Inhaltsverzeichnis für December 2018 in Practical Classics

A Statutory Off Road Notification anomaly has come to light after reader Sean White contacted PC . After applying to have his SORN’d 1977 Ford Escort MkII 1600 Sport classed as Historic under the new DVLA rules he received the new V5 back showing the classification as Historic. He then received a letter from MID (Motor Insurance Database) saying he was about to be fined for having no insurance. ‘Once you get the V5, you must declare SORN again’ ‘The car was on SORN and had been for the past 10 years or so,’ he told PC . ‘It’s in dry storage waiting its turn for restoration.’ Sean rang the MID and was informed that it was acting on information from DVLA about taxed vehicles with no insurance. He then…

MGB: The Illustrated History £35 ISBN 978-1-787113-62-6 Beautifully illustrated, written and researched, this is a must-read for any ‘B enthusiast. Road tests meet technical info to make it a great read. veloce.co.uk Triumph Cars: The Complete Story £40 ISBN 978-1-787112-89-6 This book documents the distinguished 130-year history of the Triumph company from pedal cycles, to the first cars, and then every model up to the very end of production. veloce.co.uk Essential Buyer’s Guides £12.99 EACH Used alongside PC’s own buying guides, these are a great companion when buying a car. Additions to the range include Lotus Europa and Elan.veloce.co.uk…

SAT, NOV 3 CUMBRIA Classic car meet at the Lakeland Motor Museum, LA12 8TA (lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk). GLOS HRCR Autumn Leaves Classic Tour of the Forest of Dean (hrcr.co.uk). YORKS Rufforth Autojumble at Rufforth Park, YO23 3QH (rufforthautojumble.com) SAT-SUN, NOV 3-4 SOMERSET Classic Vehicle Restoration Show, Shepton Mallett, BA4 6QN (bristolclassiccarshows.com). S U N , NOV 4 SURREY Breakfast Club at Brooklands, KT13 0QN (brooklandsmuseum.com). SUSSEX Goodwood Breakfast Club, PO18 0PH (goodwood.com). SOUTH EAST London to Brighton veteran car run (veterancarrun.com). LINCS Transport Festival at the Lincolnshire Road Transport Museum, LN6 3QT (lvvs.org.uk). SOMERSET Haynes Museum breakfast club, BA22 7LH (haynesmotormuseum.com). SUN, NOV 11 HANTS Simply Smart at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, SO42 7ZN (beaulieu.co.uk). THU - MON, NOV 15-19 SUSSEX Rhythm Riot weekend at Pontins, Camber Sands, TN31 7RL (rhythmriot.com).…

IN THE NEWS Two enormous international news stories with a long and tragic history began as far back as 1959: the first large action of the Vietnam war takes place and the first human death we can reliably attribute to HIV / AIDS occurs in the Congo. Back home in Britain, Ernest Marples opens the first section of the M1, along with the M45 and M10 (now part of the A414). AT THE FLICKS Universal-International has its biggest success yet with a movie most of us have forgotten – Operation Petticoat . A WWII comedy set on a submarine? Tricky to pull off, unless you have Cary Grant and Tony Curtis directed by Blake Edwards. But then everything disappears under the cloud of dust left by…

1961 Austin-Healey 3000 Peter Dive has owned his Healey for more than 35 years, restoring it in the Eighties and still enjoying regular use. 1970 Triumph TR6 Andy bought the TR to drive and enjoy while the Jaguar reached the end of its resto, but now the Jag is finally on the road, the TR is enjoying some refurbishment. 1973 Ford Escort RS2000 MkI Once inspired, Steve Clare bought a proper old-school fast Ford to restore for himself. 2007 Nissan 350Z Simon Lunn bought his 350 from a fellow Nissan employee. The car has a mere 12,000 miles on it and only comes out on sunny days. A true future classic!…

Three generations of Range Rover. John Henry Almost a complete set; DAF 66 SL coupé, DAF 66 SLHC saloon and Volvo 66GL estate. John Self I had my Nissan Urvan campervan painted to match my 1966 Ford Cortina MkI. Gary Wilson Matching Panama Yellow Volvo S40s. Matty Bee Here are my two Nissan Prairies – Anniversary on the left, regular SGL model on the right. I love them! Simon Frith I have seven BMW E39 Tourings, including 528i Touring auto (photo car), 528i Touring manual (press car) and 540i Touring auto (Motor Show car). Keith Moodie…

