Índex per November 2018 a Practical Classics

The Jack Sears Trophy saw some phenomenal wheel-to-wheel racing with some PC favourites. This lovely little Austin Seven did nothing to dispel my hankering after something pre-war. With more than 2000 classics, the packed pre-’66 car park was something of a show in itself. A huge variety of classics were there. This ‘Gasser’ turned heads as much as the baby Austin above. The Oxford Universities Motorsport Foundation were racing for the first time at the Revival. oumf.org…

Beam with pride The first finalists have been chosen to in an annual competition to decide the 20 best classics in Britain. The Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership cars include an MG TB, Mini Traveller and an Escort XR3i – all of which come with their own remarkable story of enthusiasic ownership. Baby resto Members of the Fiat 500 Enthusiasts Club are to build a car from scratch on their stand at the NEC this November. The club’s David Peters says they’ve taken inspiration from the epic PC stage rebuilds. ‘Our 500 will begin as a pile of parts on the Friday and will be driven away on the Sunday evening!’ Bear essentials The Sporting Bears will return to the NEC this year to offer a range of charity passenger…

Rotten pear A barn-find Mini Cooper S – laid up in a barn 40 years ago – is up for grabs at auction. The 1965 model was pushed into a residential garage in Yorkshire in the late Seventies. The roof since collapsed and the car was left to rot. It will be sold at Mathewsons on October 27. A brave restoration if ever there was one. Jagging around The Jaguar E-type Club, organiser of the 2018 ‘Round Britain Coastal Drive, Supporting Prostate Cancer UK’, had its 19-day event flagged away from Pendine Sands on September 17 by land speed record-breaker Don Wales. The 4000-mile tour around the circumference of the British mainland aims to add a further £70,000 to the £150,000 raised in the event’s first two years. PC stalwart…

Autumn, winter, spring; be there Where to take your classic over winter? How about the world’s oldest active motorsport venue? Shelsley Walsh’s Worcestershire valley, setting is idyllic and the drive there is a perfect tonic. The venue’s final breakfast club of the year is on Saturday October 14... but things start up again as soon as February. Looking for a midweek run out? Book into one of the Black Plate Wednesday events that resume in the spring; these focus on pre-1975 classics, but anything is welcome. As we went to press, we were awaiting confirmation of a gathering at Shelsley on New Year’s day! Keep an eye on shelsleywalsh.com .…

THU,OCT 4 WARKS Kineton Classic Car Gathering, CV35 0FA (kinetonssc.org.uk). SAT, OCT 6 CUMBRIA Classic car meet at the Lakeland Motor Museum, LA12 8TA (lakelandmotormuseum.co.uk). SWITZERLAND British car meet at Morges (british-cars.ch). YORKS Rufforth Autojumble at Rufforth Park, YO23 3QH (rufforth autojumble.com). SAT-SUN, OCT 6-7 BERKS Classic Commercial Show at Newbury Showground, RG18 9QZ (markwood wardclassicevents.com). SUN,OCT 7 SURREY Morgan Day at Brooklands, KT13 0QN (brooklandsmuseum.com). HANTS Crotch Cooler’s Classic Car Sunday at the Departure Lounge Café (pre-1990 cars only), GU34 4BH (crotchcooler.co.uk). SUSSEX Amberley Museum Autumn Historic Transport Gathering, BN18 9LT (amberleymuseum.co.uk). GLOS Coffee & Classics at the Classic Motor Hub, Bibury, GL7 5NX (classicmotorhub.com). SUSSEX Goodwood Breakfast Club, PO18 0PH (goodwood.com). SOMERSET Haynes Museum Breakfast Club, BA22 7LH (haynesmotor museum.com). SAT, OCT 13 HANTS Rawles Motorsport open day,…

IN THE NEWS West Germany holds elections, with Helmut Schmidt hanging on as Chancellor. Niki Lauda suffers terrible injuries in a fiery crash, while Bayern Munich win the European Cup and Franz Beckenbauer is European Footballer of the Year. IN THE CHARTS Germany didn’t win everything this year – The Brotherhood of Man won the Eurovision Song Contest with Save Your Kisses For Me , which spent an exhausting Winners! six weeks at Number 1. AT THE FLICKS To the Devil…a Daughter is a flawed horror that tries to move on from Hammer’s glory days, while Robin and Marian is a late-life imagining of the heroic bowman’s grey-haired return from the Crusades. MOTORS NEW FOR 1976 Ford Fiesta Lancia Gamma Renault…

