Índex per October 2017 a Practical Classics

‘We took a great leap backwards in 2017’ This is a Concorde moment. Once upon a time, travellers could sip champagne in comfort while travelling at 24 miles a minute. Years before that, mankind was dancing about on the moon and planning excursions to the outer reaches of the galaxy. There was also a time when motorists could glide across the planet on a bed of gas in vehicles that maintained a constant ride height irrespective of load, totally untroubled by broken tarmac. The hydropneumatic car was an engineering masterpiece of comfort, safety and control efficiency, unveiled to a world used to suspension made up of medieval leaf springs and old metal coils. For years, we’ve been told we want sporty cars. Even the most mundane MPV has rock-hard springs…

BX (1982) With extensive use of lightweight plastics for improved performance and economy, more than two-million Gandini-styled BXs were sold until 1993. XM (1989) By adding computer tech to the mix, the enormous XM could not only ride like a limo, but it could bother many a sports saloon in the bends, too. Xantia Activa (1994) Just about the fastest four seater car ever, the handsome Q-car Activa had fully active suspension and breathtaking cornering ability. C6 (2005) French presidents Chirac and Sarkozy refused to be driven in anything else . Luxurious and roomy, it had ingenious tech and was super-fast, too. C5 (2008) Following the Mk1 C5 (2001) the Germanic ‘X7’ was the final hydro model. Despite being well-liked by the press, UK sales dipped to 237 in the…

Fantasy drives We’re offering you the chance to get behind the wheel of an array of classics - from supercars to movie classics - by bagging a £250 Red Letter Day voucher. Win, and you could be driving Starsky and Hutch’s Torino, KITT from Knight Rider, the A-Team van or Lightning McQueen. Click flcomps.co.uk/experience. New look for Minor website The Morris Minor Centre is launching its new website, which makes finding everything you need to service, restore and upgrade your Minor easier than ever. It uses exploded diagrams of their traditional catalogue, and is full of good advice. morrisminor.org.uk Round Britain by Morris Cowley Morris Register member Andy McKay is currently driving his 1927 Morris Cowley on a 3000-mile journey from Carlisle to Land’s End, then returning via John o’Groats…

Hundreds of stunning Swedes swarmed into Hatton Country World in Warwickshire. There were early two-stroke models and rare Sonetts right up to the stunning 2010 9-5 models – among the last to leave the factory. My V4 went along on the back of a trailer (it doesn’t work yet) and a frenzy of helpful advice ensued as enthusiasts delivered their verdict. I was given answers to questions I hadn’t even asked – but it meant leaving armed with loads of handy tips. Hats off to the volunteers, traders and owners who made SaabFest truly memorable.…

We love finding new (old) cars and in the Midget and Sprite Club’s Mascot magazine recently had a corker – a fixed-head MG Midget. Current owner Per Roxlin relates the story: ‘The car was commissioned by Bosse Elmhorn, Competition Manager of BMC Sweden. The Midget GT was based on a 1962 car that left the Abingdon factory with aluminium rear panels and doors while the fastback was handmade by a Swedish panel specialist. The engine was taken from a Cooper T59. The car didn’t prove very competitive but it did raise the Midget’s profile and sales increased.’ The car is still raced and it has its own website at mgmidgetgt.se…

Silver Swede machine ‘A beige 126 managing to make a Metro look wide’ This was the year that Saab 900s underwent their most significant facelift, swapping the blunt, nose of the early cars for a sloping snout and integrated bumpers. Were the nearby Volvo owners jealous of this sexier Scandinavian model? Bluebirds over… … the brown cliffs of Wearside. The Nissan plant at Sunderland opened in 1986 but this Bluebird estate was still made in Japan (we think). The the white five-door above it is a Mazda 626, built in Hiroshima and now all but disappeared. No joke By 1987, Skoda jokes were in full swing, and while the Estelle’s engineering was from an earlier age, it was fun to drive, characterful and easy to fix. Was it any…

ENCOURAGING YOUNGER DRIVERS I am keen to attract newer loan cars for younger enthusiasts. I had expected some offers after the piece in Juy’s PC, so maybe people need to be reassured on potential risks. We have worked hard to set up an agreement, fair to both parties, and have a vetting scheme to select appropriate young drivers. I did trawl club officers at the Old Ford Rally. We will see if any dip their toes. A Capri or Cortina MkII would be just the sort of cars to put up for prospective younger drivers. We also had the Model A loan car on display. Model A fan Richard Gordon-Colebrook, aged 26, has used the car and he and its owner have accepted an offer from Peter James Stewart Miller…

