Table of contents for December 2015 in Practical Classics

Someone once offered to ‘punch my lights out’ at the NEC Classic Motor Show one year. He was a swarthy individual and he’d taken exception to something I’d put into the PC Club Guide. I was amazed at the large number of Ford Granada Clubs around at the time (this is when we’d just bought our MkI Ghia), and in a Python-esque fit of pique, I added another Granada Club to the list of 13. I called it the ‘Granada Club of Judea (Splitters)’. He was not amused. I survived to realise clubs are a serious business. So I would like to pay tribute to a couple of clubs and their brilliant people. The first name I would like to celebrate is Dave Newby. A club hero who sadly left…

Well, you’d expect there to be plenty of Citroën action, wouldn’t you? For starters, both new and classic Citroëns came together for the brilliant Chevrons Rally near Milton Keynes. If it was built by Citroën, it was welcome. Meanwhile, I needed to pick up parts for the CX to put in my shed, which I did so in my ever-practical Fiat Panda. Which is usefully also shaped like a shed and is also now with a new owner after being sold at the Beaulieu ‘jumble.’ The Stamford Classic Car rally was wet but wonderful. One particularly stunning 1967 Jaguar 420G stood out to me. Always loved this Jag – it looks like it’s moving when it isn’t and it is absolutely huuuuge! I took a trip to see family in…

Rover 800 Club formed A new club has been formed to cater for the Rover 800. The Rover 800 Owners Club can be contacted at rover800ownersclub@gmail.com. Club chairman Alex Sebbinger told Practical Classics: ‘It’s been a long time coming, but this club will help the existing ownership communities to keep their cars on the road for years to come.’ Marshall’s Baby at the NEC Vauxhall’s most famous competition car will be shown at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show (November 13-15). Baby Bertha – a 5-litre V8-powered Firenza – will be one of six rare and unique models displayed by Vauxhall Motors at the season-closing event. Others will include the Queen’s Vauxhall Cresta PA estate and the SRV. Figaro club celebrates 25th The Figaro Owners Club will be celebrating the…

10 YEARS AGO Sam Glover’s first appearance in PC was marked in Your Cars, as a fresh-faced 20 year-old with a penchant for Eastern Bloc cars. Little has changed. We also look back at Browns Lane Jaguars, and document the restoration of Dame Cleo Laine’s Bond Equipe. 20 YEARS AGO We’re ahead of the game in this issue; pitting the Ford Capri 2.8i against the Alfa Romeo GTV6 and the Datsun 280ZX while all three are but a decade old. We’re also giving away our Jaguar S-type as part of a special Jaguar section, and there’s a thorough torque wrench test. 30 YEARS AGO We’ve taken a tin opener to a Minor; as part of a feature documenting a convertible conversion. There’s also a guide to lead-loading, a Morris J-type…

Tell us about your club If you run a club and you want to be in the mag, get in touch. If you’ve got a major event, weekend or tour coming up, we want to know about it. We want to hear about club changes, heroes deserving recognition and regional, multi-marque clubs, too. Email practical. classics@bauermedia.co.uk or ring the office. Club Hero: Steve Turner John Lakey has nominated Steve Turner, Cambridge Oxford Owners’ Club Secretary. ‘Steve has done a brilliant job since he took on the role of secretary. He’s tireless in advising members on technical problems and organising rallies: a real unsung hero.’…

Comfort by the coachload We think this is a Duple Dominant on a Bedford coach chassis. Duple was locked in competition with Plaxton in the Seventies, and the Dominant was brought in during 1972 as a match for the Plaxton Panorama Elite. Alone in London? Not a good sign for Luton bosses: this is the only Vauxhall we can see. 101 Victors were roomy old buses, but they were notorious rot-boxes, while the two-speed Powerglide auto absorbed much of the power from the 1.6-litre lump. One-upmanship The Escorts in this shot are a bit of company car hierarchy. The white Popular is the base model, with dog-dish hubcaps and 41bhp, while the blue one is probably a 1600L – Sport wheels, engine basically the same as a MkI Mexico but…

In addition to the Escort 1.6L, he owns a 1972 Mexico MkI, an Escort 1.3GT MkI, an Escort XR3i, an Anglia 105E and a 1960 Popular 100E. 1972 Ford Escort Mexico A ground-up restoration, Barry has recently had the shell chemical dip cleaned and he’s about to start welding. His tip for buying project cars is ‘find one that’s unmolested.’ His Mexico fits the bill, but won’t be on the road for a few years. 1960 Ford Popular 100E Bought from a friend, his Pop is complete and original though showing its age. He plans to do the limited work needed to pass the MoT test and put it back on the road, then enjoy driving it in unrestored condition. The Pop certainly wears its patina with pride!…

TREAD CAREFULLY I found this not long ago and thought you, on another ‘Practical’ magazine, might be interested in seeing it. It’s a handy tread depth gauge that originally belonged to my dad and I expect he got it in the Sixties when new tyre laws started. Alex Flynn, Blackwood, South Lanarkshire Small Mini, big respect I read with interest the recent letter from Tom Laws (PC, October 2015) about modern cars and their levels of grip. I couldn’t agree more with his thoughts. Eight›years ago I bought a 1989 Mini Mayfair for my daughter (then 15)›to›learn to drive. It was all off-road in my parents’ back garden (yes it is that big!). This taught her about nursing a car from cold using a choke and treating the car with…