ASTON MARTIN DB7 VANTAGE The V12 is reliable, but the coil packs can fail, causing misfires. They’re not vastly expensive, but fitting them is expensively fiddly. Look for evidence of renewal. Rust can get to the inner wings, front floors, suspension turrets, rear radius-arm mountings and rear chassis legs. The rear arch lips, the door bottoms and the bottom corners of the rear screen are also vulnerable. Check for cold-blowing air con and full electrical functions, and damp carpets, the potential cause the scuttle to windscreen seal. Check for uneven tyre wear – the suspension is fully adjustable and may need laser alignment. JAGUAR XJS 4.0 Despite the galvanizing, check the A-pillar and door hinge area, the scuttle, the floorpans, the bottoms of the front wings, the sills, the lower…

Apache vs the hosepipe Congratulations to Ian Creese on his restoration of his Austin Apache ( PC , Sept 2018). On my trips to South Africa I still see a few of them being driven around in Cape Town. Although rust is still a problem, especially near the coast, inland is much kinder to the bodywork due to a dry climate (most of the time) and of course the salt-free roads! In the early Seventies I was working at Robb Motors in Cape Town when the vehicle was first launched in November 1971. At the time the main workshop was in Paarden Eiland; lying about four miles from the CBD, it was one of the largest and most high-tech facilities in Africa. The cars arrived from the Leykor (Leyland South…

I had one of these when I did courier work back in 2000. I did Heathrow to Glasgow and back nearly every week for six months without fail. Geoff Rothon My company used these back in the Eighties and we’d do East Midlands to London every day, 24 hours a day. They were cheap enough to be disposable but they kept up with the pace on the motorway. The Escort van we had was an uncomfortable dog by comparison. Paul Michaels My Partco days were spent trying valiantly to break them… you can’t. Neil Hagendyk We had the same as works vans years back. 0-60mph time was Swindon to Birmingham! Keith Wardle I love C15s and did 160,000 miles in one in my early career as a CCTV engineer. David…

From the outside, this Maestro Turbo certainly looks the part, with its aggressive Tickford bodykit and ‘Turbo’ door decals lending it a bulky and brooding presence. But the machismo seems to falter a bit inside the cabin, where uniform grey rules. There’s not even a boost gauge on the dash – surely most vital of feel-good driver aids on any Eighties turbocharged car. In action, though, it’s a free-revving hoot. There’s minimal turbo lag, just a constant surge of power that continually surprises, as you fight to correct the torque steer. In hot hatch terms, it’s easy to get burned in something like this, because it reaches the legal limit so quickly. But the handling is assured and the clutch and gears light. Only the brakes let things down somewhat.…

I’ve already talked about the Soviet ‘dogonyalka’ programme in Practical Classics , in reference to my lairy 135bhp Wankel-engined Lada Riva. ‘Dogonyalka’ translates as ‘catcher upper’. These state-issued sleepers were visually indistinguishable from their proletarian brethren, but packed a significant punch under the bonnet. Lower echelons of the KGB and privileged police departments got Wankel Ladas. Upper echelons of the KGB got muscle cars built in a special department at the Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ). The first of the bloodline was the GAZ-20G, a GAZ-20 Pobeda with a 90bhp 3.5-litre flathead straight-six and automatic gearbox from a GAZ-12 ZIM limousine. Around 200 were produced from 1955, none of which are known to survive. Next was the Volga 23. This was a Volga 21 with a 195bhp 5.5-litre V8 and auto…

Perhaps the ultimate practical classic, the Morris Minor is a joy to drive either for weekend pleasure or as an everyday proposition. You voted it Britain’s Favourite Classic in our December 2016 issue, and for good reason. Parts are cheap and readily available – I’ll often break something at lunchtime and have a replacement on my desk the following morning – and their durability and driveability make them a pleasure to use. Avoid sidevalve or 803cc A-series cars if you want to use it regularly or do long distances, but both 948cc and 1098cc cars should be more than up to daily use. Upgrades are common and straightforward to enhance a Minor for your specific needs – from bigger engine to better brakes – and just look at it. Quintessentially…

