Índex per April 2019 a Practical Classics

Never underestimate the power of a proper shed hero. We are always being told that the time-poor fettler has made the fully fledged restorer a thing of the past. We say – pah! The quality and depth of the restored cars that turn up in our email inbox are as good and as numerous as they ever were. This quality is high. So this year’s Restorer of the Year competition is full of glorious goodness. Every car has a tale to tell and all of them would be tin cans by now had the brilliant individuals concerned with their revival not turned their attention to the project at hand. Time to get voting then. Go to page eight and choose your favourite. Alternatively visit necrestorationshow.com/restorer-year-0 and get ready to pass…

Our TR6 project will be painted and ready to revive on the Live Stage over the weekend. Will Matt be able to drive it for the first time since 1985… by Sunday? Matt Tomkins’ new project, a Mini Countryman that has been off the road since 1976, will be part of the Carol Nash Barn Finds display in Hall Four all weekend. Twenty fabulous classics will be on display in the Lancaster Insurance Pride of Ownership spring final. Cars will include this gorgeous 1961 Bond Minicar ‘G’. The ‘Bean’ Mini from our Live Stage resto in Nov 2017 will go under the hammer at CCA’s auction – viewing all three days, auction midday on Sat and Sun . The Jowett Car Club will begin the restoration of a 1930 Jowett…

Preventative action RUSTPROOFING MAINTENANCE KIT £23.98 Have you had a vehicle rustproofed recently and want to protect your investment? Or do you require a small touch up kit for the rustproofing job that you have already completed? Rustbuster’s new Rustproofing Maintenance Kit comes with 400ml Techshield Underbody Wax Black, 400ml Corrolan Active Cavity Wax, an Aerosol Injection Probe and 100ml Rustbuster FE123 Rust Converter. Simple and easy! rust.co.uk Keepie uppie MINI SPARES STAYUP® FLOAT £16.40 With increasing concerns surrounding the detrimental effect of modern ethanol-based petrol on the fuel systems of classics, Mini Spares has introduced the StayUp® Float. Resistant to ethanol-based fuels, it will not sink thanks to its military-spec closed-cell construction, which makes it puncture-proof and will keep your classic fuelling correctly once the level is…

Master of the Route The first AEC Routemaster was delivered in 1968 and the last one was withdrawn from daily use in 2005. They lasted as long as they did because they were rebuilt every five years. Fiat Tipo Fiats were everywhere back then– they occupied the parts of the UK market today filled by Kia, Dacia and smaller Skodas. The Wild Frontier? The Vauxhall Frontera was ahead of its time, offering buyers a sporty, outdoor image, yet being tolerable for daily on-road use. MOTORS NEW FOR 1994 Alfa Romeo 145 Ferrari F355 Jaguar XJ (X300) Toyota RAV4 VW Polo MkIII…

What I assumed to be a sensible question to Swiss car enthusiast and senior Diagnostics Engineer at General Electric is greeted with a bewildered look. I have asked Peter Haas what vehicle he uses for his work. ‘A Morris Marina,’ he replies. Believing my enquiry to be lost in translation, I ask again and he repeats, this time more insistently: ‘A Morris MARINAÕ ! Given the hostile winter weather of Switzerland, I had assumed a modern vehicle would be driven for daily duties but, as it turns out, the ‘company workhorse’ is indeed a Morris Marina. And Peter is not afraid to use it. Part of a team of five, Peter’s role at work involves driving vast distances across the Swiss terrain in order to inspect the country’s power plants…

‘I think it looks great. It goes well, too’ 1971 Ford Capri 1600GT Nick Harris, Banbury It’s a South African import, so it is like new underneath. I bought it in 2015 and it has had one owner from new. The front seats were ruined so I’ve redone them myself; I also rebuilt the Type 9 gearbox that was fitted because the bearings were gone. The back axle was shot as well; it was South African-spec, and parts weren’t available in the UK, so I fitted a UK-spec one. A quiet diff is very tough to find! The paint was done in 2010 in South Africa before I imported it – I think it looks great. It goes well, too, with a big-valve head and a Stage 2 camshaft fitted.…