I recently mulled over the best British car to use for a round-the-world road trip. My specification was as follows: good ground clearance; rugged and pliable suspension; minimal weight; ease of repair without specialist equipment; no non-user-serviceable electronics; 60mph cruising speed; enough grunt to overtake trucks; sensible fuel consumption; decent accommodation. The best I came up with was a Morris Minor, but I received a gush of convincing counter-suggestions. Steve White, Dave Foskew and Jeremy Dew sensibly recommended moving up the Fifties BMC ladder, respectively to the Morris Oxford Series 2 or 3, Riley One-Point-Five or Wolseley 1500 and MG Magnette ZA or ZB. They pointed out that these 1.5-litre B-Series models had all the Minor’s virtues, but with added space and comfort. Chris Wright and Peter de Jong put…

Auctions can be a great place to buy, but you must take care not to be suckered into bidding on something you have done due diligence on. And it’s an easy trap to fall into. Usually when a car is about to be hammered away so cheaply you almost feel duty-bound not to let it pass by and raise a hand. A friend was recently saved by thankfully hesitating at just such a point when the hammer went down on a mid-Seventies V8 Merc S-Class with no reserve for little over £2k. ‘Records have the Merc down as a completely different model’ And it was a tempter, with the catalogue describing Merc specialist care and a two-year resto completed in 2000. So later I fired up the laptop to see…

1981 Panther Lima MkII Price: £7000 One of the last Limas built, with 2.3-litre Vauxhall engine. Repainted a year ago and with 33,500 miles on the clock. Fresh MoT. 1976 Citroën 2CV AK4500 Price: £4250 Lacking only perhaps a plastic pig to peer out of the side window. Imported from France a year ago it comes with a long MoT. 1972 Alfa Romeo GT 1600 Junior Price: £14,900 Imported to UK in 1989. Sills and gearbox replaced, current owner 15 years. Split in driver’s seat and some paint chips. Priced to sell.…

The S3 we borrowed for a few days may be the least sought-after Spider, but that makes it better value. The dash doesn’t have the character of the earlier Spiders and the exterior isn’t as pretty, but you still get a boot that’s plenty big enough for a week’s touring – especially when combined with the space behind the two seats. The driving experience is wonderful too, because in 2.0-litre form the Alfa twin-cam has a decent spread of torque – it’s free-revving and it sounds glorious. Chuck in sweet steering and a lovely gearchange and suddenly an MGB seems slightly less appealing.…

Richard Norris of Croydon-based Classic Alfa says: ‘I’d restored a Spider and a couple of GTVs and found parts availability was very poor compared to Europe. What began as a part-time used parts business in the 1990s grew into Classic Alfa in 2003, focusing on Alfas from 1950-78 and the Spider up to 1993. We sell new and used parts by mail order worldwide. We also sell some classic Alfas – typically we have two or three restored cars at any one time. We also do our own in-house restorations of cars that we sell – we don’t restore or work on any customer cars.’ SPECIALISTS Classic Alfa, Croydon. 0208 688 4443, classicalfa.com Alfaholics, Bristol. 01275 349449, alfaholics.com Auto Alfa, Essex. 01268 724284, autoalfa.co.uk Bonello Auto Services, Newcastle. 0191 261…

Craig Cheetham I’m something of a Pied Piper for cars that are days away from the crusher… and that was the fate awaiting this month’s rescue. I’d popped out to buy a tyre for my Rover 75, and while Joe at Fisher’s of March was getting busy with his wheel wrench, I had a wander around his used car lot. There was N128 HLD, a grubby but sound-looking Punto, so I asked Joe what the deal was. It turned out that it had belonged to a young lad who’d bought a `Vauxhall Corsa off him, and that he’d left the Punto there as nobody wanted it in part-ex. The ensuing conversation went like this: ‘So what are you going to do with it?’ ‘I’m going to use up the rest…

