Table of contents for September 2021 in Practical Classics

Go! Go! Go! A plaque marking the life and work of Murray Walker has been unveiled at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu to coincide with an evening celebrating the great man, hosted by Tiff Needell on August 15. Funeral partners flagship A working Austin FX3 hearse, ‘Morag’ has been restored to her former glory to mark her 65th birthday. A TV and movie star, Morag has made appearances in Heartbeat, Midsomer Murders, Father Brown and one of the more recent Batman films. Marcos acquired The Page Automotive Group, established in 1906, has acquired Marcos Heritage Spares Ltd. Marcos Heritage Spares Ltd own the intellectual property and manufacturing rights, original moulds, jigs and tooling for all Marcos models built between 1959 and 2001. Healey factory marked The site of the former…

This October marks 40 years since the last Triumph sports car was built. The TR Drivers’ Club (TRDC) is marking the occasion with a relay run across the whole of Britain, which will involve all of the area groups within the club and will conclude with a mass gathering at the British Motor Museum. The TRDC’s John Clancy comments: ‘The TRDC felt that something a bit different would be required for this rally, and so for the baton that will be passed between the area groups across the country we approached former Triumph stylist John Ashford to create something unique, special and also possibly a little historic. The result is a style for a new Triumph sports car for the modern era that BMW, the present guardians of the Triumph…

IN THE NEWS Surprising as it may seem, Canada only achieves full independence in 1982, with the passing of the Canada Act. This ends the power of the British parliament to amend the country’s constitution and pass laws extending to what was, until then, technically a self-governing British dominion. The Canadians are, naturally, jolly decent about it all and still allow the Queen to rule. AT THE FLICKS Although a little alien named ET steals both hearts and cinema box office receipts during 1982, it should be remembered that the year gives us another great sci-fi film – Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Generally regarded as the best of the Star Trek movies, Spock’s death at the end is as tearful for Trekkies as ET saying goodbye to…

Last Spitfire I’ve got a car which might inspire some memories. My interest was sparked by the letter in the October 2020 edition regarding the last Spitfire manufactured. I can’t claim to have the last Spit made, but I believe that I may have a justified claim to having the last to be registered. As you’re aware, the last Spitfire rolled off the production line in August 1980. My car was built on July 10, 1980 with the chassis no TFADW1AT/001977. It was sold to Mrs M. Jackson of Connah’s Quay by BL dealer James Edwards of Chester on Sept 1, 1981, registered DDM 170X. Therefore, 13 months after manufacture. I have owned the car for 20 years, it is still in wonderful condition with 90 per cent original paint.…

‘I have owned and improved it for 40 years’ 1974 Triumph Stag Niall Cooper, Littlehampton I have had this for 40 years now and I’ll never part with it. It has been with me through many ups and downs and seen me through some dark times. It has been through a Rover V8 conversion, but some 20 years ago I brought it back to Triumph V8 spec. I didn’t stop there though. I’ve put in a number of improvements to make it more drivable, along with a few bits of bling. I had it painted, and at the same time I put a solid silver Stag insert into the steering wheel and did the same on the overdrive knob. I have uprated the brakes and the lighting, and also fitted…

Once I’ve squeezed myself behind the wheel, I fire the Tiger up and get ready to find out what all the fuss is about. Terry was an engineer and mechanic in his professional career, so it comes as no surprise to find that this thing is a truly exquisite piece of work. The rebuilt and uprated Ford V8 is a delight and produces a wonderful noise through those twin stainless pipes, but it is the quality of the vehicle as a whole that really stands out. I daren’t press on too much through the corners but, once the thing is in a straight line, I realise what it can do. Sharp steering, decent ride strong brakes and that engine. It’s heady stuff alright.…

£50 STAR FIND Can you do better! Send your high-res images to practical.classics@bauermedia.co.uk James says… ‘New Zealand is a hotbed of relics, it seems – especially cars of the kind we don’t normally see in the UK. I’d love a go in a Leyland P76!’ In association with Surface Processing Ltd surfaceprocessing.co.uk, 01384 242010…

