Índex per December 2019 a Practical Classics

Never underestimate the power of the motor show. The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, to be precise, on November 8-10. It is as close to the old Motor Show as you will ever get these days (unless you go to Geneva or Frankfurt), so it’s nostalgic pull isn’t simply about the cars – the event itself harks back to older, bolder, bigger, better days. If you went to a Motor Show back in the day then you’ll know exactly what it meant. The excitement, the buzz, counting down the days. My dad took me twice in the early Eighties, then, in 1985, I went solo with my best mate Adam. We were off the leash, and we hatched a plan. We put our best clothes on: Farah trousers, patent leather…

‘There are good people looking after our interests’ In these chaotic and worrying times, it’s easy to be jaded. Social media often throws up a diet of bad news and panic to feed our sense of doom. So, this month I have limited my screen time and decided to live in the real world a bit more. Guess what? It’s OK out there. I don’t advocate sticking your head in the sand, but a diet of 24hr news or Facetwitt fake news is bad for the soul. And that goes for classic car groups, too. If I were to run my classic life based on what I read online sometimes, I would have sold my classics years ago. The real world truth is that no-one is after us, there isn’t…

The Classic Car Loan Project enters its fourth year in 2020, with 15 cars on offer for younger enthusiasts to borrow for the year – for free! The project has already been successful in giving many younger enthusiasts an extended experience with a classic car. Project Manager Bob Wilkinson told PC: ‘The project is providing a realistic experience for younger drivers who maybe cannot afford a classic just yet.’ If you are over 25, have secure storage and would like to apply to borrow a car for one year, contact Bob Wilkinson via classiccarloanproject.co.uk.…

The Bryson Line is the longest straight line possible on the UK mainland and it stretches 830 miles from Bognor on the south coast to Cape Wrath on the northern tip of Scotland. Richard Hemington from the Wartburg Trabant IFA Club told Practical Classics: ‘Two Trabants did the whole thing in four days, while 20 other members joined in for sections of the route, which was driven to celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary.’ In November, club members will head over to Berlin to mark 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. More information about the club can be found at ifaclub.co.uk.…

The Cwmbran-based Forresters Car Club celebrates its 52nd anniversary in 2019 and boasts 130 members. The group’s Richard Shorey told us: ‘We meet every week at Croesyceiliog Cricket and Rugby Club (NP44 2HJ) where we host occasional quiz nights and Play Station challenges. We organise rallies, tours, and help other clubs with marshalling at their events. Each year we raise funds for a different charity, but our annual subscription is just £10. Our membership includes people old and young, and a diverse range of car types including Fords, Mazdas, Jaguars, Toyotas, Saabs, Alfa Romeos and Minis, to name just a few.’ Head to forresterscarclub. co.uk for more.…

I bought the DS 25 years ago, when I grew out of motorbikes. It was pretty rough when we bought it. It was originally a DS 21 Pallas, but we down-specc'd it for the purer outline of the ID. Under the skin we’ve upgraded it with the 2300 engine and fitted it with a semi-automatic five-speed gearbox. We’ve also fitted the Webasto sunroof as well as having it painted in E-type Jaguar Primrose. We lived in France for 10 years and took the DS with us. We’ve put over 250,000 miles on the car in our ownership. It’s been a rolling restoration for our whole ownership. When we resprayed it, we had the panels hot-dip galvanised – the paint still looks good, 20 years on.…

Ah, the happy days of 1989. Yes, we know they knocked down some wall in Berlin without planning permission, but the true event of the year was a fine bouncing baby magazine, born to proud parents in Peterborough, and christened Popular Classics. The carefully chosen, talented editorial team – and I managed to get in there, too! – had the opportunity of a lifetime, courtesy of publishers EMAP. We had the summer to develop the magazine from scratch, with a virtually unlimited budget. They even let us – surely madness, but what joy! – each have a classic company car, to the value of a Ford Fiesta. Please come back, concours MGB GT V8, registration number BNF 333N! Having limited column inches here, it’s impossible to sum up the next…