Morris Minor I was gobsmacked to see this split-screen convertible while in the small seaside resort of Punta Del Este in Uruguay. It would be pretty rare in the UK, let alone South America. Jim Clarke, Westbourne, West Sussex Moskvich 400 This Moskvich 400, based on the Opel Kadett, was spotted in Porvoo, near Helsinki, Finland. It was extremely well-preserved. Dan Rubinstein, Muswell Hill, North London Austin Seven I spotted this lovely Austin Seven in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire. Sadly it was parked rather awkwardly so I couldn’t get a really clear shot. Mike Earley, Eastleigh, Hants Hillman Minx Series III While in Kefalonia in Greece, I saw this left-hand drive Hillman Minx Series III variant on the way from Lassi. Graham Robson, Burton Bradstock Lancia Aurelia Coupé I came across…

1 OCTOBER 2000 Body off Chris and friends carefully jacked the Corvette up in his garage, blocked the body and lowered the chassis down and out. But only once they’d removed the carburettor and distributor and deflated all of the tyres. The body was then lowered onto the custom-made dolly Chris made from scratch. 2 OCTOBER 2000 Get stuck in Plenty of surface corrosion on stripped chassis, but no serious rot. Later coating of aircraft undercoat should keep the rust at bay for years. 3 MARCH 2001 Rolling on The surprisingly sound chassis is repainted (twice) and the worn out suspension bushes replaced. A new set of brake calipers was sourced from the US. 4 JUNE 2001 Great V8 The 5.4-litre Chevrolet V8 is stripped down, inspected and given a…

Ah, the rally season is nearly over and I’ve attended more events than ever this year; not least the incredible Goodwood Revival, outshadowed only by the BMC/BL Rally in Peterborough. And let’s not forget the magnificent first Morris Vehicles Association event and the stoic Knebworth Rally that kept going through torrential rain as if it was a sunny morning. Surely it’s now for me to settle down in my favourite armchair, grunt and gurgle contentedly and look at my show photos over some nice buttered pikelets and Typhoo from a proper pot. But I don’t feel fully inclined to do that. This year, I’ve witnessed a few incidents that have put an unpleasant taste in my mouth. And no, I haven’t been gorging myself on economy burgers at £3.50 a…

This restoration was selected for both the quality of the work and the ingenuity of the restorer. As well as appearing in Practical Classics it is entered into Britain’s most prestigious car restoration competition, Restorer of the Year, in association with Heritage Insurance . Visit restorerofthe year.co.uk to view the contenders and then, from February 2016, use the site to vote for your choice. Votes will count towards the selection of the top ten from the list. A further ‘live’ vote will see the eventual winner crowned. Visit the website for all the latest news on Britain’s best restoration challenge.…

We knew where the cars were and we knew that the owners would be up for a nostalgic day out at Elstree. But what of the studios? Well, once they realised we were serious then it was just a matter of negotiating a deal with the studio’s PR arm that suited us all. On the day the gates opened and the stage was cleared for our arrival. What we hadn’t expected was the sheer amount of interest the two cars generated among the current crop of studio staff. Riggers, runners, security, technical support – they all tried desperately to get a sneaky peak as we shot the exclusive images you see here. Everyone, it seems, has a Saint story and it was obvious on the day that they all remember…

30 FRI OCT South West Vehicle Auctions’ classic sale, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset (01202 745466, www.swva.co.uk) 1 SUN NOV Charterhouse Auctions, Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, www.charter-house-auction.com) 7 SAT NOV Anglia Car Auctions, The Cattlemarket, King’s Lynn, Norfolk (01553 771881, www.angliacarauctions.co.uk) 8 SUN NOV Classics Central, Bedford Autodrome, Thurleigh, Beds (0115 975 4030, www.classicscentral.co.uk) 14-15 SAT NOV Silverstone Auctions’ Classic Motor Show sale, NEC, Birmingham (01926 691141, www.silverstoneauctions.com) 18 WEDS NOV H&H Classics sale, Donington Park, Derbyshire (01925 210035, www.handh.co.uk) 21 SAT NOV Borderway Classic Car Auctions, Rosehill, Carlisle (01228 406200, www.borderwayclassiccars.com) 25 WED NOV Brightwells, Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire (01568 611122, www.brightwells.com)…

I’m always buying and selling stuff and spotted this 1983 TVR Tasmin 2+2 on eBay,’ says Grantham classic car nut Peter Robinson. ‘It was only down the road in Stamford so I went for a look while the auction was still running. I’m told they only made 30 2+2s. The silver stripes did it for me – I got that flutter. I asked what his bottom line was and when he said £1300 I bought it on the spot. ‘When I went through the paperwork I found a recent £600 bill for new alloys and tyres. I’ve got a set of period Wolfrace wheels that will fit, so I might sell the ones on the car and make it even cheaper. ‘The Tasmin had no MoT but all it needed…

