUS Ed singlehandedly keeps a fleet of obscure classics on the road. He’s never owned a modern and will keep it that way. This month: Driving and enjoying his 1978 Lada 1200. Nigel Clark DIY RESTORER Nigel’s driveway achievements rival those of professional mechanics. This month: Fitted new…

A compression-ignition engine works by highly compressing air in the engine’s cylinders thereby heating it, so that finely atomised diesel fuel ignites spontaneously soon after being injected. Requiring pressures of around 2000psi (135 atmospheres), or more, to operate the injectors, the injection pump has to accurately meter and time the amount of fuel discharged, dictating the engine’s speed, and reacting to load. [A] BODY all components are mounted to the aluminium alloy body. DPA pumps are flange-mounted by design, the 3 slotted mounting holes allowing for injection timing adjustments. The main shaft is supported by a plain bearing at the drive end and by the pumping rotor at the opposite end. The oval type-plate on the side of the pump identifies its application, settings, rotation, and serial number. The whole…

There’s probably a good reason for stripping your engine. You need to play detective as well as mechanic while you’re unbolting and removing components. Check for wear and tear, but also for evidence of someone having been in there before you. This is your chance to learn more about your vehicle and the life it may have led, before you correlate your findings, draw up a shopping list and, if needs be, get a machine shop on board, ready for the rebuild.…

All you need to know about everything important The normal rules did not apply. After the postponement of the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show to 18-20 March 2022, the 2021 Restorer of the Year Competition had to be judged in time for the online version of the show on March 27, 2021. So a team from the magazine got to work, consulted with experts in the industry, and judged each of the superb restoration stories that had been in the magazine between the May 2020 and May 2021 issues. The judges then came up with an overall winner of the coveted Golden Spanner. By unanimous verdict, Andy Kenning was judged the winner for his extraordinary 1956 MGA restoration. He received his award from PC editor Danny Hopkins as…

One of the most popular sections of the magazine is about to get a shot of style and glamour, as Charlotte Moseley from Footman James Insurance joins the team that puts together Your Cars. In the new section, called Charlotte’s Choice, she will pick out one of the classics submitted for Your Cars and profile it. Speaking to PC, Charlotte said: ‘The Your Cars section of Practical Classics is all about passion – the passion owners have for their classics. I’ll be on the lookout for great classics that have owners that really love them. Send in your pics and let’s get judging!’ The car Charlotte chooses each issue will receive a prize of a year’s subscription to the magazine and a John Lewis hamper, so it is well worth entering.…

On March 27 the Practical Classics team, in collaboration with Clarion Events, broadcasted the first ever online Practical Classics Restoration Show, after the live event sadly had to be postponed again until March 18-20, 2022. The big day was divided into segments and broadcast across social media channels between 9am and 5.30pm. The event included a whole host of exclusives and ‘firsts’ as well as the online National Car Club Awards, hosted by Practical Classics editor Danny Hopkins, plus the revealing of the winner of the Practical Classics Restorer of the Year and, the live event of the day, the public vote to decide the winner of the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership award. Here is how the day looked… Charity Projects Our two big charity projects, the Lancaster Insurance…

Tool gifted I was looking through my “miscallaneous” tool box the other day when I found this. It was a free gift with Practical Motorist magazine. On the back is stamped IPC 1974 – I had my first car at the time, a 1966 HA Viva that didn’t last that much longer due to tin worm. Could this be the last PM spanner surviving? J Morgan, Whitchurch THE BARD GILLAM Theo J Gillam’s ‘If this year was an oil change...’ piece (PC, February 2021). What a lovely bit of writing and what a great insight into the soul-sapping spirit of ‘simple’ jobs. It’s always such a joy to read that spanner wielding failures don’t just happen to me. I say the article should be engraved in brass and mounted on…

First thing’s first, what is a MetroPlus? ‘This is a prototype built by British Leyland Motorsport when the Metro was launched. The car got an enhancement package including numerous styling additions and performance modifications applied to a standard Metro. There were fancy alloy wheels and a body kit including spoilers, extended wheel arches and unique stripes. Inside, you got bucket seats, a sporty steering wheel and a leather gear knob. Under the bonnet, the MetroPlus had a Weber carburettor, alloy PlusParts rocker cover and a freeflow exhaust, among other things. Very Eighties!’ Did BL build many examples? ‘No, you’re looking at the only British Leyland MetroPlus – almost completely unchanged since it was converted for rally use in 1981. It started life as a pre-production Metro HLS, chassis number is…

