Índex per July 2023 a Practical Classics

Power to the people COMBINED ½IN DRIVE RATCHET WRENCH AND POWER-BAR £80.64 A great new addition to your toolbox, this telescopic 1/2in drive wrench with a flexible ratchet head and ratchet lock-out button means you don’t need to switch tools between high and low torque activities. As a standard 1/2in drive ratchet, the smooth 72-tooth ratchet mechanism is impressive as is the great accessibility offered by the flexi-head. Then press a button to lock-out the ratchet and slide the handle extension out from 455mm long to a full 630mm — you now have a useful power bar just when you need it, without risking damage to the ratchet. Manufactured from chrome vanadium for strength with a chrome plated finish and knurled grip handle, it has a sturdy feel and would…

‘It’s a timewarp car with only 10k on the clock’ 1986 Austin Metro James Pettitt, Stoke-on-Trent I’m 34 and have been a classic car enthusiast all my life, having owned my first car – a Mini Mayfair – at the age of 10. Probably no surprise then that I’ve followed a career in the motor trade – first as a technician and on to a managerial role. And I’ve owned more than 20 classic cars along the way. After selling my 10th Mini in May 2021 I got the itch for something new so, in early 2022, I started the search and ended up with this 1986 Austin Metro 998cc, which has only covered 10,000 miles! I found the car on eBay and travelled to Wakefield after work one evening…

Reg: ‘I owned a Sierra previously, so when this came up on eBay back in 2006, I just had to have it – I won the auction for just £450. It was roadworthy, but had the usual dents, scratches and split bumpers. I’d said to Paul ‘if in doubt, walk away’ but it was him pulling me back as I approached the car – I could see the potential in it. I used it as it was for five years, but by 2009 it was starting to look a bit sorry for itself so we mothballed it on the driveway. But the Sierra was never out of mind and was too good to scrap, so we decided to restore it to its former glory.’ Paul: ‘In 2017, we pulled it…

Hurtling around Goodwood in a 4.5-litre pre-war Bentley was a rip-roaring ride. It wasn’t a race, nor a parade lap, but a derring-do demonstration of how the world’s first vintage Bentley to run on 100 per cent non-fossil carbon-neutral fuel measures up. Remarkably, UU 5687’s engine is unmodified. Barrelling along at 96mph on the Lavant Straight I don’t remember holding on for dear life; I was too caught up in the thrill of living it. At full tilt, William Medcalf’s imposing car will hit 108. ‘She’s a force to be reckoned with,' says William, a West Sussex marque specialist who hopes renewable synthetic fuels, also known as e-fuels, will be the gamechanger needed to futureproof the combustion engine. 'This is a huge moment. Historic cars are part of British culture…

For most of us, the car is where our travelling life happens and the family car is the backdrop for so much of what makes us, 'us'. Births, deaths, marriages, holidays and the daily need to get from A to B are faithfully served by that four-wheeled friend, while our passion for old motors is fired by it. The journey through life sees many cars come and go but a few of them stick and this issue we celebrate the truly special ones. They have extraordinary stories to tell and with Father’s Day falling during this issue's on sale cycle we have chosen cars that have served their families, with dad at the wheel. We start with the story of a father’s gift of a Mini to his son, continue…

My grandfather, Teddy Barrow, was a Manxman who fought in the trenches during WWI. He stayed on in Germany and married a local girl. He was worked at ‘The Ford’ in Cologne where he became a production line manager. He selected the most attractive car off the line which, in 1938 was this Cabrio Limousine version of the Ford Eifel. My grandfather and his German wife had my mum and her brother in 1938 and 1939 respectively, so he decided to stay in Cologne until immediately before the declaration of war, at which point he got a phone call from the British Consulate warning him about what was going to happen. At first he didn’t take it too seriously, but he was told, ‘No, war is about to be declared…

Are e-fuels poised to save our hobby? The recent announcement from the EU that it’s allowing an extension of ICE-powered car production to beyond 2035 may suggest so. Internal-combustion-powered vehicles can be manufactured after the EU’s cut-off date so long as they run exclusively on synthetic fuels. Synthetic fuel is created by capturing carbon from the air and mixing it with hydrogen – made via electrolysis – to produce a ‘clean’ fuel. It’s an energy-intensive process but essentially only involves air, power and water. Because the fuel has been created from captured CO2 and renewable energy, its emissions are considered neutral and acceptable in the long run. But what’s the catch? Well, there isn’t yet a plant making commercial quantities of the stuff and, inevitably, it’ll initially cost far more…