1971 Triumph TR6 Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 104bhp@4500rpm Torque 146lb ft@2000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 10.7sec Top speed 109mph Fuel economy 25mpg Work done Passenger side sill removed; new sill panel welded onto the car; sill end caps fitted. Having successfully replaced the passenger side sill in an operation that was both unexpectedly simple and largely trouble-free ( PC , November 2018), Projects editor Matt Tomkins and I were flushed with optimism when attention turned to the driver’s side. However, as is often the case, things ended up being a bit more troublesome than we had initially hoped. Things started well enough as I got on with the laborious task of drilling out the factory spot welds tying the outer sill to the inner sill (top) and floorpan return edge (bottom).…

1 Extra shims added Camber reading was 0.2˚on the left, but 0.1˚ on the right. The solution was delightfully simple: fit more shims. 2 Removing coilover The original coilovers were tired and leaking. The bottom eye bushes had deformed, too. They all needed replacement. 3 Swap to Gaz shocks With experience of Gaz on the TR6, the same brand was the default choice for the GT6. 4 ARB drop links The TR6 tested these anti-roll bar links: new ones for the GT6 then. 5 Tracking Nigel’s using his Trackace tracking gauge. It costs £80 and claims excellent accuracy, using a laser beam reflected onto a graduated scale.…

1967 Jaguar XKE Engine 4235cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 265bhp@5400rpm Torque 283lb ft@4000rpm Gearbox 4-speed man + o/d 0-60mph 8.3sec Top speed 128mph Fuel economy 17mpg Work done Further assessment and decisions made. Information and know-how gleaned from experts at specialist Barbary Hill means that we’ve now got an better chance of bringing this beast back to life. I recently headed to E-type restoration specialist Barbary Hill to meet William Heynes, the grandson and namesake of the engine designer and chief engineer of our Series 1.5 Jaguar E-type. On arrival I came face to nose with a low mileage, one owner and unrestored 1962 Roadster. Sharp, clean, completely unmolested and still sporting the builder’s crayon marks that it came off the production line with. Barbary’s workshop is spotless and MD Scott Nicolson explains:…

1968 BMC/Wadhams Ambulance Engine 2199cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 50bhp@4000rpm Torque 50lb ft@4000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph Nope! Top speed 50mph+ Fuel economy 30mpg? Work done Fabricated new Ambulance exhaust and JLO engine mounts. Also in James’s garage 1994 MAZDA MX-5 Now a Harlequin edition. 1996 TOYOTA SUPRA Turbo is on it is way back. Previously I had established that ‘Bambi’ ran sweetly. So, I set about curing this most uncomfortable state of classic car ownership by taking the engine apart. The reason? A large amount of flaked rust visible inside the water pump aperture and the rather noticeable absence of a core plug from the rear of the block. The bores were perfect and the engine turned smoothly, so I’ve taken a chance on the bottom end, only rebuilding the cylinderhead, flushing…

Fiat’s mini-car reputation began with the original 500 – the 1936 Topolino with its 569cc four-cylinder engine. Fiat launched this engine’s successor in 1955, with the arrival of the innovative 600. The water-cooled 633cc overhead valve unit had three main bearings rather than the Topolino’s two and induction moved to the other side of the cylinderhead, but the appearance and layout was similar. It was oversquare and revvy. High-quality and generously-sized Vandervell crankshaft bearings allowed it to survive hard driving. With a block just 14in in length, it was perfect for its rear-mounted position in the 600. The engine – or its block, at least – went on to be adapted and enlarged to power the 850, then the 127, the Panda, the Uno, the Cinquecento and, finally, the Seicento…

You will need Brake pipe spanner, brake fluid, flaring tool, compressed air source, copper washers and other sundries. Reset pads Calipers are ‘self-adjusting’, but pump the pedal until it feels firm to ensure the pads are set correctly after they’ve been disturbed or replaced. Corrosion protection Coat steel brake lines and unions in underbody wax (not underseal) after fitting. Don’t forget the servo Overhaul or replace remote servos along with the rest of the hydraulic system. A ‘direct’ servo has no hydraulic parts – but make sure it works and check for air leaks. Many excuses are made for classics with terrible brakes. ‘It’s like that – it’s old’ and ‘they were all like that back in the day’ are favourites. In fact, the problem is one of decades of…