I’ve got unfinished business with the Saab 9000. I’ve had two, both of which had running issues. I spent a lot of time, effort and money on them but never really got to fully enjoy their qualities. So, when Julian Hammond called to offer an Anniversary 2.0 LPT, I jumped at it. He’d owned it for 16 years and his wife had been the main driver, but a new car prompted the conversation. We shook hands and now I have a winter in a well loved Scandinavian beauty to look forward to. ASKING PRICE Hand shake PAID Hand shake…

Volvo launched its first coupé in 1959. The stylish P1800 became an icon, largely because of the hit TV show The Saint, but when the P1800 went out of production in 1971 it would take another quarter of a century for Volvo to come up with a sequel. That car was the C70, produced in collaboration with British firm TWR, although all C70s – including the convertibles – were manufactured at Volvo’s Uddevalla plant in Sweden. Why you want one The looks alone should have you sold on the C70, especially the svelte coupé which looks gorgeous from every angle. But the C70 is more than just a looker, because you also get typical Volvo levels of safety and comfort, with seating for four adults in both open and closed…

1972 Triumph TR6 Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power Plenty! Work done Car prepared to the best of my ability; plenty of miles ahead! After my TR returned to the road in April after a 34-year absence, all roads had pointed to Europe. I’d taken part in the bi-annual Club Triumph Ten Countries Run on three previous occasions, but always in my 2000 saloon, never in a roadster. This year would also be the first time taking part in a CT event with my now-wife Abby, rather than a mere friend. Would marital bliss remain intact during the 2500-mile adventure? We drove from the UK in convoy with my mum and dad, also in a TR6, and arrived as planned at the start in Sedan, France on September 4. The weather was cold,…

1959 Peerless GT Engine 1991cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 110bhp@4800rpm Torque 117lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d 0-60mph 10.8sec Top speed 120mph Fuel economy 28mpg Work done Internal mirror fitted; heater ducting fitted, but rev cable breaks again. Also in Gary’s garage 1980 SAAB 99 TURBO Ex-press car still awaiting full restoration. 1996 SAAB 9000 Still providing good service. The ongoing rev counter cable saga has returned and is proving an irritation to solve once and for all. All was well with the current one fitted (No.3, or is it 4?) until the morning I had to shuffle cars in the workshop, moving the Peerless in the process. I took the opportunity for a little low speed drive around the yard and left the engine idling for a few minutes. With all…

1968 Sunbeam Stiletto Engine 998cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 62bhp@6000rpm Torque 60lb ft@4000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 13.4sec Top speed 100mph Fuel economy 40mpg Work done Rear side windows swapped over; new exhaust, steering rack gaiter and alternator. Also in John’s garage 1961 SAAB 96 TWO-STROKE Most recent outing was to Harpenden’s excellent Classics on the Common. 1989 EUNOS ROADSTER Needs new suspension bushes, which are currently waiting in a box. There had long been something not quite right about the way the Stiletto’s visuals hung together, or not. Then one day, as I noticed my own reflection in the left-hand rear side window, it suddenly occurred to me what the problem was. My face looked unnaturally long and thin, whereas in the door glass it was short and fat. You’ve guessed it:…

1955 Morris Minor Engine 803cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 30bhp@4800rpm Torque 40lb ft@2400rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph Er, not really Top speed Not all that much Fuel economy 36mpg Work done Inner wings welded up; paintwork patched; new wiring loom fitted; MOT certificate secured. Also in Ben’s garage 1962 MORRIS MINOR 1000 Gone, but not forgotten. 2004 ROVER 75 TOURER Still piling on the miles. It seemed like a good idea. Just five weeks before Beaulieu’s International Autojumble, I booked in my newly-purchased Morris Minor to join the show’s ‘Golden Oldies’ classic car display. What a great incentive to get it back on the road, I thought, giving me the chance to show off the charming old car to friends. But there was a problem; it had been out of action for at…