My dad had an F-reg Sapphire and briefly had a Cavalier as a company car but didn’t like the gearbox. I helped him to replace the Sapphire’s CVH when I was about 11. It rusted away and was replaced with a K-reg Sapphire. Fine cars! Daniel Clarke I loved my old MG Montego, It only ever let me down once, blowing the radiator in Bristol at 3am. A friend had a Sierra, and it always surprised me how small its glass area was compared to the Montego – it was almost like looking out of a tank slot. Rob Copson My dad had a Passat 1.8 GT with the Golf GTI engine, full factory bodykit, spoiler and alloys. It went like a scalded cat! People may not know that that…

1968 Sunbeam Alpine Jerome Senn, Brent Cross, London I love this car… it is a bit of an animal but a tame one. I fitted it with a Ford Zetec engine and a Type 9 five-speed gearbox, which means it is fast, reliable and frugal. Not everyone’s cup of tea but it gives the car longevity. 1980 Lotus Elite Dan Rubenstein, Muswell Hill, London I’ve had my Lotus for five years and still get a kick out of it, despite the obvious issues owning a classic Lotus in London. Still, I reckon it it is the coolest car on the roads where I live. 1992 Volkswagen Golf M1 Rivage John Devine, Barnet, London I have had one of these before so I was aware of how good they are. They’re…

2 JUL 2014 Coming together Bulkhead repaired, shell straight and front end coming along. Self-tapping screws out, welds are in. 3 AUG 2014 Cornering well Full steam ahead now as Colin cuts out the rot and welds in repair sections in tricky corners. 4 NOV 2014 Upside down The 500 gets inverted and is about to sit on some bolted-on fence posts, ready for the underside’s welding. 5 NOV 2014 Fun for all the family Having learnt how to weld, young Nathan gets to work straight away, welding in the replacement floor sections. Well done young man! 6 DEC 2015 Time for the top coats Over a year later, after much final metalwork and preparation, the body gets its lustrous coats of Fifties-look pale blue at the Kremer bodyshop.…

Richard Buckminster Fuller was a ‘design scientist’ who intentionally worked at least half a century ahead of his time. He viewed technology as a means of ‘making the world work for everybody’. As well as being a convincing orator, he was an able engineer and mathematician – which gave him an improbable ability to translate far-fetched ideas into reality. Fuller envisaged a ‘one-town world’ covered in self-sufficient and energy-efficient housing stacks. For this to work, people would need high-speed transportation to get around. Enter the Dymaxion. The concept began in the Twenties as flying machine that was also capable of driving on land (or ‘prolonged taxiing’ as Fuller put it). It was to be propelled by jet engines that swivelled for vertical take-offs. Sadly, these were yet to be invented.…

1. Fit an LPG conversion kit Cost from: £220 Difficulty: 3/5 Have you got gas? Why not? If you’ve got a bonnet long enough to make your polishing arm ache, it may be sheltering an engine with a serious drink problem. A DIY kit for a carburettor engine is cheap at about £130 and tanks cost from around £50 for a doughnut and £40 will buy a fitting kit. It won’t only provide cheaper motoring, it’ll benefit your engine, and it’s as kind to polar bears as a fresh herring and a tickle under the chin. 2. Invest in even more ratios Cost From: £1000 Difficulty: 4/5 Does your classic approach valve-bounce when keeping up with milk floats? If so, an overdrive or five-speed gearbox will not only reduce engine…

1978 was far from the end of the Victor story as the rights were acquired by Hindustan Motors. Contessa production commenced in 1984 but under the Transcontinental bonnet was the B-series engine and four-speed gearbox from the venerable Ambassador. ‘Sheer poetry in motion’ claimed the adverts but although your new Contessa may have looked ‘like a dream’ the top speed was less than impressive 75 mph. The price placed it firmly in the government minister/ high commissioner/ business executive market sector where virtually its only rival was the commercially disastrous Standard 2000 SD1. By late 1988 the BMC running gear was finally replaced by an Isuzu 1.8-litre engine and the facelifted Contessa Classic 1.8GL was also fitted with a five-speed gearbox. Eight years later a 2-litre diesel powered version was…

S AT SEP 9 Bonhams’ Goodwood Revival sale, Goodwood Circuit, near Chichester, West Sussex (020 7468 5801, bonhams.com/cars) SUN SEP 10 Essex Classic Car Auctions, Crowne Plaza Resort, Tolleshunt Knight (01702 416153, essex classiccarauctions.co.uk) WED SEP 13 S AT SEP 16 Barons Auctions’ Jaguar Heritage sale, Kempton Park, Surrey (023 8066 8413, barons-auctions.com) S AT SEP 23 Historics at Brooklands, Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey (01753 639170, historics.co.uk) S AT SEP 23 Classic Car Auctions, Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Leamington Spa, Warks (01926 640888, classiccarauctions.co.uk) WED SEP 27 Brightwells’s Classic and Vintage sale, Easters Court, Leominster, Herfordshire (01568 611122, brightwells.com) THURS OCT 19 Brightwells’s Modern Classics sale, Easters Court, Leominster, Herfordshire (01568 611122, brightwells.com) Charterhouse Auctions, Royal Bath & West Showground, Somerset (01935 812277, charter house-auction.com)…

