Índex per January 2016 a Practical Classics

Britain has become a nation of aggressively swift drivers and it’s down to marketing and design. Those yowling young men with disproportionately bulky beards and skinny jeans who go giddy at the use of phrases like ‘thinking outside the box’ invariably don’t think in or outside of any boxes at all. They’re in focus groups, drinking cheap fizz and telling car manufacturers we all want to drive everywhere at 300 miles per hour – like the ‘winners’ we are. So the words ‘sporty’, ‘striking’ and ‘compelling’ infest our car brochures. But striking is rarely beautiful. Gaping plastic grilles, jagged scallops and swept back boss-eyed headlamps simply supply an air of mindless aggression. Add to this low profile tyres and a crashing ride, it all feeds the notion we share a…

TAKE THAT TAX DISC OUT Owners can be fined and given points for displaying out of date tax discs, despite the fact that discs have been abolished. It’s unclear whether this is as a result of it partially blocking vision or because out-dated tax disc laws are still in force. HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR EU The EU roadworthiness testing directive must be adopted by 2018. The FHBVC has prepared a paper for Greg Knight of the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicles Group. Three options – exemption from MoT for standard vehicles over 40 years old, a basic test for vehicles over 40 years old, or blanket full testing. DVLA CHANGES NOT CHANGES A number of issues which the FHBVC feels have represented changes in DVLA policy have in fact…

Yokohama has launched a tyre to commemorate their partnership with Chelsea FC; the BluEarth-A AE50 Chelsea FC Edition. The tyre will be available in three sizes (225/45R17 94W, 205/55/R16 91V, and 195/ 65R15 91H). The official press release states: ‘The sidewall design was modified to include large, complementing logos of both Yokohama and Chelsea FC, as a strong proclamation of their partnership.’ Prices are set to be similar to standard AE50s. We question the appeal of these tyres; on the basis that for ardent football fans they could prompt vandalism or cost the owner a sale. We’d certainly hate to drive a car so-equipped to an away game……

James Bond Cars £25 ISBN 978-1-78131-538-5 On the face of it this looks like a great gift for James Bond fans, with plenty of superb images, but it’s a shame author Frederic Brun doesn’t go into greater detail about the vehicles that were used and when. Sadly, brilliant anecdotes including the original James Bond Aston Martin inspiration don’t always make up for factual inaccuracies including registrations of cars pictured on the same page. Pretty, but not for real anoraks. www.dauntbooks.co.uk Haynes Cutaway Colouring Owners’ Paintshop Manual £6.99 ISBN 978-1-78521-069-3 For the big kid in your life; this colouring book uses Terry Davey’s brilliant Haynes cutaways to create a truly eccentric Christmas gift. Ever wanted to experiment with colour schemes on classics including the MGA and Mini? Now’s your chance. A…

28 SAT NOV LINCS Lincoln Autojumble, Hemswell Cliff, DN21 5TJ (www.lincolnautojumble.com) 29 SUN NOV WORCS Classic car and bike autojumble at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, WR13 6NW (www.classicshows.org). MIDDLESEX Whitewebbs Museum open day, EN2 9HW (www.whitewebbsmuseum.co.uk). Derbys: The Great British Land Rover Show at Donington Park, DE74 2RP (www.greatbritishlrshow.com). 4-6 FRI-SUN DEC GLOS Merlin Events Christmas Cracker; tour of the Cotswolds (www.merlinevents.com). 5 SAT DEC YORKS Rufforth Autojumble at Rufforth Park, YO23 3QH (rufforthautojumble.com). 6 SUN DEC SOMERSET Breakfast Club at the Haynes Museum, BA22 7LH (www.haynes motor museum.com). 8 TUES DEC LONDON Classic car night at the Ace Café, NW10 7UD (www.ace-cafe-london.com). 10 THURS DEC LONDON Italian bikes and cars night at the Ace Café, NW10 7UD (www.ace-cafe-london.com). 13 SUN DEC NOTTS Newark Autojumble, Newark Showground, NG24 2NY…

