Table of contents for October 2018 in Practical Classics

‘Cars have become like washing machines’ The June 1980 issue of Practical Classics (issue no 2, in fact) contains a detailed guide to replacing the sills on your MGB. At that time the MGB was still in production (just) and the oldest examples were only eighteen years old. It’s hard to imaging now a car of that age requiring (or receiving) such major reconstructive surgery. Rust is becoming a far less prolific danger to the roadworthiness of a modern car. It’s rare, even, to see a rusty modern car in a scrapyard; yet we continue to scrap cars at an alarming rate. Electronics are the biggest killers of cars nowadays. Cars have become like washing machines and televisions: a series of circuit boards and electronic control units that are ‘sealed…

Took the ‘Bean’ Mini for a blast to the South Downs for reader James Bacchus’ ‘Small Car Run’. Got carried away and started poking holes in my MGB GT. See my Staff Car Saga on p100. Had an enjoyable day out with the finished MGB at the 25th annual BMC/BL day in Peterborough. Minor Convertible put in an appearance at the monthly Morris Minor Owners Club meeting. Bought Matt George’s old Nimrod trailer tent and took it for a trial weekend away locally, behind the ‘B.…

E10 fuel consultation The Department for Transport has launched a consultation looking into the potential ramifications of the introduction of 10 per cent ethanol fuel. One option being considered is a ruling to ensure that a limited supply of E5 fuel (which contains five per cent ethanol, as per most current unleaded petrol) will remain available for those who need it to run older cars. The report’s findings should be published in late autumn. MoT bookings down by half Department for Transport figures have revealed that, since the introduction of MoT exemption for cars built before 1978, the number of cars submitted for testing has plummeted. Well over half of the cars from the age group are now on the road without a test certificate. Next issue In the November…

Holding on to our heritage A new organisation, the Association of Heritage Engineers, has been launched to link older engineers and craftspeople with a new generation. AoHE aims to hold special events where retired specialists can share their skills and experience with others. Visit association ofheritageengineers.co.uk for details on what the AoHE is all about and how you can get involved. Skill Shack content grows More new classes have been launched on Skill Shack, our online video tutorial channel. Latest videos include ‘How to balance twin carbs’ and ‘How to fit gaskets and seals properly’. Edd China’s guide to checking your classic’s roadworthiness is also now online. Visit skillshack.co.uk for the very latest offers and news alerts. Papal Escort up for grabs A 1976 Ford Escort 1100GL MkII, the very…

Every second Friday, Apr-Sept If you’re in a classic car club and you’re looking for a welcome away from home, or you want to latch on to an event that’s already happening, check out Jack’s Hill Café in Towcester, Northants NN12 8ET. The eatery first opened in 1955 and has been owned by Suzanne Capella for 17 years. She says: ‘The café is a truck stop during the week, but at weekends it fills up with classic cars. We have a classic car night every second Friday from April to September. We also run events focused on Volkswagen, MG, Saab, Triumph and others. There’s a full events diary and menu at jackshillcafe.co.uk .’…

My grandad had an Austin 1100, followed by an Allegro and then a Metro. Grandma had a Sixties D-reg Mini with sliding windows. Four of us went from London to Shrewsbury in it with luggage for a week and the speedo cable broke on the M1 – not sure it had ever been that fast before! Neil Morey There was always a faint smell of petrol in my grandad’s olive green G-reg Reliant Rebel estate. When the estate got written off in 1986, he found a white saloon version to replace it. Nan never approved! Francis Marsden My earliest memory is being thrown around in the back of my grandfather’s Granada Scorpio Cosworth 24v at Blackheath Common. He’s driven everything he has owned since flat out, with the uncanny ability…

Morgan & Austin-Healey Spotted in Cherbourg… it looked like they were heading on a trip to Blighty. Colin Forrest, Scotland Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint SS I live in the United States and we recently spotted an Alfa that I had never seen before and we had no idea what it is! Joe Chapman, USA 1971 Citroën DS The owner wasn’t around or I might have been tempted to try and swap my Peugeot for this beauty! Phil Parker, Leamington Spa 1989 Nissan Sunny I saw this Sunny van in Sheringham recently. It seemed to be original and in daily use. Alan Wood, Deeping St James Dodge & Mercedes-Benz We spotted these two wonderful examples of Fifties design while on holiday in Palma, Majorca. The Dodge pickup was parked by a…

2 APRIL 2004 At the heart of it The original 2-litre engine was removed and stored while Neil began the process of making the Manta solid once more. 1 MARCH 2004 Sill or no sill When removing the side skirts most of each sill came away attached, revealing, well, not much. 3 JUNE 2006 Rusty front end The front axle comes out as one section with the subframe, making access for repair and restoration relatively easy. Here ready for stripdown. 4 OCT 2006 Roof repairs ‘I only told you to take the bloody roof off’ or similar quote from a film. He did, you know. He only went and took the bloody roof off. Brave, but the finished result speaks for itself. 5 DEC 2006 That’s better Working mostly on…