A Prefect Day ACA makes stars of everyday cars at June sale REVIEW There’s an appetite for buying what were once thought of as unexceptional cars at the moment. In another amazing sale where ACA offered 240 vehicles and shifted 212 of them, it was results for the ‘ordinary’ that stood out. Perhaps rarity is the attraction. Whatever, the £8370 paid for a 1946 Ford Prefect E93A was jaw-dropping alongside its £2000-£3000 estimate. That was on the light side for a car that was nice and had acquired a new engine in recent years, but still had room for improvement. However, over eight grand for one of these is the kind of number that normally only appears in dealers’ dreams. After that it feels much simpler to justify the £7830…

1968 Morris Minor Traveller Price: £9995 Looks like a keen price for a car on which over £20,000 was spent on restoration five years ago. And that was just the parts bill. 1992 Daimler Double-Six Price: £12,995 Rust-free Japanese import. Enjoyed by just one owner from new, has done only 49,000 miles and comes with documented service history, too. 1990 Honda CRX 1.6 VTEC Price: £11,950 Very hard to find like this – a UK market one lady owner car with full Honda service history, 98,000 miles and paperwork back to day one.…

2000 DODGE VIPER GTS Ross Evans, Nottinghamshire Living out the Gran Turismo dream for real. Ross, we envy you… 1986 OPEL MONZA Mark Pantomy, West Sussex Cruising the autobahn (more likely the M23) in Eighties style. Very well played, Mark. 1992 SIERRA COSWORTH 4X4 Dominic Goodfellow, Northamptonshire A Cossie with mods, who’d have thought it. And what’s not to like? We can help… ‘So many cars here that we would all love to have on our drives. Call us to discuss your requirements, so we can help turn your modern classic dream into a reality.’…

Matt Tomkins PROJECTS EDITOR Our resident workshop puppet master, Matt has A-Series engines in his blood. This month: Spends endless hours of trial and error selecting timing gears for his Austin Seven. Martin Domoney WORKSHOP EDITOR Former JLR technician, Martin, knows his modern classics inside and out. This month: Un-modified his Discovery 1 300Tdi. Theodore J Gillam ENGINEERING EXPERT Former Motor Vehicle lecturer and classic fiddling perfectionist. Has a love of compression ignition. This month: Gives bench grinder advice & disects an injection pump. Ed Hughes WORKSHOP GENIUS Ed singlehandedly keeps a fleet of obscure classics on the road. He’s never owned a modern. This month: Pounds the motorways in his Lada 1200. Nigel Clark DIY RESTORER Nigel’s driveway achievements rival those of pro mechanics. He’s our resident Triumph and…

SAVE £300 NIGEL’S JOB CARD SERVICE A BMW 3 SERIES Today, I’m servicing a 2002 BMW 325i, according to the BMW ‘Inspection 2’ schedule, due every four years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first). This is the most complete service in BMW’s routine maintenance sequence, and all the operations required in the intermediate services are covered. The requirements vary only slightly between E36 and E46 models. How tough? You’ll need: ► Trolley jack and axle stands ► Basic tools ► Socket set and torque wrench► Rubber gloves and oil drain pan ► On Board Diagnostic code reader (plus service reset tool and 20 pin adaptor for E36) Clubs/Specialists ► BMW Car Club GB bmwcarclubgb.uk Will take: Will cost: Cash saved ENGINE 1 Code read E36 It’s good to start by…

HISTORY Ethanol in fuel is not new. Ethyl Alcohol for internal combustion has been an option since the 19th century. All you need to know about everything important This summer will see a major change to the petrol supplied at UK forecourts. By September 1, 2021, standard 95 octane pump petrol will contain between five and 10 per cent ethanol, compared to the current UK standard of zero to five percent. Concerns have been raised that many vehicles built before 2011 will not be compatible with the new fuel. An online vehicle compatibility checker can be found at gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol Petrol that contains between zero and five per cent ethanol will continue to be available from petrol stations that offer two grades of petrol with a turnover of one million litres…