With a fifth of the 21st century now behind us it’s likely that, for many, mention of the Glas 1004, 1204 or 1304 – or even sight of a picture of one – will ring no bells. And that’s quite ironic as both this series and its manufacturer have played key roles in today’s automotive culture. To begin with, almost all of today’s cars have overhead camshafts driven by toothed rubber belts. The 1004 was the first production car so equipped – and at a time when a cam-in-block pushrod layout would remain the default solution in everyday cars for many years. Then there’s BMW’s worldwide dominance, in which Hans Glas GmbH played a key role. The family business, formed in 1883 as a manufacturer of agricultural machinery, was based…

1 Mounting points Almost all seat belt mountings take 7/16in UNF bolts with 11/16in heads. Use the long mounting bolts supplied in the kit and suitable spacers to pass through an upholstered C-pillar. If they’re too long for this, use them in the buckle mounting, where they’ll exit under the car. Make sure the trim or upholstery around the mounting points doesn’t snag on the belt shackles as they pivot. 2 Under rear squab Remove the rear seat squab. You should see a row of holes with plastic or rubber blanking plugs. These are the mountings for the buckle of a three-point belt or for both ends of a two-point belt. 3 On rear wheelarch Look at the adjacent wheelarch or side panel The anchor point may…

Model evolution The all-new Vanguard was announced in 1947 and it swept away all Standard’s initial post-war models in one go. It was a spacious and comfortable family car, with ‘beetleback’ styling and a new overhead-valve straight-four wet-liner petrol engine with a displacement of 2.1-litres in all but the very first examples. Saloon, van, pick-up and estate versions were produced. The Phase IA arrived in 1952, with a new three-bar grille among many minor changes. The Phase II brought three-box rear bodywork and variety of other amendments in 1953. Diesel power was offered in 1954 – making it Britain’s first diesel production car. The Phase II was discontinued between 1955 and 1956, production and availability overlapping with the all-new Phase III. What’s it like to work on? The engine is…

This is the third and final instalment of our transaxle overhaul. We’ll start by completing the dismantling process with the final drive assembly. Then, we’ll show you how to reassemble your transaxle using a repair kit of new bearings, bushes and clips. Ours was in excellent order, but had failed because a previous repairer had reused bearing snap-rings that they’d bent during removal. Replacements cost us just £3 – proving it’s not worth skimping on consumables. We covered the previous stages of dismantling and inspection in the August and October issues of Practical Classics . It’ll be useful to refer to these as you work through this episode. Study your car’s workshop manual, too. Not all gearboxes are exactly alike. Use it to meticulously check the order and orientation of…

‘1984 was a year of cutting edge high-tech developments’ Giving visitors a tantalizing glimpse into the future with its theme, ‘Take a Trip into Tomorrow’, the 1984 British International Motor Show took place a few months after the NEC’s very first classic car extravaganza – an event marked this year at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery (November 8-10). This year’s event is expected to draw in record numbers, with more than 3000 classics on display. The 1984 show was a shop window for all the latest developments – the NEC show guide at the time highlighting plastic impact-resistant bumpers and CD players as cutting-edge tech. It was also a chance for the motor industry to showcase a host of new models, including the Austin Montego, Bentley Eight,…

The PC team is starting to think about equipping the classics we run through winter with some winter boots. James’s Smart Roadster will wear these Vredestein Snowtracs from Vintage Tyres, which he’s fitted to a set of steel wheels. Their soft compound will provide improved grip in the cold while deep tread grooves with narrow cuts help to disperse snow and standing water. Investing in a set of winter wheels for the winter tyres to sit of is often a really cost-effective way of doing things, as the cost of re-fitting and balancing is removed each year. Make sure you store your summer wheels and tyres correctly through winter – deflated to around 10psi, horizontal and in the dark.…