We’re very broad-minded here at PC , so you’ll see lots of old cars in these pages whose claim to classicdom might not be as strong as the purists would like. Never mind; if it’s interesting, and it has a story to tell, we’ll write about it. So, here’s a story about the Toyota Corolla Verso MPV that family Simister has run since it was new in late 2001. It gives a great view out, has surprisingly entertaining yet comfortable dynamics, and the dog loves it. Even better, it has suffered no rust in its bodywork and it never goes wrong. Ah. Saying that, as I did during a recent holiday in Pembrokeshire, was not wise. As I manoeuvred the Toyota in a car park at Pwllgwaelod, the brake pedal…

Q How did your career begin? ‘I joined The Rover Company in Solihull as an engineering apprentice in 1965. My very first job was machining Land Rover oil pumps. There was no such thing as a clean machine shop back then – you couldn’t see one side of the shop from the other for all the graphite particles in the air. I then moved onto the P6 production line – indeed, my own P6 was built during the period I worked there in 1966. I like to think that I maybe screwed a door card onto it or something.’ Q What do you remember about this time? ‘In the pre-BL era, Rover was a very high tech company, and I worked on several cars, such as the P8, that never…

‘The Roadster was overdue a meaningful uplift in value’ With a certain amount of predictability, the hottest summer since records last caught fire and had to be beaten out with a shoe has added fuel to the British appetite for soft-tops. The longer the drought wore on, the more prices rose along with the Mercury. We’re optimists like that. Almost anything with a lowerable roof has done well in the market over the last few months – though I’m sure things will have returned to their soggy normal by the time you read this. But the surprise winner in the guide-changing stakes has been that classic scene stalwart: the good old MGB Roadster. The large supply of these cars has historically kept their prices pretty stable. In fact, most of…

1993 The 306 hatch launches with 1.4, 1.6 or 1.8 petrol engines or a 1.9 diesel engine in 71bhp N-A or 92bhp turbocharged forms. 1994 New Cabriolet has 2.0-litre petrol engine. 123bhp 2.0 XSi hatch and 155bhp S16 hatch also debut, as does saloon with 1.6, 1.8 or 2.0 petrol engines or 1.9 diesel; a 1.4 arrives in 1995. 1996 GTI-6 hatch arrives with 167bhp 2.0-litre engine and six-speed manual gearbox. The 306 Roadster also appears: it’s a Cabriolet with a hard top as standard.…

Carl Chambers runs CM Chambers Cars in Suffolk, specialising in Peugeots and the 306 in particular. Carl told PC: ‘I’ve been into Peugeots for over 30 years and I bought my first in 1990; I’ve been working on them since 1996. I’ve got an ex-works BTCC 306 and a Rallye that’s covered just 300 miles. I’ve currently got two Rallyes in for restoration; owners are prepared to spend significant money on these cars. Day to day I service, repair and uprate 306s.’ SPECIALISTS CM Chambers, Norfolk, tinyurl.com/y73blrpl Pug1off, Northants, 01280 701919, pug1off.com PugSport, Norfolk, pugsport-racing.co.uk PugRacing, Hants, pugracing.com OWNERS’ CLUBS 306 Owners Club, 306oc.co.uk Club Peugeot UK, clubpeugeotuk.org GTI-6 and Rallye Owners Club, 306gti6.com Peugeot Sport…

James Walshe Taking a fancy to my 20 year-old Peugeot 806, friends living in France decided to buy it and so we hatched a wacky plan for me to deliver it to them near the town of Limoges, where I’d stay for a few nights and then catch a train home. I like railway journeys. This one would give me the chance to sit still for a while, put my headphones on and catch up on the mass of new music I’ve missed out on of late. The stint to Paris would snake through sprawling green farmland and following a brief coffee and dither across the French capital, in no time at all I’d be rolling into Waterloo. But, what if…? I glanced down at my phone and began having…

Archie Forsyth & Ned Hiley We are a pair of teenage friends who have a passion for older cars and of course, a Nissan Micra definitely counts as an older car. We bought ‘Martin’ to go on a rally to Mongolia (the aptly named Mongol Rally), in fact a few hours after the picture was taken we set off on our adventure, a couple of 19 year-olds in a car eight years older then they are! Each team must identify their own route, but ultimately we share one aim: to reach Ulan Ude, Russia, from the start location just west of Prague. So we have to get to the Czech Republic before we even begin! Then we are in for a 10,000 mile transcontinental trip across five mountain ranges, three…

1972 MGB GT Engine 1798cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 95bhp@5400rpm Torque 110lbft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-speed man + o/d 0-60mph 13.2sec Top speed 102mph Fuel economy 22.8mpg Work done Welding to front of sills, bottoms of front wings, rear wheel arch and underneath, strip down, prep and paint. Also in Matt’s garage 1960 MORRIS MINOR CONVERTIBLE Running beautifully and a joy to drive when the sun shines. 1969 MORRIS MINOR TRAVELLER On caravan-towing duties as often as possible, it continues to bimble along. 1970 MORRIS MINOR TWO-DOOR Now in the workshop. Check back on progress next month; exciting plans are afoot. 1992 ‘MR BEAN’ MINI I’m in discussions with CCA and it will be auctioned soon. Having used my MGB GT most days for nearly a year, it had turned a corner from scruffy to…