Ethanol is not a ‘green’ fuel, it is ‘potentially an environmental disaster.’ That isn’t a petrolhead talking, that’s America’s environmental agency (EPA). Ethanol production encourages a monoculture of industrialised non-food crops (usually corn or soya) with the overuse of pesticides that comes with it, plus it also uses a lot of energy to make and transport the fuel. There are various ways of making biofuels, but generally fermentation and heat break down the starches, sugars, and other molecules in plants. Ethanol producers burn coal and gas to heat the fermentation process to do this. The resulting product is then refined to produce a fuel that cars can use. It is almost as energy sapping as refining crude oil. ‘Dewilding for ethanol crops is a real issue’ When the fuel itself…

Feelin’ hot hot hot TWIN-FLAME BUTANE TORCH £56.69 This new butane gas torch from Laser Tools features a twin-flame head design that offers an even spread of heat, making is perfect for many heating tasks on your classic. The compact torch is powered by butane gas fuel — normal lighter gas or a propane mix. The flame can be adjusted hard or soft to suit various tasks: soldering, brazing, , shrinking, general heating of seized components, etc Run time is up to 20 minutes. The torch features a safety childproof childproo trigger, piezo electric ignition and a flame lock for continuous use. It is supplied with stand and stainless steel grip, and measures just 189 x 115 x 70mm. Part no: 7940. lasertools.co.uk Take my ad-vice SUCTION-BASE MINI-VICE £10.85 This…

TO THIS… FROM THIS… As classic car lovers, most of us had childhood dreams of a particular car. For most of us, these ‘crushes’ passed as teenage years brought a succession of ‘fix ’em on Sunday, drive ’em to work on Monday’ bangers. But not so for Ben Clayton, who brought his particular dream to life. Back in the early Nineties, nine-year-old Ben avidly read his grandfather’s car magazines. Flicking through the May ’93 issue of Fast Car one day he spotted a gorgeous metallic green Marina, sitting low and mean on wide Revolution alloys, with a turbo-charged Montego O-series engine under the bonnet. It was love at first sight, and Ben has been a big fan of the characterful Seventies Morris saloon even since. Jumping forward to 2014, he…

Who loves a coupé? I would happily own another of these Skoda Rapids. I shouldn’t have sold this one! Peter Frost Everybody has been brainwashed into an SUV, despite them being worse in every way. Alan Sutor I’m really happy with my 216 Tomcat. I bought it for £200 three years ago and it’s definitely a keeper. Graeme Scurrah I’m torn between another Toyota Soarer 4-litre V8 or a Vauxhall Calibra. Matt Barca I always had a soft spot for a Vauxhall Tigra. They have a charm all of their own and I’d have one now if I could. Luke McMahon I was impressed with the handling of our Ford Puma with the 1.7 Yamaha engine. Such a shame that they rust so badly. Daniel Coppock A Volkswagen Corrado VR6…

Toyota Crown Spotted near Abu Dhabi, this Toyota Crown appears to be a daily driver. It has clearly been repainted at some point, but looked pretty sound. Richard Moss, Middle East Correspondent, Abu Dhabi 1969 Vauxhall Viva HB I saw this Viva HB Estate in Bournemouth recently. Martyn Gough, Dorset 1963 Jaguar Mk2 This lovely Jag was parked up in Alnmouth, with the driver deciding where he should effortlessly cruise to next! Andy Williams, Derby 1956 Nash Rambler Spotted this Nash Rambler just up the road from my house – it’s even got bullet holes in the front windscreen! Malcolm Best, Wales Wolseley 18/85 Spotted this nice Landcrab outside our local garage. I’ve seen it locally, but first time I was able to snap a picture of it. John Bowlzer,…