News in brief… Don Hayter has signed two 1/43rd scale models of the V8 roadster he famously built himself. Corgi are auctioning the models in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support. You can bid for one via the Corgi website or the other on the Corgi stand in Hall 5 at the Classic Motor Show. The 2019 RAC Rally of the Tests will come to the NEC on show Saturday. Competitors will tackle an indoor course within the show in a speed and agility test. Glasgow will be the starting point for the 2020 Monte Carlo Classic Rally. The event will start on the January 29 in front of Glasgow City Chambers. More than 6000 classic enthusiasts flocked to Bicester Heritage for the final Scramble of 2019. Variety was great, from…

Drop-top delights from Corgi 1:43 SCALE TRIUMPH SPITFIRE MODEL £27.99 This beautifully-detailed limited edition 1:43 Triumph Spitfire MkII model in Saffron Yellow is new to Corgi’s Vanguards range of British classics. We’ve got one to give away, too. If you are a PC subscriber, simply email editor Danny Hopkins via danny.hopkins@bauermedia.co.uk and tell him why you believe that you deserve to win it. Remember to include your unique subscriber number (on your carrier sheet with your subscriber copy). Product code: VA06713. corgi.co.uk…

libraries and experts for technical issues and has negotiated discounts including a Club Insurance scheme and supply of tyres. The RSR will present a selection of the Rovers it supports on stand 4-695 at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show (November 8-10). These include a P3 75 and the earliest surviving P4 (both 1949 cars, 70 years-old, built on the same production line within weeks of each other). To join a friendly, active club, managed for the benefit of its members, visit stand 4-695 or join online at thersr.co.uk. Telephone enquiries to 01824 790280, or email: enquiries@ thersr.co.uk. The Rover Sports Register (RSR) was formed in October 1953 by enthusiasts for the Pre-War Rover Sports Tourer, the reason for the distinctive name. Membership soon extended to other Rover models. Today,…

Tom, why did you choose an MG Metroin particular? 'I was one of the last Technical Engineering Apprentices at MG Rover Longbridge, hence my love for Rover cars. I was there during the factory shut-down and remember vividly being told on the last day not to come in tomorrow, as we were going into administration. I have many fond memories of the revival of the MG brand at the time I was there through cars like the ZR, ZS and SVR. I got to visit MIRA test track in some of the cars too! Our mum had a non-turbo MG Metro when we were kids so when this car came up for sale, we just had to have it.' You’ve known the car for a long time, haven’t you, James?…

1 JUNE 2011 Under his wing Ian neatly reshaped a Jaguar Mk2 inner wing to repair the hole in his S-type’s – replacement panels for the latter being NLA at that point in time. Ian would need to employ similar skills later on in the project, too. 2 JUNE 2011 Flat out Unable to buy a replacement rear valance Ian flattened the old one and used it as a template to produce another in two halves. 3 OCTOBER 2011 Lead by the nose Ian hand formed a repair section above the grille, then finished it with lead. 4 MARCH 2013 Spring time All the suspension was rebuilt and the brakes got a very worthwhile upgrade. 5 OCTOBER 2013 Well bored…

It is reassuring to know the weird and wonderful world of classic cars reaches right across the planet and in my case New England – just across the Atlantic Ocean from the equally weird and wonderful Practical Classics team. Where I live, on the north east coast of America, I have a group of car enthusiast friends who often get together to share our passion for classics. We regularly read with interest how the PC team and readers of the magazine – like us – buy and restore old cars and, most importantly, we strive to find the chance for a road trip adventure! The most recent opportunity came along when Deputy Editor James Walshe suggested he’d like to get hold of a Sterling (basically, a US-spec Rover 800) and…

Can we ever truly love the ‘new’ VW Beetle? Quickly dismissed as a Golf drag-act that lacked practicality, it even had the engine in the wrong end to be ‘real’. Launched in 1998, there were no right-hookers for two years, and they even cost more than a Golf. But haven’t they now started to look, well, a bit OK? Those cramped rear seats and small boot are of no consequence in the classic world, and you really can pick them up for loose change now. Ready?…