1962 Morris Minor 1000 Engine 1098cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 48bhp@5500rpm Torque 72 lb ft@2400rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 24.8sec Top speed 77mph Fuel economy 34mpg Work done Rediscovered after nine years, bought back. Also in Ben’s garage 1963 HUMBER SCEPTRE Sold. I loved it, but it was one project too many. 1972 BEDFORD CF DORMOBILE CAMPER VAN Engine and gearbox swap in progress. On the road at last for 2019? As far as life-changing moments go, it was a big one. I was only 12 when I clambered behind the steering wheel of the dusty 1962 Morris Minor in a family friend’s garage. Unusual old cars had always excited me, but with its huge wire-sprung steering wheel and gold-faced speedometer, the Smoke Grey saloon was truly magical to me. That one automotive…

You will need Seal and fixing kit, replacement cover (optional), flexi-shaft screwdriver, scraper, contact adhesive, thinners or similar solvent. No sealant required Triumph recommended non-setting mastic to seal the gearbox cover. Modern seals mean this is no longer necessary. While you’re there… Check/change the gearbox oil while access is good. Inspect the wiring and connections to the overdrive and reversing light switches. Rust-treat and paint the floor while the carpets are out. Extra access plate? Cars with overdrive have a small curved plate on the transmission tunnel behind the gearbox cover. Seal this with non-setting mastic. Many Triumphs have a removable cover over the gearbox. This is a real blessing for clutch changes and other jobs that require gearbox removal, as it can be pulled out through the interior without…

Shocking display ADJUSTABLE DAMPERS FOR VOLKSWAGEN CADDY £57.80 The VW Caddy can use the same front dampers and springs as the Golf, so it’s no problem finding lowered parts for the front – but the rear has always been an issue. Now GAZ can supply uprated dampers for the rear of the Caddy that can be supplied either for stock ride height or as a short body version suitable for use with a flipped axle lowering procedure. GAZ dampers can be adjusted to suit the conditions and driving style by means of an easily accessible knob on the side. Valving is set for general road use and they will also be suitable for the occasional track, slalom and sprint use; alternatively, they can be set up for serious racing use.…

Brilliantly organised, incredibly varied and blessed with wall-to-wall sunshine, the Gloucestershire Vintage and Country Extravaganza on August 3-5 was a triumph. Proud owners showed off their classic motorbikes, tractors, military vehicles, traction engines commercials and, of course, hundreds of cars from the Edwardian era up to 1990. It was a proper family weekend, full of classics, including a Morris 8-based fire engine which was the exhibit that we most wanted to take home. More at glosvintageextravaganza.co.uk  .…

Jaguar XJ6 Jaguar’s range of big saloons had become more than a little confusing by the mid-Sixties, with the S Type, 240, 340, 420 and 420G simultaneously in dealers’ showrooms. The introduction of the XJ6 could have been seen merely as an attempt to rationalise their product range but as we all know today, this big cat proved to be far more important. In a production run spanning three series, the XJ6 lasted into the Nineties, and is credited with saving the Jaguar company. Designed by Chief Engineer Bob Knight, Jaguar boss Sir William Lyons had asked for ‘a saloon car with the handling of an E-type’. The XJ6 naturally relied heavily on major components available in house, including the E-type’s independent rear suspension layout and twin-cam straight six powerplant,…

Fiat Multipla – the car that looks like it has a nasty infection. Neil Burke Citroën Ami. Fell out of the ugly tree, hit every branch on the way down, then bounced back up again. Leslie Button Alfa Romeo GTV. Without doubt the ugliest car ever. Stuart Granger Surely it has to be the Ford Scorpio. What a moose! Alex Bentley The Nissan Juke looks like it has taken a severe beating with the ugly stick. Ed Prothero The Ssangyong Rodius for me – did the design team really look at that and say ‘good job there, lads’? Greg King I thought both the Multipla and PT Cruiser were fab. The Pontiac Aztec, though? What were they thinking? Kate Woolley The original Nissan Prairie was ugly! Allan Mawson Is the…

From rusty worn-out farmhand to stunning usable classic, this car’s transformation has been exceptional. The colour scheme is exactly to my taste, red with contrasting black decals, spoilers and BBS replica alloy centres – I’d never tire of looking at it. The engine fires with a gruffer than standard sound – no bad thing – thanks to the induction system’s air filter, and throttle blips elicit a satisfyingly sporting exhaust note. On the move it’s a really eager performer, but it’s actually the handling that’s the star of the show here; feedback through the Irmscher sports steering wheel is cracking, and transmits the nuances of the road surface perfectly to your fingertips. As we say in Scotland, it’s a right wee stoater.…