Series MM (1948-53) Engine 918cc/4-cyl/SV Power 27.5bhp@4400rpm Torque 39lb ft@2400rpm Top speed 60mph 0-60mph 37.1sec Economy 40mpg Gearbox 4-speed man Length 12ft 4in (3.76m) Width 5ft 1in (1.55m) Height 4ft 11.5in (1.51m) Series II (1952-1956) Engine 803cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 30bhp@4800rpm Torque 40lb ft@2400rpm Top speed 62mph 0-60mph 25.7sec Economy 36mpg Gearbox 4-speed man Length 12ft 4in (3.76m) Width 5ft 1in (1.55m) Height 4ft 11.5in (1.51m)) Minor 1000 (1956-62) Engine 948cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 37bhp@4750rpm Torque 48lb ft@3000rpm Top speed 72mph 0-60mph 18.7sec Economy 39mpg Gearbox 4-speed man Length 12ft 4in (3.76m) Width 5ft 1in (1.55m) Height 4ft 11.5in (1.51m) Minor 1000 (1962-71) Engine 1098cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 48bhp@5100rpm Torque 60lb ft@2500rpm Top speed 73mph 0-60mph 16.3sec Economy 36mpg Gearbox 4-speed man Length 5ft 1in (1.55m) Width 4ft 11.5in (1.51m) Height 1811lb (823kg)…

Julian Langdon and Barbara Nye I bought this in May 2011 and since then I have put 78,000 miles on it. At 259k miles it is now well run in! We recently got back from a weekend in Holland, with four of us plus luggage and averaged 51mpg… it’s a normally aspirated, non turbo car, so it’s not fast but it is cheap. I maintain it at the kerbside because I have to, while I have also kept a close eye on the total average consumption since I bought it because, yes, I am that anal… 48.7 mpg! And yes, I have documented every fill up. Not bad for a big car. My favourite trip was to Techno Classica in Essen and we also regularly go to Paris in it…

1988 Citroën CX 22 TRS Engine 2165cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 113bhp@5000rpm Torque 137lb ft@5600rpm Gearbox 5spd manual 0-60mph 10.6sec Top speed 116mph Fuel economy 34.1mpg Work done Hydro leaks fixed; new radiator fitted. Also in James’s garage 1972 SAAB 96 V4 At long last, running problem may have been diagnosed. 1997 MAZDA 323F V6 Dastardly potholes – suspension arm replaced. Unless you are from Japan, you wouldn’t be expected to walk off the plane at Haneda Airport in Tokyo with the ability to speak fluent Japanese. Similarly, most mechanics are not expected to understand how to fix a big Citroën but once the language of hydropneumatics is learned, the myths are busted. Talk to any well-versed Citroën specialist and they’ll tell you the work involved isn’t especially difficult or complex. It’s just…

1960 Singer Gazelle IIIA Engine 1494cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 64bhp@4600rpm Torque 80lb ft @2600rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d 0-60mph 21sec Top speed 85mph Fuel economy 30mpg Work done Full restoration. Also in Gary’s garage 1965 MINX SERIES V My next project. The inner wings have been a right pain… but all repaired and welded to the correct shape now. My 1960 Singer Gazelle IIIA has recently returned to the road after a two-year restoration. Finished in the very rare, short-run Rootes colour of Cloud Rose, it’s one of only two known examples in this shade. Rumour has it that in 1959/60 they couldn’t shift them out of the showrooms, as this raspberry/pink colour was probably not regarded as a suitably masculine hue for the pipe-smoking, trilby-wearing male motorist of the day.…

Keep track Write the date you changed the antifreeze somewhere prominent. Antifreeze importance Antifreeze inhibits system corrosion. Plain water doesn’t. Old antifreeze actually intensifies it. You will need Antifreeze, abrasive paper, silicone grease, replacement hoses and hose clips. Stick to ethylene glycol Red or orange five-year antifreeze may not be suitable for many classics. It’s best avoided. Many classics are cooled by a thick soup of liquid rust. It looks grim and it doesn’t do the cooling system any good. Hoses build up such deposits that they crunch when squeezed. The same deposits coat the water channels of the cylinderhead and engine block, inhibiting heat transfer from the metal to the coolant. The narrow tubes of the radiator clog, too. The thermostat can compensate for this for a while by…