1983 TVR 280i On the way home through Bristol, I saw this TVR 280i looking fantastic parked up. Rory Anderson, Bristol Citroen 2CV Van This ’81 2CV van is used by the proprietor of a Vintage Store (Jesse May’s) in Ramsbottom, Lancs and can be seen quite often parked close to the East Lancashire Railway station. Graham Lomax, Bury 1967 Triumph GT6 MkII I saw this parked up on the road in Hounslow, Middlesex, while driving home from seeing a friend. Zabair Qureshi, Southall 1980 Saab 99 Here’s a particularly nice Saab 99 that I see often in the streets around us in Edinburgh. I looks it might be kept on street, so I hope it lasts. Being a Saab, it probably will! Joe Ingle, Edinburgh Mercedes SL Spotted in…

I’ve just been interrupted mid-rant by an awful daydream. ‘The Classic Car Court is now in session. Witnesses for the prosecution take the stand. ‘You are Mr A Daley c/o The Winchester Club, London W11?’ ‘Yes guvn’r, sorry, your honour, psst I can do you some more of that Indonesian whiskey you loved, only 89p a bottle. Straight up!’ ‘Witness number 2. Mr D-Boy Trotter, of 368 Nelson Mandela House, Peckham, London E? ‘Er yes, cushty, gentlemen of the bar! He he, remember the time I fell through a bar in an episode... I’ll shut up!’ ‘The 2021 Price Guide of learned publication Practical Classics shows how much prices of certain models has risen. Just what this surreal court wanted and well done with that hard hyping, gents, particularly the…

James says... ‘Images like these make us want to hook up the trailer, drag these cars out the bushes and get stuck into restos at the PC workshop! £50 STAR FIND Can you do better! Send your high-res Images to practical.classics@bauermedia.co.uk In association with Surface Processing Ltd surfaceprocessing.co.uk, 01384 242010…

WED APR 14 H&H Classics, Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambs. (01925 210035, handh.co.uk) SAT APR 17 Historics, Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire. (01753 639170, historics.co.uk) TUE APR 20 Barons Auctions’ Spring Classic sale, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey. (023 8066 8413, barons-auctions.com) SAT-SUN MAY 1-2 Anglia Car Auctions, The Cattlemarket, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. (01553 771881, angliacarauctions.co.uk) WED MAY 12 H&H Classics, Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, Derbyshire. (01925 210035, handh.co.uk) THURS MAY 13 Brightwells’ Classic & Vintage, Herefordshire, timed online. (01568 611122, brightwells.com) SAT MAY 15 Historics, Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire. (01753 639170, historics.co.uk) THU MAY 20 Dorset Vintage & Classic Auctions, live online. (01963363353, dvca.co.uk)…

‘I bought this Mini Cooper S R53 back in September. It’s done 170,000 miles, but only had one owner. It was up for sale at a classic dealer in Pickering. I drove over for a look and bought it online the following Friday evening. I paid £1400 including delivery and, a few days later, it turned up. It turned out the car needed loads doing, but I wanted it to be as good as possible, so over the last few months I’ve put £3500 into it. At least it came with lots of paperwork and books, which was a plus. I’ve just got hold of a matching boot lid to swap over at some point as the one on the car is rusting. I’ve read that’s quite common on these.…

1999 MAZDA MX-5 10th ANNIVERSARY Alex Hilton, Leeds Not many second-gen MX-5s are collectible, but Alex’s 10th Anniversary special is. 1993 PEUGEOT 405 Mi16 (BTCC REP.) Michael Peck, Essex Peugeot’s mediocre BTCC showing didn’t bother Mike when he built his homage to Patrick Watts’s racer. 1995 CITROËN XANTIA 2.0SX Steven Prew, Somerset It’s rare to see a Xantia of any kind on the road these days, especially one with just 23,000 miles under its wheels. We can help… ‘So many cars here that we would all love to have on our drives. Call us to discuss your requirements, so we can help turn your modern classic dream into a reality.’…

