Índex per Spring Issue 2018 a Practical Classics

‘It’s crucial that we all check our policies’ The past few months saw two high profile cases of classic car theft. In one instance, an immaculate 1965 MG Magnette Mark IV was stolen in Berkshire. Bill England, 87, had cherished the car for almost half a century, so was naturally inconsolable when it was found nearby, gutted by fire. He has been left feeling in the dark by endless insurance paperwork. In the second case, Clare Howarth’s Citroën 2CV – family owned from new – was taken from outside her house in Manchester and discovered stripped of all its panels. After a brief and distressing battle with her insurers, that car has been declared ‘Category N’ which means that although it has been written off and deemed to be uneconomical…

Concerns over changes to criteria required for age related plates have been addressed. Dave Jenkins from the DVLA told PC ‘We have not changed policy – we issue them when we are satisfied owners have complied with requirements in respect of reconstructed classics.’ This follows concerns that requirements had been tightened. A new report from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) shows that EUR 2.2 billion are lost each year due to counterfeit tyres. In addition, the presence of fake branded batteries in the EU market costs legitimate industry EUR 180 million each year. If you suspect you have been sold fake branded tyres or batteries contact trading standards. Proposals to hold older engines to modern emissions standards during IVA testing by the DfT are being opposed vigorously by…

Here it is, the list of Britain’s top ten classic destinations as voted for by you. Thousands of votes were counted and our long list of 30 destinations has been whittled down to ten… the places you really love to take your classics. The next step is to join them up. How? You tell us at the Practical Classics Classic Car And Restoration Show, on the Footman James stand. Join the destinations up with the best route you can think of by joining the dots on the entry forms. Make sure you nominate you favourite driving road as well so our round Britain trip between May 6-12 will be as memorable for the route we drive as it will be for the destinations we visit. The winning route will be…

Keep cool and carry on EXTERNAL CYLINDER HEAD AND ENGINE BLOCK COATING £POA Specialist thermal management company, Zircotec Group, has recently launched a new range of products designed to improve the performance of even the most humble of engines. The clever solutions on offer include newly-formulated thermal barrier coatings for use on cylinder heads and engine blocks, while the coating can also be applied to piston crowns and valve bases. The cylinder head and engine block coatings provide a significant reduction in heat loss, significantly reducing under-bonnet temperatures and improving the thermal efficiency of the engine, as well as providing an attractive and eye-catching finish. The technology offers up to 33 per cent temperature reduction and can withstand heat of up to 1350°C. zircotec.com Matt T says ‘Zircotec…

The Cortina MkII Owners Club magazine regularly features snippets of interest for classic car fans, but this recent entry is one that we couldn’t resist reproducing – especially in light of recent news stories. The advert shows a right-hand drive Cortina which looks like an Australian-market example. Maybe Ford should revisit this sales tactic for the new Fiesta; it’s bound to get plenty of attention, albeit for all the wrong reasons. If ever the slogan ‘different times’ applied, it’s here. • fordcortinamk2oc.co.uk…

This year marks 70 years since the launch of the Jaguar XK120 and to mark the occasion the XK Club is putting on the XK70 weekend at Shelsley Walsh, Worcs, on June 9-10. Club founder Philip Porter says: ‘The XK engine powered the vast majority of Jaguars from 1950 to 1986. For many, it is the greatest engine of all time. Our aim is to attract 700 XKs from around the world.’ • xk70.co.uk…

Classic emails, letters, tweets, posts & threads CONSUMMATE COMPARE I enjoyed your comparison piece between retro modern and classic models (PC April 2018) but I disagree about your comments on the DS5. I love the original Citroën DS, but the new car isn’t a ‘faceless Euro blob’ as you say. Compared to other cars, it’s more than a little distinctive in my view. Keith Edwards, Worcester Flaming nuisance I was sad to see Matt Jones’ 280SE going up in smoke ( PC , April 2018). I had a similar thing happen with my Vauxhall Carlton. I had spent several days repairing minor crash damage when, on the first drive, I had a fuel leak and the whole thing went up in flames. Derek Shaw, Kingsbridge MY MKI IN MOROCCO On…