I had a quick look on eBay for Capris. As luck would have it there was a black 2.8i with no bumpers, so I put in a cheeky bid without seeing it. Madness, but my bid of £800 was sufficient to call it mine and I promptly went to collect it in the dark. The previous owner had replaced the injection system with a Weber carburettor. He was also half-way through ‘smoothing’ the bodywork. It took all of two days for the gearbox to eat itself. A few months later the diff seized, taking fifth gear with it, meaning a second gearbox swap – along with an entire rear axle as it was easier to source the complete unit. The car is now SORN awaiting an engine swap. I got…

1988 Citroën CX 22 TRS Engine 2165cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 113bhp@5600rpm Torque 137lb ft@5600rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 10.6 sec Top speed 116mph Fuel economy 39mpg Work done Chicken soup drained. Also in James’s garage 1971 CITROËN DS Delighting both onlookers and driver alike. 1972 SAAB 96 V4 Brakes rebuilt, parts gathered and ready for installation. 1980 CITROËN DYANE 6 Off to visit its French birthplace soon. 2003 CITROËN C5 Comfy and cheap daily driver. ‘I now have family photos of the CX to go in the extensive history file’ Our love for the car would be nothing without the involvement of other humans. From the designer to the new car buyer who originally drove your classic out of the showroom… to the successive owners, mechanics and restorers responsible for its survival…

1992 Mini City E Engine 998cc/4-cyl/ OHV Power 40bhp@5000rpm Torque 50lb ft@2500rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 17.9sec Top speed 80mph Fuel economy 49mpg Work done Assessed; plan formed; got it running; parts list drawn up. Also in Matt’s garage 1969 MORRIS MINOR TRAVELLER Enjoying caravanning duties. The caravan is very small, however. 1970 MORRIS MINOR SALOON Slightly sidelined while work continues on all the other Morris and Mini projects. Mr Bean’s bright green Mini is as iconic a television prop as Arkwright’s till or the Doctor’s big blue box. My red Mini City E used to belong to none other than Rowan Atkinson’s son. He owned it while at school and sold it to a friend of PC contributor James Jefferson after it failed its MoT in February 2007. Skip…

1967 Lancia Flavia Zagato Sport Engine 1800cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 101bhp@5200rpm Work done Headlining made and fitted. Before I had the luxury of time devoted to the Peerless, I’d been heavily embroiled with making and fitting a headlining for a customer’s Lancia Flavia Zagato, a long-termer in my workshop. The colour was originally black, as I’d discovered when removing the old material from under the glass seals where UV hadn’t faded it. To match the dark blue paint, 100 per cent wool headlining cloth – in a blue so dark most would believe it black – was purchased from Woolies Trim. Using the old cloth and a huge cardboard template, I recreated the shape using oversize dimensions for safe measure. Two pieces of wool were then sewn together to create a size…

1991 ZAZ 1102 ‘Tavria’ Engine 1091cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 53bhp@5500rpm Torque 60lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 16.0sec Top speed 90mph Fuel economy 40mpg Work done New clutch fitted, revised throttle linkage Also in Ed’s garage 1972 MOSKVICH 427 A joy to drive. Not sure why… 1994 LADA 2105 Much-used winter car now having well-earned rest. You’ve already read how I came by my Tavria and learned a little about its history and design. Now for an update. How did my lacklustre rarity redeem itself ? The answer is that it did so in many small stages – until it was suddenly a noticeably good drive . Quite startlingly so. Process of attrition Initial impressions of it were originally characterised by an underpowered engine, terrifyingly rampant understeer and a tendency to…

You will need Welding shield and gauntlets, MIG welding set, welding wire and contact tips, gas and regulator, degreaser and cloths. Stud/bearing extraction Weld a nut to the top of a broken stud or bolt to unscrew it. The welding heat will further aid extraction. If a bearing track is difficult to remove, run a bead of weld around the inside. Watch your lead Always keep the torch lead as straight and kink-free as possible when in use. Handy products Anti-spatter spray will prevent most spatter from adhering. Torch dip will allow spatter build-up to be tapped out easily. The MIG welding process has never been so cheap or accessible. If you fancy buying a welding set at four o’clock on a Sunday afternoon, you can – and it’ll cost…

I bought my Lotus Elise in December 2001. The London Lotus Centre/HR Owen in St Albans had this one coming in as a part exchange with around 11,000 miles on it. I had it at an advantageous price ‘as was’ without a fresh service and valet. That it was yellow was the main thing for me. I already had a 1983 Turbo Esprit that I love, but it’s not a car for everyday use. So I acquired a second Lotus. I’ve kept her pretty standard apart from a stainless exhaust and Elise S2 shocks that improve the handling. In the 16 years and 238,000 miles I’ve owned her she’s been looked after by Elise guru Simon Scott-Russell and her longevity is very much down to his care and a certain…