1948 The 2CV Type A appears at the Paris Salon; on sale in 1949. The AU Fourgonette van is launched in 1951 and lasts until 1978! 1953 Right-hand drive production starts at Citroën’s factory in Slough. During 1954, the AZ debuts with a 425cc engine and all of 12bhp. 1958 The twin-engined 4WD Sahara appears. 694 of these have been made by 1967. 1960 Slough production stops. A five-ribbed bonnet replaces the corrugated item. Glassfibre UK-only Bijou on sale; just 211 are sold. 1963 Doors are now front-hinged and from 1965 there’s a new six-window design, plus hydraulic dampers at the rear. 1967 The Dyane model is launched. From 1970 there’s a choice of 26bhp 435cc or 29bhp 602cc engines, each with 12-volt electrics. 1974 Squared off headlights debut and…

Most Eighties cars will have had a new chassis fitted by now (pre-1980 vehicles tend to last longer), but the fact that the chassis is available new in either pattern or OE form makes any restoration project viable for a first timer. However, prepare to become a hostage to welding fortune if you want to keep your crumbly project’s original chassis. Just about everything you need to restore a 2CV is readily available. Front wings (£130), rear wings (£60) and other body panels simply bolt on and off, so replacing them is usually a pretty straightforward job. Bonnets are £600, with doors closer to £200. Some early trim is getting tough to source but early cars are so robust that original materials are rarely beyond help. Hard to source parts…

1988 Citroën CX 22 TRS Engine 2165cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 113bhp@5600rpm Torque 137lb ft@5600rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 10.6 secs Top speed 116mph Fuel economy 39.1mpg Work done Radiator recore, new hydraulic return pipe. 1 (Day) TIME 128 (£) SPENT 1012 MILES Also in James’s garage 1978 AUSTIN MAXI After 18 years off the road, restoration work has begun. 2004 SMART ROADSTER Keeps going into ‘safe mode’. ‘I discovered a mix of three different leaks…’ They say bad things come in threes – and this month, they most certainly did. I’d been on a 600-mile round trip to Cornwall in the CX and on my return I stood on my driveway to admire the magnificent lines of the svelte Citroën. My attention was then drawn to the large drip coming from underneath…

1995 FSC Žuk Engine 2417cc/4-cyl/diesel Power 70bhp@4200rpm Torque 108lb ft@2500rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph n/a Top speed 59mph Fuel economy 40mpg Work done Solved fuelling problems, negotiated Polish MoT, got brake servo working, fettled cooling system, set tracking, fiddled with brakes, rebuilt alternator, repaired injection pump oil leak, reattached gearstick, painted hubcaps. 7 (mth) TIME 680 (£) SPENT 998 MILES Also in Sam’s garage 1934 AUSTIN RUBY Better weatherproofing needed for winter use. 1967 MGB ‘GT6’ Makes a really lovely noise. 1972 MOSKVICH 412 Being improved in Poland. 1979 VOLVO 245 About to receive a birthday. 1982 WARTBURG 353 Brakes mended. Head gasket fai led. Still a joy to work on. 1984 TATRA T613 I must get this back together. 1994 ŠKODA 105L Bought for £500 in Kraków. 1993 JAGUAR…

2000 MG F Engine 1796cc/4-cyl/DOHC Power 145bhp@7000rpm Torque 128lb ft@4500rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 7sec Top speed 130mph Fuel economy 35mpg Work done Sold ‘old’ MG F. Successfully got the ‘new’ MG F an MoT. 1 (day) TIME 129 (£) SPENT 779 MILES Also in John’s garage 1964 SUNBEAM RAPIER IV Providing solid service as ever. 1966 SUNBEAM ALPINE V GT NEC preparations start now! 1981 MINI 1000 Progress still painfully slow… 2000 MG F My wife is very pleased with it. 2004 MG ZT-T New brake pads now fitted. It was all change this month in the Simpson garage as we said goodbye to our old faithful MG F, and replaced it with another newer version. The purple MkI had served us well over the past five years, but…

Triumph Dolomite Engine 1854cc/4-cyl Power 91bhp@5200rpm Fuel economy 25mpg Also in my garage… 1956 (approx) Ferguson TED20 tractor 1966 Electric Herald 1968 Herald 1200 1974 Dolomite 1850 1974 Spitfire IV 18 (hrs) TIME 25 (£) SPENT 0 MILES I have been battling with the dreaded tinworm – mainly in the sill area. Hardly a surprise, is it? But I find each car has a different set of needs when it comes to rust prevention and repair. The knowledge required can be found in all sorts of places, including the Internet, but there’s nothing quite like finding out things from a real person - which is where experts hanging around the club stands at the PC Restoration Show come into play. I’m grateful to the Dolomite Owners’ Club for demonstrating wing…

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

DIFFICULTY RATING TIME (HRS) 3 MONEY (£) 0 Label it Place a label in the engine bay to state the car is now negative earth. Relabel the coil connections. You will need Battery clamps, screwdriver, small spanners, pliers, length of stout wire. Wipers Wiper motors and flasher units should function correctly without modification. Radio A period radio sometimes has a positive/negative earth switch on the back, which can be changed over. Many older British classics – plus a few others – were built with a positive earth electrical system. The positive terminal of the battery is connected to the chassis or body. The current flows to the various electrical components connected to the shell, through wires to the switches and controls, back through the fuse box and finally to the…