Why you want one The Fiat 500 is the antidote to modern life. You can’t help but change down a gear mentally every time you get behind the wheel as, with just 18bhp or so on tap, you can’t rush anywhere. As with most economy cars, the 500 is cheap to run, easy to maintain and bursting with character. And not only will one put a smile on your face every time you drive it, the pint-sized Fiat will also put a smile on the faces of everyone who sees you out and about. What are the Achilles’ heels? Serious corrosion is the problem most likely to strike, and the most likely to turn a 500 into a scrapper because of the potential cost of restoration compared with the final…

1 Oil leaks from the main rear seal between the engine and gearbox are a pain to fix because of poor access. You can fix it yourself, but a specialist will charge £300-£500. The part itself costs just £18.25. 2 The crankcase breather pipes go brittle and break, leading to uneven running and a reduction in power. The pipes are hidden under the intake manifold; it’s worth replacing them every 80k miles or so. A kit costs £100. The Positive Crankcase 3 Ventilation (PCV) system clogs up leading to a build-up of pressure in the crankcase, blown seals and the engine management light coming on. 4 The turbo return pipe seal hardens then fails, leading to the car’s underside being coated in oil; replacements are just £2 and it’s a…

1972 Rover 2000 Engine 1978cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 106bhp@5500rpm Top speed 110mph recommissioned after many years lurking in a lock-up, was in amazing condition underneath and, best of all, was a sporty TC version. But my automotive puritan streak kicked in, reminding me that I’d pledged not to buy a Series Two, as this one was. End of story? No, because the Rover reappeared on eBay, this time in an auction rather than a classified ad. And its shiny paint, low-ish mileage and Work done Bought; new plates fitted. Back in the August issue of PC , I mentioned in my column that I had been let down over my plan to buy back my old 1967 Rover 2000. The column went on to relate how I went to see another one…

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 taught automotive engineering and makes amazing things in his shed. Ed Hughes WORKSHOP GENIUS Ed single-handedly 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. Q I’m planning to store my Austin A35 over the winter. My shed is a…

Having rear seat belts in your classic is unarguably a really good idea. In the event of an accident, they’ll stop your back seat passengers using you as a rather lumpy airbag. If the worst happens, they could make the difference between a bad situation and an absolutely terrible one. You can fit a new pair for the price of a tank of petrol, which you could hardly say is a bad investment. Many cars had mountings for rear belts fitted as standard from the early Seventies. This was to comply with safety regulations in sensible export markets such as Sweden. Only the Swedes actually got the seat belts themselves, though. In the UK, we got plastic blanking plugs instead. This means that retrofitting belts to many classics is a…

The 1984 British International Motor Show gave visitors a first peek at the hot new generation of Golf GTi, launched onto the market just a few months later. Reliant chose the show to launch its new SS1 (Small Sports 1). Despite plans for 2000 units a year, the Tamworth firm sold 1500 in ten years of production. With hot hatchbacks taking on the role of the defunct Brit sports cars of the Sixties and Seventies, the MR2 was a refreshing crowd-pulling sports car. Having debuted some months before at the Paris Motor Show, the new Testarossa was a highlight for many of the 696,183 visitors to the NEC in 1984. Both Saab and Lancia showed their Giugiaro-styled execs – the first evidence of the ‘Type 4’ platform used later by…

The Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery is ready to go. Organiser, Clarion Events, has confirmed a special four-car display devoted to Jaguar development driver, Norman Dewis OBE hosted by the Jaguar Enthusiasts’ Club. The display will include the only XJ13 ever built, E-type, D-type and Ecurie Ecosse LM69. The Practical Classics team will be out in force. Visit stand 630 in Hall 4 to meet the team and two special cars. James Walshe will be there with his Citroën CX GTi Turbo – the car he saw at the Motor Show in 1984 that inspired him to become a petrolhead and Danny’s Jensen… a car that Danny fell in love with as a Corgi model and as part of his favourite game in Top Trumps… the show theme…