 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.…

‘We got to experience F1 stardom for ourselves’ My heart was pounding, mouth dry and a constant tingle of excitement was running through me. My mind was going over and over the few simple things that I really couldn’t mess up for the 28 Triumph TRs behind me and the millions of fans watching around the world. We were about to drive F1 superstars around Silverstone to officially open the 2017 British Grand Prix! The meetings, negotiations, paperwork and nights stuffing passes into envelopes were suddenly forgotten. Along with everyone else I was savouring every second of it. I realise it is a cliché to talk about an atmosphere being electric, but right then, the enormity of this event was inescapable. As we formed up on white lines that would…

Ever wondered where the heroes of your favourite marque lived? Members of the Rover P5 Club did, and organised a pilgrimage in August to visit three key sites in Rover history. Grandest was the house of Rover Chairman Spencer Bernau Wilks, near Monks Kirby in Warwickshire. Set in 12 acres, the property was owned by the Rover Company and is now a convent. It is the location where early scale models of the 3-litre P5 were photographed, with the house providing an aristocratic backdrop. Having steered the company to success since the Thirties, SB Wilks oversaw the innovative P5 project from its beginnings in the early Fifties. The P5 Club then went to Leamington Spa and nearby Blackdown House, which belonged to Wilks’ younger brother Maurice. Rover’s then technical chief…

Urban Outlaw: Dirt Don’t Slow You Down £20 (RRP) ISBN 978-0-59307784-9 This book is both an ode to the Porsche 911 and inspiration for living life to its fullest. Famous for his ‘Outlaw’ 911s, Magnus Walker is a man brave enough to follow his very own unique path. MG Wolseley Cars 1948 to 1975 £12.99 ISBN 978-1-787110-78-6 Every Wolseley model produced between 1948 and 1975 is photographed and described in this little book. Snapped mainly at shows, there’s a great selection of cars here. MT veloce.co.uk Diecast Toy Cars of the 1950s & 1960s & Tinplate Toy Cars of the 1950s & 1960s from Japan £19.99 ISBN 978-1-787111-17-2 and 978-1-787111-20-2 It’s time to reminisce with these two books. It’s not only full-size cars that have moved on since your childhood.…

A must-do classic car event that’s just been added to our list is the Firle Hill Climb Revival, which takes place in East Sussex on September 17. Organiser Rob Bryant tells us: ‘There used to be a competitive hillclimb at Firle until 1967. In 2015 the Bo Peep Drivers Club was set up to revive it on a non-competitive basis, with all manner of machinery taking part.’ The course car, said to be the last Talbot Alpine Minx on UK roads, will be auctioned for charity. bopeep driversclub.com…

IN THE NEWS Terry Waite is kidapped in Lebanon and would remain a hostage until 1991. There’s also the loss of the Herald of Free Enterprise, the Great Storm of October 15-16 and the Enniskillen bombing. Black Monday sees share prices crash and there’s a terrible fire at King’s Cross tube station, killing 31. IN THE CHARTS Steve ‘Silk’ Hurley’s Jack Your Body is the first House record to hit number 1 in the UK, and M/A/R/R/S give us Pump up the Volume soon afterwards. But the charts are filling with Stock Aitken Waterman… Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up , Bananarama’s Love in the First Degree and Mel & Kim’s Respectable…

I’ve owned a Reliant Regal, Robin, and Rialto. They were brilliant little cars and didn’t roll over at all. Les Hudson Never been in or driven one, but I respect their longevity despite Clarkson’s moronic jibes. Jim Munro I passed one on the M42. He was sat at 70mph with a huge smile. That was a man living life to the full. It was an old R-plate, too. Lee Jordan I worked in a garage and was cleaning the pit out when another mechanic drove a Robin straight into it. Lucky escape! Carl Shotton My first car was a Reliant. Many happy memories and I still miss that car. Rob Wesselink I had a beige 1976. My daily drive was an MG Montego but the Reliant was more reliable! Then…

Morris Half-Ton Pick Up It’s great to see so many British classics still clinging on for dear life in Cyprus. This Morris half-ton pickup has been in the wars, bashed in and stripped for lights and glass. Austin Cambridge Estate Phil Conner (and wife) win Rust In Peace this month with this selection of cars in their final resting places in Cyprus, with spectacular views looking down to the coastline to Ayia Napa. This Austin Cambridge estate looks to have had new doors at some point SWB and LWB Land Rovers A selection of early Land Rovers, some ex-military. The others ended their lives being used as transport involving water sports. This long wheelbase model was previously owned by a local diving school. Ford Prefect 100E…