‘I do my own dumb, finger-lickin mechanical work’ 1954 Chrysler New Yorker, 1960 Desoto, 1961 Minor, 1997 Suzuki X90 Butch Fraser, Florida Howdy thar, from the sunshine state of Florida. I have been an admirer of PC for years now, and had a spot in the Spring 2003 issue with photos of my cars. Wow, where has the time gone? My current fascinations are a 1954 Chrysler New Yorker sedan, 1960 Desoto sedan, 1961 Moggy two-door saloon and 1997 Suzuki X90. They are all running, driving, stopping and going… reliable in fact. I have reached 75 years old but am still ‘vertical’ and going strong. I do my own dumb, finger-likin, nose-sucking, hard mechanical work as needed. I am totally retired these days but still love old cars. ‘Pandas are…

I keep meaning to fly to India, buy an exotic classic car, drive it to a distant port and ship it to the UK. Annoyingly, I’ve never quite got round to doing it. The Indian car scene has proven difficult to penetrate and easier plans have always muscled their way onto my calendar. This year, though, I’m determined to make a fist of it. India’s classic shopping options are fascinating. After independence from the British Empire in 1947, India’s ‘Licence Raj’ took firm steps to indigenise the motor industry. Importing cars – or even bits of cars – became prohibitively expensive, causing most foreign marques to shut up shop. Partnership with an Indian company was the only viable solution. India’s ‘big three’ thus became Hindustan (partnered with Morris), Standard (partnered…

On-loan Porsche 356 needed an engine rebuild last year. ‘One piston was very bad!’ recalls Klaus. The latest project is a 1980 Beetle 1303 convertible from the US. It will soon be ready for paint. This 1976 Golf convertible prototype doesn’t have a rollover bar – the production version did get a bar. After a fire at Hebmuller in 1952, Karmann used surviving parts to build 12 ‘two window’ convertibles. This Karmann Ghia Type 14 pedal car was created in 2011 by Volkswagen trainees at the Osnabrück site.…

1971 Citroën ID19 Price: £10,500 Left-hand drive import, recently repainted, fully re-upholstered and fitted with new carpets. Just needs cosmetics to dash and under bonnet. 1989 BMW 525i Price: £6250 Excellent example with less than 40,000 miles and no rust. Automatic gearbox, everything works as it should. An extremely rare find. Deserves the price tag. 1953 Morris Minor 4dr Price: £4250 Very late MM sidevalve model that’s all original and has never been welded. Lovely red interior trim. Still has working trafficators.…

1954 Citroën 2CV ‘2CVs never left the factory shiny. Even the odd paint run wasn’t uncommon’ Engine 375cc/2-cyl/OHV Power 9bhp@3800rpm Torque 17lb ft@1800rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual Top Speed 40mph Weight 682kg Work done Chassis repaired and body shell prepared for paint. Also in James’s garage 1971 CITROËN DS Enjoyed a trip to Devon and to hell with winter salt… she’s properly rustproofed! 1972 SAAB 96 V4 More disaster befalls demon Saab. Head gasket this time. 1988 CITROËN CX 22TRS The major engine surgery is now on hold until 2CV is on the road. As you read this, members of the PC team will be either toasting a resounding success or we’ll be slumped in a corner of the NEC, head in hands wondering what on earth went wrong. I’m…

1960 Morris Minor Convertible Engine 998cc/4-cyl/OHV Power TBC Torque Unknown Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph Hopefully Top speed Anyone’s guess Fuel economy Some Work done Door bottom repaired, paint prep and filler work, master cylinder rebuilt and fitted. Also in Matt’s garage 1969 MORRIS TRAVELLER Out and about in it as often as I can. 1970 MINOR SALOON Welding complete and back at PC HQ awaiting attention I mentioned in my previous Saga, an impeding trip north to see Mikey and Steve from Gilbert-Michaelson automotive restorations to seek help with an unsatisfactory repair to my drivers’ door bottom. The more I’d looked at the repair I’d made a year previously in a rush, the less happy I was becoming with it. I bought a new bottom skin repair section and, under…

1998 BMW 323i Coupé Engine 2494cc/6-cyl/DOHC Power 168bhp@5500rpm Torque 181lb ft@3950rpm Gearbox 5-speed automatic 0–60mph 9sec Top speed 139mph Fuel economy 26mpg Work done Adding a new classic to the fleet, my BMW E36 Coupé and sourcing centre caps for the GT6’s unusual alloy wheels. Also in Nigel’s garage 1970 TRIUMPH TR6 Behaving itself impeccably, although it hasn’t been driven too much lately to protect it from winter. Looking forward to spring like the rest of us. Life in recent weeks has been dominated by the search for another classic. We concluded that the Clark driveway didn’t need two modern cars anymore, so one would be sold and replaced with a classic, raising the question of what said new classic should be. Key criteria were that it must be at…

