Table of contents for July 2017 in Practical Classics

Nothing prepared us for the reception we got on our round Britain run. We visited the 12 top classic cafes nominated by you over eight days, judging each eatery as we piled on the miles (and pounds). The food was good but the reception was off the scale. Every time we pulled up at a cafe there you were, in your classics, waiting and watching as we stuffed our faces with naughty food. We think, during the pop-up car shows at each cafe and on the road, we met over 850 classics and their owners. It was overwhelming and potentially record-breaking. An eight-day, nationwide classic car extravaganza – Britain’s biggest ever classic show. It might be stretching a point a bit, but will I plant that flag in the record…

MOT TEST PERIOD CHANGE OPPOSED Decarbonising service Terraclean is opposing proposals by the Government to extend the period until a car’s first MoT test from three years to four. It claims that the move would adversely affect the Government’s control of emissions. LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES A club official whose spares stock was lost in a fire has warned enthusiasts to take precautions in case of damage. Receipts and photographs of spare parts will strengthen a claim if the spares are stolen or damaged by fire, as insurers will still require evidence, whether the claim is for parts or complete cars. NOT FINISHED YET The FBHVC has dismissed a Stanford University report that the internal combustion engine will be extinct within ten years. Communications director Geoff Lancaster said: ‘It is…

The record-breaking Triumph TR2, MVC 575, has been restored and returned to the place where it made history in 1953 during speed trials held on a stretch of motorway in Belgium. On May 20 – precisely 64 years after it broke the world speed record for a 2.0-litre production car – it was back in Jabbeke to celebrate. Owner-restorer Glen Hewett of Protek Engineering rebuilt the car to original specification from the ground up after receiving it in bits. ‘To be back in the place where the little British sports car made motoring history is amazing,’ he said. The car had been dismantled and stored away since 1976 awaiting restoration. On May 20 it was joined by more than 30 TRs from the TR Register both in the town of…

How to Improve TR7, TR7 V8, TR8 £32.50 ISBN: 978-1-7871-1088-5 Roger Williams explains how to improve performance, aesthetics, handling and braking of the TR7. The book also covers fast road to race level improvements. Land Rover Series I-III £15.99 ISBN: 978-1-7871-1116-5 A compact yet comprehensive troubleshooting guide to the Series I, II and III Land Rovers, this book is a handy glovebox companion. It covers common problems from engine noises to suspension issues. Corvette, The Rise of a Sports Car £14.99 ISBN: 978-1-4456-6445-3 Mark Eaton covers all of the Corvette’s 63 years of development. It’s as much a social history as mechanical, while examining the ‘Vette’s sub-culture in the USA.…

This year marks a quarter of a century since the Torbay Old Wheels Club was founded and 23 years since the group put on its first Riviera Classic Car Show as part of the Torbay Carnival. The group’s Chris Headon says: ‘Since our first event in 1994 we’ve raised almost £40,000 for local charities. This year the show takes place on July 23 and we’re expecting over 300 classic vehicles. Because it’s part of the carnival there’s a great atmosphere.’ For further details, go to towc1@ talktalk.net…

With schemes like the ones in Paris banning cars over 20 years old, the clock is definitely ticking! Andrew Tay I think there is a significant shift on the way – it is surely not beyond imagination that plug-in cars will be a very significant proportion of new cars within five years. Think how far they have come with better charging, longer range and large manufacturers giving better economy of scale. As for eight years though, that’s tosh. Flo Grecian When driverless electric cars are given a regulatory green light they will become a revolution and will become the norm within a decade. However, petrol is not the biggest commodity of the petrochemical industry and there will always be a demand for classic cars. The motor car didn’t wipe out…

I’m currently restoring my 1982 200. This model has been all but forgotten and yet there were plenty around, once upon a time. It was hugely fast in turbo form! Dean Edwards I had an ‘86 Audi 100 2.2 CD back in the Nineties. As much as I love the Rover SD1 and Granada, the Audi really made them look like yesterday’s leftovers. Fast, comfy, superbly built, luxurious, non-rusting, tidy handling, huge interior. Makes me wonder why I don’t still have one. Owen Lewis I bought an Audi 100 CD for £70 in 2000. Swapped it for a C reg Nissan Micra which got scrapped after two months. I regret both of those decisions! Doug Stenning My 1986 2.2 CD Avant still goes like a train with ample power to…