Ed Hughes and I recently found ourselves with a few days to kill in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg. We decided to hire a car and visit the nearby town of Asbest, which, as its name terrifyingly suggests, is home to the world’s largest asbestos mine. Yekaterinburg’s car hire companies mostly offered a disappointing range of European blandness. One, however, stood out as superior. I’m disinclined to identify this company by name, for fear that it has mafia connections that extend to the South Cotswolds. This company’s website promised real exotica. The cheapest model offered was a Lada Samara, advertised as having a ‘convenient ashtray’. Next up was an Uz-Daewoo Nexia – a lightly-mutilated Daewoo Nexia saloon (or Vauxhall Belmont as we more-or-less know it) built in Uzbekistan until 2016.…

REVIEW Poole players SWVA almost sells the entirety of the catalogue! Perhaps it was bolstered by happy holidaymakers in a spending mood, but South Western Vehicle Auctions sale in Poole on July 27 was rocking. Seventy classics were offered and only four failed to sell. That’s 94.2 per cent against a rough industry average of 67 per cent this summer, too. Big prices were made too, like £9974 for a Triumph Herald 13/60. Mind you, it was a 28,500-mile, two-owner car with all the paperwork back to before it was new. With that form it was always going to beat its £4500-£4900 estimate by some way. Also impressive was the £10,412 achieved for a 1947 Austin Ten against a £5000-£5750 estimate. It was probably still a smart buy after its…

1982 Citroën 2CV Price: £9700 One that really shouldn’t rust as it was all hot-dip galvanized in Holland (video with car). Official special edition ‘Bond’ model, hence the price. 1961 Hillman Minx IIIB Price: £5000 Cared for by the current lady owner for 25 years and all past owners known. Resprayed 24 years ago and now just needs a little rear wheelarch attention. 1989 Volvo 240 GLT Price: £7995 It’s not cheap, but then again you just don’t find 240s like this any more. Near-concours condition, 54,000 miles and always well cared for.…

Most projects are likely to be tired mechanically but with reasonable bodies – good news for DIY-ers as few special tools are needed and mastering the diagnostics is easy. Some mechanical bits are scarce (especially OE), most trim is hard to source, Phase 1 headlights are long obsolete (with Phase 2 lights getting rare) and brake compensators for the GTI-6 are unavailable. Exhausts and driveshafts are also hard to find but many mechanical bits are shared with other PSA cars. Perhaps the most taxing aspect of working on a 306 is setting up the torsion bar rear suspension properly. Don’t be tempted to lower the suspension – and steer clear of buying a car that’s been changed in this way. Peugeot did a great job of setting things up to…

RENAULT 4 Overpriced at €3500, James attempted to beat the owner down but was dismissed as ‘a crazy Englishman.’ The bumper was held on with a block of wood and some string. CITROËN 2CV Advertised in a local shop for €1500, it was assumed the car was roadworthy. Confusion caused by language barrier. Shame, as having sold one 2CV (see p98), James was up for another. TALBOT SAMBA James’ first car was a Samba so this would have been a blast from the past. Car was scruffy though and not actually for sale. Top marks for knocking on the owner’s door though. CITROËN C15 VAN France’s most popular van, this one was mouldy but worth its €600 price tag. Had James not bought the Renault, this would most likely have…

1971 Triumph TR6 Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 104bhp@4500rpm Torque 146lb ft@2000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 10.7sec Top speed 109mph Fuel economy 25mpg Work done Rear body adjusted with extra shims; door gap addressed; doors removed; body braced. Also in Matt’s garage 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Now TIM equipped with a tow bar for trailer tent-lugging duties. 1993 PEUGEOT 205 JUNIOR Was sold after a replacement appeared… see below. 1999 ROVER 600 GSDI Recently arrived via renowned Rover fancier C. Cheetham. Great MPG. More soon. With the TR engine rebuild process seemingly approaching completion (See Practical Classics , July 2018, p102) it was time to get back to restoring the body. First task was to address and/or amend the door gaps. The gaps between the door and wings on the driver’s side were…

1 Oh dear! Matt had a poke… and pulled lumps of filler away from rusty panels. 2 Inner sill repair With the outer wing removed, the inner could be tackled. This area was rebuilt using 2mm steel for added strength. 3 Close off With both sill ends repaired, the outer wings could be replaced. 4 Filler to smooth Wheelarches were also repaired then skimmed with filler and sanded smooth. 5 Primed Plenty of primer was loaded onto the sanded surface before being left to dry fully.…

‘There was a big end death-rattle to rival that of the previous engine’ 1978 Wartburg 353W Engine 992cc/3-cyl/TS Power 50bhp@4250rpm Torque 71lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox Four-speed manual Top speed 82mph 0-60mph 17sec Fuel economy 34mpg Work done Engine replaced. New panels. Steering wheel, cable-pull and window mechanism fixed Also in Ed’s garage 1976 ZAZ 968A After a bit of careful engine tuning, the Zapo is now running like a people’s Porsche! 1986 LADA 1200 ESTATE A true pleasure, as always. Soon to have its wayward steering angles corrected. When I first put this Wartburg 353W back on the road, I’d repainted the black grille in yellow, removed the hubcaps and kept the bumpers in black, as they were when I bought it. I’d also fitted a deeper front air dam with…