Manoeuvring this cat is easy, thanks to the electric power steering, and the controls are light yet precise and confidence-inspiring. The six motorbike carburettors give smooth yet rapid surge, accompanied by one of the best soundtracks in the world through Scott’s hand-made exhaust system. Confidence is further inspired when you reach a corner; the Gaz dampers work in sync with the thicker torsion bars fitted to PAS/AC-equipped XKEs to keep the car level and composed without a squeak, clonk or rattle. Fantastic!…

The day after SWVA kicked off the 2019 season properly, selling 92.6 per cent of the 68 cars on offer, Anglia Car Auctions showed it was no fluke by offering 203 classics and shifting 87.2 per cent. Hard to remember the last Renault 16s I saw at auction, but the restored early (1969) one here got plenty of interest and bids. Two owners and 73,400 miles helped, and it made £6003 against a £4750 top estimate. Perhaps even more surprising was the fierce bidding for a Triumph Dolomite 1500 auto. Hardly the best spec, and the six owners and 78,000 miles were unexceptional, too. It presented well enough to justify the £2000-£3000 estimate, but £4288 – wow! The 1963 Ford Anglia van was a bit more predictable as they are…

I grew up around a 1939 Armstrong Siddeley 16hp owned by my father from 1983 to 1999. After she was sold, I vowed that I would buy her back one day. We saw her at the ASOC’s 2017 National Day at Keddleston Hall, met the owner and swapped numbers ‘in case’ she was ever up for sale. Eighteen months later the phone rang. She was bought for a fair price, with gentlemanly haggling. More importantly the owner wanted us to buy her, hence we got first refusal. She seems much smaller than I remember, but I suspect it’s me that has grown – there are a few things to attend to but nothing preventing it being driven. We enjoy having her back in the family and taking her to shows…

Whether you’re looking to buy or sell a classic, a specialist classic car auction can be a great place to do it. Classic Car Auctions (CCA) was formed by the team at Silverstone Auctions in 2015 to deal in the kind of classics more of interest to Practical Classics readers: ‘everyman’ classics up to a value of around £50,000. Whether from their spiritual home at the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Leamington Spa or at events such as Race Retro or the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show, with Discovery, CCA prides itself on being able to make the process of buying and selling a classic car as easy and as straightforward as possible. Sellers are offered honest and realistic estimates as well as extensive marketing and well-presented sale days, while…

2002 Land Rover Freelander 1.8 Engine 1796cc/OHC Top speed 106mph Fuel economy 24mpg Work done New coil packs and plugs fitted This is the other 1.8 K-series beast in my family and it has also been the recipient of a new head gasket recently. Last issue, Clive and I spent a an afternoon going through the process described on the 75, only minus a turbo. Good news is that the Freelander is holding its water and maintaining temperature even in the gnarliest traffic. My wife, Oonagh, took it to London with no dramas. Next on the list of ‘to dos’ was a coil pack replacement. The ‘pencil’ style coil packs arrived from Britpart within 24 hours and I set to work. There are two of these fitted to the top…

1 Dining in Sat at the comfort of a dining room table is perfect. Pass the salt… 2 Successful test Inverted sender mimics full while the gauge reads correctly. We have cracked it! 3 Original spec The curved glass from the original Jaeger gauge is preferred. 4 Screen shot The dried sealant was carefuly scraped off and the old glass removed. 5 Ahead of the curve Curved glass, fresh sealant applied and the gauge was finally ready to be refitted. 6 Final result The gauge doesn’t look out of place in the dashboard at all and will be wired in when Gary’s fingers feel blood flow again.…

1998 BMW 328i Coupé Engine 2793cc/6-cyl/OHC Power 193bhp@5300rpm Torque 207lb ft@3950rpm Gearbox 5-speed automatic 0-60mph 7.7sec Top speed 144mph Fuel economy 30.7mpg Work done New rear shocks and springs fitted to the BMW. Also in Nigel’s garage 1970 TRIUMPH TR6 Waiting patiently while I’m fettling the rest of my fleet. 1972 TRIUMPH GT6 MKIII Still in the garage, waiting for me to find time to sort out the seized rear hub bearing. 1977 RELIANT SCIMITAR Currently providing sterling service as a daily driver. I few weeks ago I replaced the front suspension MacPherson struts on the BMW 328i Coupé and the car now feels more stable at the front. But every time that I saw the 3 Series, I realised that the back end was sitting too low, with the…