1 JUNE 2007 The big stripdown starts Assisted by his son, Michael removes the front subframe,engine and suspension. 2 SEPT 2008 Front end repairs New wings fitted and a Hornet front panel fashioned from a standard Mini item. 3 MAY 2009 A bit of body popping Sill replacement and floor repairs are underway, using an ingenious homemade rotisserie crafted from two Austin 7 chassis, some Dexion and a few scaffold poles. 4 JULY 2009 Complex rear bodywork repairs Repair panels for rear valance and boot floor were crafted by hand. At last the welding is done! 5 SEPT 2012 Painting Michael waits for the right weather before painting the car on his drive. 6 JUNE 2013 Reassembly Reassembly is well underway with wiring, suspension and brakes fitted. The original Hornet…

Some may have noticed a recent lack of workshop activity on my part. The reason for this is simple: I haven’t had a workshop. My family runs a commercial storage business and for many years it provided almost infinite space in a pair of leaky aircraft hangars. Although this fuelled my proclivity for impulsive and indiscriminate car-buying, it did at least provide ample – if dank – space to work on them. We moved the business to a sensible modern warehouse two years ago and my fleet of scabby classics migrated to a nearby barn. The barn lacked basic luxuries – like a floor – so I set up a temporary workshop in a corner of the warehouse. It was large enough to house one car with adequate fussing space…

Have we bitten off more than we can chew? Quite possibly, if our first full cooked breakfast is anything to go by. We are at the Ace Cafe in North London, the first of the top ten (actually 12 because two pairs were tied) classic cafes you nominated in the big competition to discover which of the nation’s greasy spoons has the best food, atmosphere, history, facilities and service. We’ve asked PC readers to pop along as well, so at 9am on a Friday morning we are greeted by a dozen owners and their classics, eager to sample the food, but just as interested in the cars that have turned up. James Walshe is in his newly-restored DS, Matt Tomkins in his trusty Morris Traveller, Matt George in his ‘hot’…

Ed Hughes’ newly-recommissioned three-cylinder two-stroke Wartburg 311 had bit of a shakedown. Recovery position. James Bacchus’ perfect 1977 MGB GT – minus one fan belt in the Yorkshire Dales. PC Competition winners David Foskew and his wife with their gorgeous 1966 Austin Westminster. Unsung hero: photographer Matt spent 2000 miles listening to Tomkins talking about trunnions. Sung hero: Richard Smith of Classic Lodges Hotels and his (family-owned since new) 1978 MGB GT.…

SAT JUN 17 Anglia Car Auctions, The Cattlemarket, King’s Lynn, Norfolk (01553 771881, angliacarauctions.co.uk) SUN JUN 18 Charterhouse, Bath & West Showground, Somerset. (01935 812277, charterhouse-auction.com) THU JUN 22 Brightwells Modern Classics, Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire. (01568 611122, brightwells.com) SAT JUN 24 Brightwells, Bicester Heritage, Bicester, Oxfordshire. (01568 611122, brightwells.com) FRI JUN 30 Bonhams’ Goodwood Festival of Speed sale, Goodwood House, W Sussex. (020 7468 5801, bonhams.com/cars) SAT JUL 8 Historics at Brooklands, Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey (01753 639170, historics.co.uk) SUN JUL 9 Essex Classic Car Auctions, Maldon, Essex (01702 416153, essexclassiccarauctions.co.uk) WED JUL 12 Brightwells, Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire. (01568 611122, brightwells.com)…

1960 Chevrolet Corvair Engine 2288cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 80bhp@4400rpm Torque 125lb ft@2400rpm Gearbox 2-speed automatic 0-60mph 17.5sec Top speed 86mph Fuel economy 19mpg Work done Imported, serviced, fiddled with, MoT’d, registered. Also in Sam’s garage 1947 MURAD The subject of many pub conversations. 1954 PANHARD DYNA Engine transplant will begin as soon as the ramp’s free. 1965 VOLVO ‘AMAZON’ Exciting new hack, previously owned by PC’s Keith Moody. 1969 VOLGA M21 MoT’d and registered but stubbornly refusing to run as sweetly as it’s supposed to. 1979 VOLVO 245 MoT’d with customary ease. 1982 WARTBURG 353 Pre-MoT testing went excellently… until the engine seized. 1993 ŠKODA FAVORIT Luxury commuter weapon. A joy in every respect. 2001 CITROËN C15 MoT’d after its bi-monthly weld-a-thon. ‘The ignition timing had been set to run on moonshine…