Bo’ness resonated to the sound of motorsport during the first weekend of September for the Revival Festival. It saw classic cars of all types opt to take part in either a laid-back road run or the more competitive regularity stages of the Bo’ness Saltire Trophy. Record numbers of classic fans converged on Bo’ness from all over the UK. They brought three hundred classic cars for displays from over one hundred car clubs. On the hill climb, more than one hundred racing cars threaded their way along the track. First used in 1932, the venue on the Kinneil Estate attracted the likes of Jim Clark and Sir Jackie Stewart. Motorsport ended there in 1966 but eleven years ago, a team of volunteers brought motor racing back to Bo’ness.…

The one-day-only celebrations for Lotus’ 70 birthday were bold and brilliant. The Norfolk factory gates were thrown open and 1370 Lotus cars from every era were present. The test track resounded to the yawls from a variety of racing tin –everything from Lotus Cortinas to the JP special. The event was attended by 7500 people. Group Lotus’ chief executive officer Feng Qingfeng said Hethel was ‘at the centre of the brand’ and that the company’s future would be at the site for the next 70 years. Colin Chapman would have been proud.…

E-TYPE JAGUAR This 1964 E-type roadster started life as a left-hand drive USA car, but was re-imported in the Nineties and began a long journey back to the road. GANG OF FOUR After spending nearly 30 years at Nissan, Andrew Small (second left) had made some firm friends – the kind of friends who would step in when Andy got ill to help drive his E-type project to completion. I It’s hard to accept that Andrew isn’t around any more. He was so full of enthusiasm and energy when we met earlier this year that surely the best way to hear this story is in his own words. So here’s the tale of a remarkable team effort, as told by those involved. ‘I was diagnosed with myeloma at the end…

First-car love story Looping back and tapping into the memories and nostalgia, particularly first cars and what they mean to us, is a huge part of why we love classics. For me, it is one classic in particular. It was early 1989, and I hadn’t quite passed my driving test. In my brother’s car, all but abandoned for university and so handed down, I was doing illegal laps of the surrounding villages in, what to me, was an incredibly cool two-door cherry red Chrysler Avenger – my ticket to freedom… All I needed was the girl. Tracy was smart and pretty. She had a cute smile and her eyes intrigued me. She would laugh at my anecdotes, and I’d happily take her ribbing me about the state of my ripped…

‘They don’t look like anything else!’ 1977 Triumph TR7 Matt Weckert, Sheffield I own a 1972 Rover 2000 TC, a 1976 Maxi and a 1979 Allegro 1100 and although I enjoy them all, I wanted something sportier. I’ve always liked British Leyland vehicles and having sat in a TR7 at the Classic Motor Show last year, and I decided I wanted one. I have mates into classic cars, like the Bond Bug behind me which one of my best mates owns, so there’s a useful pool of knowledge that’s really handy when seeking out classics or trying to fix them. The TR7 fits the bill for me – it’s a great car which handles like a dream. The dodgy BL reputation is unfair. They didn’t comply with the usual TR…

running gear of a 205 GTi 1.9. That fact alone explains why so many have vanished, as donors. When they do come up, prices are still in veritable bargain territory. ACA’s November sale catalogue includes an eminently usable 1991 model with decent history and a modest guide price of just £1500-£2000. It’s surely time to give these more classic recognition. The 405 SRi is the forgotten sporty Peugeot, so much so that few survive – 45 on the road or SORN. But what you get is a pretty and handy saloon with the…

1977 Official UK imports of the Spider stop, but cars continue to be imported independently. 1983 The Series 3 is introduced, with fresh bumpers, plus spoilers front and rear. 1990 Series 4 debuts and official imports resume (LHD only). S4 cars are structurally the same as Seventies models but with a heavily restyled nose and tail. The interior is spruced up and electronic fuel injection and variable valve timing. 1993 Production ends after 37 years and 124,104 cars.…

A later project might cost as little as £2000 whereas a ropey S1 could be as much as £10k; an equivalent S2 is more likely to be £5000. Panel availability is excellent, with the quality generally very high. S1 bootlids aren’t available but repair sections are; you’ll have to make your own floorpan panels for behind the seats, but this is easy enough. New parts availability is very good and prices tend to be reasonable, although trim can be costly. An engine to rebuild can be had for £1000 or a rear axle for £600-£700. Richard Norris adds: ‘Some mechanical parts are available from the OE manufacturer. An OE clutch is £170, a pattern one is only £40 less.’ If you want to restore a S1 you’ll do well to…