Actor/singer based in London. Best known for playing Ken Hutchinson in the TV series Starsky and Hutch, but has also recorded number one singles and top ten albums. 1955 Chrysler New Yorker Engine 5422cc/V8/OHV Power 250hp@4600rpm Torque 340lb ft@2800rpm Gearbox Two-speed auto O-60mph 12.8sec Top speed 108mph Fuel economy 9.8mpg Work done It’s been a long time, but things are starting to happen again – donor car stripped and various parts despatched. Body blow Some bodywork was carried out before illness stalled the works… The story so far? OK, let me put it this way – I’m a Yank, but I got my British passport back in 2004. With that passport I was finally able to go to Havana, a place I’d always dreamed of going. It was the home…

The mission to build a mass-produced ‘people’s car’ is inevitably associated with the Volkswagen Beetle and the political agenda behind it. Citroën’s unique approach, though, deserves to be acknowledged as a more uncompromised response to the brief. The 2CV employed a raft of clever engineering features that combined practicality, durability, economy and effectiveness. More eccentric-looking than the Beetle, but a more comfortable and forgiving drive, it flaunted rather than hid its austere specification. The strange, initially one-eyed corrugated vehicle was production-ready at the onset of WWII, but it would be another decade before the comprehensively redeveloped 2CV saw the light of day. It met with a rapturous press welcome and quickly became the most sought-after car in France, with a six-year waiting list by 1956 and used cars selling at…

Valve clearances Remove the air filter housing, rocker covers and spark plugs. Valve 1 is the forwardmost valve in the right-hand (driver’s side) bank; valve 7 is the forwardmost valve in the left-hand bank. Adjust the valves in the right column when the valves in the left column are fully open. Fully open 1 (ex) 6 (in)8 (ex) 11 (in)2 (in) 3 (ex)7 (in) 10 (ex)4 (in) 5 (ex)9 (in) 12 (ex) Adjust 7 (in) 10 (ex)4 (in) 5 (ex)9 (in)12 (ex)1 (ex) 6 (in)8 (ex) 11 (in)2 (in) 3 (ex) Fuel system Check/clean the fuel pump filter and inline filter (if one is fitted). Make sure all rubber hoses are in good condition and safely routed. Fan belt Check the condition and tension. Deflection should be about ½in (13mm)…

The 1959 Standard Ten that nearly disappeared into Ford’s scrappage scheme is now road legal. The DVLA released its V5 as PC went to press - ending a saga that started in late 2017. The Standard currently resides at the Dundee Motor Museum where it is looked after by volunteers and the Standard Motor Club’s Bob Alexander. Now it is to be prepared for an MoT and driven by the PC team from the museum, where the car has been on display for the past year, straight to the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show with Discovery on March 22-24. At the show it will be the star attraction on the PC stand (No. 320 in Hall 5) where you can come and meet the car that has become…

1963 Austin A60 Cambridge. Peter bought this, his very first car, about 40 years ago. It is is currently undergoing some fairly major repairs in his rented workshop facility after engine wear and tear issues. Once the cylinder head is rebuilt, it will be back to transporting the family on even more adventurous foreign holiday duties. 1971 Triumph Herald 13/60 Gina’s pride and joy, bought in 2000. Again, maintained by husband Peter at his workshop, the car emerges from hibernation each year to enjoy Switzerland’s fine alpine roads. ‘It’s so good to experience the fresh air and warm sunny mountain scenery when you drive the Herald!’ says Gina. 1965 Austin A40 MkII Purchased by Peter and Gina’s eldest daughter Andrea in 2006, the practical Countryman often gets borrowed for local…

