Table of contents for March 2017 in Practical Classics

‘Unlike most chains, you can get a good cup of tea’ Recently, some friends of mine revealed they no longer frequent motorway services. Before leaving home on a long distance journey, they instead spend ten minutes researching potential stop-offs in the areas they reckon that their children will most likely begin to leak. Usually, the target is just off a motorway sliproad – sometimes a village pub, but quite often a traditional roadside eatery. They love the transport café and despite the quirks of some establishments (they aren’t always the most modern), my pals enthuse about the plentiful portions and a sense of nostalgia. We at PC love the atmosphere, too.… being surrounded by people going places. And unlike most chains, you can get a decent cup of tea or…

We’ve been filming more Skill Shack tutorial videos. Visit skillshack.co.uk to find out how to view them. After a great year of uber excellence I have passed my Mercedes-Benz W124 on to Joe from Sudbury. To replace the W124 I almost indulged my passion for Austin 3 Litres by buying a project car… almost. Instead I bought another ‘bucket list’ desire. It’s modern (ish), huge, has a V6 and is magically odd. I’ve been enjoying my classics in winter… they will stay healthier than if they were locked up for months.…

Mega-mileage P1800 rebirth Head over to the Volvo Enthusiasts Club stand, where a 750,000-mile 1962 Volvo P1800, still with its original engine, will be restored before your very eyes. There will also be a selection of Volvo engines – including a cutaway unit – for you to peruse. Skill Shack masterclass Don’t miss the Skill Shack Restoration Theatre, where Michael Coman will join other tutors from Leeds College to present a live demonstration of car bodywork restoration skills. Come along – you’re bound to learn a thing or two. Tom Kristensen at Race Retro If you can’t wait until the PC Classic Car and Restoration Show, head over to Warwickshire’s Stoneleigh Park for Race Retro on February 24-26, where nine-time Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen will make his show debut.…

Reliability Run book released A new book celebrating 50 years of Club Triumph’s Round Britain Reliability Run is now available. It’s packed with history and juicy pictures, and costs £10 plus post and packing. Order yours by emailing shop@club.triumph.org.uk or ring 01865 468055 after 12 noon. Quit smoking with Skill Shack Learn all you need to know about eliminating your classic’s exhaust smoke in a brand new four-part video available on Skill Shack. PC’s Ed Hughes will explain technicalities in four info-packed videos. Membership includes access to loads of other professional tutorials, and costs £44.99 for the year, or £14.99 per quarter. Visit skillshack.co.uk for details. Burlen’s new SU is coming Burlen has announced a new fuelling system that includes a fuel injection device working inside an SU carburetter. Due…

IN THE NEWS The beginnings of the Vietnam War are well underway as America announces it will send its first 3500 troops. Lucky for one Elvis Aaron Presley that he received his honourable discharge from the US Army the previous day. The Summer Olympics take place in Rome and are notable for the emergence of a young boxer called Cassius Clay, who took gold in the Light-Heavyweight division. AT THE FLICKS As we go to press, Kirk Douglas has recently celebrated his 100th birthday. A mere 57 years ago, he was starring in Spartacus , which just pipped Psycho in the chart of the year’s box-office takings. The British industry matched Hitchcock’s American-made smash for creepiness though – Peeping Tom…

Alfas separated at birth I was amazed to see that the Alfa Romeo 156 bought by James Walshe and then passed on to Russ Smith has the registration number X993 FAE. My own 156 2.0 TS Sportwagon is registered X991 FAE. I have owned the car since April 2009 and have covered 106,000 miles in it (total mileage now 144,000). I have had it maintained by Alfa Romeo specialists throughout that time and the underside has been professionally treated against rust. Despite that, when I took it in for a service in November, several holes were found in the floorpan. It seems that many 156s are now starting to show serious signs of underbody corrosion, which is likely to consign many of them to the scrapyard, as the cost of…