It’s a grisly but successful year for American homicide detectives as four serial killers are banged up: the Vampire of Sacramento, the Hillside Strangler, the Son of Sam and Ted Bundy. Over here, we have a different but equally strange kind of murder to deal with as Georgi Markov is poked with a poisoned umbrella. Pope John Paul succeeds Pope Paul IV but is succeeded himself by John Paul II after he dies only 33 days into his papacy. On a far lighter note, cartoon strip Garfield makes its debut. AT THE FLICKS I got thrills, they’re mutliplyin’. It’s the thought of seeing Olivia Newton-John in that ill-advised leather catsuit at the end of Grease . IN THE CHARTS It’s a fine year for female singers –…

A Lada good points indeed What a pleasure to read about Sam’s adventures in far off places ( PC October 2015). Especially enjoyable for me as the ‘star’ of the piece, er… sorry Sam, the supporting act, was a Lada Niva! It was a delight to have the Niva featured in PC, since these capable and reliable cars are often derided by the ‘sniffy’ classes and passed over by other journals in favour of certain other home grown, off road, vehicles. I’m enjoying my third Niva here in Spain, having had a 1600 Niva and a Cossack in the UK. Above all, the Niva is a cheerful car and achieves the one thing every classic must do: makes you smile each time you see it! Paul Gough, Spain I’VE GOT…

1 MAY 2013 The teabag There was more fresh air than steel in the Mini’s floor. No wonder that crossmember had let go . Note the bracing bars, fitted ASAP. 2 JUNE 2013 The new floor Essential reference point wasn’t cheap but squared the car up, braced it and made repairs forward of the panel that much easier. 3 JUNE 2014 New steel Marathon welding session resulted in a much stronger car whose bottom four inches comprised entirely new metel. Next job was stripping off the old paint… 4 SEPTEMBER 2014 Roof Vic didn’t know it at the time, but his thoroughly rotten Mini turned out to be a rare flat-roof model, which was replaced by a quieter ribbed roof design in October 1965. 5 DECEMBER 2014 Wood! Non-structural exterior…

As I write this, the Volkswagen emissions scandal is in full swing. Clearly it should never have happened, and whichever VW boffin came up with the idea of a super-clean test mode triggered only by laboratory conditions could hardly have imagined the company meltdown that has resulted. There has been much corporate falling on swords, and unfortunately it has led to the departure of some excellent engineering brains now tainted, unjustifiably perhaps, simply by the guilt of association. The fact is that Volkswagen as a company has done more than most to further the cause of the ultra-clean, ultra-economical car, most impressively the low, narrow, carbonfibre-structured XL1 that I drove two years ago. This plug-in hybrid with its two-cylinder turbodiesel achieves 313mpg and 21g/km CO2 on the admittedly-flawed official tests…

I have come to love this event and of all the different runs and driving events in my calendar, it is my favourite. The reasons for this are fairly straightforward; It’s a real adventure, the other crews rapidly become best friends to you and it’s rare to see another entrant’s face without a smile on it, or your own as you drive a great car on some great roads. Organising the event takes two years and begins with the route – this is never the same twice, although there is one common location that being the converted monastery of Rolduc Abbey in the Netherlands for the final night’s party. This is an amazing place – everyone should go there at least once. As for the beer brewed there by the…

WED NOV 25 Brightwells, Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire (01568 611122, www.brightwells.com) SAT NOV 28 Historics at Brooklands, Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey (01753 639170, www.historics.co.uk) SAT DEC 5 Classic Car Auctions, Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Leamington Spa, Warks (01926 640888, classiccarauctions.co.uk) SUN DEC 6 Bonhams, New Bond Street, London W1S (020 7468 5801, www.bonhams.com/ cars) WED DEC 9 H&H Classic Auctions, Chateau Impney, Droitwich Spa, Worcs (01925 210035, www.hand.co.uk) THURS DEC 10 Bonhams, New Bond Street, RAF Hendon, NW London (020 7468 5801, www.bonhams.com/cars) TUE DEC 15 Barons’ Yuletide Classic, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey (08454 306060, www.barons-auctions.com) SAT JAN 23 Anglia Car Auctions, The Cattlemarket, King’s Lynn, Norfolk (01553 771881, www.angliacarauctions.co.uk)…