1959 Lotus Seven Series One Engine 948cc/4-cyl/OHV Gearbox 4-speed manual Power 37bhp@4800rpm Torque 50lb ft@2000rpm 0-60mph 14.3sec Top speed 85mph Work done Engine trial fitted to the chassis… eventually! Also in Paul’s garage 1964 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA Abandoned race car project and millstone. SIXTIES-STYLE SLINGSHOT DRAGSTER Reliably provides a face full of hot oil at 80mph. Wear it Proper safety gear can save your skin when doing stuff like this. If you read my previous report about my plans to resurrect a discarded Lotus Seven chassis, you might have wondered – as my fellow members of the Lotus Seven Club have – how on earth I’m going to register it for the road. If it were a new kit car, it would have to pass an IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval) test,…

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. DIFFICULTY LEVELS One to two spanners An easy job that’s well within the reach of…

You will need Drill, multimeter, electrical terminals, wire, crimping pliers or soldering iron. Location, location Mount the fusebox well away from moisture to reduce the risk of corrosion. High in the engine bay is good – inside the car even better. Disconnect battery Always disconnect the battery when working on your car’s electrics. Check there’s no spark at the battery terminal when reconnecting, indicating a possible short circuit. Bad things happen when electrical circuits go wrong. The consequences range from annoying (a bulb that doesn’t light) to catastrophic (smoking wiring or, at worst, a fire). Fuses have long been fitted to car electrics to help reduce the risk of such short-circuit meltdowns. However, most traditional fuseboxes offer little more than a token effort to protect the car’s major circuits. The…

Amusement as Matt Howell used my father’s Dyane as a camera platform on the Severn Bridge. (see p67). Work on my Saab V4 continues and a visit to Saab nut John Green resulted in many useful new bits. Went to Citromobile in Holland (a sort of Beaulieu autojumble for Citroëns) and spent too much money. I love five-cylinder Audis (my dad owned one), so spotting these rare UK ‘C2’ 100s was a real treat. Happy the D is now running well, I am preparing it for a driving holiday to Austria via the Alps. Au revoir!…

Leeds College tutor Michael Coman is ready to present the next group of Skill Shack videos – available online. Paint preparation and application will be covered in detail starting with the definitive guide to kit… what to use and when. The videos will go live over summer and will compliment the bodywork basics and classic car detailing courses that are already part of the Skill Shack library. The Skill Shack technical subscription service is building its bank of video tutorials. By subscribing you will have immediate and continuous access to over 100 detailed and instructional, live action technical films that bring the PC workshop to life. skillshack.co.uk…

Longbridge used to be home to one of the world’s biggest car factories. Soon it will be largely replaced by housing. But before that, the Cambridge Oxford Owners’ Club will be marking 60 years of the pre-Farina Cambridge and Westminster at the Birmingham site (B31 2BQ) on June 17. The club’s John Lakey says: “We’ll be running a film show and enjoying a lunch. On the Sunday we’re undertaking a road run to Ironbridge. All classics are welcome.’ To get involved, call Steve Turner on 07966 249506.…

• Tom Karen, now aged 91, had a hand in all sorts of classics, some obvious and many not so obvious. To mark the work of this under-rated living design legend, the Reliant Scimitar Sabre Owners’ Club has produced a detailed DVD of his life’s work in cars, including the Ogle SX250, Bond Bug, Scimitar GTE and Reliant FW7. Find out more at rssoc.co.uk. • If you’ve got a Vauxhall FD, get yourself along to the VBOA Rally at Market Harborough on July 8-9, where the plan is to assemble at least 50 FDs. Then, to mark the 50th anniversary of the FD’s introduction, there’s a one-off gathering at Wroxall Abbey in Warwickshire on October 13-16. More at vx490driversclub.co.uk. The show will also celebrate 70 years of the Victor range.…

IN THE NEWS Ronald Reagan begins his second term as US President and Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the leader of the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, a little soap opera called Neighbours begins in Australia. AT THE FLICKS Screen icon Roger Moore sets the quizzical eyebrow one more time for his final outing as James Bond in A View to a Kill , but 1985 is really about cinema for kids and teens. We get Back to the Future , The Goonies , Weird Science , St Elmo’s Fire , Teen Wolf and Police Academy . Fans of the peculiar can enjoy Terry Gilliam’s Brazil…