I’m a glutton for punishment, I am. Simple reason, I love saving old cars. This one is no exception. It should have gone for scrap. I was at a farm buying something else when I saw it in the corner of an old barn. Many years ago it had been caught in a horrific fire and completely burnt out. All that was left was the body, chassis and engine really. I took pity on it and bought it. At that point I didn’t really know what I wanted to do with it, but I soon had the idea. I would keep it looking the same as it did when I found it and put the running gear from a terminally-rotten MGB under it. A full restoration would have cost hundreds…

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…

The third running of the Festival Italia at Brands Hatch was a great day out if you’re into Latin classics. Along with a lot of supercars (which kept the kids happy), there was an array of gloriously left-field stuff including numerous delicious Abarths, ultra-rare Fiats and Lancias. A fabulous variety of Alfa Romeos graced the Owners’ Club stand, including a gorgeous Montreal. But shining out among the lines of Integrales and Quattroportes was the Fiat 500 Giardinera of Sue Blanks, which was the car we most wanted to take home. More at festivalitalia.com .…

We love mysteries here at PC, so we were fascinated when Mick Gaughran got in touch from the Middlebridge Enthusiasts’ Scimitar Set (MESS) to ask for our help. He said: ‘Of the 78 Middlebridge Scimitars made, we know of the whereabouts of every one – apart from car number 52, stolen from Harrow in 1992. Registered H254 FWK, somebody out there must know something about the metallic silver-blue car. Middlebridge will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2019 and we’d love to have a complete set of cars on our register.’ Contact Mick via info@middlebridge-scimitar.co.uk.…

Smokey and the Bandit without a shadow of a doubt. Asim Kayani Thanks to Burt I grew up with a completely unrealistic expectation of the robustness and reliability of vehicle suspension systems, and the availability of women. Thanks Burt. Matt Cameron The stunt car scenes in Hooper. Dom Spencer When he escapes in the Citroën Maserati SM in The Longest Yard. Alan Hill In Smokey and the Bandit – when he outruns the cop car and hides behind the building then looks at the camera and smiles. Pure cinematic gold. Pete Smith Cannonball Run. ‘We could get a black Trans-Am? Nah that’s been done…’ Rob Fee Rocket car jump from Hooper or demolishing the Atlanta roller coaster in Smokey and The Bandit… Daniel Coppock Boogie Nights, probably. But Burt and…

‘Our 2CV is the upmarket version!’ 1981 Citroën 2CV Charleston Valentin Daubisse, France At the age of just 17, I am already a loyal classic car enthusiast with a particular interest in Citroëns. This 2CV is a Charleston model, which is one of the very first of its kind – a slightly more upmarket 2CV in that it has more luxurious upholstery and chrome headlamp housings. The Charleston began as a special edition, but after all 8000 models sold out, Citroën decided to add it to the line-up. It has the inboard disc brakes and that great-sounding 602cc engine and is a real joy to drive. My parents, Gerard and Isabelle, both like Citroëns too and we still own my great-grandfather’s 1928 B14. I have memories of being in this…

You’ll never guess what I thought to myself recently while I was taking my time over studying the most prestigious and historic line-up of E-type Jaguars that I have ever seen. ‘You know what, Nick?’ I said to myself. ‘I would rather like one of these!’ Yup, I really did, honestly. No word of a lie. I was covering the 25th anniversary celebration of the legendary restoration (and so much more), employee-owned company Classic Motor Cars of Bridgnorth, by the way. The Jaguar E-type. Possibly the most beautiful and charismatic car ever made, even if you ignore the hype and the financial resource-challenging price tag. However, I am quite possibly the only person in the entire cosmos who would clamber over Jaguar E-types to get to a seriously delectable and…

A trip down Lotus Lane Danny Richards from Pontyclun in Mid Glamorgan spotted this line-up of longstanding Lotuses in Kyleakin when travelling around the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in his Triumph 2000 MkII. At the forefront in the main picture above is a 1978 Lotus Eclat S1 (Type 76) that is showing on SORN, so we know these cars have not been forgotten and haven’t been abandoned to nature. Lotus Eclat S1 This is the second Eclat S1 at the far end of the main shot above (one of just 1299 made). The glassfibre bodywork of these cars has lasted well outdoors, even if some other parts haven’t. Lotus Elite Pick of this tucked-away trio of Hethel cars must be this glorious gold Lotus Elite S1 (Type 75), one…