DIFFICULTY RATING TIME (HRS) 5 MONEY (£) 20 You will need Welder, angle grinder (with cutting, grinding and sanding discs), electric drill, set square, welding clamps, tape measure, basic hand tools. Top plate We’ve staggered our top plates in the name of balance, but you could make it in one continuous piece. Castors Fit fixed castors to two legs if you want to make the unit portable. Legs The legs can be shorter if they’re going to be bolted to the floor. Being able to bash and bend bits of metal into various shapes is an essential skill if you’re restoring a classic car. If the body is made from steel or aluminium, there are bound to be many interestingly-shaped sections that’ll need to be accurately reproduced. Even if the…

1. Drum The brake shoes are enclosed in a cast-iron brake drum. 2. Cylinder When the brake pedal is pressed, hydraulic fluid is pushed into the wheel cylinders and pressurised. 3. Shoes The shoes and their friction lining are forced into contact with the drum. The frictional force thus created slows the car down. 4. Springs When not in use, the shoes are pulled back by return springs. Along with cam-type adjusters, these set a small clearance between the shoe and drum. Drum brakes are installed on the front wheels of most classics made up until the Seventies, when they were gradually superseded by disc brakes. They remain the default choice for rear brakes. Regardless of what pub bores might tell you, drum brakes can work brilliantly. Get yours working…

On the final afternoon of a full week of hard use, my Moskvich developed a slight hesitation under acceleration. It then proved sluggish to start. I began by looking at the rotor arm, which was curiously dusty. I then I turned my attention to the distributor cap. Where there should have been a carbon contact and a spring, there was a post-nuclear landscape of scorched Bakelite. I can only guess that the carbon contact fell out the last time the cap was removed. How the car ran for so long remains an absolute mystery.…

PARTS & ACCESSORIES ALFA ROMEO 2000 SPYDER 1978 – pair mint rust-free doors with locks and glass, convertible top frame to body chrome trim complete and mint. Tel: 01404 47388 Devon BADGES. AA £30ea, RAC £35, GB £25, all inc. P+P. 01761 470607, Somerset DAIMLER Conquest parts. Please call after 6pm. 01462 440531. Hertfordshire EXHAUST gas analyser, as new condition, £50 ono. 01743 850066/07966 215955 JAGUAR XJ-S 5 starfish alloys, need refurb but good - £80, XJS clock binnacle - £45, boot light plinth/badge £20, door mirror £10. Call D Jones, Merseyside. Tel: 01744 637052 LAND ROVER Solex carburettor 361V for 2.25L. ›£150. Dennis, West Midlands. Tel: 07980 153612 LOTUS 907 engine, stripped. Bob, Harrogate. Tel: 01423 771135 LUCAS pair of vintage chrome headlamps Thirties 7 inch glasses. Sound carcass…

Neil Campbell and I bought a Morris 1800 in Belgium earlier this year. It was broken, naturally, so we popped over to get it with my disreputable-looking Mercedes Sprinter and a car trailer. The motorway into the Calais ferry port had yet to receive its Fort Knox-style security fences and was overrun with people hoping to hitch a lift to the UK. When the traffic ground to a halt, we felt the back of the van bob up and down. A nearby lorry driver beeped his horn, pointed at our trailer and shouted: ‘Illégal, illégal!’ We drove on until we came to a police van on the hard shoulder. I got out and pointed to the Morris’s boot. The officer threw it open and out climbed a cheery East African…

31 SAT OCT LONDON Classic & Sportscar Show, Alexandra Palace, N22 7AY (www.classicandsportscarshow.com). Brand new show that runs from Friday to Sunday, October 30-November 1. LONDON Regent Street Motor Show (www.regentstreetmotorshow.com) 1 SUN NOV LONDON/SUSSEX London to Brighton veteran car run; Hyde Park to Madeira Drive (www.veterancarrun.com). SUSSEX: Goodwood Breakfast Club, Goodwood circuit, PO18 0PH (www.goodwood.com). 7 SAT NOV COTSWOLDS Merlin Events Autumn Classic Tour of the Cotswolds. Tour runs from Friday to Sunday (www.merlinevents.com). SOMERSET Classic Vehicle Restoration Show at the Bath & West Showground, BA4 6QN. The big Bath and West resto event (www.carsandevents.com). 8 SUN NOV LANCS Garstang Autojumble at Hamilton House Farm, PR3 0TB (www.garstangautojumbles.co.uk). HANTS Simply Smart at Beaulieu, SO42 7ZN (www.beaulieu.co.uk). 10 TUES NOV LONDON Classic Car night at the Ace Café, NW10 7UN…

OCT 2008 Disaster After being in the family for 30 years, and with Barry at the wheel, the Williams’ Escort suffers catastrophic damage in a RTA. How many of us own the first car we can remember, the car that gave us our first childhood memories of four wheels, not merely the first we ever owned as a young driver? Barry Williams was just two years old when his father bought this very Escort brand new from a local dealer in 1978. Passed from father to son, Barry explains why his Escort is a rare example: ‘It’s a MkII 1.6L, which was an unusual specification. The running gear is all from the 1.6 Sport but it has the interior trim and narrower wheels of the lower ‘L’ model. Naturally Barry…