1916 Ford Model T Engine 2897cc/4cyl/SV Power 22.5bhp@1600rpm Torque 82lb ft@900rpm Transmission 2-spd epicyclic Top speed 45mph 0-60mph No chance! Fuel economy 20mpg The story so far Richard Skinner of Tudor Wheels and Practical Classics started restoring this 1916 car in its centenary year. Saved from a scrapyard in Colorado, it was imported into the UK in 2015. Those of you who have been following Katy’s restoration over the past year or so will already know that approximately 15 million Ford Model Ts were manufactured between 1908 and 1927. Part of the appeal of owning one in the early days was that a pleasant range of body styles were available to suit a wide range of needs. Body styles such as a two-seat Roadster could carry two people comfortably and…

The 1½-litre and 2½-litre Riley RM engines are the final incarnations of the famous twin-cam design that originated in the 1926 Riley Nine. Their most memorable feature is the placement of those camshafts – they’re not overhead, but high up in the sides of the engine block. Large valves are inclined at 45° and the combustion chambers are hemispherical, improving power output significantly. Hugh Rose refined Percy Riley’s concept when he created the 1½-litre 12/4 engine for the 1935 season. The 2½-litre Big Four engine appeared a year later, bringing further changes. Both engines survived the Nuffield takeover and reemerged with various minor improvements to power the RM from 1945 until 1954. The 2½-litre lived on in the Pathfinder until 1957. [A] TIMING GEAR Here, the two large camshaft timing…

The basic principle Imagine two desk fans pointing in the same direction, one behind the other. If you turn on the rear fan, the airflow will spin the front fan. A torque converter works in much the same way. The impeller is like the rear fan and is driven by the engine. The turbine is like the front fan and drives the gearbox. Oil rather than air transfers the movement between the two. 1. Impeller This is fixed to the inside of the torque converter’s doughnut-shaped, oil-filled housing. The housing is bolted to a light flywheel called a ‘flex plate’ on the end of the engine’s crankshaft. 2. Turbine This is connected to the gearbox by a shaft. When the casing and impeller rotate, the movement of the oil from…

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…

VEC celebrates Trucks 90th This year’s NEC show will kickstart The Volvo Enthusiasts’ Club yearlong celebration of the 90th birthday of Volvo Trucks. Their display will feature the oldest Volvo truck in the UK – the 1953 PV834 Light Truck (below) will be deconstructed for a total rebuild during the weekend. Visit volvoenthusiastsclub.co.uk for more. Peter James hosts Riley PC editor Danny Hopkins’ 1956 Riley Pathfinder will break cover at the NEC. It’s partway through an epic restoration and will take centre stage on the Peter James Insurance stand. It’s returning to the show three years after it appeared in the Barn Find exhibition (below). Danny will be on the PJ stand to talk about the project. Earlpart ends Practical Classics understands that BMC parts specialist Earlpart Ltd has ceased…

1 Moretonhampstead Motor Museum More than 120 vehicles are housed in this hidden gem in the heart of Devon – a hot spot for classic car owners keen to enjoy some of England’s finest country roads. The museum is a refurbished bus depot full of motoring artefacts and with some genuinely breathtaking and classic cars. 2 Haynes Motor Museum Once a mere shed, the museum is now an enormous state of the art facility housing 400 incredible vehicles of all shapes and sizes. Exhibits include a replica of the first ‘proper’ car – an 1886 Benz – to astonishing examples of the most iconic British cars from Mini to E-type. 3 The Kelpies These two breathtaking 30 metre high horse-head sculptures in Scotland and are in contrast to the motoring…

Jaguar E-type ISBN 978-1-787110-25-0 £40 This book provides an insight into the background, development and features of Jaguar’s iconic E-type in both historic and modern day terms, while it is beautifully illustrated with superb archive images and modern studio photography. A great addition to this series, and to your bookshelf. veloce.co.uk Citroën DS stories in Asia ISBN 978-90-815208-9-8 €37.50 Pierre Jammes reveals the unheard and highly fascinating stories of the mythical Citroën DS in Asia. He has trawled archives, searched through secret collections and, most importantly, he has let their owners do the talking. Beautifully-illustrated and written in both French and English it’s a must for any Citroën enthusiast. citrovisie.nl Rolls-Royce & Bentley ISBN 978-1-787110-96-0 £35 The complete history of the Silver Spirit and associated Bentley…