There’s something to be said for spotlights and a big boot spoiler, but for many, it’s just a bit too… obvious. The Q-car (or ‘sleeper’ as it’s known in the US) is traditionally identified as a large, innocuous-looking executive with seemingly little to shout about. Yet, underneath, the Q-car packs an unexpected punch that’ll surprise cars of far more obvious sporting pedigree. Dozens of examples have come and gone over the years, each slipping past our noses and under the radar of most motorists. From the subtle, but highly exotic Porsche-built Mercedes 500E, whose mildly blistered arches are the only clue to its monstrous power to Volvo’s 250bhp 850R estate-a wheeled wardrobe capable of 0-60mph in under six seconds. More subtle still, the inconspicuous Audi RS6 Avant, a 2000s estate…

‘Not many were sold and they are rare’ In recent columns I’ve mused on both the withdrawal symptoms from not having bought a car for some time and the likelihood of ‘retro’ cars like the Fiat 500 leaning against an open door for entry into the classic world. While the latter remains an open debate, those thoughts got together in the country pub of my subconscious and hatched a plan. One that kicked out the conscious idea that my next purchase would be a Morris Minor. Which meant that, one morning, I awoke with the strong desire to replace my faithful early (2004) Fiat Panda II daily driver with a 500. Sorry, Morris fans. But which model? These days, I follow the new car market about as closely as I…

Nice car mate,’ calls a youth from the pavement as I negotiate my way out the local cul-de-sac. I’m initially taken aback; unlike during my formative years driving Golf GTIs, this doesn’t tend to happen to me any more. I quickly realise that A, he’s talking to me and B, he isn’t taking the Mick, so I manage to shout ‘thanks’ just in time, mildly surprised, and secretly delighted. Joining a sea of dull modern traffic on the high-street, I can see how my tidy, white, 30-year-old Mercedes-Benz – six-cylinder engine burbling away through a de-restricted exhaust – might have stood out somewhat. Better his compliment than some of the disgusted looks it also gets. Flashback 20 (or more, ahem) years and that kid could have been me, though unlike…

Volkswagen Passat W8 75 LEFT ON UK ROADS It’s a Volkswagen Passat with half a Veyron engine. Just say that again slowly to yourself. How could it not be magnificent? The reality, of course, isn’t quite as exciting as the promise. Packing that monster motor into the relatively modest confines of a B5.5 Passat engine bay did cause some issues. VW technicians of the time would lie awake at night rocking back and forth at the mere thought of working on a W8. Unfortunately, their nightmares usually came true as the complicated W8 frequently flew in the face of VW’s hard-earned reputation for reliability. Having said that, we’d still be sorely tempted to grab a 4-motion W8 estate and use it sparingly. Of the 11,000 made, almost half (a total…

If it’s an M3 you’re after, you’ll be paying between 15 and 20 grand, depending on how many doors it has. For the rest of us, the E36 is still in bargain territory. The 316i and 318i are pleasant, but not exactly exciting. So, with the best six-cylinder coupés selling for barely £5000, the clever money is on a six-pot. Try £1500 for a well kept saloon, with the best available for under three grand. Tourings carry a small premium but decent Convertibles can be bought for as little as £2000. The oddball E36 Compact is the true bargain of the pack though. Weird looking things usually are. I OWN ONE Proud owner Matthew Wilkin says the E36 is his perfect car. ‘It is well made, has a decent amount…

I used to work for the MOD as a vehicle fitter. A newsletter flagged up problems to look out for, one of which was a failing automatic gearbox on the Challenger tank. It was found that the filters and/ or control valves in the gearbox were blocked with gasket sealant from over-exuberant use during assembly. The excess had been wiped off the outside, but on the inside it floated around until it found something to block. We were advised not to use sealant and let the gasket do its job.…

Dressing and truing As the wheels are used, so the faces will become worn and grooved. In order to keep them flat and true, invest in a dressing tool. This diamond stick costs from £3. Inspect the wheels for cracks/ damage, wear a respirator, start the grinder, and gently dress the stone. TIP Treat the bench grinder with respect. It’s not rocket science, but always put safety first. Types of wheels To produce a finer finish on hardened hand- or machine-tools, use a softer stone with a finer grit; the higher the grit number, the finer the wheel. This will produce better results on TIG tungstens, too. Choose the correct arbor. Ensure the speed rating is correct for the machine. Brushing and buffing A wire brush in the workshop is…