1950 Riley RMA Engine 1496cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 55bhp@4500rpm Torque 76lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 25sec Top speed 78mph Fuel economy 26mpg Since last report Roof gutter fitted, panels trial fitted, engine rebuild begins, brakes done. Also in Danny’s shed 1956 RILEY PATHFINDER In Theo’s shed – bodywork continues apace. 1971 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR II Engine rebuild in progress. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 I’ve dented the wing… grrr. 1983 VOLVO 340 GL Running, driving, boinging. 1987 MAZDA 626 COUPÉ GT Started for the first time in many, many months. 1997 SAAB 9000 CDE 2.3 TURBO Developed an ignition fault. 2002 VOLVO C70 2.0 T COUPÉ Very cheap; very, very good. Needs paint and tyres. Here’s the deal. Before we rebuild a car ‘live’ onstage at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the…

1970 Morris Minor Saloon Engine 1275cc/4-cyl/OHV Power Plenty Torque Unknown Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph Yes Top speed Sufficient Fuel economy 42mpg Work done Lines drawn, tea drunk, more lines drawn, more tea, measuring, tea then a lot of sparks. Oh, and the engine’s now in bits. Also in Matt’s garage 1960 MINOR CONVERTIBLE Sat on my parents’ driveway while I work on dad’s Minor. 1969 MORRIS MINOR TRAVELLER We’re heading off to the lakes soon with the trailer tent. 1972 MGB GT Is using oil in a somewhat concerning manner. In the previous issue I spoke of my plan for world domination by supercharged Morris Minor. Before getting too carried away, however, there was the little issue of rot around the rear screen. This was most concerning as the corrosion,…

The Lotus 70 celebration at Hethel was a feast for the eyes and ears. My moment of the day was the Lotus Cortina test track invasion. We took this magnificent 1936 Vauxhall Limousine into central London for an English Heritage event. Going back in time is the way forward – it was a great Danny spent a lot of late nights in the workshop this month. Here he is removing a Rover exhaust: the sparks were keeping him awake – and warm. Bicester Heritage’s biggest ever Scramble event attracted 5500 guests and some mad metal. My pick of the bunch, this daily driver Hustler. Danny attended Rally Day at Castle Combe in a Vauxhall Chevette HS as part of our tribute to the iconic model on its 40th anniversary (see…

Visit us in Hall 5 – in front of the staircase into Hall 4. The team will be there with two Triumphs: Matt’s project TR6 and the low mileage, barn find TR7. The Daimler and Lanchester OC stand will have a replica of one of 36 armoured cars built in 1915 on a Lanchester chassis, built by enthusiasts in Belgium. Try Hall 8. This is a new hall, with around 40 clubs, 15 of which are making their show debut, such as The Historic Marathon Rally Group . The Lancaster Insurance stand in Hall 1 will be a showroom with 1973 Porsche 911 2.7 Carrera RS, 1972 Fiat 595 Classic Asseto Corsa and 1965 Austin Cooper S. The Meguiars Club Showcase Competition will have an amazing line up of award…

New storage policy In the post VNUK era, Footman James has launched a restoration, storage and transit policy. It offers third party cover to a vehicle while it Is in the garage, in transit to or from a restorer, at a race preparation facility, competition or exhibition. It has cover for tools up to the value of £250 included as standard and customers will also be able to take advantage of selected FJ+ optional extras. Come for an NEC selfie Come along to the PC stand at the Classic Motor show to nominate your local club. Drop your club nomination into the ballot box on the stand and take yourself a picture as proof. Get that selfie onto your club social media page and inspire others to do the same…

Keeping a low profile LOW PROFILE DUAL-DRIVE SOCKET SET £147.34 This dual-drive socket set has 13 super-short ‡in drive sockets with a Go’thru design for fixings that conventional deep sockets can’t reach. Sizes 8mm, 9mm, 10mm, 11mm, 12mm, 13mm, 14mm, 15mm, 16mm, 17mm, 19mm, 21mm and 22mm are supplied with a ‡in drive adaptor, two ‡in drive extension bars (75 & 150mm) and a ‡in drive universal joint. Part no: 7068. lasertools.co.uk Keep cool REVOTEC ELECTRIC FAN KITS FROM £177 A new range of Revotec electric fan kits is now available from David Manners Group. These kits are suitable for a wide variety of classic cars and are a worthwhile upgrade if you’re using your classic regularly and are therefore likely to encounter the menace that is the…