1978 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow Engine 6750cc/V8/OHC Power ‘Adequate’ Torque Not disclosed Gearbox 4-speed auto 0-60mph 10.7sec Top speed 113mph Fuel economy 17mpg (hopefully) Work done so far Since buying the car it has been welded up. while a new 4-speed box has been fitted, hence the need for a new prop. Also in Dave’s garage 2003 ALFA ROMEO GTV Still a blast to drive. With the new gearbox and suspension in place it was time to refit the back axle and measure the distance between the two so that I could make a propshaft. In order to access the propshaft, first of all you need to remove the rear differential, carrier and halfshafts. Luckily for me these had already been removed prior to renovating the body so I was able…

Plans have been submitted for a hotel at the Bicester Heritage site. It will use materials inspired by existing RAF Bicester and is part of further developments. Millie, the 1983 Maestro Classic Loan Project car starred at Festival of the Unexceptional. To get in involved contact bobwilkinson49@hotmail.co.uk. A 1961 E-type Roadster, chassis number 64, is set to fetch £380,000 when auctioned at H&H’s October event. The ‘flat floor’ car has rare early factory items. Mark the 50th anniversary of steam’s revival on Sept 29-30 at Tyseley depot. Quote PRACTICALCLASSICS at vintagetrains.co.uk/latestevents to get 10 per cent off tickets or get £1 off on the day by showing this mag! A new special publication celebrating the cars of BMC is on sale at WHSmith or online at greatmagazines.co.uk . With a…

As scrappage schemes and tougher MoT legislation take hold, some of the UK’s best-loved cars of the Nineties and early 2000s are facing extinction, with the changing pattern of car buying and legislation designed to make older cars less attractive forcing them towards an early demise. The latest set of data from the DVLA shows that some of the most popular cars that younger Practical Classics readers grew up with have seen their numbers go into freefall, with some seeing their survival rate halve over the past two years. Between the first quarter of 2016 and the same period in 2018, half of the remaining Citroën Saxos, Peugeot 306s, Rover 25s and Citroën Xantias were scrapped, while other once-popular models such as the Vauxhall Omega, MG ZS and Alfa Romeo…

Essential Buyers Guides £12.99 EACH These latest additions to Veloce’s excellent buyers guide series are a must read, alongside PC’s own buying guides of course, for anyone considering buying a BMW Z4, first generation Range Rover or Datsun 240Z. Packed with all you need to know before taking the plunge. veloce.co.uk Setting up a home car workshop £19.99 ISBN 978-1-787112-08-7  Fully illustrated and well laid out, this in-depth guide to setting up a home car workshop contains plenty of handy tips including on the safe use of tools, welding and building your own storage and workbenches. veloce.co.uk Jaguar: From the Shop Floor £30 ISBN 978-1-787112-79-7  An autobiographical insight into life on the factory floor at Jaguar from production line to the elite experimental department. A page-turning and facinating read. veloce.co.uk…

Discovery of the month courtesy of the 2CV Club of Great Britain is the Mikasa, built by Japanese company, Okamura. Around 500 were built between 1957 and 1960, and Okamura’s cute-looking 585cc car appears to have been modelled on the Citroën’s mechanicals. As well as three-stud hubs, they featured an air-cooled flat-twin engine that drove the front wheels via a two-speed torque converter transmission. There were van, estate and coupé bodystyles to choose from. We wonder how many are left? 2cvgb.co.uk.…

WED, SEP 5 NORTHANTS Earls Barton Classic Car Meet, NN6 0EP (classiccarmeet.co.uk). W MIDS B5000 Barbers Monthly Car Meet, Birch Coppice Club, B78 1SY (tinyurl.com/y9bu2f2z). THU, SEP 6 WARKS Kineton Classic Car Gathering, CV35 0FA (kinetonssc.org.uk). FRI-SUN, SEP 7-9 DORSET Classic Transport Gala Weekend, Swanage Railway, BH19 3EB (bppcltd.com). BUCKS The Chevrons Rally, Citroën gathering in Little Horwood, MK17 0PD (tinyurl.com/y8drbrwt). SUN, SEP 9 SOMERSET Haynes Museum Breakfast Club, BA22 7LH (haynesmotormuseum.com). LANCS Blackpool Vehicle Preservation Group show, Fairhaven Lake, FY3 9HU (bvpg.co.uk). KENT Classic Car Show at Aylesford Priory, ME20 7BX (kentsclassiccarshow.co.uk). SUSSEX Classic Car Show at Newhaven Fort, BN9 9DS (southernclassics.org.uk). GLOS Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Steam Railway Classic Vehicle Day, Toddingon Station, GL54 5DT (gwsr.com). FRI-SUN, SEP 14-16 LINCS Morris Minor Owners’ Club Northern Rally, Normanby Hall, DN15…