1998-2018 Almost three million examples of the Suzuki Jimny have been skipping across remote mountain plateaus, as well as up the high street, for the past 50 years. As with any car that’s lived for so long, the Jimny has attained cult status, and while values have always held steady, they’ve done so for good reason. The third-generation model combines boxy styling and outstanding off-road ability with relative modernity and acceptable on-road dynamics. It is a usefully dinky car, so it’s capable of zooming around the city, laughing off potholes and speed humps, as well as taking on muddy tracks and rough country roads. Lightness, low range transmission with lockable differential means that it’ll fill the rear-view mirror of pretty much any other off-road vehicle, too. At just 3675mm in…

I have been spending a reasonable amount of time in my Audi A3 this month, and it’s certainly had me thinking. This 29,000-mile example that’s showroom clean and minty fresh has been a little bundle of joy ever since it joined the Adams fleet. This is one I paid actual money for, which means it should be a keeper… which in my ever-changing world means it’ll probably hang around for a few months. It’s an A3 1.8T Sport Quattro, which to anyone who isn’t that familiar with their four-rings, is one rung down the range from an S3 - and most importantly, considerably cheaper as a consequence. It follows my ‘Modern Classics’ doctrine that, to get the most bang for your bucks, go for the second fastest model in the…

Let me be clear on one thing from the start - I am not a time-served car body builder. This is the first time that I have worked with aluminium and staring, blankly, at a bare chassis has been the plat du jour for many an evening. However, a few drawings, advice and measurements from fellow Seven owners and investment in some quality tools - including, most crucially, a heavy duty metal folder and wheeling machine from Pela Tools - have allowed me to break through the blank sheet stage. I’ve spent many an hour playing with scrap aluminium, exploring the limits of the material, watching videos on YouTube and on the Contour Academy website and browsing build threads and photos of finished cars to see just what’s possible. I’ve…

2000 Porsche Boxster 2.7 Engine 2687cc/6-cyl/DOHC Power 228bhp@6400rpm Torque 192lb ft@4750rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual Top speed 155mph 0-62mph 6.6sec Fuel economy 29mpg Work done Plenty… I’ll tell you all about it next time in PC. Nick’s shed Nick manages the Macbeth Centre Training Workshop that provides automotive education and training to young people from 14-18 years-old. The workshop has its own Whatsapp group, too. For many years it had been a dream of mine to own a Porsche Carrera. A 996 911 4S with a respectable options list (it was a specific requirement!). I wanted to spend £15k, or thereabouts, and to help prepare myself for this step into the relative unknown I’d been doing my research and had convinced myself that the £15k sum was a realistic target. But…

Struggling to track down a misfire or hesitation? Open the bonnet on a dark night with the engine idling. You’ll see the blue glow of electricity escaping from weak or dirty HT lead insulation. John Robinson Any fluid or gas above six bar (100 psi) can and will penetrate the skin and need surgery if not treated within six hours. Always be alert when using or repairing hydraulic jacks, ramps, power steering systems, fuel injection systems, brakes, grease lubrication systems, jet washers and even your home compressor. Colin Walker, British Fluid Power Association…

Taking advantage of the small-size and weight of the DPA (Distribution Pump, type A), manufacturers fitted them to small engines, like the 1489cc B-Series diesel fitted to Austin/Morris A55/60s, and to the Perkins 4.99, 4.107 and 4.108 fitted to all manner of vehicles, like the Hillman Super Minx (as an option), and Ford Cortinas, Opel Asconas and many others as a conversion. This particular pump is badged Roto Diesel but similar models were also made under the Lucas, Delphi and other brands made under licence around the world.…

NIGEL’S JOB CARD REFRESH YOUR ALLOYS Today I’m refurbishing a set of alloy wheels from a Nineties BMW. Surface damage will be repaired by sanding out corrosion and light scuffs, while deeper kerb damage will be gently filed flat. A special aluminium filler will be applied to hide the worst scars, then the wheel’s face will be rubbed down to provide a key for new paint. Once the surface is sound, we can spray on aerosol primer, followed by the base or colour coat, before finishing with a high gloss lacquer. How tough? You’ll need: ►PPE ►Electric drill with wire brushes ►Abrasive paper, 320 grade and 1000 grade ►Hand file ►Aluminium filler ►Aerosol self-etching primer, wheel silver and UV-resistant clear lacquer. ►Specialist: u-pol.com 1 Typical wheel problems This alloy has…