Ref the Gilbern Resto in the Feb issue: Gilbern was founded by Giles Smith and Bernard Hugo Friese, who wasn’t simply a ‘German fibreglass expert’. He was joint owner, MD and designer. Darren Hughes, by email The 200 R3 in your Buyer’s Guide (Feb 2017) was based on a shortened previous-generation (R8) 200/400, while the 400 was based on a later Honda model, the Domani. Scott Telford, Edinburgh The Rover (R3) 200 Series was not related to the 1995 400 Series. Also the 200 BRM LE was developed from the 200Vi but had a number of unique features including 20mm lower ride height, stiffened springs, shorter final drive and a Torsen diff. David Morgan, Seaton, Devon…

We’ve asked the question often enough before, but I’m asking it again now. What will be the classic car of the future? This time, though, I mean really in the future. Not Focus RS, or Porsche Cayman 718, or Aston Martin DB11. I’m talking about when most cars are electric, and have been for a long time. Maybe 40 years from now. That sounds ridiculously far in the future, and I for one won’t see it unless I can hold out for a telegram from King William V, but does a P-reg MGB or Escort MkII really seem so impossibly ancient today? It’s said that electric cars will be making real inroads into new-car sales by 2020, and already a Tesla Model S, a Nissan Leaf, a Renault Zoe and…

‘We’ll explain how to market your classic for the best reward’ Most of us own, fettle and drive a classic car because it’s something we love. During our custodianship, we generally aim to improve the down-at-heel; make rigid the perforated; engineer tautness from slackness; and reinstate lustre where once there was oxidisation. Not only is this an enjoyable pastime but it improves the overall classic ownership experience, makes the marque more robust, and it adds value to your ride, which is important when you decide to part company with your loved one. There’s no better way to keep tabs on progress than to compare one’s vehicle to the tried and tested benchmarks: Condition Three cars are fairly sheddy and probably need a restoration, but may have an MoT and be…

‘Now is the time to snap up a 205 GTI, before the smoke clears’ It’s not a new phenomenon – we call it ‘shaking the tree’. A couple of remarkably high auction results for exceptional examples of a particular model occur and suddenly everyone thinks that it’s time to cash in theirs. Whether it’s exceptional or not, all are hoping for that enormous pay day, and for a while it can pay off as at the other end of the equation are a bunch of buyers who have just seen a new bandwagon to jump on. It’s happened numerous times over the years. What usually happens next is that the initial feeding frenzy subsides, a few who reacted quickest have done well, and the market is flooded for the next…

ESCORT RS2000 MKII Predicted for some time to be looking a bit on the cheap side compared to other fast Fords, the RS2000 is back in the spotlight again. Several have hit the £20k mark recently, and they weren’t pampered low-milers. VAUXHALL VX220 Staying cheaper and more civilised than a Lotus Elise largely thanks to the Griffin badge, and the gap between them still grows. But this latest drop only applies to driver quality cars – the best stuff holds its value.…

1981 Zastava Yugo 101 Price: £1500 Fascinating as you’ll struggle to find another. Had a recent ground-up resto with all Fiat parts and is completely standard apart from the X1/9 alloys. 1953 MG YB Price: £9500 Starts and runs well and has only had light use since partial restoration in the Nineties. Some rust spots now and has damage to a rear wing. 1969 Wolseley 16/60 Price: £5750 Long cherished classic in Snowberry White over Florentine Blue with only 73,000 miles. Show ready and MoT’d until June.…

PUB CONVERSATION 1999 MGF 1.8VVC 101,000 miles, no MoT. It also smoked badly from the engine bay when we last drove it. You like a challenge… BOUGHT FOR: £250 1ST REFUSAL FROM A MATE 1992 Eunos Roadster 140,000km, six months MoT Goes like stink, but new car forces sale. Make me an offer big boy! BOUGHT FOR: £1000 The big question: MGF or MX-5? It’s causing me a major dilemma! I have been agonising about it for the past few months while I’ve had both on the road. Every time I come to a decision, I drive the other and can’t help but get swayed to sell one car. But I can’t afford to keep them both. My 1992 Eunos Roadster is a Japanese spec model that was imported into…