This restoration was selected for both the quality of the work and the ingenuity of the restorer. As well as appearing in Practical Classics it is entered into Britain’s most prestigious car restoration competition, Restorer of the Year, in association with Heritage Insurance . Visit restorerofthe year.co.uk to view the contenders and then, from February 2016, use the site to vote for your choice. Votes will count towards the selection of the top ten from the list. A further ‘live’ vote will see the eventual winner crowned. Visit the website for all the latest news on Britain’s best restoration challenge.…

Do you remember Carweek? The 20th anniversary of its demise came earlier this year. It lasted less than two years, but it probably consumed more mental energy in that time than its rivals did in half a decade. Funds, too. I know, because I was there. Quite a few faultlines shifted around 1993, the year of Carweek’s launch. The BBC launched its Top Gear magazine, which prompted Car to redesign itself in a style intended to attract a potential TG reader. A brave new world While the monthlies fought among themselves, we were readying the new weekly. Carweek was to be published from the same London office as Car, remote from the publishers’ head office in Peterborough. The publishing company was Emap, now Bauer; PC is another of its titles.…

Fiat Dino Coupe David Chalmers from Manchester wins this month’s £50 for these shots from his mate’s smallholding in Olympia, Washington State, USA. At the top of the pile, in scrapyard spec, what a find! It’s a very desirable Fiat Dino Coupe (1969-73). A valuable motor, even more so if it still retained its Ferrari V6 engine and all-synchromesh five-speed gearbox. This one looks like it is missing both though. XJ6 S3 & Volvo Amazon Two popular European imports for the US market during the Sixties and Seventies were the Volvo Amazon (seen here in estate form lurking behind the trees) and the Jaguar XJ6. An Alfa Romeo Alfetta GTV is in the left foreground. The Jaguar (a Series 3 in The Equaliser spec) has enormous…

Just being on Elstree’s sound stage or in the underground carpark is a huge thrill – and the fact that so many of the people working on the day crowded in to watch our photo shoot is testament to the enduring appeal of the show and its motors. Driving Simon Templar’s cars was an experience I shall never forget, but it wasn’t until we arrived at London Elstree Aerodrome that the magic really hit me. Every other episode of any ITC adventure series concluded with a shootout at this very airfield and it was here that the utter joy of being in a car from a show I’d watched throughout my childhood really hit home. Today I was experiencing the actual P1800, but if that wasn’t enough, I was then…

With the steady growth of the market we’ve become quite used to the idea of having a classic for a few years and at least getting your money back come sale time, while sometimes even making enough profit to cover your running costs, too. But surely that’s not the case with a daily-driveable modern classic? A couple of recent conversations I’ve had suggest that it just might be. A chap I know got a new job early this year that meant he now faced a 40-mile daily commute rather than a brisk walk. But what vehicle to choose for the job? Well, with him knowing a bit about MG Fs, he found one locally and snapped it up to use as his daily runabout. Now that’s not a bad way…

1984 Mercedes-Benz 200 Price: £3600 Only 44,000 miles on the clock so it drives like new. Body and interior are both in very good condition. New tyres, exhaust and battery fitted recently. 1937 Rover 10HP Price: £11,500 A fine looker complete with rebuilt engine, recent new clutch, rechromed, upholstery, headlining and carpets replaced. The car also comes with lots of documents and history. 1957 Skoda 440 Spartak Price: £8000 A very original car with 36,000km on the clock and a Skoda Certificate of Origin. Imported from the Czech Republic in 2013. Surely worth it just for the name alone!…

1995 Daimler X300 Engine 3980cc/6-cyl/OHC Power 246bhp@4800rpm Torque 298lb ft@4000rpm Gearbox 4-speed auto 0-60mph 8.2sec Top speed 144mph Fuel economy 22mpg Work done Serviced and emergency welded. XJ40 part fitted. 1 (day) TIME 60 (£) SPENT 20 MILES Also in Danny’s shed 1970 VOLVO 164 Ready (almost) for this year’s big winter feature. 1974 ROVER 2200SC New engine is rattly. So a new ‘new’ engine required. 1976 VAUXHALL CAVALIER Coming soon to PC towers. 1980 MGB GT LE Is now with a new owner. 1970 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR II Is now at a secret location having its loom fited. You’ll see it at the Classic Motor Show as well. The last time I took a classic Browns Lane product on a family holiday it almost caused a divorce. Three years ago…

1970 Triumph TR6 Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 150bhp@5500rpm Torque 164lb ft@3500rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d 60mph 8.2sec Top speed 119mph Fuel economy 24mpg Work done I’ve had a good look at the TR6’s front brakes and it’s passed the MoT test. But still the squealing continues! 2 (hrs) TIME 50 (£) SPENT 500 MILES Also in Nigel’s garage 1972 TRIUMPH GT6 Still driving well, the GT needed a new battery this month. The previous one did 13 years, so not bad at all. 1977 RELIANT SCIMITAR Dave Speed is doing great things and the paint works are coming along nicely. I can’t wait to get the car home! Regular readers among you will recall that I’ve been bothered by a squeal from the TR6 front brakes at parking speeds. It’s…