We recommend… Why, the PC Resto Show of course. We’ll all be there with our classics, so be sure to come and say hello during the weekend. FRI-SUN, MAR 23-25 BIRMINGHAM Practical Classics Restoration Show at the NEC, B40 1NT (necrestorationshow.com). SAT-SUN, MAR 24-25 MANCHESTER Spring Transport Festival at the Greater Manchester Museum of Transport, M8 8UW (gmts.co.uk). SUN, MAR 25 ESSEX Coffee & Cars at the Museum of Power, CM9 6QA (museumofpower.org.uk). HANTS Classic car meet at the White Lion Antiques Centre, Hartley Wintney, RG27 8AE (thewhitelionantiques.co.uk). SCOTTISH BORDERS Caledonian Classic & Historic Motorsport Club Tour of Hadrian’s Wall (caledonianmsc.com). SURREY Mini Day at Brooklands, KT13 0QN (brooklandsmuseum.com). SUSSEX Southern Classics Society Breakfast Meet at Shoreham Airport, BN43 5FF (southernclassics.org.uk). WED, MAR 28 YORKS Micro Maniacs monthly meet, Railway…

What would you say to your younger self? Keep the MkI Escorts! Wayne Chilcott Cutting corners on maintenance never saves money. Andrew Hall Buy everything, sell nothing. Les Hallum Don’t sell your Capri 280 for £1500 you absolute twit. I think that about covers it. Duncan Macrae Always check the obvious thing first! Edward Elliott Buy what you really want. You may only get one chance. Tim Webb Don’t destroy that MkI Escort to build that Dutton Melos in 1985. Richard Luxford Don’t drive that Volkswagen Jetta down Cheese Lane and smack it into that dry stone wall. Julian Nicolls Definitely buy the Aston Martin DB6 you passed up for £8500 in 1986. Stu Shaw Take up snooker instead! Steve Jenkins Don’t look back. To regret decisions you’ve made in…

Datsun 120A Coupé This daily use Datsun 120A Coupé was seen in Skibereen, Ireland. Nigel Badley, Ireland Toyota Camry This 1987 Toyota Camry is almost immaculate despite now being over 30 years old. It must be in regular use, as it’s often to be seen around Woking, Surrey. They are getting very rare now. Robert Gunn, Woking Austin America In near perfect condition and spotted on Fell Street, San Francisco. Simon Berry, USA Renault 9 We spent Christmas in Lanzarote and saw this tatty Renault 9 – in daily use but in need of a mirror and paint. Derek Bond, Harrogate Ford Model A Hybrid Spotted in Cuba – a mid-Thirties Model A Ford chassis with a part Fifties (Opel?) body from the A-post back. Tony Mealing, High Wycombe Fiat…

Ah, remember when you wouldn’t think twice about parking your Hillman Husky unlocked outside the House of Commons with your life savings on the back seat? Or taking a walk along the Embankment before enjoying tea and a piece of Madeira cake in a Lyons’ Corner House, then later by a pint of light and bitter and a Cockney sing-along at the Old Pickled Ox? All for sixpence? Me neither, but most of us can still recall the happy times without a huge industry geared to grabbing millions of pounds a year in ‘penalty’ charges from hard working people. MP and old car movement champion Sir Greg Knight is fighting to get a strict code of practice established to rid the world of more unscrupulous parking profiteers, and has appealed…

Trabant P60 & cars in greenhouse More mouldy maladies from the travels of rust hunter extraordinaire Jack Brands, starting in the Netherlands with a Trabant P60. It’s surrounded by a fabulous collection of East German cars, nestled away in a giant greenhouse. Trabant P60 Kombi This Trabant P60 Kombi is possibly the prettiest of the bunch and, like the others, it’s reasonably well preserved. The 594cc P60 was only produced from 1962-65 before being replaced by the more familiar 601 – a car that stayed in production until 1990, just after the fall of the Berlin wall. Trabant P50 Though visually identical to the P60, this is a P50 produced from 1957 to 1962. It has a 499cc engine and various minor mechanical differences under the skin. Wartburg 311 Something…