The clocks may have changed but the fun isn’t over for this year – especially if you’re in the northwest of England. The Blackpool Vehicle Preservation Group will continue to hold its monthly meetings on the second Thursday of each month at Fleetwood Cricket Club (FY7 8AS). Club chairman Bill Swindlehurst says: ‘We welcome owners of any classic – cars, motorcycles, tractors and commercials. Membership at £20 per year includes entry into our three big annual shows in May, August and September.’ More information at bvpg.co.uk .…

The key partner for this year’s show is the Illinois Office of Tourism, there to promote Route 66. Edd China and Alan Titchmarsh will be presenting prizes, and it’s all free to view. The show runs from 10.30am to 4pm; more at regentstreet motorshow.com. Central London can be hell, but on November 3 it could be your type of heaven – the annual Regent Street Motor Show. Mixing the latest models with more than 100 veteran cars (the oldest is an 1893 Peugeot) there will be an array of clubs.…

‘Southport pier was once one of the longest in Europe at ’ MPVs of the past In almost every Memory Lane picture taken between 1955 and 1965 we find at least one Bedford CA, usually converted to minibus or camper specification. For large families in the days before seven-seater estates, what else was there? Ford’s Flathead family From the late Thirties, small Fords took over from the Austin Seven as our economy cars of choice. The 933cc sidevalve soon grew to 1172cc and powered little Anglias and Pops as well as longer six-light Prefects like this. The full-width 100E family kept the engine going until 1959. Pre-TR sports car The Triumph Roadster had enough charm from its three-abreast seating (plus dickey) and old English character to…

1 Our biggest fail ‘The adaptor plate for the Tremec ‘box fouled the clutch release arm,’ says Simon. ‘We had to get the slave cylinder on, then get some clearance on the release arm, but it was still dragging and we thought the clutch was sticking so we split the bellhousing from the gearbox. Then we had a eureka moment when we discovered the pushrod was touching the pedal!’ 2 The first success ‘Probably rebuilding the rear axle myself, before I got ill,’ says Andy. ‘I went through two Black and Decker Workmates, which crumbled under the weight of the axle assembly – it took two people to lift it or turn it, so it was much safer using an engine hoist.’ 3 The best bodge We tried repeatedly to…

I think 80mph is fine. The trucks still go 56mph so you can just potter along with them. Works well in Italy and France. Self driving cars are not for me… it’s like a self eating meal or buying a book of completed crosswords. Ian Ferguson A mixture of autonomous and manually controlled vehicles will never be accident-free, regardless of speed and other parameters. Julian Kuipers I think 80mph is achievable, but only if you have a guy running along in front with a red flag to alert other road users. Pawl Burt UK drivers require education on lane etiquette before 80mph will be safe on our roads. Greg Weedon Series III Land Rover on crossplies – I’ll sit in with the HGV’s at 55mph. Every other classic I’ve driven…

Our Rover 45 has turned 204,000 so counts for High Mile Club membership! So much for the Rover K-series being flaky. My wife Natalie has put about 100,000 miles on it since buying it in 2003. I've been tinkering with cars since 2001. I am self-taught and turn my hand to most things. I have restored a few cars over the years and been a PC subscriber since 2001. My collection includes: 1991 Land Rover Defender 110 (215,000 miles), 2006 Volvo S60 (190,000 miles), 1994 Jaguar XJS, 1995 Volvo 480, 1970 Rover P5B coupé and a 1977 Rover 3500S.…

A press release landed in my email inbox. As far as new cars are concerned, it said, the conventional manual handbrake will soon be dead. Just 37 per cent of new car models on sale today have an actual lever that you pull up to brake the rear wheels (in some cases the front wheels) for parking purposes. The new normal is usually a button you press to engage the parking brake and hook upwards to release it. With most of them, though, you don’t have to do anything at all. When the car is stationary and its engine is turned off, the brake automatically engages. When you want to move off, the system senses the torque build-up in the transmission and releases the brake. The system often incorporates a…