1979 Triumph Dolomite (MX-5 unit) Engine 1598cc/4-cyl/DOHC Power 114bhp@6500rpm Torque 110lb ft@5500rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph Unknown Top speed We shall see… Fuel economy Who cares! Work done Shortened gear linkage. 8 (days) TIME 200 (£) SPENT 0 MILES Also in Matt’s garage 1969 MORRIS MINOR TRAVELLER Ideal for hauling parts around. 1970 MORRIS MINOR TWO-DOOR Covering a few hundred miles has reminded me why I love it! 1992 MAZDA EUNOS ROADSTER Still puts a smile on my face. Fitting a Mazda MX-5 drivetrain to a Triumph Dolomite: what could possibly go wrong? Well quite a lot as it turns out! Our poor, broken and lost JLO the Dolly has been through quite a trauma of late. Lots of surgery – although it’s all been mostly productive. The engine and…

Rover Sterling Engine 2675cc/6-cyl Power 177bhp@6000rpm Fuel economy 25mpg Work done Full inspection and service. New battery. 4 (hrs) TIME 71 (£) SPENT 90 MILES I Introducing my great forgotten Rover! In my view, ‘Project XX’ has been too long in the shadows of the SD1 and P6. After a shaky start, the 800 only got better as the years passed. My Sterling is a very early 1988 example. It is one of the first of the 800 series to receive the revised C27A Honda V6, a larger version of the C25A 2.5 litre, with a clever, variable length inlet tract (to address low down torque issues) and new, electronically controlled transmission. Over the past two years she has been undergoing a constant process of a rolling restoration and general…

Don’t diss your drum brakes Drum brakes get a bum rap. However, as Ed Hughes demonstrates on page 141, they’re actually a rather beautiful bit of design. I own many cars with drums all-round.This includes a Moskvich 412, which pub bores tell me is ‘lethal’. When serviced and adjusted properly, I’ve never found braking to be anything less than decent. Manufacturers had braking cracked from the Thirties onwards. If your drum-braked car doesn’t inspire confidence, there’s probably something wrong with it. Before you splash out on a disc conversion, spend a few hours fettling your drums. You might be surprised.…

SMILE: YOU’RE ON CAMERA. Road safety campaigners are concerned that a clampdown on speeding will lead to more accidents as a result of drivers constantly checking their speedometers and not the road. BLACK PLATES MATCH EXEMPTION The DVLA has announced that traditional black number plates with white or silver lettering will now be tied to historic taxation status. The plates were formally replaced by reflective plates in 1972, one month before the previous January 1973 historic taxation cutoff. The new ruling will see the legalisation of black plates on cars that would not have originally worn them in period. INSURANCE TAX INCREASE There will be an insurance premium tax increase for the fifth time since its introduction in 1994. The current rate of 6 per cent will now be set…

We were down the pub halfway through the Beaulieu autojumble, when a conversation began about auction lots we’d been following online. I admitted to a classic speed boat, which my colleagues promptly decided I really really needed. Everyone stayed up late to ensure I put a bid in and minutes later it was mine. She is a 14ft Seventies Merlin speed boat with a 1969 Johnson outboard motor and its own trailer. A bargain at just £167! Collection involved Sam Skelton’s Saab 9000 (which has a towbar) and a trip to Essex. A word of warning: don’t tow a trailer unless you’re 100 per cent confident of its condition. I took the seller at his word, so while it towed fine for the first 60 miles, it then began to…

This is possibly the world’s smallest bus. Painted in Arriva fleet colours, with correct trimmings and even a newspaper holder, it’s as well equipped for city use as all the best Plaxton-bodied buses. With one small snag. This bus can seat just two, because it’s a FIAT Seicento. It’s been created by Chris Atkinson, to raise money for charity. He’ll be driving from Scotland to Cornwall to help raise funds for the Special Baby Care unit at Newcastle Royal Infirmary. Arriva’s Durham depot provided materials and paint in order to transform the car, which also features an authentic ‘Sorry Not In Service’ sign. You can support Mr Atkison’s efforts by donating at www.gofundme. com/9k4ttsww…

Near The Motorways £15.95 ISBN 978-0-9575602-0-8 This handy travel companion lists places to eat away from motorway service stations. Forego the fast food emporia for a bite of real pub grub; an invaluable companion for those who spend their lives on the road. cheviotbooks.com Jaguar XK150 Explored £110 ISBN 978-1-9086581-1-1 This is a serious tome – so much so that seemingly every single component has been painstakingly drawn out and labelled with its part number. There are also sections on coachbuilt examples, and on the XK150’s development history. www.paulskilleterbooks.co.uk The Ultimate Mini Restoration Manual £40 ISBN 978-1-845841-16-4 This book takes the serious art of Mini restoration and inserts enough humour to make the book easy for first-timers to follow. ‘BANDAGE WARNING’ footnotes alert as to potential accidents, while advice on…