Mercedes 300 SE I recently spotted this beautiful Mercedes-Benz 300 SE cabriolet in St. Tropez. Perfect for soaking up the sun! Ken Corbett, Belfast 1974 Ginetta The Ginetta G21 popped up in a retail area car park near me in Weston-super -Mare, just casually parked up. I almost did not recognise it at first as I don’t think that I’ve ever seen one for real. Rory Anderson, Bristol Jaguar This lovely Jag was spotted ‘nearly’ parked in Morro Jable, Fuerteventura. Clem Dury, Dursley Tatra 603 I came across this fabulous 603 on a slightly damp day in Brno, Czech Republic. Never got to hear the mighty air-cooled V8 fire up though! Don Szmidt, Powys 1989 Dodge Ram An extremely smart example, LHD and powered by LPG – spotted outside a…

JAN 13 On the move House move rudely interrupts progress on the project. APRIL 13 Engine built Finally all back together, the rebuilt 4.2-litre XK engine is ready. SEPT 13 Engine in Motor fitted and frame on, the E-type starts to take shape. APRIL 18 Bonnet-on party Friends gather to help fit the awkward, heavy, delicate bonnet. No pressure! After this, the car was driven off for its first-ever MoT test in the UK. JUNE 18 She shall go to the ball The car was on the road in time to make a girl’s dream come true – Scott had promised to take his best friend’s daughter Georgia to her prom night in it.…

The year is 1936 and it’s a very special weekend at Eltham Palace, Greenwich. The magnificent home of multi-millionaire socialites, Stephen and Virginia Courtauld is ready for guests at last. It’s time for a celebration then, so the couple are holding a party for the great and the good, including Rab Butler, Noel Coward and the Duchess of York (Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother). The completion of works on the house is a big deal – it has taken three years and many thousands of pounds. An essential part of the weekend’s revelry will be played by the motor vehicles owned by the family with myself, family chauffeur Herbert Moore, being despatched in the Hispano Suiza to Buckingham Palace to collect the Royal Personage and her staff. If only. I…

I rescued this three years ago and in the intervening time have sorted the bodywork, repaired a broken oil pipe, serviced it and got it up and running. There are four new Falken tyres ready to fit and the only thing between my swift Swede and the road was a dodgy alternator and an MoT. But when PC scribe Gary Stretton bought an almost identical Scarab Green 9000, there was only one conversation to have. He said yes and turned up with a trailer – he’s looking forward to it. ASKING PRICE £250 PAID £250 – bit of a loss for me, but that’s OK. VERDICT A 9000 saved is a very good thing.…

The email came in to PC Towers from reader Robert Ashworth during late summer 2018: ‘Would you like to bounce this around the team? It is a 1999 Volkswagen Polo Match that is in need of some TLC. I originally bought it for my daughter to learn to drive in, then my neighbour had it for two years but he’s now got a motorbike instead. There is plenty of life left in it for someone with the time to spend fixing it up.’ I took on the challenge, collected the Polo from Dewsbury and drove it back to Cambridgeshire – the crusty and holed exhaust silencer made for a noisy drive down the A1! I then spent £50 on a backbox and mounting rubbers, found a good secondhand wheel and…

1975 Citroën CX Engine 2175cc/4-cyl/OHV Gearbox 4-speed manual Power 110bhp@5500rpm Torque 123lb ft@3500rpm Work since previous report Little bits of worn trim, buttons and switches have been replaced. And you think modern dashboards are complex? You can’t fail to have noticed Citroën’s unique dashboards over the years, with their multitude of intriguing switches, buttons and displays. The idea was to group all of the controls (lights, wipers, horn etc) on ergonomically placed ‘satellites’. It was known as ‘PRN’: Pluie (rain); Route (road); Nuit (Night). There are 31 different controls on a CX dash, including the well-documented ‘rolling drum’ speedo and rev counter. On mine, I noticed a sticking speedo and a faulty odometer, so I removed the unit from the dash top and carefully dismantled it on my living room…

1 Time to get started With the car raised securely on axle stands and the rear wheels removed, support each lower suspension arm. Start disassembly by gently pulling away the trim in the boot to access the tops of the wheel arches then undo the pair of M8 nuts securing each damper mount. 2 Removing dampers Loosen bolt securing lower end of each damper to the hub. Remove bolt and lower old unit out from under the arch. 3 Spring removal Ensure the handbrake is off and disconnect the rear ARB links. Lever suspension arm down to release spring. 4 Fitting new spring Transfer the rubber spring pads to the new springs. Refit the springs by levering the suspension arm down again. 5 Building things up The new dampers are…