IN THE NEWS The good people of Watford and Rugby finally have a motorway link between their respective parishes as the first section of the M1 opens. A chap called Ronnie opens a jazz club in Soho and London Transport introduce the AEC Routemaster. Christopher Cockerell launches his hovercraft and Tyne Tees Television airs for the first time. IN THE CHARTS A glance down the Number Ones for 1959 brings up so many familiar names – Cliff, Elvis, Buddy, Shirley Bassey, Adam Faith, Bobby Darin, Russ Conway and so on. But can you name the hit by Emile Ford and the Checkmates? Shakin’ Stevens later covered it – What Do You Want to Make Those Eyes at Me For? AT THE FLICKS While Ben-Hur…

Bridge over untroubled water I am a longstanding subscriber to PC and look forward to it every month. My daily commute is in a 1979 Mini 1100 Special and the workhorse of the fleet is a Volvo 850 estate (I was dead chuffed when you featured the 850 as a future classic). I’m not sure how much help I’m going to be, but your plea to hear from anyone who had actually crossed the Oresund Bridge caught my eye. My wife and I did so in our 1971 P6B in 2011, on our way to the Rover Club of Sweden 25th Anniversary Rally near Ystad in Wallander country, southernmost Sweden. That crossing was absolutely spectacular, but if you can go across Denmark on the way to the Oresund, you’ll enjoy…

I struggled to find a ‘diesel’ badge for the boot of my 1981 Mercedes 300D W123. I think I found the only one in the country in the end! And for just £10: a bargain, all things considered! Paul Khawani-Connett A Riley One-Point-Five boot script. Stephen Jones Saab badges. I hope they get remade soon. James Harvey The stainless trim slides that connect the side and front embellishment strips on Triumph Stag hard-tops is equal to rocking horse poo! Julian Kuipers NOS Motorcraft hose clamps for my Ford Escort MkIII RS1600i. Mark Irving A good non-faded Jaguar XJ-S pre-facelift boot plinth with JAGUAR in chrome letters! Damien Nally The Porsche 924 turbo crankshaft sensor was unobtanium for many, many years. Matthew Reeves…

Neil Boylan trained as a bricklayer, before moving into paving ‘because my dad did it’. He lives in a converted Shrimp factory that he bought for the garage (or for the extra accomodation for his wife’s mother, if they’re both reading this). He says he’s always been handy, but prior to owning the Manta he’d never attempted to weld. His biggest fan is his daughter Olivia (‘liv), a self-confessed petrolhead and Opel Manta fan, who’s known to all in the Owners’ Club as his trusty sidekick.…

One glance and I landed back in my Seventies childhood with a dull, ominous thud. Glimmering in its metallic blueness before me at this year’s Festival of the Unexceptional was Des Cooke’s Simca 1204 Special. This extraordinary show is best summed up by its organisers, Hagerty Insurance, as being ‘in celebration of the brilliance of blandness.’ Yet to me the Simca stood out, even against such rivals as a luminous green Citroën Visa, a Volvo 340 and various machines of such base spec that Alcatraz would have appeared luxurious by comparison. Sorry, I digress. This is the problem with the Festival – attempts to focus on one vehicle are always thwarted by catching in the corner of your eye yet another gem. More than two million Simca 1100/1204s were built…

Stray cat blues Sadly there’s very little left to admire of this one. Frank Koningsveld found this E-type Series 1 cabriolet (plus a Citroën DS MkII in even worse condition) near Briancon, Hautes Alpes, France, while on a recent cycling tour. Frank understands that both cars were destroyed in a fire under rather suspicious circumstances, and was told that the owner of the garage has since disappeared rather mysteriously. Austin 3 Litre Paul Jolly owns this sad lot in a smallholding near Torquay and it is all up for grabs. Paul is overseeing the removal of an Austin 3 Litre, which comes with a couple of spare engines plus clutch/gearbox and more. Paul says it could be a source of rare parts for owners of other 3 Litres. Morris Light…

SAT SEP 8 Bonhams, Goodwood Revival sale, nr Chichester, West Sussex. (020 7468 5801, bonhams.com/cars) WED SEP 12 Charterhouse Auctions, Royal Bath & West Showground, Somerset. (01935 812277, charter-house-auction.com ) THU SEP 13 Dorset Vintage & Classic Auctions, Athelhampton House, Dorchester, Dorset. (01963 363353, dvca.co.uk) SAT SEP 6 Classic Car Auctions, Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Leamington Spa, Warks. (01926 640888, classiccarauctions.co.uk) SAT SEP 15 Barons Auctions’ Jaguar Heritage sale, Kempton Park, Surrey. (023 8066 8413, barons-auctions.com ) SAT SEP 22 Historics at Brooklands, Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey. (01753 639170, historics.co.uk) WED SEP 26 Brightwells Classic & Vintage, Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire. (01568 611122, brightwells.com) SUN SEP 30 Silverstone Auctions, Dallas Burston Polo Club, Southam, Warwickshire. (01926 691141, silverstoneauctions.com )…