Building a Special ISBN: 978-1-78521-705-0 haynes.com £25 Following TV’s Ant Anstead’s journey building his own special, this new Haynes publication pays homage to the publisher’s very first manual, in which John Haynes himself built an Austin Seven special. BX: A New Generation of Citroën ISBN: 978-90-828147-9-8 citroënvie.nl €42.50 Hardback and bursting with fascinating colour pictures, this book covers all aspects of Citroën’s million-selling hatch, from concept to production, and right in time for its 40th birthday in 2022. Rover R8 ISBN: 978-1-3981-0121-0 amberley-books.com £15.99 This book explores the Rover R8 platform’s development, production, models and technical specs as well as exploring the collaborations with Honda and Peugeot and the development of the K-series engine.…

Put aside any notion this will be like driving another Marina – the only similarity is the view down the bonnet. The Granada seats are comfy and supportive and turning the key instantly brings the engine to life. I snicked the ’box into first and immediately stalled as the clutch bites right on the floor, something Ben will correct next time the gearbox needs to come out. Try again, and we trickle off gently, with a muted burble from the exhaust. Up to second and I push my right foot a bit harder. Instantly the car accelerates in a most un-Marina-like manner. There is a real shove in the back, free from turbo lag. We’re quickly through second then accelerating hard in third, making it easy to believe the impressive…

‘A proper Q-car is an instrument of delight’ I’ve never been a fan of spoilers and fancy go-faster stripes. There is much more pleasure to be had from driving a car that looks gentle and unthreatening, ‘cooking’ rather than ‘hot’ as the car magazines used to say, yet which goes a whole lot faster than its looks suggest. A Q-car, the breed’s name possibly taken from naval Q-ships whose merchant-shipping looks disguised military speed and manoeuvrability. One of my favourites, run as a long-term test car when I was on Car magazine, is the now practically extinct Ford Galaxy V6 MPV of the Nineties, or its Volkswagen Sharan VR6 clone. Of course the Ford used the narrow-angle, 2.8-litre, VW VR6 engine too, but the middle ‘R’ wasn’t in Ford’s engine…

As PC went to press, Stellantis announced its plan to build electric vans at Ellesmere Port – safeguarding the plant’s future and the jobs of around 1000 factory workers. From late next year, it will switch from Astra production to producing the Citroën e-Berlingo, Peugeot e-Partner and Vauxhall Combo-e commercial vans, along with their passenger-carrying MPV variants. From 1986 until 1994, the first-generation Combo/Astramax van, the forerunner to the current Combo, was built there so there is a historical prcedent. In the same week, Nissan announced it will invest in future electric vehicle production in the North East.…

THU AUG 5 Brightwells’ Classic & Vintage, Leominster, Herefordshire. (01568 611122, brightwells.com) WED AUG 11 H&H Classic Car Auctions live online, Derbyshire. (01925 210035, handh.co.uk) FRI-SAT AUG 20-21 Mathewsons, live online, Thornton-Le-Dale, North Yorkshire. (01751 474455, mathewsons.co.uk) SAT-SUN AUG 28-29 Anglia Car Auctions, The Cattlemarket, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. (01553 771881, angliacar-auctions.co.uk) SAT-SUN SEP 4-5 Bonhams, National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hants. (020 7648 5801, bonhams.com/depart-ments/MOT-CAR/) WED SEP 8 H&H Classics, Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambs. (01925 210035, handh.co.uk) THU SEP 9 Dorset Vintage & Classic Auctions, The Old Gas Works, Stalbridge, Dorset. (01963 363353, dvca.co.uk) SAT SEP 11 Morris Leslie Classic Auctions, Errol Airfield, Perth. (01821 642940, morrisleslie.com)…