Bicester Heritage has transformed a disused RAF base dating back to the Twenties into a home for classic car businesses. Today over 30 classic specialists reside on one dedicated site. Businessman Dan Geoghegan still runs the place, being part of the team that had the original idea and saw it through to success. ‘I spent thousands of miles fulfilling my hobby, trying to get cars restored, and all of the specialists were scattered around the country and not very good at common locations,’ he said. So Bicester was chosen and became a hub, where classic car businesses could cluster. Today Bicester has a unique collection of refurbished and restored red brick buildings, hangars, tree-lined avenues and airfield to provide an authentic period setting for specialists, vehicle owners, enthusiasts and visitors…

17 WED OCT H&H Classics, Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambs. (01925 210035, handh.co.uk) 18 THU OCT Brightwells Modern Classics, Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire. (01568 611122, brightwells.com) 24 WED OCT Brightwells Classic & Vintage, Bicester Heritage, Bicester, Oxfordshire. (01568 611122, brightwells.com) 26 FRI OCT South West Vehicle Auctions’ classic sale, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset. (01202 745466, swva.co.uk) 27 SAT OCT Barons Auctions’ Autumn Classic sale, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey. (023 8066 8413, barons-auctions.com) 2 FRI NOV Bonhams’ London to Brighton sale, New Bond Street, London. (020 7468 5801, bonhams.com/cars) 3 SAT NOV Anglia Car Auctions’, The Cattlemarket, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. (01553 771881, angliacarauctions.co.uk) 4 SUN NOV Charterhouse, Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet. (01935 812277, charterhouseauction.com )…

1948 Minor MM debuts at Earls Court, with a 918cc sidevalve engine. 1949 Headlamps moved to top of front wings, initially for the North American market only. 1950 Four-door saloon is introduced. 1952 Series II with 803cc power is a result of Morris and Austin merging to become BMC. 1953 Traveller, van and pick-up are introduced.MM production is ceased 1954 Series II gets a facelift, with revised dash plus a new grille and lights. 1956 Morris 1000 replaces Series II, with one-piece screen, 948cc engine.…

1961 Just 350 Minor Millions are built, to celebrate the millionth Minor. 1962 A 1098cc engine supersedes the 948cc unit. 1963 There are fresh front and rear lights. 1964 All Minors get better seats and heating plus a revised dash. 1969 The very last example of the Convertible leaves factory. 1970 It’s the final year of saloon production. 1971 The very last Traveller leaves the production line in April. 1974 Morris Minor production in New Zealand is ended.…

If you want to keep things stock there’s a good supply of new and used parts. Most projects need lots of welding, but good used panels are scarce so you’ll have to buy new. You can buy GRP or steel front wings, the latter in repro form or OE (the latter cost more, but take less time to fit). If recommissioning a Minor that’s been laid up for years, bank on replacing tyres, brakes, water and fuel pumps plus all service items as a matter of course. Beware of cars with a wrecked or missing interior as there’s a shortage of decent used seats good enough to refurbish. Trim kits are excellent, but it’s easy to spend £1500 just getting the cabin up to scratch. Upgrades are common, with many…

1998 BMW 328i Coupé Auto Engine 2793cc/6-cyl/OHC Power 193bhp@5300rpm 0-60mph 7.7sec Top speed 144mph The classic signs were there: too much dreaming about cars on holiday, too much time browsing internet auction sites. I’ve loved my time with Trigger the BMW 323i Coupé, which got me hooked on BMW’s mid-Nineties E36 range... but what I really wanted was a 328i. Its extra 300cc and 25bhp delivers more torque at lower rpm, making it rapid and relaxed – a mix that really appeals to this particular petrolhead. Eventually a 328i Coupé popped up at a fair price, 57,000 miles from new, service history and a long list of factory options. A quick phone call established that owner Peter Sorrell had clearly cherished his ‘weekend car’, so I hopped to his Barnsley…