Those pre-war lines cover a pre-war construction, so there’s the spectre of rusted steel panels as well as rotten timber in the doors, A-posts and windscreen surround; the rear of the car is predominantly steel. Many repair panels are available from the Riley RM Club though. There are no jigs available so individual sections of timber have to be replaced one at a time; you can’t strip everything down at once, or everything will distort. If the car is really tatty, nothing less than a complete dissection will do (a section at a time). Tackling rotten wood might fill you with horror but it’s easier than you think as there are no tricky joints. The RM Club can supply most of the parts, and while fitting it all together takes…

1970 Volvo 164 Engine 2978cc/6-cyl/OHV Top speed 113mph Fuel economy 20mpg Work since last report Massive bodywork challenge completed It failed miserably last year to take part in our ‘Winter Warmers’ feature, but this year I was determined to make it an active competitor in PC’s annual winter jaunt. I’ll give you the full lowdown next time, but initial work was rust based. The inner wings where the bonnet attaches and the inner wings at the back where the rear shock absorbers mount were basically missing. Proof that Volvos rust. Patches were made up and it is here that I should give a shout out to Michael Coman from Leeds College. If you want to watch the step by step process he took to replace the nearside bonnet mount on…

2 Slave rebuilt A hone and a set of seals saw the clutch slave cylinder ready for another round of service. 1 Master replaced This longwinded task involved pedal box removal and painful grovelling. 3 Head work A heavy crust of carbon was scrubbed from the valves, ports and combustion chambers with a wire brush in an electric drill. The valves and seats required intensive lapping-in with a Gunson Eezilap and lashings of coarse grinding paste. 4 Victorious reassembly The head went back together submissively, complete with a new valve stem oil seals and manifold studs. 5 Depleted seals The original valve stem oil seals had turned to charcoal and were doing nothing useful.…

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 Full front calipers overhaul. 9 (Hrs) TIME 15 (£) SPENT 0 MILES Also in Gary’s garage 1980 SAAB 99 TURBO Ex-Saab press car in need of complete restoration. I’ve been rebuilding four calipers and the master cylinder for a rare Fiat 2300S coupé recently, sourcing spares for the braking system in general. It made sense to continue my newly found sources of Girling spares and refreshed caliper know-how to begin rebuilding the Peerless’ calipers. I knew they had been dismantled by the previous owner and that the pistons were missing, but that was all I knew. Closer inspection showed both piston bores on one caliper…

1978 Triumph Spitfire 1500 Engine 1493cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 71bhp@5500rpm Torque 82lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d Top speed 101mph 0-60mph 11.3sec Fuel economy 29mpg Work done Replaced both track rod ends, wooden window templates and polycarbonate versions. 2 (months) TIME ££ (£) SPENT 0 MILES Last time I left you having spun up some oil pressure on my project racecar’s engine, preparing to try to start it for the first time in six years. Come go time, I refitted the spark plugs and tipped five litres of fuel into the tank. The moment of truth then… ignition on, fuel on, choke out, push starter button... engine spinning. A couple of coughs, but it all seemed very reluctant and then the battery was flat. Darn! I stuck the battery on charge…

DIFFICULTY RATING TIME (HRS) 3 MONEY (£) 0 You will need Basic tool kit, light oil and grease, test lamp, timing gun, white paint or Tipp-Ex. Strobe light A strobe timing light is the only way to measure ignition timing once the engine’s running. Tachometer A handheld tachometer is needed if you want to do in-depth work. Get a manual This will tell you how the distributor is supposed to perform at different engine speeds. It’s usual to set your classic’s ignition timing using a test lamp with the engine stationary or using a strobe light (timing gun) at tickover. This isn’t the whole story, though. As the engine speed and load vary, the timing is automatically altered by the centrifugal and – if fitted – vacuum advance mechanisms in…

DIFFICULTY RATING TIME (HRS) 5 MONEY (£) 40 You will need Welder, angle-grinder (with cutting, grinding and flap discs), electric drill and bits, set-square and rule, chalk or pen, tape measure, basic hand tools. Sockets Place the sockets towards the ends of the legs to give the grinders more reach. Add weight Fill with kiln-dried sand. Shake the stand to fill the ends of the legs. Finishing Clean any spatter from the stand, wipe it with thinners and paint it. The easier something is to do, the more likely it is that you’ll do it. It’s largely for this reason that when a cheap angle-grinder has come up on offer at the local tool shop or DIY store, we’ve bought it for the Practical Classics workshop. It avoids the tedium…