Complex construction means DIYers will need specialist wisdom, so although it’s hard for us to say this (you know how we love a good resto), it might be best to avoid projects. Pick up a crash-damaged racer for £10,000, but it’ll be a difficult and expensive rebuild to undertake. The Plus 8 has held its value better than pretty much any other car, so don’t expect a bargain. £20-30,000 will get you a good one nowadays. Heavily modified cars can exceed £50k. Owners tend to be conscientious, so the best cars need immaculate records and few owners.…

James likes... THE SHEEP Yes, I know it goes against the grain, but I quite like a sheep in wolves’ clothing. In the case of the E36, a tidy four-cylinder coupé with BMW’s M-Tech body kit would do just fine. All the visual appeal of an M3, but without the running costs and priced accordingly. Never has a BMW 3-Series looked this good. Matt G likes... THE RARITY If I was to go for another E36, I’d stay patient and seek out a 318is. It might ‘only’ have a 1.9-litre engine, but that engine happens to be the same lump that was used in the base model Z3, complete with 16-valve cylinder head for added oomph. I owned one back in 2017 and it was a hoot – another one…

Nigel Clark CONTRIBUTOR 1977 Reliant Scimitar SE6A Engine 2994cc/V6/OHV Power 138bhp@5000rpm Torque 192lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-speed man + o/d 0-60mph 9.4sec Top speed 118mph Fuel economy 21mpg Work done Scimitar cooling system upgraded, and learned my old rad was a bit of a veteran. Also Nigel’s garage 1970 TRIUMPH TR6 Clocking up more miles now. 1972 TRIUMPH GT6 MKIII Goes well, stops poorly. 2002 BMW 325I TOURING Limited use at the moment. The Scimitar’s cooling system has been a concern, with a persistent leak from its header tank and an ancient radiator that’s looked ready to burst for several years – so it needed sorting it out once and for all. The header tank is an aftermarket ‘Rew pot’, named after its inventor and Scimitar enthusiast, Robin Rew. It’s a…

Sorted! Well, kind of. Gary has devoted countless hours to his Peerless project and now finally has an MOT certificate to prove it. But as always, there’s still more to do. Gary Stretton CONTRIBUTOR 1959 Peerless GT Engine 1991cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 110bhp@4800rpm Torque 117lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-speed man + o/d 0-60mph 10.8sec Top speed 120mph Fuel economy 28mpg Work done Pre-MOT check, brakes, wipers and some electrics. Also in Gary’s garage 1980 SAAB 99 TURBO Ex-factory press car that is still patiently awaiting the full restoration that it deserves. My apologies, it’s been a while. The good news is the Peerless is road legal and in use. Last time I wrote, it was being prepared for its first MOT in more than 20 years. Although eligible for MOT exemption, I wanted…

[A] BODY Made from aluminium alloy, all components are mounted to the body. DPA pumps are flange-mounted by design, the three slotted mounting holes allowing for injection timing adjustments. The main shaft is supported by a plain bearing at the drive end and by the pumping rotor at the opposite end. The oval type-plate on the side of the pump identifies its application, settings, rotation, and serial number. The whole of the pump is filled with fuel oil and is thus lubricated at all times, back-leakage being returned to the tank/filter via the union adjacent to the mounting flange. [B] REGULATING VALVE Fuel from the liftpump enters the injection pump through the end-plate via a fine-mesh filter and the regulating valve. A free-floating piston is able to move up and…

Prices are researched from several sources, including clubs, auctions, the trade and advertisements online and in print. Prices are reviewed and updated every issue. Our C/D rating is a basic guide to what you can expect to pay (£) for the best examples of a model, a concours car or something from a dealer. CONDITION 1 means well-presented cars that have no obvious faults. CONDITION 2 cars are capable of regular use. They have a current MoT certificate but will need work and/or original parts. CONDITION 3 cars usually need a full rebuild, but may be driveable and MoT’d. PLEASE NOTE You can’t value any car without seeing it - don’t buy blind. Russ says ‘Buying and selling should be fun, but sometimes, it’s a nightmare. Follow these three rules…