You will need Basic tool kit, power steering fluid. BSP threads? British power steering systems often have BSP (British Standard Pipe) threads and unions on their hydraulic connections. Parts compatibility Some classics with optional power steering had modified geometry, eg: increased castor angle. Avoid mixing up suspension parts from power steering and non-power steering cars. Don’t torment your hydraulics Never hold the steering wheel against full lock. This can overpressurise the system and damage the rack seals. Power steering became increasingly common on large cars from the Sixties onwards. By the Eighties, it had become almost a routine fitment rather than a luxury extra. The usually trouble-free nature of power steering means that it’s easy to forget about. However, if the system is left too long without attention, things will…

You will need Fire extinguisher; safety equipment; measuring and marking-out tools; angle grinder with cutting, grinding, linishing and poly discs; clamps; drill; scrap wood and steel; hammers, dollies and bolster chisels; welding set; weld-through primer, etch primer and topcoat; filler and seam-sealer. Hold your horses Although it’s tempting, don’t cut out the rot until you really need to. What’s there will provide useful reference information to help you create the repair patch. MoT info Visit mot-testing.service.gov.uk for the latest MoT handbook. Our Porsche’s rot hole falls within a prescribed area because the brake servo mount and strut top mount are within 30cm of it. In our metalworking basics series so far, we’ve covered the key skills of cutting, joining, bending, shrinking and stretching bits of sheet metal to repair rotten…

Super Early Bird Tickets for the world’s largest MG show, MGLive! (June 15-16), went on sale on February 1. Visit mglive.co.uk for more information. Our acclaimed video learning channel – skillshack.co.uk – now has over 125 video topics for you to enjoy, including the latest release: How to buy a classic car. Our next special publication will go on sale in WH Smiths on March 6. It charts the story and the cars of Austin Rover – go to greatmagazines.co.uk for more. The Vauxhall Bedford Opel Association show is relocating again in 2019. This time it will set up camp at Sywell over the weekend of July 6-7. vboa.org.uk. Meet the PC team at the Beaulieu Spring Autojumble (May 18-19) where we will reveal a project and revel in the…

Fifty years on from its chart-topping success, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is being  celebrated on the Practical Classics stand with a stunning recreation of the original car from the film. Master restorer, Richard Skinner, is creating an inch-perfect replica of GEN II, using original studio drawings and body patterns from the builder of the wooden bodies. What is emerging (as we write this, Richard is racing to finish the car in his workshop!) is a Chitty that is as close to the actual roadworthy car from the film as possible. ‘I’ve even gone as far as locating the Afrormosia wood used on the original cars,’ says Richard, ‘Plus the Obeche that is layered in between the planks. Very rare and VERY expensive but this project HAS…

Why are we giving away 100 Draper magnetic component tray gift packs? Well, our subscriptions team has 100 gift packs left over and we don’t want them to go to waste. OK… it’s not completely free as you will need to pay for the postage, but all you have to do is ring up. The number is 0800 103 2844 – quote ‘PCTRAY’. Terms and Conditions At the time of ordering we will ask you to cover the postage by credit/debit card and a payment of £1.99 will be taken. Call times are Monday-Friday 8am-8pm and Saturdays 10am-6pm. Calls are free from any UK landline and mobiles. Offer available for UK addresses only and limited to one per household. Offer closes March 19 2019 or when the 100 gift packs…

Of the many top events planned for this year, one that we’re really looking forward to is the joint national rally of the Allegro Club International ( allegroclubint.org.uk ) and the Austin Maxi Owners’ Club ( austinmaxiclub.org ), which takes place at Nuffield Place on May 19, a week before the Mopar Muscle Association ( moparuk.com ) takes over Brooklands for the day. ‘Fords galore at Stratfordupon-Avon Race Course’ Stratford-upon-Avon Race Course will welcome Fords galore with rallies for the Cortina MkI ( mk1cortina.com ) and MkII ( fordcortinamk2oc.co.uk  ) plus the Anglia 105E (105eoc.com) on August 3-4. Two weeks later the Triumph Sports Six Club (tssc.org.uk) and TR Register (tr-register.co.uk) will both  be holding their national weekends there. Other big…