YOU WILL NEED Lockwire pliers; lockwire; micrometer; side-cutters; drill and bits; your workshop manual. 1. Types of lockwire Lockwire is readily available from engineering stores or on eBay. Expect to pay about £7 for 30m of stainless-steel wire. Measure the existing wire and source wire of the same diameter, often 0.7mm (left) or 0.8mm (right), but some applications may need thinner or thicker. TIP Given the importance of the fasteners being locked, don’t take chances on other bits of wire. 2. Preparing fasteners Lockwiring is particularly useful for locking bolts in position, so either the head of the bolt can be drilled for lockwire, if it hasn’t already been, or the end of the thread aligning with a nut’s castellations can be drilled, although the latter is more likely to…

WHEN TO REPLACE The need for bearing renewal becomes apparent when droning, clicking or whining sounds start to become evident (at first, just when cornering), and/or when movement in the hub assembly becomes more than just perceptible. To check… Raise and safely support each front corner of the car in turn, with the road wheel clear of the ground, and attempt to rock the wheel in/out while holding it at the top and bottom. When carrying out this check, bear in mind that movement may be due to wheel bearing wear or to wear within the king pins/bushes/front suspension leg supports (depending on model). Repeat the check with the footbrake applied, which has the effect of locking the hub assembly to the stub axle; if hub-on-stub-axle movement ‘disappears’ when the…

C/D: CONCOURS/DEALER COND 1: GOOD COND 2: AVERAGE COND 3: ROUGH Prices are researched from several sources, including clubs, auctions, the trade and advertisements online and in print. Prices are reviewed and updated every issue. Our C/D rating is a basic guide to what you can expect to pay (£) for the best examples of a model, a concours car or something from a dealer. CONDITION 1 means well-presented cars that have no obvious faults. CONDITION 2 cars are capable of regular use. They have a current MoT certificate but will need work and/or original parts. CONDITION 3 cars usually need a full rebuild, but may be driveable and MoT’d. PLEASE NOTE You can’t value any car without seeing it – don’t buy blind. Russ says ‘Buying and selling should…

Once again, with the introduction of E10 fuel to UK pumps this summer, the internet has been buzzing with scaremongering about what this ‘new’ fuel will do to our classics. ‘My carburettor jet started leaking where it meets the float chamber – must be ethanol’, ‘My 40 year-old fuel lines are brittle – modern death fuel’ and so on – even before the maximum permissable percentage of ethanol is raised from five to 10 per cent. If you believe all the stories circulating, this is a scary time for classic owners, but it needn’t be. While at university, I carried out my dissertation research project on the effect of ethanol-based fuel on SU carburettor components, and found no significant effect of ethanol on degradation of new components. However, circumstantial ‘evidence’…

► BACKDOOR SCRAPPAGE Transport for West Midlands has made £1 million in funding available to motorists with cars more than ten years-old. They are being encouraged to scrap them – in exchange for £3000 worth of ‘mobility credits’ via a pre- paid, transport only, debit card – for use on trains, buses, taxis and car hire over two years. This means there is capacity to remove 250 cars from the streets. So far, six people have already taken advantage of this pilot scheme – launched in Coventry. ► NEW FUELS ADVICE The Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs has revised its advice regarding suitable fuels for classic cars. Federation Fuel pages (16 pages of A4!) can be found at fbhvc.co.uk/fuels. The pages have been compiled by automotive fuels specialist, Nigel…