1997 Rover 820E Engine 1994cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 118bhp@5600rpm Torque 119lb ft@3500rpm Gearbox 4-speed auto 0-60mph 10.2sec Top Speed 118mph Fuel economy 27mpg Work done Bought, serviced, welded, MoT’d. Bumper painted. In Danny’s shed 1950 RILEY RMA In my shed. Chassis de-rusting and paint continues. 1956 RILEY PATHFINDER Pathfinder panels procured successfully. 1970 INTERCEPTOR II Getting fitted up ready for the PC Resto Show in March. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Paint cut back: now looks awesomer than before. 1992 SAAB 9000 2.3 HPT Still putting the winter power down. 1996 MGF 1.8I 22k mile minter. Superb. Never owned a better car. 2002 ROVER 75 TOURER Brilliant and useful. Enjoyed a full service this week. 2002 RENAULT AVANTIME V6 PRIVILEGE Err, so this has happened… meaning the Rover must go. ‘It felt way younger…

1971 Citroën D Spécial Engine 2175cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 115bhp@5750rpm Torque 123lb ft@3500rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 13sec Top speed 111mph Weight 1330kg Work done Battery fitted. Engine started! Also in James’s garage 1971 CITROËN AMI Hurling itself around local wintry lanes. 1988 CITROËN CX Pampered and wrapped up for winter. 1997 HONDA LEGEND £150 winter bum warmer. ‘We’re armed with priceless wisdom and generations of experience…’ Brian sits in his garage, wrapped up in a big winter coat, watching closely as we attempt to start the car he bought brand new in 1971. As you’ll know if you read my previous report ( PC , February 2017) the pensioner left the car half restored in 1983, then I spotted it peeking out of an open garage just a few streets away…

1977 Reliant Scimitar SE6A Engine 2994cc/V6/OHV Power 138bhp@5000rpm Torque 192lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual + overdrive 0-60mph 9.4sec Top speed 118mph Fuel economy 21mpg Work done It’s all Scimitar action this month, with a sticky window fixed and another lighting problem sorted. Also in James’s garage 1970 TRIUMPH TR6 Needs a few miles before I re-torque the cylinderhead, after fitting a new gasket recently. 1972 TRIUMPH GT6 MKIII I’m just enjoying driving the GT6 at the moment. For some months now, the Scimitar’s driver’s window has been getting stiffer and stiffer to wind up and down. I duly ignored the problem… that is, until the inevitable happened a couple of weeks ago and the window jammed completely. These nagging faults always come to a head at the worst possible moment.…

You will need Airflow meter, gas analyser or Colortune. Service first Make sure your engine’s in a good state of service before you start, with correctly-adjusted ignition timing and valve clearances. Cheap analyser Simple carbon monoxide analysers are ideal for mixture adjustment. Old Gunson Gastesters can be picked up at autojumbles for peanuts. Emergency setting Some manuals advise adjusting the mixture until rpm increase/ decrease is minimal when each dashpot is lifted 1mm. This isn’t an accurate system, but it’ll get you home. Having two carburettors is a fine idea on a performance car, as it allows the engine to breath better and produce more power. A twin variable-jet SU or Stromberg setup was a mainstay of sporting British motoring for much of the 20th Century. The only problem is…

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 N IRELAND 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…