1988 Land Rover Ninety Engine 2494cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 85bhp@4000rpm Torque 150lb ft@1800rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 22.3sec Top speed 76mph Fuel economy 18mpg Work done Cooling system replaced; oil changed. 1 (day) TIME 293 (£) SPENT 1490 MILES Also in Matt’s garage 1937 AUSTIN SEVEN SPECIAL Entry sadly pulled from Vintage Speed Trials at Grimsthorpe. It simply won’t be ready in time. 1960 MORRIS MINOR CONVERTIBLE Foot to the floor around the IOM TT circuit (see p24). 1969 AUSTIN MINI COUNTRYMAN Underside stripped thanks to the latest tool from Rustbuster (See News). 1970 MORRIS MINOR SALOON Supercharger back off. New gasket cut. More knuckles scratched. 1972 MGB GT I keep toying with the idea of selling this, but it never fails to make me smile. 2002 FORD FOCUS Barn stored and…

Matt Tomkins WORKSHOP EDITOR Our workshop puppet master Matt has a penchant for restoring British classics in particular, and will turn his hand to most jobs. This month Fitted a new laminated windscreen, discs and pads to the Traveller and refreshed LR’s cooling system. Theodore J Gillam ENGINEERING EXPERT A former motor vehicle lecturer and classic fiddling perfectionist, Theo has a particular love of compression ignition engines. This month Has sliced up a diesel engine for your delight and delectation. See page 136. Ed Hughes WORKSHOP GENIUS Former teacher Ed singlehandedly keeps a fleet of obscure classics on the road. He’s never owned a modern car and intends to keep it that way. This month Re-made a component for the Izh's window regulator on the lathe. Nigel Clark DIY RESTORER…

Save £300 in six hours KIM'S JOB CARD A-SERIES HEAD GASKET Today I’m going to show you how to change the head gasket on your A-series engine, although the skills demonstrated here are applicable to most OHV classics. Although we’re demonstrating on an MG Midget, the processes are almost identical for all variants of this ubiquitous engine. Torque specs and valve clearances may differ, however, so use this guide alongside the General Data section of your workshop manual. How tough? You’ll need Socket spanner set. Variety of open-ended and ring, or combination spanners. Selection of screwdrivers. Variety of levers. Torque wrench. Specialists ESM Morris Minors, morrisminorspares.com MGOC Spares, mgocspares.co.uk Mini Spares, minispares.com Will take (HRS) 6 Will cost 40 (£) Cash saved 300 (£) START DAY 1 REMOVE THE CYLINDER…

1979 Vauxhall Viva Saw this very tidy Vauxhall Viva 1300 in a car park in South Yorkshire. That colour looked really great under a moody sky. Mark Walton, Sheffield Land Rover Series II Santana A tidy example of a Santana that appeared to be in daily use. Spotted in Ubeda, Spain. John Barr, by email 1938 Austin Seven My wife and I were staying a few miles from Gaydon for the MGB60 event with our MGB when we saw this lovely little Austin parked outside the hotel. Kevin Hyde, Lancaster 1967 Volvo Amazon and 1974 Citröen D Safari Just back from visiting my mum and saw an Amazon and D Safari basking together in sunny Chepstow. Rob Drew, Calne, Wiltshire 1972 Morris A60 Van I often see this Morris in…

ALAN: ‘I’d had a Citroën SM for eight years from new, but in 1979 I went down to my local Citroën dealership in Bradford and ordered a new CX GTi. They didn’t make the SM any more. I chose the colour – white – and selected air conditioning rather than a radio. It was an either/or option because the controls occupied the same dashboard slot! Although the CX was my daily driver, I kept it in good condition. I have always been an active member of the Citroën Car Club and my GTi was often chosen to represent the CX on club stands at car shows. I started to enter it in CCC concours and at one such event at Knebworth in 1984, a student named Neil Osbourn took a…