Pick a Part That’s New by Stereophonics is a good video. It mimics the 1969 film Italian Job. Mick Davey I reckon it has to be Dragula by Rob Zombie! Sounds great in the car and references the Munster’s dragster. Jim Lamb Stylo by Gorillaz has such a good music video. All the characters are in some kind of awesome American car being chased by Bruce Willis. Dean Foster Cosmic Girl by Jamiroquai is simply brilliant. That Diablo… wow. Jay Wright I second Cosmic Girl. Jamiroquai sure know how to make a quality driving tune. Apparently somebody crashed the Lamborghini while making the video and they had to do the driving scenes without a windscreen. That’s why you see Jay Kay’s hair blowing around in the wind – even though…

‘She was a lady of advanced years still retaining her best assets’ Some years ago I purchased a half share in a magnificent – but in need of restoration – 1947 Daimler. Beautiful bespoke coachwork, a glorious engine note and musical flywheel, leather upholstery, fluted radiator and a deep sense of Daimler dignity, she was a lady of advanced years still retaining her best assets. I had wanted to secure the future of this Daimler, which was, and indeed is, an ex-Derby Corporation double-decker bus. However, subsequent events reflect what you may feel is also an increasingly worrying situation in the classic car world. I ended up selling the bus to a gentleman from Derby who loved the vehicle and spent a considerable amount of money on a full restoration.…

FRIDAY MAY 5 1. Ace Cafe, London 2. Garwick Cafe, Heckington, Lincs SATURDAY MAY 6 3. Ballinluig Motor Grill, Perthshire, 4. Hartside Cafe, Alston SUNDAY MAY 7 H. Road run from Solberge Hall Hotel 5. Oil Can Cafe, Holmfirth MONDAY MAY 8 6. Yondermann Cafe, Buxton 7. Super Sausage Cafe, Northampton PC NIGHT OUT!!! H. Charingworth Manor Hotel TUESDAY MAY 9 8. Body & Soul Cafe, Cardiff WEDNESDAY MAY 10 9. Smokey Joe’s Cafe, Redruth 10. Haldon Forest Diner, Exeter THURSDAY MAY 11 11. Railway Carriage Cafe, Ilminster FRIDAY MAY 12 12. Bashley Manor Tearooms, nr. Lymington…

‘So, rose-tinted vision meets harsh reality check’ One of the things I do when not hanging around auctions wondering how to add to a collection that’s already at PC standard ‘one more than there’s room for’ level is live valuations with Hagerty Insurance. These take place at Bicester Heritage’s excellent Sunday Scrambles. For a small fee, owners get their cars inspected by our team of three (safety in numbers?) experts and leave with a signed valuation certificate and any helpful advice we can pass on, like how to read the date stamps on 15-year-old tyres… For the most part it’s fun as we usually wind up telling folk their car is worth more than they thought – so, so many classics today are worryingly under-insured. The sun shines and all…

1975 Hillman Imp Price: £5500 Cherished for 24 years by a doting lady owner and always kept garaged. In show condition and completely original apart from the aftermarket Moto-Lita steering wheel. 1972 Volvo 164 E Price: £8750 A simply superb one-owner, 51,000-mile car. Stored in a heated garage since 1986 but regularly run up to keep it in good fettle. Now recommissioned and complete with a fresh MoT. 1953 Riley RMF Price: £6750 The desirable 2.5-litre Riley, and one with an interesting history behind it. Much spent in past but needs more on interior and recommissioning.…

2007 The 10,000rpm Kuro special edition debuts, with 228bhp on tap. Production is limited to just 500 cars. 2007 40th Anniversary limited edition with Bilstein suspension, two unique paint colours and leather/Alcantara trim; 400 are made. 2008 Facelifted R3 gets upgraded styling/ interior and chassis revisions. R3 sport pack includes Recaros, Bilsteins and 19in wheels. 2010 The final RX-8s are sold in the UK; in all, over 17,000 examples were delivered here. Japanese RX-8 production ended in 2012.…