The Rover P4 Drivers’ Guild was formed in 1977 to cater for owners of the Rover 60, 75, 80, 90, 95, 100, 105, and 110 range of cars manufactured between 1949 and 1964. The aim of the Guild is to help P4 owners to preserve their cars for regular use by assisting them to locate spares, literature, advice, vehicle history, competent mechanics and other services in order to keep their cars in a roadworthy condition. There is plenty of support available to members from the committee, plus monthly regional meetings and car shows around the world, as well as the website and facebook group. ‘This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Rover P4 ’ This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Rover P4 and this landmark will be…

OLDER CLASSIC ATTRACTION John Simister is right when he says that clubs are under threat (PC, February 2018). Members of the local branch of the Austin Ten Drivers’ Club, to which I belong, are concerned about just the problems he mentioned in his article. The VSCC has found an answer in attracting young members, but watching a Bugatti howling down the finishing straight at Snetterton is more attractive than an eighty year old family car that cruises at 40mph when everyone else is doing 70(+). Having said that, a number of us are driving to Brittany this May: a ten-day excursion organised by our Dutch vice president. Lets hope  the exchange rate is not too dire and French customs officials not too officious! Toyota Celica memories I enjoyed the recent…

I wonder if you could help me. I’m on the hunt for my Grandmother-in-law’s old Triumph 2000. She and her husband cherished it for nearly 20 years – they owned it from new and sold it in 1993. I happened to ask her the registration, which she reeled off. I checked it’s MoT and tax and it’s come back as still on the road. I have done some initial research, which shows the car at various events and it still looks stunning. I also tried the Triumph 2000 Register but it only has details until 2012, when the owner stopped being a member. Registration is SLE 853L. I’d love to get in touch with the owner so she can see again the car she and her husband enjoyed so many…

It was a boyhood dream come true for Scott Hilton when, in June 2007, he took delivery of the 1:1 scale version of the model he’d had as a kid – a car people told him he’d never get to own. Amazingly rot-free, the XKE had been imported a few years prior from North Carolina by a chap in Manchester. He’d lost storage for his dream project and decided to sell. ‘He really didn’t want to let it go,’ Scott recalls. ‘I didn’t want a car I’d have to piece together from a rotten pile of scrap,’ says Scott: ‘I wanted a car built by Jaguar with a shell in original condition, so a US car was the only answer.’ The initial plan was that Scott would get the car…

IN PROGRESS My car had been owned by the President of the Mk1-5 Cortina Owners Club. The body was sound and free from rot, but the paint was awful. Mechanically the car was mostly alright, but the diff whined badly. The stripy seat fabric had suffered terribly from sun damage over the years. Interior This was the toughest job of all. I’ve recoloured the striped seat covers by hand-dying them, starting in the middle and working outwards. I’m very pleased with how it’s come out – it is such a key part of the car’s character. I think that the interior is the best feature. Awards I’ve done lots of classic shows over the summer, which Dad and I really enjoy together. My Cortina won Best in Show four times…

Are we ready to let the Punto Cabriolet into the fold yet? Buyers at ACA seemed to think so, going by the attention this 1.2 ELX was getting at their last sale. A fellow motoring writer was in for it too, bidding paddle at the ready, but had woefully underestimated the market – it made a brisk £2250. And why shouldn’t it? The zinger is that Punto Cabrios never sold well here and there are now only 59 of them left on UK roads.…

Spring is almost here, and what better way to welcome the new season than with some affordable open-topped fun? Few sports cars are more attainable than the Triumph Spitfire, built for almost two decades and offered in no fewer than five iterations. You can buy a Spitfire worth keeping from as little as £3000; if you’re confident with a socket set you could spend even less. The characterful two-seater can be the perfect classic for you to tackle your first restoration on thanks to its simplicity. Many people do just this, but often not very well, so you must buy with care if the car has already been revived. It’s easy to spot a duffer from 100 paces, though, so buy with your eyes open and get set for some…