FANCY A PUNT? WITH RUSS SMITH ‘Something’s changed the market’s outlook’ It may have been born in the mid-Seventies, but the Rover SD1 somehow feels like a car from the following decade. Whether you remember them as being part of family holidays, or perhaps just the ubiquitous ‘jam-sandwich’ police car, they were a prominent part of motoring life for decades. They have also – if you discount the feisty Vitesse models – been unrelentingly cheap to buy. Until recently. Something has changed the market’s outlook on SD1s. So quickly it has taken me by surprise. What I cannot tell you in this instance is why. It’s not an uncommon occurrence for classics though and can be brought on by TV or film appearances, favourable magazine articles that shine a spotlight,…

Why you want one With so much hype, nostalgia, and club support for Eighties superminis such as the Fiesta, Metro and Peugeot 205, it's easy to forget just how popular and well-loved Vauxhall’s offering was when it was new. So, few of them survive, they’re somewhat ‘off the radar’ for many, yet half a million UK buyers drove one out of their local Vauxhall showroom between April 1983 and March 1993, making the Nova one of the best sellers of the decade. The Nova remains a very usable Eighties classic. So, why has it remained in the shadows for so long? Could it be the lack of an official Nova club, or that many were binned after years of driving school abuse or being butchered by boy racers in the…

1998 Mercedes Tn 207d Sioux Camper Engine 2404cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 65bhp@4400rpm Torque 101lb ft@5500rpm Gearbox 5-speed man Top Speed 80mph 0-60mph 20sec Fuel Economy 28mpg Work done Serviced; new shower room 3 (weeks) TIME 11,131 (£) SPENT 657 MILES Also in Danny’s garage 1971 MORRIS MARINA 1.3 Itching to get on with it. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Still awaiting new oil and replacement balljoint. 1977 SCIMITAR SE6A Gearbox will be sorted soon. 1991 PEUGEOT 205 CJ About to get a big Nigel Clark service. 1995 MITSUBISHI GTO Looking for a set of original MkII alloy wheels. 1996 HONDA CIVIC 1.4I Bodywork and door sorted, almost MOT-ready. 2002 MAZDA MX-5 My Montana is next in line for some attention. 2004 VAUXHALL FRONTERA 2.2DTI Going to fit a brand new EGR valve this weekend.…

1977 Reliant Scimitar SE6A Engine 2994cc/V6/OHV Power 138bhp@5000rpm Torque 192lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-speed man + o/d 0-60mph 9.4sec Top speed 118mph Fuel economy 22mpg Work this report Wheeling and dealing, plus new gearbox oil for the GT6. 1 (hours) TIME 12 (£) SPENT 1580 MILES Also in Nigel's garage 1970 TRIUMPH TR6 Braved the rain for a few trips out, including a recent TR Register gathering in Leicestershire. 1972 TRIUMPH GT6 MkIII Getting occasional use during the winter months. 2002 BMW 325i TOURING Sold to make way for another Beemer. It’s been a big couple of weeks for my fleet, with two cars sold and one bought. Selling the Scimitar GTE had been part of the plan, but there have been a couple of – let’s say – more spontaneous…

Matt Richardson CONTRIBUTOR 2003 Freelander Kalahari 5-door Engine 1951cc/4-cyl/DOHC Power 110bhp@4000rpm Torque 91lb ft@1750rpm Gearbox 5-speed auto 0-60mph 14.4sec Top speed 107mph Fuel economy 37mpg Work done Sill welded; MOT success. 2 (days) TIME 60 (£) SPENT 200 MILES Also in Matt’s garage 1969 MORRIS MINI 1000 Undergoing full strip down for resto. 1972 ROVER P6 2000 Suffering from starter earth problems. 1973 ROVER P6 4.6 Waiting on garage to solve starting issue. 1983 MERCEDES-BENZ 230E (W123) Needs brakes and some welding to rear wing panel. 1985 SINCLAIR C5 Erm, very broken. 1988 VOLVO 740 GL Actually good, going out for summertime. 1993 ROVER 220 COUPÉ Awaiting head gasket and possible turbo conversion. 1995 ROVER 420 GSI TOURER Used as load-lugger for car gathering set up. 1996 ROVER 200 VI…