PREVIEW Restos rationed CCA shows off some treats that they made earlier Classic Car Auctions’ next sale has a disappointing dearth of project cars, given that it is being held alongside the PC Restoration Show at the NEC. But it’s not all bad news because they have still put together a tempting catalogue, especially if you’re looking for a Sierra Cossie. But I’m bypassing those to highlight some even more interesting lots, starting with a charming MGC GT. This lovely car oozes good history and in 50 years has covered just 64,000 miles in the hands of two owners. It’s also in the rare Motor Show display colour of Riviera Silver Blue. An older resto, it has lovely patina and is estimated at £17-20k. If you prefer rock history there’s…

1983 Volvo 340GL Auto ‘It was revving at 4000rpm and not getting over 40mph’ Engine 1397cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 71bhp@5500rpm Torque 77lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox Variomatic CVT 0-60mph 16.7sec Top speed 91mph Fuel economy 32mpg Work done Bought. Serviced MoT’d. Entire transmission checked and partially rebuilt. Also in Danny’s garage 1950 RILEY RMA Come and see it lead loaded on the Skill Shack stand at the PC Resto Show! 1956 RILEY PATHFINDER Come and see it on the Peter James Insurance stand at the PC Resto Show! 1970 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR Another step closer to living. More next time. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Ready to visit Moordale Motors for a big service. 1987 MAZDA 626GTI COUPE Switchgear sourced from the USA. MoT soon. 1991 MERCEDES 190E 2.0 AUTO Serviced and new tyres fitted. Now…

1971 Triumph TR6 ‘It is satisfying to get to the bottom of what was wrong with the engine’ 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 28mpg Work done Engine stripped; inner wings and half engine bay prepared and painted in E-M 121. Also in Matt’s garage 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 New 75amp alternator from AES ‘in stock’ and ready to fit. 1993 PEUGEOT 205 JUNIOR MoT test is looming large… The month – January 2018. The location – Somersham, Cambs, UK. So began the Great TR6 Engine Exhumation-Off, with myself and TRGB’s Jason Wright the indefatigable crew on deck, channelling our inner Tony Robinson à la Time Team and picking apart my project TR6’s engine, piece by rusty piece. Boy,…

1 Measure and make templates Using an unmolested door, tape measure and thin card or paper, make templates for repair sections. 2 Make repair panels Transfer the templates to steel, cut and fold as necessary and tweak repair sections until they fit correctly. 3 Trial-fit Trial-fit and clamp everything, utilising welding clamps, screws etc to ensure a good fit before tack welding in place. 4 Weld and fold edge Once everything is prepared, the welding doesn’t take long. When it is done, grind welds back carefully and peen over the door skin, trapping the inner structure. 5 Lead-loading Prevent moisture attacking porous body filler by lead-loading the joint on the door skin, then file back using a body file.…

1978 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 2 Engine 6750cc/V8/OHC Power 250bhp@4500rpm Torque 398lb ft@3500rpm Gearbox 3-speed automatic 0-60mph 10.7sec Top speed 113mph Fuel economy 12mpg Work done Makeshift garage secured. Body prepared for paint with multiple coats of primer filler. Also in Dave’s garage 2003 ALFA ROMEO GTV Another hands-on project – now a daily driver. Having spent the previous year at the mercy of the elements, only being able to work on my car when it was dry, I bought an 8m x 4m marquee to cover the car and a smaller one for the workshop behind. These types of disposable marquees have tall roofs and plenty of light comes through the white fabric and side windows. I realise they are unlikely to last very long, but I tack-welded the frames…

You will need Vacuum cleaner, hair trimmer, fabric cleaner, denim or canvas, contact adhesive, heavy thread and needle, binding tape or vinyl, heat gun. Glue and stitch Glue a patch and add stitches to repair a tear. Carpet tape will only work on a completely smooth backing. Heavy-duty stitching Use a large needle and stout thread of a similar colour. Heavy-duty polyester thread is rot-proof. Contact adhesive Be generous with this if the backing’s rough and uneven. Scrappy carpet can ruin an otherwise immaculate classic car interior. We showed you how to replace your carpet completely in the July 2014 issue of Practical Classics . Such a drastic measure isn’t always necessary – it’s surprising what can be achieved through cleaning, grooming and localised repairs. Rescuing your old carpet will…

How it works… The coil in the rotor is energised to produce magnetism. This magnetism generates a larger current in the stator coil as the rotor spins. The regulator alters the current in the rotor coil to keep the output of the stator coil at the correct voltage. Separate regulator? Some alternators have separate electromechanical regulators. We’ll explain how these can be serviced and adjusted in the next issue of Practical Classics. You will need Vice, soft-faced mallet, multimeter, insert bearing puller, small press (ideally), sockets, screwdrivers and levers. Duff battery? A failing or partially discharged battery will make the alternator work hard, so it won’t develop its full voltage. Alternators call for no routine maintenance and are generally ignored until they stop working or start making funny noises. The…