Anew manufacturing technique being pioneered by Nissan promises to enable remanufacturing of obsolete metal-pressed parts for a variety of classics. The technique, known as dual-sided die-less forming, involves using two robots working on opposite sides of a piece of sheet steel to twist and contort it into the required shape. Nissan says that a panel, component or pressing can be recreated for any classic so long as either a drawing (or a single example of the panel which could be scanned) exists. A Nissan spokesperson said: ‘Thanks to its flexible production, short lead times and minimal up front costs, the new technique could make it commercially viable to sell a wide variety of replacement parts in small volumes for cars that Nissan no longer makes.’ ‘New tech like this is…

Making me dizzy! A-SERIES DISTRIBUTORS FROM £45.90 Finding a satisfactory distributor for a classic Mini, or other A-Series engines can be fraught with problems. Mini Spares tried and tested numerous imported and British made examples. It found that suppliers were often unable to advise what curves  they had in them and discovered a marked disparity between the examples tested. Mini Spares is committed to offering its customers only the best products and so took the decision to manufacture its own distributors to ensure that none of these faults would be present. minispares. com Get a grip PLIERS AND SIDE CUTTER RANGE £8.23-£17.07 Kamasa’s new range comprises: side cutters 150mm in length (part number 56122); long-nose pliers 200mm (part no: 56123); combination pliers 175mm (part no: 56124); larger combination…

This is it – the big one. It’s the traditional season closer for the classic year and for us it’s one of the highlights, which is why you’ll find the whole PC team there. We’ll be on the live stage, on the PC stand, in the restoration workshop and cruising around the show meeting as many clubs as possible. If you’ve ever been to this event you’ll know why we love it so much – and if you’ve never been before, you need to see what you’ve been missing out on for the past 35 years. Yep – the NEC extravaganza has been going since 1984 and, in that time, it’s grown enormously. The theme for this year is Top Trumps, which is why a pack of 30 cards has…

Engine The engine was the only thing that Will didn’t do anything with other than clear out the water ways, fit new core plugs and apply a lick of paint. The engine itself was in the passenger seat and it appeared to have been rebuilt, as you could see the edges of new gaskets. ‘It turned out to be a good gamble in the end,’ says Will. Finishing touch I found the picnic basket at an autojumble and, with it being red, I had to have it. The Beatles calendar was a gift – Paul McCartney’s first car was a Classic. Interior Will got lucky as soap, hot water and a lot of hard work meant it cleaned up nicely inside. The interior is mostly original, bar replacement carpets and…

I share Danny’s pain about the vandalism to his R14. I too am a Renault 14 enthusiast, having had six of them over the years. True, it wasn’t the best-built Renault but, as a car it was roomy, comfortable and – in my experience – reliable. It was also a hoot to drive, a real driver’s car. As a fan of these underrated cars, I wish I could help with Danny’s search for the items he needs, but, sadly, like him I have not seen a Renault 14 for years and disposed of my spares stash, such as it was, some time ago. David Jane, Sheffield…

‘It’s one of a kind in the UK’ 1959 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia Gareth Roberts, Ormskirk There are only three of these Binina Blue convertibles worldwide; the others are in Australia and Canada. Mine is also one of five Karmann Ghias (along with four coupés) to have been converted to right-hand drive by Ackland and Taybor from new. It’s unique! I found the car through a ‘wanted’ ad 10 years ago. It’s a survivor car, unrestored and original. The previous owner had left the car in a garage for a couple of years; the sills were rotten, the floor was holed, the engine was seized and the brakes didn’t work. I went through it and returned it to the road. It’s even got the convertible headlining in place.…

His training as an engineer gave Ian Boyd a very precise approach to working on machinery. Aged 15, he joined the Royal Air Force becoming a chief technician: ‘For the next 12 years I was taught to log every job I did, so the next man knew where to start,’ explains Ian, ‘it’s stayed with me all these years.’ Stationed in Germany, Ian was in the final year of his service when he bought this 1965 Jaguar S-type from an officer for £70. ‘I’d driven to Germany in a Jaguar Mk2, so wanted to go home in another. Despite only being seven years-old, the S-type had rotten sills and floors, which I replaced with help from the lads in the metal shop. I covered holes in the inner wings with…