Your two-hour workshop ED'S JOB CARD FREE YOUR CLASSIC'S CLUTCH Today we'll look at what to do if you find you can't engage any gears. The problem's common when starting (or recommissioning) a car that's been stood for a while, but it can occur while driving, too. We'll diagnose the source of the issue, which may be in the actuating mechanism or in the clutch itself, and we'll learn how to rectify the problem, both in a workshop situation and, where possible, out on the road. Most problems are not serious in a mechanical sense, but are inconvenient as they prevent the car from being driven. How tough? You’ll need Basic tool kit Spare parts Hydraulic fluid as necessary. Specialists DOT 5 silicone fluid, automec.co.uk Will take (HRS) 2 Will…

Putting these pages together every month is a genuine pleasure, because the generosity and kindness displayed by my fellow classic car enthusiasts is awe-inspiring and humbling. But there’s one thing about writing Charity Heroes that’s a little frustrating – albeit not unexpected. Often, I have to dig around to find the true depth of people’s charitable endeavours, and that’s because the most selfless people in society are often also the most modest. They’ll go out, raise thousands for the benefit of others, and then humbly disappear into the background. It was only after speaking to their director, Peter Hodgson, that I discovered the true depth and brilliance of the fundraising activities of the Vectis Historic Vehicle Club, for example. Based on the Isle of Wight, the members are fishing in…

A wheel job As these early TVRs didn’t have an opening boot, if you needed to change a wheel, the only option was to manhandle the spare out through the passenger doors. Brands Hatch, Kent, summer 1968 We’d love to tell you what this 1968 event at Brands Hatch was, but it’s lost in the mists of time. However, as several of the cars are road-registered and the people milling around don’t look like team professionals, we suspect it might have been a club meeting or support race. What we can talk about, with some certainty, is what’s lining up for battle. Car number 17 leading the grid is a TVR and, with that finned rear end, probably a 1962-64 Grantura III with either an 1622cc or 1798cc BMC B-series…

EMAIL OF THE MONTH Imp gets checked out in tartan party You featured a picture of my 20,000-mile 1976 Hillman Imp at Edinburgh Castle a year or so ago, so I thought that you might be interested to know that it has now been freshly painted and is currently one of the main exhibits at the V&A Dundee! The Scottish-built special edition Caledonian Imp with its tartan inspired interior is now welcoming guests to the ‘Tartan’ exhibition that celebrates Scotland’s globally renowned fabric design. I was invited along as a people’s ambassador for Tartan to the opening of the year-long display along with fellow ambassadors Graham McTavish of Outlander and Hobbit fame, supermodel Eunice Olumide MBE and Instagram star and yoga teacher Findlay Wilson. All of them loved the little…

Electric cars are the future, we are told. Hydrocarbon fuels will continue to be (decreasingly and probably more expensively) available through the lifetimes of most who are reading this, because to render so many millions of liquid-fuelled cars prematurely obsolete would be a hard sell to the electorate and a terrible waste of resources. The future thrust, though, currently involves electrons and nothing else. At least it does in the UK, wedded not just to a zero-carbon automotive future but also to this very specific way of achieving it. But at the moment, the push towards electrification is stumbling after an initial rush of early adoption. Values of used electric cars are sinking, as a friend of mine has just discovered when trying to offload his Jaguar i-Pace. Why? Plenty…

Back in 1973 I was in the market for a coupé to replace my old Fiat 128. I thought the Ford Capri and the Sunbeam Rapier looked too American, but one morning I passed a dealer in Watford and feasted my eyes on a new 124 Sport Coupé wearing Cromadora light alloy wheels. I knew instantly that this was the car for me, but there was the slight issue of money. Then I had a brainstorm – my stamp collection would have to go! Eventually I was able to order this 124 1800 CC for £2200. It was everything I had hoped for. The handling was outstanding and it was really exciting to drive hard. I loved the grooved aluminium dash panel, and how the slim pillars made the interior…

Buying & selling modern classics in the real world Getting a call from my friend, Steve Mansfield, can lead a young man into trouble… but never mind. Within seconds of being alerted to the prospect of a Renault Clio heading scrapwards, I’d fired up the Frontera and was on my way. The car in question was the property of Steve’s neighbour Roger Rowe and it needed to be gone imminently, before it took root permanently in Roger’s front garden. It was a 2001 pre-final facelift, Renault Clio 1.2 that had been on SORN since July 2022. Y924 GNP had been driving well until its MOT ran out and I knew that the 2021 MOT had about 12 minor advisories on it…. things such as binding rear brakes, slipping auxiliary belt,…