With the exception of the ZT 260 – which is already in a situation where demand exceeds supply and five-figure prices are the norm for the best examples – the rest of the Z-cars are still in bargain territory. You can get a half-decent ZR or ZS for less than a grand, but that situation won’t last forever, and both of them like to rot. The ZR is the worst, as corrosion in the rear quarters and sill trailing edges can be a killer. The ZS’s favourite grot spot, meanwhile, is where the front floorpans meet the bulkhead, which can be far worse than it seems on an otherwise immaculate-looking car, as the top half holds up surprisingly well. ZT’s are a bit more specialist, with the V6 models in…

3 SAT NOV Anglia Car Auctions’ classic sale, The Cattlemarket, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. (01553 771881, angliacarauctions.co.uk) 4 SUN NOV Charterhouse, Bath & West Showground, Shep-ton Mallet, Somerset. (01935 812277, charter-house-auction.com ) 10/11 SAT-SUN NOV Silverstone Auctions’ Classic Motor Show sale, NEC, Birmingham. (01926 691141, silverstoneauctions.com ) 24 SAT NOV Historics at Brooklands, Mercedes-Benz World, Weybridge, Surrey. (01753 639170, historics.co.uk) 24 SAT NOV Morris Leslie, Errol Airfield, Perth, Scotland. (01821 642574, morrisleslie.com) 28 WED NOV H&H Classics, The Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, Derbyshire. (01925 210035, handh.co.uk) 28 WED NOV Brightwells Modern, Classic & Vintage, Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire. (01568 611122, brightwells.com) 29 THUR NOV Dorset Vintage & Classic Auctions, Athelhampton House, Dorchester, Dorset. (01963 363353, dvca.co.uk)…

After owning my Austin 1300 for 18 months, I saw an ad on the ADO16 Club’s Facebook page for a 1966 Wolseley 1100. I fancied another project. The car had an interesting backstory, appearing in the film The Lady in the Van starring Maggie Smith, so the car is known as ‘Maggie’. My partner Tom and I travelled to Bristol one evening to have a look and I fell in love straight away! She was a steal at £350, with some spares and brochures kindly thrown in. She hadn’t been on the road in four years but after a bit of work we got her running enough to drive off the trailer. We’ve made a start on welding already, with not too much needed to get her structurally sound. In…

1966 The Spider debuts. These first Spiders (badged 1600) have a 1570cc engine and are known as Duettos. 1968 The 1750 Spider arrives, still with a boat-tail but now a 1779cc engine, alternator, brake servo and suspension tweaks. The 1290cc Spider Junior also debuts. 1970 Boat-tailed bodystyle is superseded by the Kammtailed S2, still with the 1779cc engine. Six inches shorter with a revised dashboard. Styling changes include a broader grille, revised bumpers and recessed door handles. 1971 The 2000 Spider Veloce arrives with a 1962cc engine and LSD fitted as standard.…

1971 Saab 96 V4 Engine 1498cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 65bhp@4700rpm Torque 85lb ft@2500rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 16.5sec Top speed 93mph Weight 920kg Work done New Weber carb fitted, hours of tuning and adjustment. Also in James’s garage 1997 MAZDA 323F V6 Air con regassed – just in time for winter. Doh! 1988 CITROËN CX 22TRS Battery drains itself when car left for more than a few days. Ever had that feeling that your project car simply doesn’t want to live? Every step of the restoration, every leap of progress made results in an almighty stumble backwards, where you end up flat on your bum, dazed and bewildered and wishing you’d just splashed out on a decent example in the first place. I don’t mind admitting that I have wished I hadn’t…

1972 Triumph GT6 MkIII Engine 1998cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 98bhp@5300rpm Torque 108lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual + overdrive 0-60mph 10.1sec Top speed 112mph Fuel economy 27mpg Work done GT6 front suspension improvements, major service for new BMW 323i Coupé. Also in Nigel’s garage 1970 TRIUMPH TR6 Recently passed its MoT. 1977 RELIANT SCIMITAR GTE It’s still getting plenty of use. The GT6’s front suspension has needed a bit of attention for a while. The ageing dampers were harsh and the camber of the front wheels looked ever so slightly different. Inspired by Ed Hughes’ excellent technical feature on suspension and steering geometry in a recent issue of PC , and spurred on by fitting new Gaz dampers at the back a couple of months ago, I decided to tackle the front end.…