1960 Morris Minor Convertible Engine 998cc/4-cyl/OHV Power TBC Torque Unknown Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph Maybe Top speed Plenty Fuel economy Not enough Work done Repaired original steering wheel; rebuilt heater. Also in Matt’s garage 1970 MINOR SALOON Axle rebuild is now imminent. 1979 TRIUMPH DOLOMITE 1850 Still waiting in line. 1992 EUNOS ROADSTER Up for sale… do you fancy it? Rewind a couple of months to a phone call out of the blue from MMOC member and engine guru Alan Scott. ‘I’ve been reading your sagas in PC and wonder why you’re planning on fitting a 1098 cylinder head to the bored-out 948?’ My answer was simple: I had one on the shelf. Alan had built the engine for the club’s Ruby anniversary Lowlight Morris Minor (the restoration of which…

1972 Triumph TR6 (US-specification) Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 104bhp@4500rpm Torque 142lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + O/D 0-60mph 10.7sec Top speed 109mph Fuel economy 28mpg Work done Engine removed, rebuilt and refitted. Start-up success! Also in Matt’s garage 1968 VW KARMANN GHIA Not seen much use of late, but ready for some summer fun. 1972 VW BEETLE 1302 S Decision made – up for sale and in need of a loving home. The most recent mention of the family TR6 in these pages was in the aftermath of the 2015 Club Triumph 10 Countries Run ( PC , January 2016). My saloon had completed the 2200-mile trip without incident, but Dad’s roadster was suffering by the time we made it to the finish at Abdij Rolduc in the Netherlands. The TR’s…

1959 Peerless GT Engine 1991cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 110bhp@4800rpm Torque 117lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d 0-60mph 10.8sec Top speed 120mph Fuel economy 28mpg Work done Fitted new dip sender unit, brand new fuel lines and bought some extra special seat material. Also in Gary’s garage 1980 SAAB 99 TURBO Ex-factory press car that is currently waiting patiently for a full restoration. 2006 RENAULT TRAFIC MPV Two weeks, 2000 miles and three kids. Still finding sand and sea shells everywhere! Harris Tweed Annie Macdonald, director of Carloway Mill with a delighted Gary and 2.5 metres of pattern K315. The tweed will work well in the Peerless. ‘Humble classic cars – connecting people and skills the world over’ Fuelly good! Fitting the main fuel line from the rear of the car to…

You will need Grease gun filled with EP90, torque wrench, jack and axle stands. Lubrication Lubricate trunnions at least every six months or 3000 miles, whichever comes first. A grease gun with a flexible nozzle filled with EP90 is your weapon of choice. Hub bearings You’ll need to remove the hubs to tackle the trunnions – so it’s an ideal opportunity to clean the hub bearings and repack them with fresh grease. Tophatbushes All Triumph trunnions except those of the TR2-TR4 connect to the suspension via nylon top hat bushes. They’re not expensive, so replace them as a matter of course. Conversations among Triumph aficionados often turn to trunnions. There can’t be many other classic components that prompt so much discussion and yet are the absolute definition of ‘safety critical’.…

New book for fans of rust PC Rust in Peace wreck-hunter Jack Brands has co-written a book about one of the greatest collections of abandoned cars. Chatillon – A Junkyard Story is an insight into a yard containing hundreds of American classics in Belgium. The site was cleared when the owner died in 2007 but the book pictures it as it was back when Jack and co-author Jan de Graf paid their frequent visits. Seven fans get ready to rejoice! The next Practical Classics bookazine special issue is now well underway, curated by our own Sam Glover. The Practical Classics Guide to the Austin Seven will go on sale on July 19, 2017. To buy any of our other previously published bookazines, simply log on to greatmagazines.co.uk and take your…

S AT, JUN 17 LONDON Waterloo Classics, Lower Marsh Street, SE1 7RJ (waterlooclassics.com). HANTS Simply VW at Beaulieu, SO42 7ZN (beaulieu.co.uk). SAT-SUN, JUN 17-18 SOMERSET Bristol Classic Car Show at Bath & West Showground, BA4 6QN (bristolclassiccarshows.combristolclassiccarshows.com). NORTHANTS MGLive! at Silverstone, NN12 8TN (mgcc.co.uk/mglive). SURREY Double Twelve Motorsport Fest Brook-lands, KT13 0QN (brooklandsmuseum.combrooklandsmuseum.com). NORTHANTS Triumph-Fest at Santa Pod, NN29 7XA (retroshow.co.uk). SUN, JUN 18 HANTS Hot Rod Day at Beaulieu, SO42 7ZN (beaulieu.co.uk). NOTTS Classic Car Show at Clumber Park, S80 3AZ (classicshows.org). CO DURHAM Raby Castle Classic Vehicle Show, DL2 3AH (markwoodwardclassicevents.commarkwoodwardclassicevents.com). FIFE Festival of Transport at the Scottish Vintage Bus Museum, KY12 0SJ (fhvc.org.uk). LONDON Classics & Cake at the Duke, TW8 0JA (dukeoflondon.co.uk). KENT Bromley Pageant, Norman Park, BR2 9EF (bromleypageant.co.uk) WED, JUN 21 WORCS Black Plate…