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. Centralise the arm It’s essential that the Pitman arm of the steering box is in…

You will need Carburettor cleaner, multimeter, fuel pressure tester, exhaust gas analyser. Fuel safety The injection system contains fuel under high pressure. Wear gloves and safety glasses when releasing fuel lines. Be prepared to catch fuel spillages and keep a fire extinguisher handy. Trial and error Many faults can be diagnosed with simple tests. Often, though, the only way to be certain that a suspect component has failed is to fit a known good replacement and see what happens. Check electrics first If you suspect an injection system fault, start by cleaning the numerous electrical connections to the system’s components. Basic servicing Replace the fuel filter every 10,000 miles or few years. The same applies to the air filter, which is underneath the metering unit. The mechanical fuel injection systems…

You will need Welder, angle grinder, drills, taps, scrap metal. Avoid clashes Lay all your upgrades in place before you commit yourself to welding bits on. Frame stiffness The frame of a standard £160 swager will be fine for soft materials, like aluminium, and for thin mild steel. For the 1.2-1.5mm mild steel used in structural parts, though, we recommend beefing it up. Be kind to your ankles Round off all the edges of the base or they’ll find your shins when you move it. If you’re going to fabricate repair patches or panels, there’s one tool you’ll find invaluable: the swager. You might see it called a ‘jenny’ or a ‘bead roller’ on YouTube videos originating in America. They were once the preserve of professionals and rich DIY enthusiasts.…

NEW MINI REGISTER The MINI Y Register, for all modern MINIs built in 2001, was started over two years ago and has gone from strength to strength. Now there is an 02 S Register for all MINI Cooper S (R53) models built in 2002, the first year of MINI Cooper S production. 02sregister.co.uk . AUSTIN 7 FOR LOAN PROJECT  A 1934 Austin Seven saloon has been offered by the Pre War Austin Seven Club to the classic Car Loan Project, designed to encourage new enthusiasts into the classic vehicle movement. The PWA7C has sourced the 1934 saloon with the clear intention of giving an extended driving opportunity to a newcomer. The car has been prepared and will be available in early 2019 for the remainder of the year. It…

One of Britain’s most exciting automotive eras is explored in the latest special publication. Telling the story of our best loved British classics, The Enthusiasts Guide to the BMC includes superb restoration stories, in-depth buying guides, real tales of driving adventure and historic analysis and images. The corporation’s most innovative and popular models are celebrated with period advertising and stunning photographs. From the Counties to the Maxi via Mini, Austin Healey, Riley, Austin Wolseley and Morris. greatmagazines.co.uk/ practical-classics-specials .…

MGB: The Illustrated History £35 ISBN: 978-1-787113-62-9 Lavishly illustrated and in-depth, this well-written book looks behind the scenes at Abingdon. This new fourth edition includes brand-new illustrations and an original road-test report. veloce.co.uk TR2 & 3 and Land Rover Discovery £12.99 ISBN: 978-1-787112-72-8 and ISBN: 978-1-787112-41-4 With these buying guides, you can swot up on all you need to know before buying one of these classics. veloce.co.uk Land Rover Emergency Vehicles £30 ISBN:978-1-787112-44-5 This is the full 70-year story of the use of Land Rovers as emergency service vehicles, written by marque expert James Taylor. It includes examples of conversions for fire, police and ambulance service and shows how the different types have been adapted for specific roles. veloce.co.uk…

The Austin 3 Litre Owners’ Club is hoping to help with a recent barn find that sold on eBay. Says club chairman Neil Kidby: ‘The car had seemingly done just 13,000 miles, but the interior needed quite a bit of work and the engine had seized. Some club members bid on it, but it was sold to an unknown buyer. As long as they’re aiming to keep the car and restore it for their own use we’d love to help, providing as many free parts as we’re able to. All we want to do is keep these cars on the road.’ Contact the club via austinthreelitre.co.uk.…

Allez! In French Corner, dig the lemon-coloured R5, the egg-yolk R15 in front of it, two R16s and a sludge-coloured R12 estate. Ascona! It’s odd to British eyes to explore a car park so full of cars we almost never saw; Vauxhall gave us Victors and Vivas instead of Asconas and Kadetts. A good start The VW Passat was based on the Audi 80 and from 1973, had the job of convincing people VW’s didn’t have to be air-cooled. It worked – two million were sold by the time the next Passat arrived in 1980, with the Golf, Polo and Scirocco also established. Beetlejuice There are thirteen examples of the VW Beetle in this shot, testament to the enduring popularity of the model. Production of the Beetle in Germany factories…