1. Suspension upgrades I fitted Koni dampers all round to my Triumph some years ago and have not looked back since. Adjustable for both bump and rebound, they have allowed me to perfect the 2000’s suspension setup with fast road work and long-distance touring in mind. Yes, they were more expensive than standard dampers… but the difference in perfomance is impressive. One of the best modifications I have made so far. 2. Uprated driveshafts IRS-equipped Triumphs are known for the infamous ‘Triumph Twitch’ that occurs when the splines on the driveshafts wear, then ‘lock up’ when you are putting the power down. I addressed this with a set of new GKN Rilsan-coated driveshafts and, wow, what a difference! No more clonking when taking up drive and no more twitching when…

‘Obviously the queue for the car hadn’t gone round the block’ Here’s an illuminating guide to dealer asking prices, which I’ve often heard quoted in terms of, ‘Well, that’s what you’ve got to pay these days.’ I’m not for a moment saying that dealers shouldn’t earn a decent living, or that all play this kind of mega-inflationary game. But some do. I drove a Datsun 240Z for a feature last year. It was a nice car, with a really interesting history that you might expect to pay a small premium for. But there are limits, and I found it hard to maintain my poker face when told it was up for £40,000. Fast-forward (yes, I still have cassette players in two of my cars) around six months and I spot…

1100/ 1300 Values are stirring right across BMC’s ADO16 car range, inevitably led by the prettier and slightly nippier MG versions. You can’t keep a good badge down, though I predict the Riley version will win in the end. Jaguar 3.5-litre/MkV Jaguar’s pre-war hangovers – all long bonnets and separate wings – enjoyed a bit of a surge at the start of this year. This is more in the way of an ‘adjustment’ , but they are still worth a lot more than they were two years ago.…

1961 Ford Popular 100E Price: £3195 Much-admired car, standard apart from tri-spoke headlights and its negative earth conversion. Painted underneath last year. 1976 BMW 1502 Price: £9495 Original, unrestored 34,000-mile car that was recommissioned in 2015 after 21 years in dry storage. Just not being used enough. 1961 Standard Vanguard Vignale estate Price: £12,750 Very rare car in extremely good condition. Rebuilt engine upgraded to 2138cc. Carried Sir Stirling Moss at Goodwood Revival.…

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 Work since last report Engine rebuild progress; panels prepared and painted; bodywork in hand. In Danny’s shed 1956 RILEY PATHFINDER Welding continues on nearside. Lots of it. 1970 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR About to visit PALE Classics for final fit up. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Running, driving, enjoying. It’s awesome. 1987 MAZDA 626 GT COUPÉ Awaits revival. Still can’t find a sunroof. 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE ORVIS Big, silly, thirsty and brilliant. Now with new brakes all round. ‘I want to know the beast that powers me through this pleasant land’ My resident Riley RMA ‘CFM’ is kept well away from the PC workshop and is my escape from the world project.…

Bodywork specialist John Griffiths did a beautiful job in restoring the panels of my DS this year. With patience, he took me through each stage of the painting process, teaching me about numerous techniques as he went. I was enthralled, intrigued and bewildered all at once. With his decades of experience, he made this notoriously challenging side of car restoration look effortless. John died last month after a short illness. His good humour and warmth – not to mention extraordinary professional expertise and craftsmanship – will be missed by his family and wealth of friends. With every admiring glance my DS gets, John’s smile will be forever beaming back in the Citroën’s gleaming paintwork.…

Oil well New breather means EP90 stays in the gearbox rather than on the floor. 1970 Triumph TR6 Engine 2498cc/inline 6/OHV Power 150bhp@5500rpm Torque 164lb ft@3500rpm Gearbox 4-speed man + o/d 0-60mph 8.2sec Top speed 119mph Fuel economy 28mpg Work done Finishing off jobs around the TR6 gearbox; they turned out to be bigger than expected. GT6 body repairs completed – it’s now ready for paint. Also in Nigel’s garage 1977 RELIANT SCIMITAR GTE The Scimitar is my daily driver at the moment. It’s smooth, comfortable and eats the miles easily. In my previous Staff Car Saga, I described how the TR6 was suffering from a flickering speedo needle and a rattling exhaust system. The diagnosis was a sticky speedo cable and a broken exhaust bracket that mounts from the…

Bendy! Making his own rack was a satisfying job for Paul and he’s chuffed with the result. 1959 Lotus Seven Series One Engine 948cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 37bhp@4800rpm Torque 50lb/ft@2000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 14.3sec Top speed 85mph Fuel economy Unknown Work done Spare wheel rack and throttle Also in Paul’s garage 1964 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA Will be exhumed one day. There are few things more satisfying than starting out with some bits of steel and ending up with a part for your car. There are also few things more time-consuming than amateur metal fabrication – measure twice, cut once, trial-fit, realise you still didn’t get it right, measure again, cut again, weld it back together, trial fit again, throw in scrap bin in fit of rage, start again with the measuring –…