Following the fiftieth anniversary commemorations (January 4, 2017) of Donald Campbell’s untimely death at Coniston, images have emerged of last minute changes to Bluebird K7, his jet boat. Donald is pictured here on Monday October 31, 1966 at the Surrey firm where K7 was designed, the day before heading to Coniston for the final record attempt. Alongside him is the engineering team responsible for modifications to the boat – including the installation of the tail fin, instruments and Orpheus turbo-jet cannibalised from a Gnat fighter jet. With Campbell is his faithful chief mechanic Leo Villa and designer Ken Norris, who had worked tirelessly on solving K7’s stability issues – particularly after Bluebird was damaged after hitting a duck. Weeks later – despite modifications – Bluebird flipped at more than 300mph,…

Danny says ‘We all approve of Halfords’ tool for life service; and these are decent – and cleverly made – bits of kit.’ Get a grip of your tool collection FOUR-PIECE PLIERS SET £30 Halfords has launched a range of Advanced tool sets presented in trays that are designed to drop into your tool chest. These are well-made tools with ergonomic grips and precisely made heads. We have used them in our own workshop and are impressed at their quality and feel. All tools in this range come with a lifetime warranty – with no receipt required – so it really is a tool for life (unless you lose it!). Included are 8in Linesman Pliers, 6in Diagonal Cutters, 6in Long Nose Pliers and 7in Curved Jaw Locking Pliers.…

• The Weymouth Vehicle Preservation Society has been going since 1984 – but it’s only just launched a website. Log on to wvpsclassic cars.co.uk for more. • The National Classic Car Awards are taking nominations until February 6. You can visit nationalcarclub awards.com to make a nomination. • Sad news from the A40 Farina Club, whose membership secretary John Dickin died unexpectedly late last year. As a result the club’s email address has changed to membership@a40farinaclub.co.uk. The club has also set up a new Facebook page for A40 fans – it’s at tinyurl.com/hrjp753.…

SAT, JAN 28 LINCS Lincoln Autojumble, RAF Hemswell, DN21 5TJ (lincolnautojumble.com). Tuesday, January 10 LONDON VW Air-cooled Night at the Ace Café, NW10 7UD (www.ace-cafe-london.com/ace-cafelondon.com). SAT, FEB 4 YORKS Rufforth Auto-jumble on the B1224 between York and Wetherby, YO23 3QH (www.rufforthautojumble.comrufforthautojumble.com). SUN, FEB 5 YORKS Midlands & Yorkshire Classic Car Club’s Classic Car Ceet at the Black Swan pub, Brandesburton YO25 8RG (eastyorksclassic.com). YORKS Huddersfield Autojumble, Old Market Building, HD1 1RG (phoenixfairs.jimdo.comphoenixfairs.jimdo.com). SOMERSET: Breakfast club at the Haynes Museum, BA22 7LH (haynesmotormuseum.comhaynesmotormuseum.com). SAT-SUN, FEB 11-12 SOMERSET Great Western Classic Car Show at the Bath & West Showground, BA4 6QN (bristolclassiccarshows.com). WED-SUN, FEB 8-12 PARIS Retromobile at Porte de Versailles (retromobile.com). FRI-SUN, FEB 17-19 LONDON The Olympia Historic Automobile Fair & Auction, W14 8UX (www.olympiahistoric.comolympiahistoric.com). SAT, FEB 18 LONDON Waterloo Classics,…

Back in 1587, an enterprising family founded a brewery in Traunstein, Bavaria. Since then, 16 generations of the Wochinger dynasty have overseen the brewing of fine beers on the site. Theo Wochinger is the latest Braumeister, and has held the position since taking over from his father in 1994 . As well as being a master brewer and a successful businessman, Theo is also a passionate car nut with eclectic tastes. ‘I don’t know why it happened, I just love cars. I always have,’ explains Theo, as we take a guided tour of his brewery. ‘My first word wasn’t Mum or Dad, it was car. Truly. I don’t know why.’ Like many car enthusiasts, Theo started young. ‘My first car was a Borgward Isabella,’ says Theo. ‘I bought it when…