The other biggest launch of 1998, Jaguar unveiled the curvy S-Type – the car appearing from a large obelisk on the stand. The Rover stole Jaguar’s thunder. Billed as a grown-up 205, Peugeot’s new hatchback captured the fun spirit of its predecessor, with visitors to the show admiring those slinky, chic lines at the NEC. A real showstopper, the TT signalled an end to Audi’s dull but worthy reputation of the Nineties, unleashing the coupé and igniting a new interest in the brand. The Bentley Continental Sedanca Coupé marked the beginning of the end for the final true-blue Bentley. 73 were made, with boxer Mike Tyson among the owners. One of the prettiest saloons ever, the Alfa Romeo 166 attracted executive buyers who found the new Rover and Jag too…

‘It is truly a nationwide happening starring you!’ Last year, when we drove around the country judging your favourite classic cafes, almost completely by accident we created the biggest classic car show in Britain. ‘Biggest’ in the sense that it stretched far and wide… from Scotland to Wales and Cornwall to London – it was a simply nationwide happening. ‘Accidental’ in the sense that we didn’t expect the huge numbers of you and your classics who turned up to each café to sample the food and enjoy the banter. Now we are doing it all again and we are fully expecting another week-long festival full of pop-up classic shows and road-runs between the places you voted for. We will be in our classics visiting your choice of amazing destinations, judging…

The PC team classics... The PC team will be on the entire run, in their own classics. James in his Citroën CX, Matt George in his Triumph 2000, Matt Tomkins in his MGB GT and… wait for it… editor, Danny in his Jensen Interceptor (he says). Of course it could all go horribly wrong. The only way to find out is to come on the run with us! Is the FJ VW T25 van ready? Practical Classics magazine has joined forces with Footman James and snapped up a classic vehicle for the round Britain Run and to be FJ’s show vehicle in 2018. Purchased as a slightly careworn camper conversion in 2017, the 1987 T25 has been restored in preparation for the epic nationwide journey to find Britain’s Best Classic…

Set up by Stella and Andrew Beaman to raise funds for Polesworth Carnival in Warwickshire, the B5000 Barbers classic meet is held on the first Wednesday of the month from April to October. More than 200 cars turn up at the Birch Coppice Club from 6pm if the weather is kind. ‘Anything classic is welcome and we get a huge variety of cars,’ says Stella. ‘The turnout is so good that we’ve had to change venue, but now we’ve got loads of space.’ Entry is £1. • More at tinyurl.com/y9bu2f2z…

The now-combined Triumph & MG Day at Stoneleigh Park has long been the first event I attend each year, and 2018 was no exception. With three halls and plenty of parts to rummage through, both old and new, I saw plenty of happy people clutching fistfuls of classic treasure. I didn’t hold back myself, either – my trusty 205 transported a set of seats to give to a friend and as a reward I treated it to a ‘new’ stereo unit that I found on offer for just a fiver. Complete with a USB port and everything. Luxury!…

Where are you now? This MGB GT was registered in August 1974, in Reading if we go by the plate. It’s now green, according to the DVLA. Has it been in continuous use between ’74 and last October, when the tax ran out? We’d love to find out. Tiny but mighty In 1973 Motor polled its readers. One question was ‘Would you buy another?’ and E10 Cherry owners gave the most positive response: 76% ‘yes’. 20 or 30? Renault offered a succession of large saloon/hatches with a choice of four- or six-pot engines (see also 25 and Safrane). Spot a V6 30 from its quad headlamps… which we can’t see here. Guildford Station, 1983 We’re looking east, across the railway tracks from the entrance to the…

Car manufacturers don’t really like making or supplying parts for their obsolete models once those models have been more than 15 years gone. There are exceptions, of course, especially for items still in enough demand to make continued manufacture worthwhile or items both critically safety-related and not catered for by the aftermarket. But a replacement rubber sealing strip for your Renault 21 Savannah’s rear side window? Probably not. So, the world of aftermarket component manufacturers becomes your oyster. Trivial trim items like that Renault example might still be a no-no, but the important mechanical and electrical bits will be available in boxes bearing credible brands. Or as copies originating in China, in which case buyer beware. That said, China’s bad press in this regard is not so justified today. The…