You will need Circlip pliers, brake fluid, methylated spirits, cleaning equipment. Use good fluid Refill the braking system with brand new fluid from a sealed container. Bleeding help A pressure or vacuum bleeder makes solitary bleeding much easier. As a general rule, start at the nipple furthest from the master cylinder and work towards it. Check your manual, though – some cars have specific bleeding procedures. Clearance When refitting the cylinder, make sure there’s a little clearance between it and the pedal pushrod. It’s essential that the piston rests against its stop at the top of the bore. You’ll inevitably need to change your brake master cylinder seals from time-to-time. They should be renewed on a periodic basis in normal use. Change them as a matter of course if your…

If your club’s contact details have changed, please let us know! A  750 MOTOR CLUB 01379 741641 AC OWNERS’ CLUB 07768 363250 AMERICAN AUTO CLUB (UK) 0845 644 0345 www.americanautoclubuk.com AMBULANCE PRESERVATION SOCIETY www.southambpres.org.uk CLASSIC AMERICAN AC (GB) 020 8286 1120 PRE -’50 CLASSIC AMERICAN 01530 831170 AEC SOC yellowayreliance@hotmail.com ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA REGISTER www.giulietta.com ALFA ROMEO OC www.aroc-uk.com ALLARD OWNERS’ CLUB David Moseley, 19 Bramham Gardens, London SW5 0JE ALVIS OWNER CLUB www.alvisoc. org ALVIS REG 01509 412289, www.alvisregister.com ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY OC 0121 459 0742, www.siddeley.com, www.siddeley.net A-SERIOUS (A-SERIES ENGINED CARS) http://aserious.freeforums.org ASSN OF OLD VEHICLE CLUBS OF N IRELAND 028 9146 7886, www.aovc.co.uk ASTON MARTIN OC 01865 400400 AUDI 100 COUPÉ S CLUB GB 01702 461513 AUDI OC 07788 588449 , www.audiclub.co.uk CLUB…

15-6H (1954) Fitted with full hydropneumatic suspension to the rear, this last-of-the-line Traction Avant model was a test-bed vehicle for the DS of 1955. DS (1955) Lightweight panels hung on a monocoque structure, FWD and ‘intelligent’ suspension with featherlight steering, clutch, gearchange and brakes. GS/A (1970) In a world of cart sprung family cars, GS/A offered aerodynamics, disc brakes all-round and smooth flat-four air cooled power. Produced until 1986. SM (1970) Citroën snapped up Maserati in 1968 and this was the result. Peugeot took over and killed it in ‘75, Citroën going bankrupt having overspent on tech. CX (1974) Developed entirely in the wind tunnel, the CX combined FWD and transverse engine with groundbreaking ergonomic dash and speed sensitive steering.…

CAN YOU FIX IT? SHOULD YOU?  Be wary of roadside repairs, warns Paul Boulton of the Claymills Classic Car Club, after the RAC refused to recover a member’s Allegro as he’d tried to diagnose and repair the car himself. Check the policy small print. MORE LONDON RESTRICTIONS  The Fair Deal For The Motorist campaign is warning that the London Mayor’s Transport Strategy poses a risk of draconian measures. These include road, parking and environmental restrictions and extending the Congestion Charge. See cantpaywontpay.london ASBESTOS ISSUES DOWN UNDER  The Border Force of Australia has warned car dealers that importers need to obtain sufficient information about past or present asbestos content in cars, parts or components prior to shipment. REACH regulations cover this issue in the UK.…

Mikey Coman has left Leeds College’s resto course to develop his restoration firm Gilbert-Michaelson. 1350 Japanese cars attended the Simply Japanese event at Beaulieu on Sunday 30 July – an all-time high. A Daimler V8 once owned by the Queen has sold for £43,700. It has got just 15,400 miles on the clock. Team PC went to BMC/BL Day at Ferry Meadows and had a great day among Brit classics from all eras. Over 50 staff from the Jaguar XJ220 production facility were reunited again at Don Law Racing.…

Future Classics Auction giant British Car Auctions hosted its first ‘Future Classic’ auction, at its Nottingham site on August 26. Over 100 vehicles were consigned, including a Bentley Arnage, Mazda MX-5, two Minis and a Ferrari Mondial. BCA claims that the cars represent a cross-section of those that will gain classic status in years to come. Classic Lodges Prize Winner Julia Threlfall-Dayus is the lucky winner of the PC/Classic Lodges competition. Julia’s prize is a two-night stay at a Classic Lodges hotel of her choice. Richard Smith (left) from Classic Lodges came to PC HQ to draw out the winner. classiclodges.co.uk MGF Headlights XPart, unsung heroes of the MG Rover parts world, has announced that OE MGF headlights are now available again. They’ve been reverse-engineered from the originals (all tooling…