Didn’t wash mine this weekend but did take it for a spin with a couple of mates in their saloons yesterday. Josh Ward I had a couple as company cars back in the Seventies the last one was an estate in that lurid blue. Within nine months both sills were rusted through. Chris Hall I had an 1100 van gifted to me in 1984. The original Flintstones car – no floors! Although it did take two blokes, camping and diving equipment, plus a fully inflated 14ft Zodiac on the roof rack from Gravesend, Kent to Brixham, Devon and back. Lee Leverett My first car was actually a Bordeaux Red one here in Holland. A smart colour for the coupé. I bought it for just 350 dutch guilders and drove it…

‘Rolls-Royce ownership is not cheap, but it isn’t as expensive as you might think’ 1984 Porsche 944, 1990 Silver Spur II Toby Bovingdon, Northampton I’ve always had a love for Rolls-Royces; my grandfather had three of them when I was a child. In 1996 I was a very happy owner of a Porsche 944 but hankered after a Royce and after months of searching I saw my car, a 1990 Silver Spur II in a classic dark blue with cream interior. ‘Rosemary’, as my children call her, is a joy to drive and gives me the same feeling I had as a small boy being driven in Gramp’s cars. The best part of owning her is that I’ve been able to return the favour to take my grandparents out in…

‘Excess speed could be drifted off with a satisfying screeching noise’ What’s blood-red, styled by Bertone, has well-established motorsport pedigree and is faster than a Porsche 911 on tight-and-twisty Monte Carlo rally stages? Correct! A 1994 Škoda Favorit. This was the second time car-hammering specialist Paul Johns and I had competed in the November Sun Run, a navigational rally that provides an excuse to thrash 70 classics through the French Alps. In 2015, we used my 110 per cent beige Volvo 245. We spent the following 11 months discussing bespoke rally car concepts for the 2016 event. A Škoda Estelle with a 1.4-litre Felicia engine was the prime contender, closely followed by a Moskvich 412, a Tatra 613-3 and a Wartburg 353. Three weeks before the start, it occurred to…

Fresh from conquering some of the toughest Alpine passes, you might imagine our classics were a bit knackered. Not a bit of it. They were just warming up! Once home, each car was serviced and in three cases, prepared for life in the hands of a new owner. Just like you, when a new project appears on the horizon, sacrifices must be made. Here’s how that process occurred for each member of the PC team, in the finale of Winter Warmers 2016. DANNY HOPKINS 1962 Rover P4 80 BOUGHT FOR £150 SPENT £1350 SOLD FOR £2500 PROFIT £1000 The epic journey back from Switzerland secured my everlasting admiration for ‘Auntie Olive’ the remarkable Rover 80. It had proved itself very capable of long distance, slow speed, transportation and even served…

When Sam Glover took a Maestro on an 8600-mile drive to Russia and back, there were many who doubted his steed’s ability to survive the trip. But as you can read in the Spring 2011 issue of Practical Classics, it managed the trip with barely a glitch. The 1.3-litre hatch traversed 20 countries on a diet of low-grade fuel – yet it still managed 35mpg. While a long distance shouldn’t really faze any classic with the right preparation, what made the Maestro’s achievements so impressive was the fact that aside from an engine rebuild, very little was done to the 1991 car before setting off. Despite this, the trusty Maestro carried three people with ample luggage over some of the worst terrain imaginable (many stretches weren’t surfaced) yet the only…

Simon Heap is the archivist for the Maestro and Montego Owners’ Club and has owned his 27,000-mile Maestro 1.6 SL since 2011. He told PC: ‘I’m into BL cars generally, as dad always had them. That’s why I’ve owned multiple Marinas, Maestros and Montegos myself. I bought my first Maestro when it was just three years old. Back then it was my everyday car, but even now I do 5000 miles each year – it’s all the insurance will allow or I’d do more. I like to improve my cars, but I also like them to look standard so over the years I’ve done things like fit electric rear windows and rear head rests that were never offered. I’ve also fitted power steering and I’m now fitting electrically adjustable door…