Sam Glover TECHNICAL EDITOR You name it, Sam’s probably owned it, broken it and worked out how to mend it. John Simpson MASTER MECHANIC Big John has worked at the greasy end of the motor trade since leaving school. Theo Gillam TECHNICAL EXPERT Theo teaches automotive engineering and makes amazing things in his shed. Ed Hughes WORKSHOP GENIUS Ed keeps a fleet of obscure classics on the road. He’s never owned a modern car. Nigel Clark WEEKEND TINKERER Nigel’s DIY achievements rival those of many professional mechanics. Kim Henson CLASSIC CAR GURU Kim’s been restoring cars for over four decades. BMC vehicles are his speciality. WOLSELEY 16/60 Wolseley wanders on rough roads Q My Wolseley 16/60 wanders all over the road at the slightest hint of a bad surface. Fitting…

It seems incredible that Velvetex hasn’t conquered the kind of finish usually reserved for doormats or tennis courts? Stick Velvetex all over your panels and no longer would you have to worry about drying-out marks after washing, or whether the car is due for another coat of wax yet. world since this advert was printed in 1970. Just why wouldn’t you want your car to feature the Hairy Look – the Think of all the money car owners could have saved over the past 45 years if they’d invested in the Hairy Look instead of fresh paint after their panels had been attacked by rust or parking scrapes. However, I can’t help but wonder how carwash-friendly this Renault 16 would be. Drive it into an automatic car wash and sparks…

The Club Triumph 10CR was an amazing experience. Read all about it on p76. We only got lost once… I sold my MGB GT LE. Formerly Lord Montagu’s ride, it is now in the safe hands of Mr Reader in Staffs. A Riley 1 ½ that I stored in bits for a year or so 12 years ago turned up again – looking like this! My Volvo 164 ran up and down the yard! Read all about it in our ‘winter warmers’ feature next issue… The PC Westfield has been won by Brian Miles of Salisbury. He has even joined the Westfield Club.…

Modern Classics returns The December/January edition of Modern Classics magazine is on sale soon – and in this issue the BMW M5 meets its super saloon rivals and nine Japanese gamechangers are put through their paces. More details at: www.facebook.com/modernc lassicsmagazine Drive It Day club focused As part of FIVA’s World Motoring Heritage Year, the Drive It Day will focus on club-organised events. This addresses concerns raised by the FHBVC that FIVA may be seen as representing only the higher end of the classic car scene, by ensuring clubs develop events appropriate for their cars. Start ‘em young A 21 year-old apprentice was on hand to rescue stricken veteran cars at the London-Brighton Veteran Car Run. Ben Taylor works with Classic Motor Cars of Bridgnorth, and described the event as…

Restorer of the Year The Practical Classics Restorer of Year competition in association with Heritage Classic Car Insurance now has its own website with all the competing restorers listed and latest news on the cars. Visit www.restoreroftheyear.co.uk for all the latest news and information on voting for your favourite. Wolseley nominated The Wolseley Register has been nominated to be the Club of The Year at the International Historic Motoring Awards. They are in the running with four other clubs: The Veteran Motor Car Club of America, Benjafield’s Racing Club, Vintage Hot Rod Association, The Wolseley Register and Porsche Club GB.…

Volvo appeal If you were at the NEC show you’ll have seen Volvo Enthusiasts’ Club founder Kevin Price’s PV831 limousine. It’s one of just 200 made and was used in period by the King of Sweden. Kevin’s car needs a new engine; it’s a 3670cc side-valve six-cylinder ED unit. If you can help, drop him a line at: kevinprice.vec@btinternet.com Stag weekend The Stag Owners’ Club has unveiled plans for its 2016 Summer Spectacular, a social weekend that will take place at Wicksteed Park, Kettering on July 9-10. If you can’t wait that long, head to the club’s West Yorkshire Winter Warmer Weekend on January 29-31. www.stag.org.uk Ford abroad Stuart Battersby has been in touch from the Ford Sidevalve Owners Club (FSOC) to highlight just how international its membership is. Club…