306 2.0 HDi hatch Engine 1997cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 90bhp@4000rpm Torque 151lb ft@1900rpm Top speed 112mph 0-60mph 12.6sec Economy 50mpg Gearbox 5-speed manual Length 13ft 2.5in (4.03m) Width 5ft 6in (1.68m) Height 4ft 6in (1.38m) Weight 2497lb (1135kg) 306 1.6 hatch Engine 1587cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 90bhp@5600rpm Torque 101lb ft@3000rpm Top speed 111mph 0-60mph 13.5sec Economy 40mpg Gearbox 5-speed manual Length 13ft 2.5in (4.03m) Width 5ft 6in (1.68m) Height 4ft 6in (1.38m) Weight 2398lb (1090kg) 306 S16 Engine 1998cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 155bhp@6500rpm Torque 134lb ft@3500rpm Top speed 133mph 0-60mph 9.2sec Economy 38mpg Gearbox 5-speed manual Length 13ft 2.5in (4.03m) Width 5ft 6in (1.68m) Height 4ft 6in (1.38m) Weight 2557lb (1160kg) 306 2.0 cabriolet Engine 1998cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 123bhp@5750rpm Torque 136lb ft@2750rpm Top speed 120mph 0-60mph 10.8sec Economy 36mpg Gearbox 5-speed man/6-speed auto Length 13ft 7in (4.14m)…

Danny Hopkins Bangernomics isn’t just about buying cheap and using quick, it can also involve some careful fixing up. In fact, doing your own tweakery often means you end up with a motor with seriously long legs, because someone you trust (you) has given it some love. So it is with my Multipla. It was a ‘cost of a trailer’ car from reader Patrick Neighbour, after it failed its MoT on rear subframe bushes, front droplinks, track rod ends, tyres and number plate. Crucially Patrick had serviced the car regularly and replaced the cambelt last year so at 138,000 there was life in it. I worked through the list of failure points and along with a huge service, fitted a full set of Davanti DX390 Tyres. Davantis are one of…

1950 Riley RMA Engine 1496cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 55bhp@4500rpm Torque 76lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 25sec Top Speed 78mph Fuel economy 26mpg Work done Brakes rebuilt; underbody painted; steering rack rebuilt; screen surround repaired; parts bought from the club. Also in Danny’s garage 1956 RILEY PATHFINDER Theo is mettling with it. 1971 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR Engine parts shipped from the U.S. to OCS Engineering. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Show pony, lives in the garage. Always starts. 1983 VOLVO 340 GL My wife used it, thought it odd. I love its boinginess. 1987 MAZDA 626 COUPE GT Living under a sheet for now. 2003 FIAT MULTIPLA Excellent Davanti tyres fitted, plus new radiator. The white heat of endeavor at the PC workshop has been… white hot! Three of us have been hard at work…

1954 Citroën 2CV Engine 375cc/2-cyl/OHV Power 9bhp@3800rpm Torque 17lb ft@1800rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph N/A Top speed 40mph Weight 682kg Work done Final tweaks ahead of sale, including a carb tune up and a very thorough clean to help guarantee a very happy buyer Also in James’s garage 1971 CITROËN DS More perfect miles in the most trouble-free D ever. 1972 SAAB 96 V4 One cylinder head is sooty and the other is wet with fuel. Grr. 1988 CITROËN CX Leaving a small puddle of green fluid wherever she goes. 1994 CITROËN AX DIESEL Ultra-frugal bargain record breaker. Official intro soon! 1998 MAZDA 323F V6 Can’t stop driving it. That engine is just magnificent! 2003 CITROËN C5 ESTATE Candidate for best £250 I’ve ever spent. Huge and handy. 2004 SMART…

1972 Triumph GT6 MkIII Engine 1998cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 98bhp@5300rpm Torque 108lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d 0-60mph 10.1sec Top Speed 112mph Fuel economy 27mpg Work done New rear hub bearings for the GT6 and a replacement windscreen for the BMW. Also in Nigel’s garage 1970 TRIUMPH TR6 Plenty of top-down miles in the sunshine recently. 1977 RELIANT SCIMITAR Just back from holiday in Cornwall having covered 800 trouble-free miles. 1998 BMW 323I COUPÉ Required a new windscreen due to a chip (see boxout). No sooner is my GT6 back on the road after its marathon body makeover, than I’ve got it back in my garage again! This time, I’m installing the excellent CV joint driveshaft conversion supplied by Alasdair Southall of Classic Driving Development, and binning the old Rotoflex couplings.…