1 Did you really start it yourself? ‘Yes. I put a small ad in the local paper and half a dozen of us met at a pub. We started to do things together and it grew from there. We used to meet every month at the local pub; we’ve had to move several times as the club has grown.’ 2 How do you explain that success? ‘Variety and an open door policy. We’ve got more than 250 members who own cars going right the way back to 1910 (a Ford Model T). We also have models from the 21st century, although the most popular eras are the Sixties and Seventies.’ 3 is it really a proper set up? ‘It is. Anyone can join but cars displayed on the club stand…

Rare Ginettas for NEC show The Ginetta Owners’ Club are planning to display five cars: a G4D, G4 Series 4, G10 (continuation), G15 and G33 at the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show in November. The G4 Series 4 is a rare car that hasn’t been seen at the NEC before. The G10 is another very rare car; just three were built, powered by a Ford 427 V8. Two are known while the third is… still out there somewhere. 750 success at Beaulieu The 750 Motor Club held the 53rd National Austin 7 Rally at Beaulieu on July 5. Lead organiser Ian Nelson told PC : ‘The theme was ‘Austin 7s and their cousins’ which is why we also had rarities from BMW, Rosengart and Holden. It was also very encouraging…

Audi Cabriolet. There are loads of them for less than £1500. Toyota MR2, any big old Vauxhall such as the Senator, Cavalier, Omega, Carlton etc. All cheap underrated cars Dave Williams The Reliant Scimitar and Reliant Sports ranges are so undervalued for what they offer. Malcolm Watson Jaguar XJ40, cheap as chips. Logan Walker Even Germany’s Auto Bild Klassik magazine titled a feature article about the P6 last year with a ‘Totally Undervalued’ headline and that says a lot. Michael Lehnert Slightly more modern but there’s the Peugeot 309 that’s been long since forgotten about. Everyone harps on about the 205 but for me I’d choose the 309 over it any day. Few realise it was originally going to be badged as the Talbot Arizona but Peugeot took over Talbot…

The C2 is surprisingly spacious – more so than a British sports car of the time – with decent head and legroom. The purposeful rumble at idle is that of a healthy muscle car and the exhaust crackles once the engine hits its power band from about 3000rpm. The four-speed transmission’s gearstick falls easily to hand and there’s ample power in every gear, although the accelerator pedal is noticeably lower to the floor than the brake or clutch. The power steering makes light work of most corners but you have to feed the power in gently, especially through corners, despite the near-perfect fore/aft weight distribution. Fortunately, the four-wheel disc brakes are excellent. There’s good visibility through the rear window and this is not a big car, but placing all four…

I recently hypothesised that the Citroën C15 van is the world’s best form of transportation. I was wrong. Although the C15 has a lot going for it – economy, Gallic eccentricity and a sexy XUD diesel engine – it also has shortcomings. Long periods behind the wheel are unpleasant. The cramped driving position leads to temporary paralysis and the clanging of the engine can induce psychosis. I’ve found myself flopping to the ground in service stations, dead from the waist down and frothing at the mouth. When it rains, you can hear the paint fizzing and the body oxidising around you. This got me wondering: what would be my ideal daily car? I decided to work it out scientifically by writing a rigid specification that takes into account my requirements…

Getting into the Midget takes the expression ‘fits like a glove’ to another level, making Triumph’s rival Spitfire feel spacious. It’s comfortable, though, thanks to the MkIII’s deeper seat padding. This is a car that wraps itself around you like an extra layer of clothing. The engine ticks over smoothly despite the Piper cam, with a muted burble from the straight through exhaust. On the move, the first sensation is how solid it feels. All that welding has produced a totally rigid monocoque. The steering is direct and beautifully weighted, gear change excellent and direct. The Cooper S-derived motor pulls cleanly through the gears and as the revs rise, it breathes deep and accelerates briskly, no doubt due to Phil’s performance upgrades. Small it may be, but the Midget is…

1972 Triumph 2000 Engine 1998cc/6-cyl/OHV Top speed 98mph Fuel economy 25mpg Work since last report New hubs required at rear both sides – oh dear. It’d been a long time coming but my grandfather’s Triumph 2000, which I have been restoring for the past two years, was finally ready for anything Europe could throw at it. After rigorous rally prep work at Moordale Motors it was up to me to give the car some real-world use. A thousand miles later I was back in Potters Bar with Dale for a final assessment. It wasn’t good news. The rear hubs were noisy and loose. The brakes weren’t working as well as they should, either. Taking the rear brakes apart soon revealed the problem. The handbrake release spring on both sides was…

1977 Triumph Stag Engine 2997cc/V8/OHC Power 140bhp@5700rpm Torque 167lb ft@3500rpm Gearbox 4-spd ZF automatic 0-60mph 9.7sec Fuel economy 24mpg Work done New dampers for the Stag, plus a fuel pipe repair. 1 (day) TIME 180 (£) SPENT 75 MILES Also in Sam’s garage 1987 AUSTIN MONTEGO Never breaks, never selling. 1991 MONTEGO DSLX AUTO A cooling system rebuild is on the cards. 1992 SAAB 9000 2.3 TURBO Suffers slow drain on battery. 1993 CITROËN XM 2.0CT SEI LHM keeps falling out… 2002 ROVER 75 2.5 CONNOISSEUR SE Must order new front springs – they are extremely baggy. ‘The Konis feel pretty good to a man who’s older than his years’ I must be mad. Not only do I buy cars with the most spurious of excuses – I feel a…