Open the door, which is as slim as a tea tray, and wave a leg into the footwell. Follow your left knee around the steering column and crouch down onto the seat. This one is brand new and so firmly stuffed that my bonce is in the headlining. I turn the little key and push the starter button on the floor. The engine pops into life and I examine the tiny pedals –each looks like it would fit under a big toe. Once underway, the lively, direct steering communicates endlessly through the skinny steering wheel, the only control that feels big in this Lilliput interior. The engine is still running in but you can still tell that 850cc Minis – and their brakes – belong in a more sedate age.…

It was a dark and stormy night and I was staggering back from a pub in the Czech city of Koprivnice. Through the gloom, the rain and several pints of Pilsner Urquell, I witnessed a spectre that haunted me for years. Shimmering on a street corner was strikingly funny-looking van with Škoda 120 headlights, a Hyundai steering wheel and ghostly white glassfibre bodywork. Weirder still, the lumpen proboscis at the front of the bonnet bore a Tatra badge. I reported the apparition to my Tatra-savvy friend Simon Redrup. ‘Ahhh… that would’ve been a Tatra Beta,’ he mused. ‘You’d like them,’ he added, accusatorially. Research ensued. The Beta was designed by Elcar, the electric vehicle division of Škoda. It was put tentatively into production as the Škoda Beta in 1994, powered…

As you’d expect, driving this car is absolutely nothing like driving a regular Ford Zephyr. Driving a standard Zephyr quickly can be hard work, because there’s no such thing as a snappy column gear change. John’s Zephyr is a revelation – the Mustang II power steering is sharp and feather-light, with just a few turns lock to lock. Power is plentiful but not over the top – the carb is a small two-barrel so there’s no cammy roaring and charging, just loads of grunt. It feels smaller, lighter and more agile than a standard Zephyr, and handling is predictable and balanced. The floor change is firm, precise and clicky, and the fifth gear perfect for cruising. You rarely need to change down for inclines unless you want to doubledeclutch and…

After the the dust had settled on the most recent round of auction sales there’s a lot of evidence that the overheated classic car market has at last slowed down, and we are returning to a kind of normality. Stuff is still selling, though only if it’s priced right, and a truce has been called on the frenzied ‘must have it now’ bidding battles. Exceptional results have returned to being just that: exceptional. Most sales have dropped back to a good old-fashioned 65-70% of lots finding homes, and the rough stuff being ignored. And poor old Barons had a nightmare at their Autumn Classic, moving just 25 of the 77 cars on offer. I also hear some smarter auctioneers are turning away a fair percentage of cars being offered as…

1950 Chrysler New Yorker Price: £14,950 Ticks the ‘special’ box by being a pillarless coupe, offered in excellent condition throughout. 5.2L straight-eight under the bonnet. 1989 Mercedes-Benz 200 Price: £1495 The supply of decent W124 Mercs is drying up fast… this four-pot’s had just one owner since 1989 and done less than 103k. 1986 Vauxhall Cavalier Convertible Price: £3350 That price looks like a steal for a Cav drop-top that’s totally original, only used for shows, and has covered a mere 33,000 miles.…

Winter’s here, and it’s time to wrap up warm. The sensible folk will be tucked away inside with a cup of hot Bovril and a roaring fire. But not we hardy few: those of us who love classics will be itching to get back out into the garage and tinker. But with what you cry? Well, it’s common knowledge that convertibles only get more expensive as it gets warmer, so why not buy one now, restore it and use it over summer? Top down thrills It’s not such a daft idea, and they aren’t expensive either. For under £2500 you could be on the road in your own classic convertible! But what to choose? There’s the safety of the MGB: like a favourite blanket the MGB envelops the classic car…