Sam Glover TECHNICAL EDITOR Sam has broken down in a gigantic variety of classics over the years, then worked out how to fix them. John Simpson MASTER MECHANIC Big John has worked at the greasy end of the motor industry since leaving school. Theodore J Gillam TECHNICAL EXPERT Theo teaches automotive engineering and makes amazing things in his shed. Ed Hughes WORKSHOP GENIUS Ed singlehandedly keeps a fleet of obscure classics on the road. He’s never owned a modern car. Kim Henson CLASSIC CAR GURU Kim’s been restoring classics for over four decades. BMC vehicles are his speciality. Nigel Clark DIY RESTORER Nigel’s driveway achievements rival those of professional mechanics. He’s our resident Triumph expert. FORD CORTINA How to start a reluctant engine Q The engine of my Ford Cortina…

You will need Wire brush, grease, shrinker/stretcher. Check it yourself Don’t take it for granted that the shrinker/ stretcher was set up correctly at the factory. Check it as detailed on the opposite page. Smoothly does it… The best results are gained from uniformity. Move the metal through the jaws by the same amount for each ‘bite’ and exert uniform pressure each time. Plan your moves Always think of how the differential between shrunk/stretched metal will interact to create the shape you want. There are myriad ways of shrinking and stretching sheet steel using all sorts of tools. A bench- or stand-mounted shrinker/stretcher is one of the quickest, easiest, most predictable and quietest methods. Most shrinker/stretchers originate in the Far East, with prices staring at around £120. They wear many…

How to fit Don’t strain a bearing while installing it. Push onto a shaft by the inner track only and into a housing by the outer track. Get good ‘uns Buy the best bearings you can reasonably afford. Bearing upgrade Non-sealed ball bearings in older wheel hubs, dynamos and similar can usually be replaced with modern sealed-for-life items. A bearing or bush is used to help things along wherever any two parts rotate relative to each other. It provides a point of contact and support between the rotating shaft and its housing. A bearing or bush is made of materials that are more free-running than those of the shaft and the housing themselves, reducing friction and noise. Importantly, too, it’s a consumable part. When it wears out, the housing and…

1 Preparation Ensure the male and female threads are clean and don’t bind, which would erroneously over-record the clamping force. Torque figures generally assume lightly-oiled threads – but check your manual or you could under-record the force. 2 Tightening sequence Whether there are two or 20 fasteners, always tighten them in stages and in a sequence starting from the middle working outwards. Start at finger-tightness, then work up in increments until the final torque value has been reached. Tech Tip Stretch bolts may require tightening to a specified torque, then tightening by a number of degrees. 3 Care and calibration De-tension the spring after use or it can become compressed. Don’t unwind the adjuster too much, though, as some can disengage. You can check your wrench’s calibration using a digital…

Sparkie is a combination of ideas, with much trial and error and frequent adaptions over the five years he has been on the road. He’s based on a Pembleton kit car, which itself is based on a Citroën 2CV chassis. However, I decided Sparkie must be electric so he is powered by a 45kg electric motor I found while digging around a breakers yard for fork-lift trucks. He is naturally exempt from road tax payment, free from the London Congestion Charge and even has access to some free electrical charge points in local supermarkets. I do have to pay for insurance and MoT, however. I live in the Greater London area so ‘More Smiles per Mile’ is my rally-call. I have used materials when I can find them from local…

Prices in this guide are researched from several sources, including clubs, auctions, the trade and advertisements online and in print. These prices are reviewed and updated every issue. Our C/D rating is a basic guide to what you can expect to pay (£) for the best examples of a model, a concours car or something from a dealer. CONDITION 1 means well-presented cars that have no obvious faults. CONDITION 2 cars are capable of regular use. They have a current MoT certificate but will need work and/or original parts. CONDITION 3 cars usually need a complete rebuild, but might be driveable and MoT’d – candidates for restorations. PLEASE NOTE You cannot accurately value any car without seeing it in the flesh. Don’t buy blind. KEY  auto: automatic con: convertible lhd:…

If your club’s contact details have changed, please let us know! A  750 MOTOR CLUB 01379 741641, 750mc.co.uk AC OWNERS’ CLUB 07768 363250, acownersclub.co.uk AMERICAN AUTO CLUB (UK) 0845 644 0345, americanautoclubuk.com AMBULANCE PRESERVATION SOCIETY southambpres.wordpress.com CLASSIC AMERICAN AC (GB) 020 8286 1120, classicamericanautoclub.co.uk/ PRE -’50 CLASSIC AMERICAN 01530 831170, pre50aac.com AEC SOC aecsociety.com ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA REGISTER giulietta.com ALFA ROMEO OC aroc-uk.com ALLARD OWNERS’ CLUB allardownersclub.org ALVIS OWNER CLUB alvisoc. org ALVIS REG 01509 412289, alvisregister.co.uk ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY OC 01225 723809, siddeley.org A-SERIOUS (A-SERIES ENGINED CARS) http://aserious.freeforums.org ASSN OF OLD VEHICLE CLUBS OF N IRELAND 028 9146 7886, aovc.co.uk ASTON MARTIN OC 01865 400400, www.amoc.org AUDI 100 COUPÉ S CLUB GB 01702 461513 audi100coupes.angelfire.com AUDI OC 07788 588449 , audiclub.co.uk CLUB AUDI…