Two years ago New Forest dealer Ivor Bleaney celebrated 50 years in business with a classic car gathering at the Sir Walter Tyrrell pub in Lyndhurst (SO43 7HD). It was so popular that the day was re-run last year and 300 cars turned up. This year Ivor plans an even bigger turnout. He says: ‘From 12 noon onwards there will be a free BBQ and drink for all who bring a classic car, motorbike or scooter and produce a voucher. Get in touch via ivorbleaney@msn. com  or 01794 390895 and we will send you a voucher for free.’…

WED SEP 6 NORTHANTS Earls Barton Classic Car and Bike Meet at Whites Nurseries, NN6 0EP (classiccarmeet.co.uk). THUR SEP 7 WARKS Kineton Sports & Social Club Classic Gathering, CV35 0DF (01926 642474). WED-SUN SEP 6-11 CUMBRIA National Microcar Rally at Grasmere Sports Showground, LA22 9SL (national-microcar-rally.co.uknationalmicrocar-rally.co.uk). FRI-SUN SEP 8-10 SUSSEX Goodwood Revival (goodwood.com). SAT SEP 9 HEREFS Autojumble at the Livestock Centre, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7QQ (tinyurl.com/js7nqos). SAT-SUN SEP 9-10 ESSEX Heritage Weekend at the Museum of Power, CM9 6QA (museumofpower.org.ukmuseumofpower.org.uk). SUN SEP 10 LANCS Blackpool Vehicle Preservation Group Classic Vehicle Show, South Promenade, Lytham St Annes (bvpg.co.uk). CAMBS Triumph and Classics Day at Imperial War Museum, Duxford, CB22 4QR (tssc.org.uk). SOMERSET Haynes Breakfast Club, Haynes Museum, BA22 7LH (haynesmotormuseum.com). KENT Classic Car Show at Aylesford Priory, ME20 7BX (kentsclassiccarshow.co.ukkentsclassiccarshow.co.uk). SAT…

OWNER PROFILE Sean Kell runs a company that makes animal feed. After a teenage fling with a Nova Sport, he’s returned to the model in a big way almost 20 years on, which led to the build of this high-speed concours champion. RESTORER PROFILE Lee Valentine is as skilled under the bonnet as he was behind the wheel during a highly successful competition career in autotesting. His garage business in Heaton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, distracts him from a growing collection of Novas. It starts as a familiar story. Lad buys car, lad loves car but lad eventually sells car as he grows up and gets something newer and more sensible. Then, when the lad has become a man with a bit of time and money to spare, he hunts out another car…

A freshly repainted Triumph 1300! John Heyward In my shed there is a Holden HD ute and a Vauxhall Viva HA Robert Christie I’m working on my ‘fleet’ of three Alpine A310 V6s plus a Renault 5 Alpine Coupé. Dave Bishop My Riley – which I fell in love with in Vancouver in 1964. She was sitting behind a garage, she’d been T-boned and left to rot. It started my love for British cars of that period. I went on to MGTCs and a Morgan but never managed to better one of these gorgeous creatures. A perfectly proportioned car. Claude Fetridge We are working on our Triang E-type! Rob Baker If I’m honest I have far too much in my shed, and the other shed, oh, and the garage (oops).…

‘Both cars are easy to service, brilliant fun and cheap to run’ 1993 Honda Civic CRX ESI, 1997 Honda CRX del sol Transtop Pete Naylor, Shropshire I always wanted a drop-top, but with a limited budget and only two seats this was not possible with a family. Then my son David bought a Honda Civic ESI. It had stood for two years unused. The front driver’s side wing, headlamp and indicator were damaged, the back box was unserviceable, the brakes seized and battery dead. David found the parts on eBay and we soon had it on the road. He used the car for a number of years, but a new job with a car and marriage meant it was not required. So, I took it on. The power-assisted steering, light…

‘‘What is clear is that a premium badge is still no guarantee of extra longevity’ I took part in a photoshoot at Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground recently, which, as well as having an excellent track, is also home to a giant Manheim car auction. We love our classic cars; to us each one is special, and has a story to tell. But there is nothing like a sea of moderns, none older than three years, to kill that cosy relationship. Here, cars are commodities, nothing more. Of course, every mainstream classic car has gone through a similar commodity phase, when no longer brand new but still having a high value to the motor trade. Then, over the years, the value drops and most cars go into gradual decline, eventually to meet…

Unless you’re into the self-flagellation of unerring originality, it’s good to upgrade your classic to elevate its driveability, improve safety and ensure its reliability. Non-ironic furry dice and marque-specific cushions smothering the parcel shelf are fairly innocuous but some upgrades can turn out to be time-consuming, expensive downgrades. Like attaching a whale-tail to your Viva HA’s boot with the adhesive of over-optimism. Or replacing your Oxford’s coolant hoses with silicone in Playmobil hues. It’s easy to become entangled with the seedy underbelly of accessory-porn after being beguiled by glossy catalogues… before you know where you are, you’ve got a four-point harness in yellow, gauges in blue, and a bank balance in red. The basic requirement of any upgrade is to make your classic car more reliable and driveable, thus increasing…