1972 Triumph 2000 Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 135bhp (est) Torque Sufficient Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d 0-60mph Unknown Fuel economy 28mpg Work done Brake pads replaced and bedded in for the big trip. 1 (day) TIME 60 (£) SPENT 2500 MILES Also in Matt’s garage 1968 VW BEETLE Has emerged from the lockup at last. More news soon. 1995 VAUXHALL ASTRA MERIT My surprisingly OK winter ride. Could it be a classic? ‘We got very, very lost in the Czech Republic’ I closed my previous Saga ( PC November 2015) by stating that, with my clutch issues finally resolved, the 2000 was ready for Europe. However, with the mountain passes ahead in mind, I decided to go for a final braking upgrade with some well-regarded 1144 brake pads from Mintex. These…

1985 Renault 5 GTL Engine 1397cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 59bhp@5250rpm Torque 77lb ft@2500rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 13.2sec Top speed 98mph Fuel economy 40mpg Work done Fuel hoses replaced, standard service and a thorough scrub. 1 (Days) TIME 160 (£) SPENT 800 MILES Also in James’s garage 1978 AUSTIN MAXI Displacer solution found! 1971 CITROËN AMI 8 Err, I’ve bought another one! 1988 CITROËN CX 22TRS Running like a dream. It won’t have escaped your notice that there’s a woman on this page – and she appears to be shutting me in the boot of my new Renault 5. Well, I say ‘my’ new Renault 5 – Practical Classics art director Lisa-Marie Johnson has stolen it. To explain why, it must first be clarified what an art director does. While the editor…

1 In need of some TLC As bought with the car. Surface rust but gratefully dismantled. 2 Not as bad as expected Both calipers had light rust in their bore seal grooves, but nothing terminal. 3 A nice bit of kit This version of Millar’s soda blasting pot is also able to blast with harder materials for rust removal, making it a great all-rounder for workshop use. 4 A whole lot better Careful use of Archifine made the grooves rust-free and, err, groovy again. Time for some paint then… 5 Prime candidates Two coats of zinc-rich primer first. Note the old piston being used to mask off the bore from overspray. 6 Very nice! Almost there. Another coat of gold will satisfy me, but the calipers are looking so much…

One to two spanners An easy job that’s well within the reach of any home mechanic. You’ll need a basic tool kit and a steady supply of cups of tea. Three to four spanners Requires a higher level of knowledge and skill, but still achievable at home. Five spanners Requires expert or professional skill levels. Specialist equipment might be needed. Safety first Take common-sense safety precautions. Wear protective clothing, goggles and masks where necessary. Use axle stands when working under a car.…

DIFFICULTY RATING TIME (HRS) 3 MONEY (£) 0 You will need Basic toolkit, small screwdrivers, light oil and grease, sat nav or other GPS device (for calibration). Gearbox drive A change of axle ratio or fitting an overdrive usually requires a new pair of drive gears. Removal Your manual will tell you how to extract your speedo nondestructively. Lubricate Grease the cable if the needle’s jumping. Treating your classic’s speedometer to a little gentle attention from time-to-time is an excellent plan. Speedos can suffer from a variety of faults, ranging from annoying clicking noises to serious under-reading that could result in a speeding ticket. Plus, if it’s clearly inoperative, it’ll fail an MoT. A morning’s fettling should see your speedo running happily and give you a good idea of its…

Some years ago, I was baffled by an ever-increasing drop-off in the performance of my ageing Lada Riva 1.5 Catalyst. The car had an electronically-regulated carburettor – a Heath Robinson device that saw most of its brethren sold to Russian trawlermen after their first MoT. However, I could find no fault with this, so I had a look at the catalytic converter. It was completely blocked. It should be possible to see through the honeycomb structure when held up to the light, but not even a chink was evident.…

A 750 MOTOR CLUB 01379 741641AC 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 AUDI www.club-audi.co.uk AUDI QUATTRO OWNERS’ CLUB www.quattroownersclub.com AUSTIN A30-A35 OC…

Tell us about your club If your club has a major event, weekend or tour coming up, we want to know about it. We want to hear about club changes, heroes deserving recognition and regional, multi-marque clubs, too. Email practical.classics@bauermedia.co.uk. Club hero Duncan Saunders Mark Cuthbert-Brown has nominated Daimler Lanchester Owners’ Club founder Duncan Saunders, the last surviving club founder. Considering the club was set up in 1964, that’s quite some commitment! Mark says: ‘A former club president and current club patron, Duncan is an avid supporter of all things DLOC. Our international rallies held over a June weekend are held in all sorts of places, many in the Netherlands. Duncan has never missed a rally and is the only member to have attended every such event.’…