NO TO TEST TESTING TIMES At the age of 79 I still enjoy my motoring. I have an Austin Ten to tinker with and a Porsche Boxster for fun. In my early 70s I took the ROSPA driving assessment, having just bought an XK150. I think I might do it again for my 80th and would recommend that as a way of confirming competence. As a member of the Austin Ten Drivers’ Club I note that many of the members are about the same age as their cars. Their competence and knowledge is far superior to that of the average motorist and I am sure that applies to other marques. Bill Briggs, Petersfield PRICE OF FREEDOM One of today’s headlines tells me that the greatest killer of teenagers is road…

‘The Midget was more nimble, more threadable, more fn all round’ A chance sighting of a particular type of car can trigger a long and intense train of thought, sometimes leading to an outcome unimaginable before that fateful glimpse. So, I’m reminiscing over how three friends independently but almost simultaneously came to buy the same type of car in their youth, and over two great holidays had with two of them. And how much I loved driving all of them. The sighting happened recently. I’d forgotten just how truly tiny an MG Midget is. Yes, the clue is in the name, but in a twenty-teens context, with new cars an oversized, bloated parody of what cars once were, the minuteness is newly shocking. It was a 1966 example in Old…

Ace Cafe, London We started our tour at London’s Ace Cafe. It’s a former transport cafe in Stonebridge, which has been restored by Mark Wilsmore after spending years as a tyre fitters. It is a historically notable venue in motorcycle culture, as well as the stopping point for sports fans on their way to Wembley finals. It operated from 1938 until 1969, then re-opened on the original site in 1997. WE LOVED: The ambience and history. This place is a living museum and still does what it was built to do. The food is great and good value (for London) and the facilities are clean. Garwick Cafe, Heckington On the A17 East of Sleaford sits the legendary Garwick Cafe. This long-established cafe has been modernised tastefully and sits just off…

Nothing inspires the workshop senses like the smell of green Swarfega. The emerald gloop has a nose of its own and Deb Silkware, the company that has made it since 1947, is celebrating 70 years in the market this year. Silkware? Yes. Deb Silkware Protection Ltd was established in Belper, Derbyshire in 1941 and get this, ‘Deb’ is short for ‘Debutante’, the traditional name given to girls making their first appearance in society. The original gloop was intended to prevent silk stockings from laddering, the mild solution was applicable for hand-washing. During the war silk was used primarily in parachute production. This, coupled with the introduction of nylon to the British market by the Americans, destroyed the silk stocking market and with it the need for ‘Deb’, the silkware protector.…

2000 Mazda shows the RX-Evolv concept at the Detroit motor show – it’s basically a thinly disguised RX-8. 2003 The RX-8 arrives, in 189bhp and 228bhp forms. 2006 The 228bhp Evolve limited edition appears with unique colours and leather/ Alcantara interior trim; 500 are made. 2006 PZ limited edition, developed by Prodrive , goes on sale. 2006 The 189bhp Nemesis special reaches showrooms. 350 are made and each comes with a free Prodrive experience day.…

1950 Riley RMA Engine 1496cc/4-cyl/DOHC Power 55bhp@4500rpm Torque 76lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 25sec Top speed 78mph Fuel economy 26mpg Work done Underside sorted. Engine rebuild begun. Wood poked. In Danny’s shed 1970 INTERCEPTOR II I must be honest. It is in the workshop under a sheet. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 New manifold gasket has arrested parpy flatulence. 1982 VAUXHALL VICEROY It needs sills and valances. Has anyone got panels? 1997 ROVER 200 GSI One rear wheelarch done… now for the other side. 2002 RENAULT AVANTIME Now the sun is here, this is the coolest car on the road. ‘The crankshaft grinding machine was the high point of my year so far!’ The other big project in my life has been sorely neglected over the past six months. As the…