2004 Smart Roadster Engine 698cc/3-cyl/OHC Power 80bhp@5250rpm Torque 81ft lb@2250rpm 0-60mph 10.9sec Top speed 111mph Economy 50.3mpg Weight 790kg Work done Oil change; general poking. 2 (hours) TIME 141 (£) SPENT 550 MILES Also in James’s garage 1985 CITROËN 2CV Looking forward to the Pembrokeshire Classic Car Club show. 2001 FORD PUMA 1.7 Out of winter hibernation at last and providing many weekend thrills! 2001 SMART CITYCOUPÉ ABS light on. Need expert help from my new Smart friends, I think! 2004 CITROËN BERLINGO 2-LITRE HDI Several camping trips done already this year, with a great many more to come. One of my favourite music videos is for No Rain, a 1993 song by US band Blind Melon. In it, a dejected little girl in a bee costume is laughed off…

1972 Rover 2000 TC Engine 2204cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 113bhp @ 5400rpm Torque 132lb ft@2900-4100rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual Top speed 108mph 0-60mph 11.5sec Fuel economy 21mpg (est) Work done Oil change; thorough carb set-up on dyno; new clutch cylinders; rear caliper and front brake pads 2 (days) TIME 1000 (£) SPENT 5071 MILES Currently in John’s garage (or not) 1961 SAAB 96 Sold with a tear in the eye, after 22 years. 1960 SINGER GAZELLE CONVERTIBLE Rapier engine upgrade parts at Oselli Engineering. 1989 EUNOS ROADSTER Rear brake pads annihilated by two track days. Let’s go to Ireland,’ said Mrs S. ‘Let’s take the Rover,’ said I. So, we did, last September. It was a great road trip, which highlighted just two glitches. Its engine’s occasional tendency to run on when switched…

Andy Ibbotson READER 1969 Morris Minor Traveller Engine 1098cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 48bhp@5100rpm Torque 59lb ft@5100rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual Top speed 77mph 0-62mph 24.8sec Fuel economy 38mpg Work done Trial-fitted new woodwork. 4 (weeks) TIME 2400 (£) SPENT 1500 (MINI) MILES Also in Andy’s garage 1958 AUSTIN A35 Still festering, having been saved from scrap. I might get around to it someday. 1959 MORRIS MINOR 4-DOOR SALOON On the road, owned since I was 16. Respray and TLC planned for the future. 1959 MORRIS MINOR Future 1300cc, five-speed Tomkins-esque project. 1967 MORRIS MINOR 2-DOOR SALOON Now back on the road after a respray. 1971 MINI CLUBMAN 1275GT This little rocket belongs to my son Sam. It has a 1300 race engine, so it's very fast and very noisy. 1972 MGB GT Sam’s…

Get your workspace sorted! MATT’S JOB CARD REVITALISE YOUR WORKSHOP With summer upon us and your classic out of the garage, now’s the perfect time to give your workshop a spring clean and a birthday. Warmer weather means paint will dry quickly while long summer evenings will allow you the opportunity to keep working for longer. These pages are by no means meant as a step-by step guide, more a way of getting your brain whirring to allow you to see the wood for the trees with your own workshop. This article comes off the back of a recent refresh of the PC workshop and we cannot express just how much difference the following jobs have made to our working space – and the projects which we work on within.…

Prices are researched from several sources, including clubs, auctions, the trade and advertisements online and in print. Prices are reviewed and updated every issue. Our C/D rating is a basic guide to what you can expect to pay (£) for the best examples of a model, a concours car or something from a dealer. CONDITION 1 means well-presented cars that have no obvious faults. CONDITION 2 cars are capable of regular use. They have a current MOT certificate, but will need work and/or original parts. CONDITION 3 cars usually need a full rebuild, but may be driveable and MOT’d. PLEASE NOTE You can’t value any car without seeing it – don’t buy blind. KEY auto: automatic cab: cabriolet con: convertible est: estate lhd: left-hand drive lim: limousine rwd: rear-wheel drive…