I bought this car in January 2015 – I’m the third owner. The first died in 1991, and it sat in his garage until 2003. It was uncovered by a classic car enthusiast who was doing some mobile welding for the first owner’s son, before being recommissioned. Unfortunately, he didn’t do very many miles in it and decided to sell it to someone who could enjoy it more often. I bought it and all I’ve needed to do is clean, polish and fettle it since. It’s done just 39,000 miles, and it has never needed any welding.…

Landmark moment for our 1985 Renault 5. 30,000 miles! My Lanchester has done just 40,000 miles from new, and my camper just 37,000,it has a suitcase full of history and a log of every gallon of petrol and it’s consequent mpg for the first 30 years! Simon Fixter My 1983 Talbot Samba Cabriolet has done just over 5000 miles now. Terry Curtis My Ford 100E has 27,000 miles on the clock , the dealer assured me it is genuine Kevin Young My 1986 Camry has very low mileage – 1932. Brendan Dooley My 1963 Morris Mini Minor, has covered just 19,500 miles. Andrew Downton ‘63 Herald 12/50 with 22,000 and history to back it up. Richard Rose My Allegro 1100 DL with a genuine 10,000 miles and full history Ian…

Wolseleys, and the Home Counties. The two just seem to go together, and even their names rhyme. Though the cars were built mainly in Birmingham, as ‘Wulseloys,’ and Cowley, London’s dormitory districts and towns seem their natural habitat. Here they are ‘Wellseleys.’ Despite my reputation as a wild, hell-raising globetrotter, I’ve always found suburban districts of Thirties semis, and the odd detached, utterly fascinating. Pebbledash, chain link fencing and leaded wooden windows. Joy. A manicured lawn complete with stripes. Cherry trees and original chimney pots, every fireplace preserved and patio doors opening out onto the honeysuckle laden garden. The garage, into which the ‘Welzee’ would fit perfectly alongside a Qualcast lawnmower, must have wooden doors with diamond-shaped glass in them. Such a dream home might be found in arguably the…

Sam says: ‘What a sad sight. I want to preserve that Turmeric SD1 – take it home and use it as a garden ornament. It’s an early car – Turmeric was discontinued in 1980 – and the stainless steel wheel trims denote a 3500.’ British Leyland collection This St Helens panorama hasn’t changed in years. It’s one of the biggest British Leyland corroding collections in the country. Thanks to Neil Frodsham for the pics. Left to right we have Austin Maxi, Austin Allegro, Turmeric Yellow Rover SD1 centre-stage (nose high, denoting a lack of engine), Austin 1100 and a pair of Austin Maestro vans. The cars are due to be removed as the garage owners are retiring. Allegro Estate 1500 Super The estate version of the Allegro is a real…

1945 Riley 1½ litre makes its debut in August, retrospectively known as the RMA following the launch of the RMB a year later. 1946 A more powerful 2½ litre sister car to the RMA is announced in November and immediately becomes known as the RMB. 1948 2½ litre RMC Roadster unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. Production begins in October, UK sales start a year later. 1948 Riley officially announces the launch of the 2½ litre Drophead Coupé (RMD), available to buy the following year. 1951 Two models – the the Drophead Coupé and Roadster – are discontinued in January after just three years in full production. 1952 1½ litre rebranded as the RME, 2½ litre rebadged as the RMF, both with hypoid rear axle/hydraulic brakes. Body design unchanged. 1952…

1970 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR II Engine 6313cc/V8/OHV Power 330bhp@5000rpm Torque 425lb ft@2800rpm Gearbox 3-speed automatic 0-60mph 7.4sec Top speed 136mph Fuel economy 14.4mpg Work done Loom going in, dashboard repaired, fit up started 4 (weeks) TIME 2987 (£) SPENT 0 MILES Also in Danny’s shed of wonder 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Rallied and unscathed-ish. Drive shafts need replacing. 1974 ROVER 2200SC Is sold and now living with Matt Tomkins of this parish. 1976 VAUXHALL CAVALIER GL Could be my Spring hack… 1998 ROVER STERLING Bought for £300 – it works and isn’t dangerous. 1990 RENAULT ESPACE New workshop hack. Now has a new driveshaft. ‘Start the rebuild with the offside washer jet!’ The Jensen is beginning to look worryingly like a car that might one-day become useable. That extraordinary prospect has been…