Jaguar was nothing if not confident in the beginning: ‘September 10, 1975. A black day for Modena, Stuttgart and Turin’. So ran the Coventry company’s striking new XJ-S advertisement, which promised the kind of heady, high-speed transcontinental cruising offered by the Ferraris, Mercedes and Fiat Dinos of the aforementioned cities. Trouble was, Jaguar had had its own black day two years earlier when the oil crisis struck, prompting fuel shortages and price hikes. Not good, for a car averaging 16mpg. Jaguar had not only to explain why the XJ-S did not replace the E-type, but justify a car that could burn off gallons of five star much like a taxiing jet. Motor Magazine was not slow to see its contrasts. ‘It’s large, heavy thirsty and cramped in the…

1989 Trabant P601 One of the most recognisable symbols of Eastern Bloc motoring, the two-stroke Trabant has a Duroplast body (rather than cardboard, as often stated). Peter’s car was built in the same month the Berlin Wall fell – November 1989. 1990 Tatra 613-3 The successor to the 603, the Vignaledesigned 613 was fitted with a larger 3.5-litre rear-mounted V8 blessed with quadruple overhead camshafts. 1986 Wartburg 353 W One of the few Eastern Bloc models of its era to make an impression in the west, this model found a home with 19,000 UK motorists under the name of the Wartburg Knight. A 992cc two-stroke, of course, it’s Peter’s practical long-distance load-lugger.…

Actually start the welding marathon on my Rover R8 216 GTi. Still on my ‘To do’ list – which is growing ever longer. Andrew Pullen Previously, the battery in my VTII Holden Commodore had an acid explosion, partially melting many parts in that part of the engine bay. There are many parts around the battery requiring replacement, as well as a partial respray of the engine bay. Soon! Richard Eggleston The rear electric windows on my Audi haven’t worked in the seven years I’ve owned it. I have the parts… Ian Nesbitt Strip and rebuild the carbs on my Rover P6 V8…it has been well over a year now! Barrie Smith I’ve been avoiding stripping the doors on my Golf MkIV to replace the knackered lock mechanism because the flippin’…

I took delivery of my brand-new Volvo V70 estate in 1997. It was ideal: roomy enough for holiday trips,and rugged enough for my commute. In 2000, a career move (and change of employer) threatened to end this wonderful relationship. The car was nearing the end of the lease, with 55k miles on the clock. I approached the leasing company and agreed to purchase the car for £11,395. In the next five years I clocked up over 100k miles. I promised myself that one day I'd treat myself and upgrade the family car, but the V70 was cheap to run and didn’t owe me anything. My 50th came and went, but no new car appeared. A year later I did treat myself to a Jaguar XK8, but the trusty Volvo is…

‘When we clean a car, we see it for what it is, and for what made us want it’ A car always runs better after it has been washed. Fact. It’s smoother, it’s faster and it rides better. The rattles diminish. Everything has improved. If you polish it as well, and you vacuum out the interior and run a damp chamois leather over the inside of the glass, it runs even better again. It’s true. How can it be true? Nothing has changed in any of the mechanical components. Well, during WWII, some photo-reconnaissance pilots used Spitfires that were stripped of paint and had the aluminium beneath polished. It reduced weight and, crucially, it reduced wind resistance because air could flow more easily over polished metal than over matt paintwork.…

Bonhams’ recent sale at the Beaulieu Autojumble delivered three important reminders. Firstly, that the chance of bagging a real no-reserve bargain is one of the main things that makes auctions so exciting in the first place; also, that whatever anyone says, the days of such deals are still (or at least back) with us. And finally, that it’s always worth hanging around for the tail-end Charlies in the last half-hour of any sale. And yes, that’s exactly what I didn’t do; this column is being written from the land of missed opportunity. The particular car causing me to rest forehead on solid oak desktop is the thoroughly named 1967 AMC Rambler American Rogue Hardtop Coupe that formed Lot 617 at the sale. But it was, to be fair, an easy…