When news of this broke in the office there was an instant response: ‘Are we having a day trip?’ Because no matter how many classic auctions you go to, they still have the potential to excite. The ‘Affordable Classics’ one Brightwells that announced just before we went to press ticks all our boxes. They are holding this special one-off sale to clear out some of the lesser stars of the Jaguar Land Rover collection; it seems largely taken from the 543 cars acquired from entrepreneur and collector James Hull in 2014. You’ll need to hurry as the sale is scheduled for the day after this issue comes out, March 21, at Bicester Heritage. It’s a shame there wasn’t a greater lead time, but it does appear to have been arranged…

1994 Škoda Favorit LXiE Engine 1289cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 68bhp@5000rpm Torque 76lb ft@3750rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 15sec Top speed 93mph Fuel economy 41mpg Work done Rebuilt brakes, structural repairs, assorted trifles. Also in Sam’s garage 1952 JOWETT JAVELIN I’ve taken the engine to bits. 1965 VOLVO ‘AMAZON’ I’ve taken the engine to bits. 1968 MORRIS 1800 Theodore J Gillam’s taken the engine to bits. 1982 WARTBURG 353W It’s buzzed past its 1000th mile since recommissioning. Modern motoring. At the age of 33, I have more automotive projects than I’m likely to get finished in my lifetime. Money and time are gravely finite resources. I therefore strictly control my natural urge to squander both on unremarkable bangers while my barn-load of interesting classics collects owl pellets. Unremarkable bangers do have the right…

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 New driveshafts fabricated, sprayed silver and fitted, propshaft balanced, gearbox panels made from aluminium Also in Gary’s garage 1980 SAAB 99 TURBO Former press car has key role in New Year’s resolutions. Oh, what a month. After more than a decade of ownership, lots of disparate strands came together and I have finally given the Peerless its Egyptian driving test. Well not quite because that’s now a more difficult test, but it means I have at last driven the GT seven feet forward and seven feet backwards under its own power. Ten years is a long time but the big push, post-New Year, has truly…

1958 Austin A105 Westminster Estate Engine 2639cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 102bhp@4600rpm Torque 142lb ft@2400rpm Gearbox 3-speed auto 0-60mph 17.8sec Top speed 97mph Fuel economy 20mpg Project overview Saved from the banger track, this Austin Westminster A105 Estate is one of just ten made and is the only one with an automatic gearbox. CBR Motor Bodies and Practical Classics are restoring it in conjunction with Anglia Car Auctions, Hagerty Insurance and CL Panelcraft. Proceeds from its eventual sale at Anglia Car Auctions will go to Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund. The deadline is upon us. The Westminster has to be finished in time for the PC CC&RS at the NEC (March 23-25) where you could well be reading this magazine. If you are, come to the FBHVC stand near the Live Stage to…

Hinges and catches Lubricate all hinges and catches with oil or aerosol grease. Wipe off excess lubricant. You will need Trolley jack, axle stands, oil pan, metric spanners, long steel bar or lever, test lamp or multimeter, oil can. Nuts, bolts and clips Keep your eyes peeled for loose fasteners as you work on the car. Periodically check the tightness of critical fasteners, such as those securing brake and suspension components. Refreshing simplicity ‘Simple is Efficient’ was Ford’s slogan when it launched its first front-wheel drive Escort in October 1980. The company’s ‘less is more’ approach and adherence to straightforward engineering made the Escort cheap to make, but didn’t stop it becoming Britain’s best-selling car in 1982. It also made it simple to maintain at home – as demonstrated on…

You will need Plasma cutter, regulator and torch; overalls, gauntlets, shield or goggles, leather boots, apron or jacket; welding blanket; hammer; slag chipping hammer; angle-grinder with a flap disc. Shield or goggles Follow your set manufacturer’s recommendations regarding eye protection: they differ. Out of puff? Deeper and longer cuts call for a more powerful supply of compressed air. Break the cut into short stages if your compressor isn’t man enough. Avoid starting fires Make sure your work area’s totally clear of flammable objects. A welding blanket is useful to contain sparks and molten splatter. Ideally, work outside. Cutting metal can be laborious, inaccurate and especially neighbour-annoyingly noisy. For most of us, an angle-grinder fitted with a slitting disc is the go-to animal for cutting out rotten car bodywork and shaping…