1982 Land Rover 88 Engine 2286cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 71bhp@4000rpm Torque 119lb ft@1500rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 29sec Top speed 68mph Fuel economy 18mpg Work done Replaced springs, changed clutch cylinders, rebuilt head. 3 (days) TIME 380 (£) SPENT 0 MILES Also Sam’s garage 1934 AUSTIN RUBY Gathering pace nicely as the engine runs in. 1972 MOSKVICH 412 Polyurethane bush set bought from Novosibirsk, Siberia. 1979 VOLVO 245 Currently in pieces. 1982 WARTBURG 353 Finally ready for an MoT and UK registration. 1984 ŠKODA 105L Also currently in pieces – and in Poland. Reassembly and recovery plan required. 1993 JAGUAR XJ6 Should I drive it to Morocco or the Baltic states this winter? 1995 FSC ŽUK Clearly enjoying its new life in the UK. Breakdowns are now weekly rather than daily. 1996…

1978 Austin Maxi Engine 1748cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 74bhp@5500rpm Fuel economy 31mpg Work since last report Rescued from a barn! The world owes the Maxi so much more than it ever got. It’s a design so clever, yet unloved by both its maker and the public. Despite five doors, five gears and five star comfort, it lacked visual fizz and soon after launch was swamped in the confusing melee caused by the launch of the Allegro and Princess ranges. It wasn’t helped by the bleak dashboard, ill-conceived cable-change gearbox and sluggish 1.5-litre engine. My 1750cc model with rod-operated gearchange and Hydragas suspension comes with the Maxi ‘wooden plank’ dashboard and soft-touch (and amazingly roomy) interior. It’s a truly lovely place to be. Well… it would be nicer if the suspension worked. But…

1977 Reliant Scimitar SE6A Engine 2994cc/V6/OHV Power 138bhp@5000rpm Torque 192lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d 0-60mph 9.4sec Top speed 118mph Fuel economy 25mpg Work done The Scimitar came home with brand new paint. The alloy wheels have been thoroughly cleaned, fuel tank flushed, chassis sprayed with Waxoyl and the new paint polished. 3 (Day) TIME 30 (£) SPENT 150 MILES Also in Nigel’s garage TRIUMPH GT6 MkIII The GT6 has recently had new suspension bushes fitted all round. TRIUMPH TR6 The ‘6 has been my daily driver of late. Great fun for me and the car is – dare I say – running well. It still marks its territory with gear oil though. ‘The body is now better than when it was new’ The Scimitar is home! I’ve really…

I hitched a ride on the 2015 Tatra Register Netherlands rally with my Dutch friend Peter Visser. To add jeopardy, we decided to change the timing belts of his Tatra 613 before departure. It’s a complex job, involving very careful alignment of five timing marks. We undid the chunky crank bolt by wedging a breaker bar between it and a lump of wood on the engine cowling. A quick stab of the starter with the distributor cap removed slackened the bolt. To our amazement, it also perfectly aligned the timing marks. Of all the 720° at its disposal, the engine had come to rest in exactly the right place. Such workshop miracles are rare, they should be cherished.…

DIFFICULTY RATING TIME (HRS) 3 MONEY (£) 10 Preparation Apply penetrating fluid to all fasteners a few hours before you start work. You will need Socket set, spanners, screwdrivers and levers, hook-ended tool, blunt scraper, cellulose thinners, gasket sealant. Spanner sizes Imperial spanners are needed for models up to the early Eighties. Later cars are metric. If you own a classic with a BMC A-series engine, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll have to change its water pump at some stage. A dribble of coolant from the overflow aperture at the base of the pump’s body is often the first sign of failure. It may start to emit a grating or rumbling noise, or you may be able to detect excessive play when you wiggle its hub from side-to-side. If…