A hole in your pocket Kwik Fit’s Pothole Impact Tracker has revealed an 11 per cent rise in the costs to UK drivers from pothole damage (£127.20 on average), despite a 42 per cent reduction in mileage in the last year. The total cost to British drivers was £1.267 bn. FOTU is back! After a coronavirus- enforced hiatus in 2020, the Hagerty Festival of the Unexceptional returns in 2021, taking place on Saturday 31 July at Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire. 2021’s event will be the seventh Concours de l’Ordinaire. Details of ticket sales and concours entries for vehicles will be announced soon. Fat Lamb Museum Classic friendly hotelier Paul Bonsall has gone one step further. Not satisfied with welcoming classic owners of all types to his Cumbrian hostelry, or running…

Tipping Point £34.99 ISBN: 978-1-5272-5619-4 Andy Plumb tells the story of the design and conception of one of the most culturally important British cars ever made in this well-written and presented hardback. A delightful coffee table book, full of joyful facts. amazon.co.uk Mr Le Mans: Tom Kristensen £40 ISBN: 978-87-972603-0-2 This book looks back on more than 30 years spent striving for perfection. Kristensen won the 24-hour race a record nine times between 1997 and 2014 and appeared on the podium a further five times. A really great read. evropublishing.com Britain’s Road Tunnels £14.99 ISBN: 978-1-3981-0028-2 Yes, really! Tunnel expert Mark Chatterton has compiled in this book all the various road tunnels in Britain after a decade of travelling extensively all over Britain researching and photographing tunnels for this book.…

RAF Finningley, West Riding of Yorkshire Summer 1964 We do hope that you’ll forgive us for being momentarily distracted from the cars here, but, wow… just look at the background. This is RAF Finningley during its annual Battle of Britain Air Display in 1964. One of its highlights was an Avro Vulcan bomber scramble, and we suspect that this is what’s happening here, with a spectacular quartet of the British delta-winged bombers beyond the car park. RAF Finningley was decommissioned in 1996. The airfield has since been developed into an international airport named Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which opened to the public on April 28, 2005. ‘The Vulcan bomber scramble was a real highlight’ A great view It’s pretty obvious that quite a crowd has turned up in their cars for…

I loved the Picture Perfect ‘recreation’ article (PC, December 2020) so much that it inspired me to do my own attempt. I have a lovely Chrysler brochure for the Hillman imp from 1974 called ‘the 74 Imps photographed in Edinburgh,’ my home town. I have always wanted to recreate the images in the brochure with my own Imp, but the locations are closed to public vehicle access. We own the Linwood factory and I’ve written a book and play about Linwood. As it was 40 years since the Linwood plant closed, I was contacted by The Scotsman news paper to appear in a feature about the Linwood factory and the Imp. They sent a professional photographer to get a photograph of me and my Imp but, due to COVID-19 restrictions, we…

FIRE STARTER 1979 AC 3000ME How one AC survived trial by fire, the law and plain old frustration 1980: OWNER 1 Roy Winter I part-exchanged my 1977 Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV for the AC 3000ME on February 20, 1980. I was the original buyer, but as an ex-demonstrator (it featured in Motor magazine), it had 3000 miles on the clock. I used it as a daily-driver very early on as well as on club events, however it wasn’t long before it was left standing for a couple of years. Third gear was the problem – AC had made a series of them where they hadn’t been case-hardened properly, and the crown wheel and pinion broke a few times, too. Things changed after we went up to Silverstone to see Robin…

From 29 March, the advice to ‘stay at home’ is to cease. Here will be our first chance in months to go for a spin, albeit a shortish one, purely for pleasure in our classic cars. Increased freedoms will follow in April and May. Will this be the time to blow the dust off your classic, pump up its tyres, check its fluids and bring it back to life? Or have you been using it throughout lockdown from time to time? After all, if you have essential journeys to do, even if they’re just to the supermarket, then you might as well do them in your interesting old car. It needs exercise as much as you do. Some car-nuts, though, haven’t been doing this. They would feel bad about being…

Classic values & essential buying advice The wait for Anglia Car Auctions’ first sale of the season only seemed to increase demand for the 170 cars that were offered. Just 13 of them failed to find a home and almost half the lots exceeded their top estimate. Perhaps the craziest result was the £29,160 paid for a restored Bond Bug, but we’re focusing on hot hatches, which saw strong action across the board. Probably the biggest jaw-dropper was £24, 840 for an albeit well restored Fiesta Mkl 1.3 Supersport. One of 3000 Ford sold with an ‘X’ bodykit and RS alloys, but no increase on the regular Sport’s 64bhp, it makes you wonder what an XR2 might hit. There was also – as if it was needed – confirmation of…