ORIGINAL AD 1997 Honda Legend James bought the car from a bloke in a pub – but the owner had advertised it a year before with an asking price of £500. When nobody called, he called the local scrap man, who offered him £150. Which is where James stepped in… How about a precision-engineered luxury car, equipped with a silky smooth and powerful state-of-the-art six-cylinder 3.5-litre engine, for the same price as a food blender? This giant Honda flagship – a mid-nineties KA9 – benefitted from research and testing carried out on the iconic NSX supercar and is completely unrelated to the Rover 800. The one previous owner – with whom I got chatting in a pub in Cornwall – was about to scrap the car, having serviced it at…

1972 Bedford CF Dormobile Engine 2279cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 72bhp@5400rpm Torque 101lb ft@1800rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual Top speed 74mph 0-60mph 28.3sec Fuel economy 17.6mpg Work done Screen fitted, bonnet, grille and passenger door replaced. Also in Ben’s garage 1963 HUMBER SCEPTRE MKI Untouched for two years. ‘The cab had rotted out, going ll fl oppy and misshapen’ They say that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. How very true; it’s much the same with Bedford CF reconstruction.Before I first raised an angle grinder to its decaying hulk, it was clear that my 1972 Dormobile was ridiculously rusty. I knew that that it would take an eternity of cutting, grinding, metal-bashing and welding before it would even begin to look like something capable of rolling down the queen’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 New fuel filler pipes sourced and plumbed in. Also in Gary’s garage 1980 SAAB 99 TURBO Ex-Saab press car. Awaiting its turn for restoration. Clean New PCV setup will banish nasty f umes and keep car occupants happy. Progress continues apace on fitting up the various fuel system components. The Peerless has twin fuel tanks, with one mounted in each sill, fed by twin fuel pumps. These are switched left or right from the dashboard. But before I get to the lofty heights of trying to start up the newly-rebuilt engine, there’s plenty of plumbing that needs to be done first. The tanks each feed…

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 Angle-grinder with twist-knot and sanding disc attachments, P60 abrasive paper, vice, graphite or copper grease. Good grease Graphite grease is the ideal substance for lubricating springs on assembly. Copper grease is almost as good. Central bolt The bolt that passes through the leaves locates the spring on the axle. If you replace the bolt, make sure the head fits in the hole in the axle bracket. Remove deposits Use a scraper and a degreaser to remove centuries-old grease. Crusty old leaf springs don’t compress in a smooth and progressive manner. This results in a harsh ride and flawed handling. Buying and fitting a new pair of springs is the default solution. Often, though, a couple of hours of cleaning and lubrication will restore crusty springs to as-new…

You will need Small sockets, soldering gear or a decent crimping tool and connectors. Get the right coil A standard or a ‘sports’ coil will be fine for most systems. A coil intended for electronic ignition will overload contact breakers. Coil resistances measured across terminals: 5 to 7 – standard points coil; 3 – ‘sports’ coil; 1 – electronic ignition coil only. Use proper wire If you’re replacing manky wires, use cable that’s intended for at least 5 Amps. Ballast ignition causes much confusion, though it’s really quite simple. It’s an age-old method of getting the best possible spark at the plugs when starting the engine. On a 12V car with a ballast system, the ignition coil is rated at 6V or 9V. With the engine running, the supply to…

Editor Danny is getting his Jensen ready for the PC Resto Show at the NEC on March 31-April 2. Want to be on its first drive? Book at necrestorationshow.com Judith Utley has become the first female chairman of the Riley RM Club in its 47-year history. She aims to keep the club active and encourage younger members. On May 20, 1967 a Hillman Imp leads the ‘Celticade’ away from Glasgow to Lisbon for the European Cup Final. Have any memories of the run? Contact the mag! The 1970 London-Lisbon Maxi – with its original crew – met with Marshalls of Cambridge, who prepared it in 1970. See the car in action at Race Retro on Feb 24-26. Nigel Cordwell, owner of the earliest Leyland Wedge, is looking for a museum…