‘The Envoy: the British car designed and built for Canadians’ On February 7, 1957, a specially invited audience of 2000 Vauxhall dealers from 26 countries were treated to a spectacular musical presentation at the Gaumont State Theatre in Kilburn. The event, hosted by Arthur Askey and the lovely Sabrina, was held to launch a new Vauxhall, one that would replace the E-Series Wyvern and eventually come to define an entire sector of the market. And we could think of few better ways of celebrating the 60th birthday of one of the most important post-war British cars than gathering eight members of the Victor family at Vauxhall Heritage and Luton Hoo, the venue for so many famous press launches for cars proudly bearing the Griffin badge. 1960 Envoy Custom sedan The…

1958 P5 is announced, powered by a 3.0-litre straight six engine and fitted with drum brakes all round. 1961 The MkIA gets quarterlights and stainless wheel trims. 1962 The MkIIA brings a Weslake-designed cylinder head giving 121bhp, lower suspension and a shorter gearstick. The Coupé is introduced. 1963 The MkIIB goes on sale. The Coupé remains unchanged, while the saloon has a raised steering ratio to make it less heavy. 1964 The MkIIC brings power steering and two-speed wipers as standard.…

1972 Triumph 2000 Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 135bhp (est) Torque Sufficient Gearbox 4-speed man + O/D 0-60mph Unknown Top speed 112mph Fuel economy 28mpg Work done Serviced the car post-Scotland and pre-Europe. Also in Matt’s garage 1971 VW KARMANN GHIA Great fun for summer cruising… but still for sale. 1997 BMW 318IS Continues to rack up the miles without complaint. Scotland is a wonderful place to visit for many reasons, with great driving roads that snake their way between breathtaking scenery being just one of them. So it was with a great deal of excitement that my partner and I hit the road at the end of July. Our first destination was the capital city of Edinburgh, one of my favourite cities. We decided to overnight in Yorkshire to break up…

1959 Peerless GT Engine 1998cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 100bhp@4800rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d Torque 117lb ft@5600rpm Top speed 120mph 0-60mph 10.8sec Fuel economy 28mpg Work done Peerless fuel and ignition system fitted. Engine not starting yet though. Also in Gary’s garage 1980 SAAB 99 TURBO Ex-Saab press car in need of complete restoration. Regular readers will recall that I set myself the vague deadline of having the Peerless GT running by the summer. Spurred on by the imminent start of the kids’ school holidays, I thought it time to attempt the initial start-up of the Triumph TR3/4 engine. The special variable-timing distributor I had been promised hadn’t materialised, so instead I chose a new repro 25D4 distributor from my spares haul. I can’t recall who supplied this, some six years ago,…

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. Theodore J Gillam TECHNICAL EXPERT Theo teaches automotive engineering and makes amazing things in his shed. Ed Hughes WORKSHOP GENIUS Ed singlehandedly keeps a fleet of obscure classics on the road. He’s never owned a modern car. Kim Henson CLASSIC CAR GURU Kim’s been restoring classics for over four decades. BMC vehicles are his speciality. Nigel Clark DIY RESTORER Nigel’s driveway achievements rival those of professional mechanics. He’s our resident Triumph expert. DIFFICULTY LEVELS One to two spanners An easy job that’s well within the reach of…

Parts and support Spares and service items can still be readily obtained from motor factors and Rover specialists. Prices are extremely reasonable. You will need Jack and axle stands, metric spanners, oil pan, soft-faced hammer, long lever, oil can. steel bar or lever, test lamp or multimeter, grease gun, oil can, brake cleaner. Automatic transmissions Auto gearboxes require Dexron II ATF. The final drive has a separate lubrication system and requires EP80. Tyres Check the tyres for wear and degradation. Tyre pressures differ between models. For a 1.3-litre Maestro with 155R13 tyres, they should be 26psi front and 28psi rear. Back to convention With the Maestro/Montego BL abandoned the Issigonis-led innovations of the Mini, 1100, Landcrab and Maxi. This is largely good news from a servicing perspective. The engine and…

You will need Multimeter and test lamp, wire and electrical connectors, fine wet-and-dry paper. Matched pairs Senders and gauges must be matching pairs. Random combinations will give inaccurate readouts. Diagnostics Use a test lamp to verify a reliable 12V supply and a multimeter for everything else. Incorrect dashboard readouts can be more than just a nuisance. They can cry wolf about low fuel and overheating – or they can keep schtum about these issues and lead to a long walk home. Various systems are commonly found behind classic dashboards, and various things can go wrong with each of them. The good news is that faults are generally easy to track down and straightforward to put right. This feature shows you how to check the whole system from dashboard to sender…