Sold between 1987 and 1991, the Sterling 825 and 827 models were rebadged Rover 800s, with various changes in spec geared to the North American market – from sumptuous Connolly leather seats to motorised automatic ‘seatbelt butlers’. Sales were initially good but quality problems plagued the cars – particularly with the paintwork, interior trim and those iffy Lucas electronics. Despite being a fine drive, the Sterling came bottom for reliability in the annual JD Power satisfaction survey each year, which was in contrast to its twin – the Acura (Honda) Legend – which was often well inside the top ten. Build quality improvements came too late for the Sterling and in August 1991, the marque was dropped for good.…

There were two questions being asked of the first Bonhams MPH sale: would this new entrant to the affordable classic market catch on, and could it make a sale work in the big shed at Bicester Heritage where other have struggled? Sadly, the jury is still out on both of those. You have to make allowances for a first shot, so we cannot read too much into the 59.3 per cent sale rate. But with over 40 per cent of the cars that did sell going for below estimate there were  some cracking bargains on the day. Like the ’98 MGF VVC pictured. Not your usual pile of expense waiting to happen, this 78,900-miler already had a new head gasket and uprated cooling system, and came with a fresh, no…

This is my third Toyota Town Ace. A guy near us bought a gold one with Skylight roof some months after I got my first and it was so much better, I was envious. So, I watched it for the next 16 years hoping for first refusal if he sold. Then it disappeared before Christmas last year, but I tracked it down on another local road. It was the first guy’s brother-in-law, who’d paid him the £500 he’d been offered in part-ex. When I said, ‘How about your money back, £500?’ I was amazed he agreed. The cam-belt hadn’t been changed for 16 years, so I’ve done that, and slung the aircon system as its radiators block the cooling system’s rad and I know these overheat. I like the windows…

The Restoration Workshop is the active hub of the Collections Centre at the British Motor Museum. From the Viewing Gallery on the first floor you can watch the workshop technicians carry out the daily tasks of looking after and restoring the BMM’s large and varied collection of classics. It was built three years ago to look after British Motor Industry Heritage Trust cars, but is also used by the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust to maintain its heritage fleet. JDHT have two full time technicians plus volunteers and the BMM has four staff with, volunteers lending a hand, too. So it’s a busy place – there are over 300 vehicles to look after. Running proceedings on the day of our visit was Paul Gilder, with technician Martin Brown working hard on…

Danny Hopkins What on earth is a Toyota Avensis doing in a classic car mag? I can hear the Cornflakes being spat out across the country. Here is my four-part defence. One: It is 21 years-old. I’ll say that again 21 years-old (I know, how did that happen?). Two: British-built. Derby was home for the Avensis for over 20 years. Three: It has a tape deck. A huge qualifier for any potential classic. Four: It has an amazing story. For me, number four was the biggest hook although, when reader Jeff Taylor called to offer me the car prior to an impending emigration to Australia, I wasn’t keen. Then he gave me its story. He’d owned the car since May 2001, having bought it with just 35,000 miles on the…

Peter Suchy runs Surrey-based Volvo specialist Charlwood Automotive. He told PC: ‘Make sure there is good, regular service and maintenance history available when buying. Neglected cars can be costly to bring up to good condition, so don’t buy what seems to be a bargain, only to find that it needs a lot of costly work to get it up to scratch. You’re much better off biding your time and waiting for the right car to come along than diving in impatiently. Check the car’s MoT history online, focusing on any previous advisories and whether they have been corrected. Many of these cars are run on a shoestring – but there are also some very well maintained C70s out there, too. ‘Be wary of cars that have had suspension upgrades –…

2002 Land Rover Freelander 1.8 Engine 1796cc/OHC Top speed 106mph Fuel economy 24mpg Work since last report Falken tyres fitted. Freelander ownership is still good fun for both my wife (who drives it everyday) and myself. We still love the way it drives as well as the ease of maintenance and cheapness of parts. Recently, we solved the issue of cracked tyres by fitting a set of off-road wheels borrowed from Land Rover Owner magazine. They are for mud plugging, not driving around Cambridge, so a set of Falken Azenis tyres were fitted to the original rims. The Landie drives well, with good new rubber it’s really something. New rubber was also purchased from Britpart when I found coolant weeping from the heater pipes. Hidden from above, this could be…