1959 Peerless GT Engine 1991cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 110bhp@4800rpm Torque 117lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d 0-60mph 10.8sec Top speed 120mph Fuel economy 28mpg Work done Bonnet hinges, remaining wheelarch access covers, front suspension bushes. With all the distractions of summer holidays and customer car deadlines now behind me, I’ve been able to resume work on the Peerless. While consolidating storage of the considerable bits and pieces amassed over the years, I came across a box of SuperPro bushes I’d forgotten about. The driver’s side front suspension was completely overhauled with new top pivot arm, bushes and Avo adjustable dampers a few years back. Following the previous loss of storage, the passenger side was never actually refurbished. I’ve spared you most of the photos from the wheelarch, as I had a…

Remove deposits Use brake cleaner and an abrasive pad to clean discs and drums. Dry with a clean cloth. Give it a birthday We’ve outlined on page 128 the need to periodically overhaul a brake system rather than just nibble at its edges. Even an overhauled system needs keeping an eye on, though. Don’t fit and forget Disc brakes are not trouble-free: pistons, sliding elements and pads can seize, seals can soften or harden and internal corrosion can wreak havoc. Strip, inspect and replace the seals periodically. Sam Glover TECHNICAL EDITOR Sam has broken down in a gigantic variety of classics over the years, then worked out how to fix them. John Simpson MASTER MECHANIC Big John has worked at the greasy end of the motor industry since leaving school.…

You will need Multimeter, cable cutters, strippers, crimping tool, silicone spray, silicone grease. Servicing Keep the HT system clean and dry to avoid dirt and moisture build-up. Don’t believe the marketing No HT lead can make the spark fatter, or increase power or economy. The only way leads can affect running is by being knackered, incorrect or poor quality. Lead compatibility Solid core leads are fine for cars with points ignition and no complex electronics, but the plugs or caps must incorporate suitable suppressors. Carbon or wire-wound leads with built-in suppression can also be used. These must be used if the car has electronic ignition or other complex electronic systems. To get a spark to jump a 0.025in (0.65mm) plug gap in fresh air, you only need a few hundreds…

Put simply, I retired from a career in IT to follow a dream. The dream started to become a reality on May 16, 2017 when I purchased ‘Joseph’ a 1949 Fordson 7V and embarked on a journey to create a vintage mobile catering business. The 7V had actually been a catering van already… I was fascinated by its story and I traced it back to when it was sold at auction in 1990. It was restored in red and operated around Lowestoft as Mrs Miggins Pie Shoppe. It was subsequently sold at the end of 1991, then some years later ended up in the John Mould Collection in Reading. Sold as part of the John Mould auction in 1998, registered as ERX 99, it then appeared for restoration again in…

Prices in this guide are researched from several sources, including clubs, auctions, the trade and advertisements online and in print. These 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 complete rebuild, but might be driveable and MoT’d – candidates for restorations. PLEASE NOTE You cannot accurately value any car without seeing it in the flesh. Don’t buy blind. KEY  auto: automatic con: convertible lhd:…

If your club’s contact details have changed, please let us know! A  750 MOTOR CLUB 01379 741641, 750mc.co.uk AC OWNERS’ CLUB 07768 363250, acownersclub.co.uk AMERICAN AUTO CLUB (UK) 0845 644 0345, americanautoclubuk.com AMBULANCE PRESERVATION SOCIETY southambpres.wordpress.com CLASSIC AMERICAN AC (GB) 020 8286 1120, classicamericanautoclub.co.uk/ PRE -’50 CLASSIC AMERICAN 01530 831170, pre50aac.com AEC SOC aecsociety.com ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA REGISTER giulietta.com ALFA ROMEO OC aroc-uk.com ALLARD OWNERS’ CLUB allardownersclub.org ALVIS OWNER CLUB alvisoc. org ALVIS REG 01509 412289, alvisregister.co.uk ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY OC 01225 723809, siddeley.org A-SERIOUS (A-SERIES ENGINED CARS) http://aserious.freeforums.org ASSN OF OLD VEHICLE CLUBS OF N IRELAND 028 9146 7886, aovc.co.uk ASTON MARTIN OC 01865 400400, www.amoc.org AUDI 100 COUPÉ S CLUB GB 01702 461513 audi100coupes.angelfire.com AUDI OC 07788 588449 , audiclub.co.uk CLUB AUDI…