1959 Peerless GT Engine 1991cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 100bhp@4800rpm Torque 117lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d Top speed 120mph 0-60mph 10.8sec Fuel economy 28mpg Work done Radiator recore, new hydraulic return pipe. 18 (Day) TIME 80 (£) SPENT 0 MILES Also in Gary’s garage 1980 SAAB 99 TURBO TWO-DOOR Next in line for full restoration once the Peerless is finished. As mentioned before, I have previously used Sikaflex to bond the bodyshell to the space-frame chassis, plus GRP panel to GRP panel. Back to full strength and armed with enough Sikaflex 252 to finally finish the task, I hand-made the passenger side rear inner wheelarch using sheet aluminium. It took less time than you might imagine (less than an hour). Instead, the time factor when using Sikaflex is in the preparation…

1977 Reliant Scimitar Engine 2994cc/V6/OHV Power 138bhp@5000rpm Fuel economy 25mpg Work since last report Body repaired, now in primer. Topcoat and reassembly soon. Meanwhile Dave Speed has been preparing the Scimitar’s glassfibre body for paint. It’s resplendent in primer and Dave is carrying out final flatting using a guide coat of thinly sprayed black paint to show the smallest blemishes. I’ve decided to go for a coat of epoxy primer, before the car is finished off with two-pack primer/filler and topcoat. Dave has sprayed an epoxy marine paint on and it should give an added layer of waterproof protection. We’re quietly confident that by next month, the topcoat will be on and the Scimitar can come home. Finally, to an idea from reader Mike Sadler-Brooke. Having seen my Saga in…

1960 Morris Minor Convertible Engine 948cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 37bhp@4800rpm Torque 48lb ft@3000rpm Work since last report Welding. Lots of welding. My skills are improving! I took my Morris Minor Convertible off the road when it failed its MoT. This was due to a small amount of welding being required to the spring hangers. One thing led to another, and she is now well on the way to having a completely new underside. I have fitted additional strengthening to the shell in the form of ¼in gauge box section along the length of the sill boxing panels and cross bracing from the same material across the floor along the line of the rear seat. I have been building up a new 948cc engine, and am considering upgrading the differential from the standard…

We pulled apart a petrol B-series in the October issue of Practical Classics . This time, we’re looking at the lesser-known diesel development. It was first used in 1956 in three-bearing, 1.5-litre form, dragging Austin and Morris JB vans along with just 40bhp and 64lb ft of torque. It went on to power other small commercials, Austin and Morris 'Farina' saloons and the Morris Marina – though almost exclusively for export markets. The engine we’ve dissected here is the later five-bearing 1.8-litre version, most commonly found in the Sherpa van. The 1.5-litre diesel injection pump effectively replaces the petrol version's distributor, taking its drive from a skew gear on the camshaft. The 1.8-litre pump sits parallel to the block and is driven by an extended duplex timing chain. [A] PUMPS…

DIFFICULTY RATING TIME (HRS) 3 MONEY (£) 70 Hinges Sparingly oil all hinges and catches around the car. Wipe off excess. Tyres Check tyre pressures. They should be 30psi all-round for radials. Take care The P5 is a heavy car, so take extra care when lifting and supporting it. Always use axle stands. You will need Trolley jack, axle stands, oil pan, AF spanners and socket set, screwdrivers, feeler gauges, long steel bar or lever, test lamp or multimeter, oil can, grease gun, brake cleaner. The V8-engined Rover P5B is powerful, luxurious and well-built – a proper gentleman’s cruiser in every respect. It’s also a fine candidate for do-it-yourself maintenance at home. Although there’s a lot more of it than most British saloons of the era – both in terms…

DIFFICULTY RATING TIME (HRS) 2 MONEY (£) 0 Check oil Don’t forget to check gearbox and final drive oil levels before you start taking things apart! You will need An assistant. Bearings A humming or wow-wow-wow noise could be a wheel bearing. Investigate before blaming the transmission. Gear teeth Gear teeth in the gearbox and final drive tend to be well surface-hardened and so are the least likely suspects for wear and damage. A car’s transmission is essentially everything between the engine and the wheels. In other words: the bits that transmit power. There are a great many moving parts involved, so there’s a fair bit that can break or wear out. The first sign of a problem is often an untoward noise, vibration or resonance. Identifying the source as…

Sam Glover TECHNICAL EDITOR You name it, Sam’s probably owned it, broken it and worked out how to mend it. John Simpson MASTER MECHANIC Big John has worked at the greasy end of the motor trade since leaving school. Theo Gillam TECHNICAL EXPERT Theo teaches automotive engineering and makes amazing things in his shed. Ed Hughes WORKSHOP GENIUS Ed keeps a fleet of obscure classics on the road. He’s never owned a modern car. Nigel Clark WEEKEND TINKERER Nigel’s DIY achievements rival those of many professional mechanics. Kim Henson CLASSIC CAR GURU Kim’s been restoring cars for over four decades. BMC vehicles are his speciality. VOLVO 740 Why is my engine warning light on? Q My Volvo 740’s engine management light comes on occasionally. It then idles a little roughly,…