1989 BMW 635CSI Highline Price: £12,995 Bang on the money and in favoured black on black. Full history to confirm the 97,800 miles and a new set of Michelin Pilot tyres. 1972 MG Midget MkIII Price: £3000 This looks like a very tempting price for a 1275 Midget that was restored ten years ago and has been garaged since. Just needs a fresh MoT. 1971 Lotus Elan +2 convertible Price: £10,950 Aftermarket soft-top conversion, now fitted with a Spyder chassis. 98,000 miles but recent engine overhaul by Lotus specialist.…

Richard Plant has run Minorparts of Oxford for more than 40 years. He comments: ‘We do anything on a Minor, from simple maintenance work to some full restorations, although with just two of us here there’s a limit to how many big projects we can take on. We also sell some new and used parts and we often have cars for sale. We’ve got several customers who have owned their Minors from new – one bought his in 1970 and it’s the only car he’s ever owned.’ SELECTED SPECIALISTS Bull Motif, 01242 609598, morrisminorspares.net Charles Ware 0117 3003 754, morrisminor.org.uk David Manners, 0121 544 5522, jagspares.co.uk ESM Morris Minors, 01580 200203, morrisminorspares.co.uk Minorparts of Oxford, 01993 830349, minorpartsofoxford.co.uk Morris Minor Workshop, 01580 200062, morrisminorworkshop.com…

BOUGHT AS AN MOT FAILURE 2003 Rover 45 1.6 Previous owner Frank had enjoyed the car for many years, but faced with health issues and an MoT failure sheet, decided to scrap it… or sell for the equivalent value. He was happy to see it live on in safe hands. PRICE: £140 BOUGHT FROM A FRIEND 1998 FORD MONDEO V6 ESTATE GHIA Bought with a short MoT. Then bought again from Danny, complete with gearbox fault. I spent two years fixing it, but it all feels worth it now. PRICE: £200 BOUGHT FROM MY HOMETOWN 1994 CITROËN AX 1.4 D Just 36,000 miles, full service history and all bills. Family owned from new, no MoT, but dry stored all its life. Saved from the scrapman. PRICE: £200 Everyone seems to…

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 Assessed, plan decided upon. Also in Matt’s garage 1960 MINOR CONVERTIBLE Excellent fun in the sun. 1969 MORRIS MINOR TRAVELLER The current choice as my daily driver and all-rounder. 1972 MGB GT Tows a trailer tent with ease, despite saggy leaf springs. Little did I know, aged sixteen, that when I handed over £1100 of my hard-earned Saturday-job cash that the ever so slightly crusty-round-the-edges Morris Minor I was buying would go on to change my life. With six months to go until I could actually drive the car, I decided the most sensible thing I could do would be to take it apart. That was the…

1976 ZAZ 968A ‘Zaporozhets’ Engine 1197cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 41bhp @ 4400rpm Torque 55lb ft@2700rpm 0-60mph 25sec Top speed 74mph Fuel economy 34mpg Work done Work on distributor, carburettor and wheel bearings; new driveshaft gaiters. Something horrible done to the crankshaft. Also in Ed’s garage 1969 WARTBURG TOURIST Ed never gets tired of whirring around in this Tardis-like piece of two-stroke excellence. 1972 MOSKVICH 427 Not been quite on form yet this year. Improvement work has been scheduled. With the Wartburg project successfully stalled ( Practical Classics , October 2018) I decided to spend a little time keeping the up-and-running cars on form. With that in mind, I turned my attention first to the Zaporozhets. It came out of the shed late last year – in fact it had been laid up…

A spark plug is supplied with 8000 to 15,000 volts to ignite the fuel and air mixture in the cylinder. The ignition system that makes this happen is remarkably simple in principle. The clever bit is that it needs to be robust and consistent enough to reliably supply 200 precisely-timed sparks per second when the engine’s running at full chat. 1. Contact breakers The ignition coil is connected to earth through the contact breakers, or ‘points’. One contact is pivoted and is held against the other by a strip of spring-steel. 2. Distributor cam The contact breakers are opened by the rotating cam of the distributor. This suddenly interrupts the coil current. 3. Condenser At the instant the contact breakers start to open, the condenser quickly fills with electrical charge.…

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:…