1972 Triumph 2000 Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 135bhp (est) Gearbox 4-speed manual + O/D Work done Modern clutch master cylinder fitted; clutch action restored. When is a fix not a fix? When you ‘fix’ your clutch master cylinder with a spring that turns out to be too stiff ( PC , June 2017). It was the night before we headed off on our UK-wide tour of filth dispensaries (see p60) when my clutch issues returned with a vengeance. The clutch pedal went to the floor and, whatever I did, I couldn’t get the thing in gear. Incredibly, all this happened 100 yards or so from our hotel. Even more fortuitously, I had on board the repro 0.75in master cylinder I’d bought (but not fitted) before I ‘fixed’ the original. Tomkins and…

1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SE 3.5 Engine 3499cc/V8/OHV Power 197bhp@5800rpm Torque 211lb ft@4000rpm Gearbox 4-speed automatic 0-60mph 9sec Top speed 130mph Fuel economy 18mpg Work done Re-paint roof and boot, fit 123 ignition, replace radiator, glue bonnet pad, full service, replace section of corroded fuel pipe, destroy corroded exhaust downpipe, get MoT. Not necessarily in that order. Also in Matt’s garage 1960 Velosolex Currently on sabbatical. I’ll cut to the chase, even though cutting to the chase isn’t my car’s strong suit at the moment – I have an MoT. A fresh, shiny MoT to go with my fresh, shiny paint, distributor, distributor cap, plug leads, radiator, fuel line, fuel pump, fuel filter, number plates and headlights. It’s been a spendy month, a fruitful month, but most of all it’s not been…

You will need Vernier caliper, steel rule, thread gauges, hood quality spanners and sockets, wire brush, taps and dies, thread locking compound, grease. Thread convention Coarse threads are often used in soft materials and fine threads in high-torque applications. Your car’s fasteners may have been replaced in the past – so don’t assume they’re correct. Check a parts catalogue for information. Stock up Invest in a stock of good quality fasteners to suit your car: flat, spring and shakeproof washers; plain and locking nuts; and a range of setscrews/bolts. Tightening tips Always start fasteners by hand, then tighten progressively. Ensure there’s always at least one thread protruding beyond the nut when it’s fully tightened. Nuts and bolts are arguably the most important components on any car. However, we often take…

Classic machine You’ll need a strong sewing machine – but not necessarily an expensive one. Get yourself and the machine working in perfect harmony before starting work. Pick fabrics Take time to think about combinations of colours in carpets, mats, binding and thread. Choose a quality and price of materials that will suit your needs. Cutting tools Heavy cast-iron scissors are perfect for cutting fabrics. Use a straight-edge when cutting the mats, and use the weave or ribbing of the carpet to double-check. You will need Sewing machine, needle, thread, carpet, carpet binding tape, straight-edge, knife or scissors, glue gun. Tailored floor mats are handy, multifunctional items. They offer protection for the carpet underneath, so you don’t have to worry about getting it muddy or wearing it out. If your…

If your club’s contact details have changed, please let us know! A 750 MOTOR CLUB 01379 741641 AC OWNERS’ CLUB 07768 363250 AMERICAN AUTO CLUB (UK) 0845 644 0345 www.americanautoclubuk.com AMBULANCE PRESERVATION SOCIETY www.southambpres.org.uk CLASSIC AMERICAN AC (GB) 020 8286 1120 PRE -’50 CLASSIC AMERICAN 01530 831170 AEC SOC yellowayreliance@hotmail.com ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA REGISTER www.giulietta.com ALFA ROMEO OC www.aroc-uk.com ALLARD OWNERS’ CLUB David Moseley, 19 Bramham Gardens, London SW5 0JE ALVIS OWNER CLUB www.alvisoc. org ALVIS REG 01509 412289, www.alvisregister.com ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY OC 0121 459 0742, www.siddeley.com, www.siddeley.net A-SERIOUS (A-SERIES ENGINED CARS) http://aserious.freeforums.org ASSN OF OLD VEHICLE CLUBS OF NIRELAND 028 9146 7886, www.aovc.co.uk ASTON MARTIN OC 01865 400400 AUDI 100 COUPÉ S CLUB GB 01702 461513 AUDI OC 07788 588449 , www.audiclub.co.uk CLUB AUDI…