1972 Triumph 2000 Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 135bhp (est) Torque Enough Gearbox 4-speed man + o/d 0-60mph Unknown Top speed 114mph Fuel economy 25mpg Work done Crusty sill prodded; rusty hole created; panels bought. Also in Matt’s garage 1968 MORRIS 1100 Leaky windscreen seal pretty much cured – just in time for wet autumnal weather. 1999 VW PASSAT 1.9 TDI Sold after 4000 trouble-free miles. A solid old bus. This one’s for you, Chris Rabbets. While attending the 10CR driver’s briefing in Nottingham back in August, fellow Club Triumph regular and MkII saloon owner Chris accosted me. ‘When are you going to write about your car in the magazine?’, he asked me.’ ‘Err, I’ve written about it many times this year,’ I replied. ‘No, not the TR6 – your saloon. That’s…

1992 Fiat Panda Engine 999cc/4-cyl/OHC Gearbox 5-speed manual Work done Exhumed; assessed; door swapped; plan formed. Each year, the PC team embarks on a ridiculous winter challenge in inappropriate cars. My steed of choice for this year’s adventure is this 1992 Fiat Panda, gifted to me by PC contributor Theo Ford-Sagers. His first car, it had lingered in a Norfolk barn for several years after he and his family moved to the Scottish Isle of Harris. It’ll need a new brake master cylinder, brake lines and a brake caliper, plus the cambelt needs fitting after an oil leak has been addressed. Then tyres, a bit of welding and some paint work. Naturally, then, I started by fitting the freshly-painted drivers’ door Theo had thrown in  with the car.The passenger door…

1998 BMW 328i Engine 2793cc/6-cyl-DOHC 2006 Jag X-Type Engine 2498cc/V6/DOHC Work since last report Both stricken cars have now been replaced. Disaster struck on the driveway early one morning. I was woken by a neighbour banging on the door at 3am, to tell me my Jaguar X Type was on fire. Rushing outside, the sight was, frankly, terrifying. The observant neighbour had already called the fire brigade; my next thought was to rush indoors for the key to move our BMW coupé. In hindsight, I made the sensible decision and left the BMW, going into the house only to get everyone outside. Sadly the BMW was also well ablaze by the time the fire engine arrived. The firemen quickly got both fires  under control, saving the house. An engine bay…

1974 Jaguar E-type Series III roadster Engine 5242cc/V12/OHC Power 241bhp@5750rpm Torque 286lb ft@3500rpm Gearbox 5-spd Getrag man 0-60mph 5.5 sec (est.) Top speed 152mph Fuel economy 18mpg (est.) Work done Engine rebuild started; body shell painted and sent to trimmer; bonnet prep continued; shopping list shortened. An E-type is a deceptive car when it comes to paint. Even though they’re our bread and butter, even we occasionally fall into the trap of thinking we’re nearly there once the body is in top coat then turning around and seeing the vast bonnet, still awaiting final filler work, primer and paint. So, the shell of my E-type Series III might be painted, but that’s only really half the car. The other half is sat on trestles in the back of the prep…

1 Two-point or three? A two-point ‘lap belt’ provides less restraint than a three-point type. In general, three-point belts are fitted to the outer seating positions and a lap belt to the centre position of a bench seat. 2 Inertia reel or static? Static belts need to be length-adjusted by each new occupant. Frequently, passengers get it wrong or give up. Self-adjusting inertia belts are better, as long as your mountings are suitable. 3 Can I economise? Webbing ‘gives’ in an accident, so beware: an unknown secondhand belt may be pre-stretched. Cheap, uncertified belts are potentially useless. Compare this flimsy Chinese wonder to a Securon.…