Bonnet Look for filler in the lower corners of the bonnet, resulting from rust or crash damage. Well oiled? Look for evidence of the trunnions having been lubricated; they collapse if not. Blurred lines Wayward shut lines don’t necessarily point to crash damage, just an iffy rebuild. Rail way The front chassis rail gets knocked out of true if the car has been nudged. Silly structure The most important bodywork area to check is the sills; they rust and are structural. Steelies Original-spec Spitfires are rare; steering wheels, seats and wheels get swapped.…

All Spitfires have gone up in value in the last few years, and the earlier the model the bigger the increase. MkI and MkII values have risen sharply. The MkIV and 1500 are still affordable, though; the MkIII arguably offers the best balance of usability, classic looks and relative affordabilty. Worthwhile projects start at £1000 for one of the later models, but an early Spitfire that needs a full rebuild fetches three times as much. For a reasonable later car (MkIV or 1500) expect to pay £3000+; earlier models are up to three times as much. Superb early cars are now fetching £20k, but they’re scarce. Originality is only prized with the earliest cars; sympathetic upgrades tend to add value, not reduce it.…

2002 Rover 75 Club 1.8T Engine 1796cc/4-cyl/DOHC Power 147bhp@5500rpm Torque 159lb ft@2500rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 9.1sec Top speed 130mph Fuel economy 35mpg Since last report Secondhand turbo fitted; interior dried out; cylinder head gasket replaced. In Danny’s shed 1951 RILEY RMA It runs, but still needs work. 1956 RILEY PATHFINDER Engine plans being hatched. 1971 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR Engine plans being fulfilled. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Special duties this month. 1980 TRIUMPH TR7 Safely undercover ’til spring. 1983 VOLVO 340 GL Sold for £1200 and now living in Ireland. 1984 DAIHATSU CHARADE DIESEL Needs floors, and sills, and an interior detox, and… 1987 MAZDA 626 COUPÉ I’ll start on this again soon. 1998 ROVER 825 COUPÉ Getting revved up for a belt Rover 75s and MGZTs are being thrown away for…

1976 Triumph 2500 Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 132bhp@5450rpm Gearbox 3-speed auto Work since last report Sills repaired and painted. Stainless backbox fitted. The ‘other’ big Triumph in my stable is now solid again. After Clive Jefferson had finished the sill repairs, Matt Tomkins kindly helped me smooth things over with a light coat of filler, before we laid on some primer, followed by a few coats of Carmine Red paint. I bought the aerosol cans of cellulose paint from the TSSC shop and can report that the colour match was excellent. I’ve still got a few more general ‘tidying up’ jobs to do on the car, but unfortunately it will then reluctantly have to be sold to help pay for the TR6 respray. If you reckon that you see yourself with…

1972 MGB GT Engine 1348.5cc/3-cyl/OHV Power Very little Work done Engine detonation diagnosed. Having extolled the virtues of my fabulous MGB GT ( PC , Feb 19), I may have spoken too soon. The next time out, I took the ’B on a short hop up the A1. As noted previously, it had been burning a little bit of oil, so I checked the level and topped it up before my return journey – noting a small amount of ‘mayonnaise’ in the rocker cover as I did so. The start of head gasket failure perhaps? As the engine reached temperature, about a side road and called the AA. Before long my old mate Gareth, local AA patrolman and classic car nut, arrived – the ’B was loaded onto his recovery…

You will need Trolley jack, axle stands, oil pan, AF spanners, long lever, test lamp or multimeter, grease gun, oil can. Jacking care Make sure jacks and axle stands are positioned beneath sound sections of the chassis. Shock test Push down on each corner of the car, then let go. It should rebound once then return to its original position. Model evolution The GT-bodied Scimitar SE4 was launched in 1964, powered initially by a 2.6-litre straight six from the Ford Zephyr/Zodiac but gaining an Essex V6 in 1966 (in 3.0-litre form, with a 2.5 offered later as an option). The GTE SE5 appeared in 1968 with a hatchback and revised suspension. The longer and wider SE6 followed in 1975. The SE6A had revised brakes and suspension. The SE6B of 1980…