1993 Saab 900 Turbo 16S Ruby Price: £ 11,995 One of 150 last-of-line Ruby special editions with 185bhp engine. Has covered 176k, but looks like it’s only done half that. Fresh MOT. 1967 Ford Cortina MK I GT Price: £14,995 Remarkably this GT has only notched up three owners and 89,000 miles so far. Rare period Dunlop alloys included in sale. Paint is a little faded. 1969 Morris Oxford Series VI Price: £7250 Sound and very presentable example in the right colour scheme that comes with a bit of history. Recently had a new clutch and MOT.…

James likes... THE SOFT TOP I know it’s something of a Spanish rental car special to some, (not actually far from the truth), but so noisy is the Jimny, you may as well add some fresh air to the fun. It’ll need an extra close check for wear as they’re not as well built, but I rather like the idea of hooning, top down, across a snow- covered mountain range. Martin likes... THE BASE MODEL Sure, the later models were better specced and the VVTi engine had more power and refinement than the older unit, but for me, the early hard-tops are favourite. And the more basic the better – solid paint colours, steel rims and spartan interior all add to the ‘mini utility vehicle’ feel. Think quad bike, with…

Steady now! It’s easy to get carried away when diving into a new project, letting enthusiasm get the better of you. Wings off, engine out, wiring loom pulled apart… before you know it, the car has become a daunting pile of bits. I know that I’ve been guilty of breaking too many eggs while trying to make the perfect omelette but this time I’m doing things differently and getting my latest Morris Minor renovation off to a careful start. The Smoke Grey saloon is one of the most original, unmolested cars that I’ve ever owned, but it needs recommissioning after two decades at the back of a barn and a few rusty edges need putting right. I plan to do the bare minimum to get the car safely back on…

ED’S JOB CARD ASSESS ENGINE WEAR Our VW camper’s engine needed complete disassembly to fit an uprated camshaft, supplied for the project by Heritage Parts Centre. Today, we’ll carry out a full assessment of the engine’s condition. This will tell us what, if any, other work is needed. How tough? You’ll need: ▶ General tool kit ▶ vernier or digital caliper ▶ A keen eye ▶ A sensitive finger-tip. Specialist: ▶ Heritage Parts Centre, 01273 444000; heritagepartscentre.com Will take: Will cost: DIY saving The story so far… Bought, stripped, painted and now being fitted back up ready for Camper Round The Coast. Then it will go to auction to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK, the nominated charity partners for Lancaster Insurance Services Ltd. This engine rebuild is supported by…

Most alloy wheels fitted to recent classics are painted and lacquered to protect the raw alloy, but when this coating fails, unsightly blemishes soon develop. The usual causes are kerb damage or corrosion. Once water gets under the factory-applied finish, corrosion spreads, raising the paint to cause still more blisters and flaking, as the raw alloy oxidises to form a white powdery deposit. It’s not necessary to strip all the original coating off, but it is essential to remove every trace of corrosion so the fresh paint is applied onto a sound surface. Just like when painting steel bodywork, paint applied over corroded metal will soon fail again. Selecting the correct materials is important; use a self-etching primer, followed by a wheel silver colour coat and finish with a UV-resistant…

KIM’S JOB CARD REPLACE WHEEL BEARINGS On each side of the car the front hub assembly incorporates inner and outer ball bearings, with a spacer located between the two, and with an inner grease seal. Renewing the front wheel (hub) bearings on your BMC vehicle can be carried out quite easily at home. We’re demonstrating on my A35, but the same process applied to a variety of BMC vehicles including A30, A35 and A40 Farina Marks I and II, Morris Minor/1000, BMC Sprite/Midget and Wolseley 1500/Riley One Point Five. How tough? You’ll need: ► Basic tool kit (including a 15/16in AF socket) ► Hammer and a ‘soft’ metal drift ► Sturdy vice Specialists: ► ESM, morrisminor spares.com ► Orinoco Bearings Ltd, orinocobearings.co.uk Will take: Will cost: Cash saved 1 Remove…