Time’s running out to make your nominations for the National Car Club Awards 2017, in association with Tourism Ireland. This is the second year of the UK’s biggest poll to celebrate the brightest and best of our fantastic industry, and it’s your chance to bring fame and recognition to the individuals who make a difference in your world. Go to nationalcarclubawards.com to see the 16 categories, which are divided into three groups: Car Clubs, Cherished Car and Club Displays, and Devoted Members. Get your nominations in by February 6, and make sure you’re at the NEC on April 1 when the winners will be announced at a ceremony – hosted by Mike Brewer – with a gala dinner!…

MGB & MGB GT ISBN 978-1-9037065-0-3 £45 Written in association with the MG Owners Club, this guide is packed with useful tips and advice specific to the MGB and MGB GT (although V8 models are not included). Plenty of colour photographs back up the text, making it a a useful companion to the MGB owner. veloce.co.uk Rover 800 Series ISBN 978-1-7850022-4-3 £25 The full history of the Rover 800 is outlined in this book – from development and design of all models to period upgrades and police use. It also contains 250 pictures and a useful buying section. crowood.com Porsche ISBN 978-1-7850021-1-3 £25 This is an all encompassing guide that delves deep into the construction, specification and design of the various models. There are road trip features, detailed vehicle profiles…

‘Horseguards Parade became a car park for the day’ Here’s a glimpse of the chaos caused by a 24-hour rail strike in February 1960. Most of the underground services kept running but all overground rail was out of action, meaning that commuters took to their cars or else boarded buses and coaches. It added up to the worst congestion London had seen. Horseguards Parade became a car park, as did every unregulated street, square, mews or yard… and then the evening rush hour began. Jostling for space We’re in the thick of it here, looking down Regent Street towards Piccadilly Circus. Across the road is the Quadrant Arcade, which is still there, and Thomas De La Rue & Co. Ltd, who made an interesting range of products including banknotes, board…

1982 Maserati Quattroporte Theo’s Quattroporte – one of 50 manual 4.2-litre examples built – lives away from the main barn collection, at the brewery with a number of his more regular users. ‘Inside the Masser is like an elephant’s head – everything is brown!’ 928S and 1972 Europa The manual Porsche was bought for €4000 because it had an engine fault. The previous owner had spent thousands on new fuel injection parts, trying to sort it. Theo fixed it with a new plug. The Lotus reflects Theo’s passion for the glory years of Lotus in Formula One. It still has stickers from the ‘76 and ’77 British GPs. MGB Roadster Also living at the brewery site is Theo’s daughter’s daily driver - a pristine rubber bumper ‘B. MGBs such as…

Yes, I had loads when they could be bought for £100 each! A very comfortable and underrated car. John Raithby My dad had one. I thought we were the bees knees as it had a radio in it! A nice, comfy car. Tony Probee Dad put ours through the car wash and it snapped off part of the name badge. For quite a while our car was a ‘… man Hunter’. Mac Macdonald I had a Sceptre estate back in the Eighties. Overdrive on third and top – it was a great car with velour seats, wood dash and door cappings! Richard Smith I had a lot of fun in Hillmans. In Australia we had the Arrow, Hunter, Royal, GT and Hustler. The Hustler had the GT/ Sceptre running gear…

Ford Falcon and Mercedes (x2) Saw these three crusty classics in downtown Krabi, Thailand. I reckon we’re looking at a Sixties Ford Falcon sandwiched between on the right a Mercedes-Benz 200 and on the left a Mercedes-Benz 220b. Paul Bonsall, The Fat Lamb Hotel, Cumbria Triumph TR6 This lovely Triumph TR6 was parked by the side of a busy road in Brussels. It was justifiably getting lots of attention. Andy West, Leicester DKW 700 De Luxe Coupé I spotted this DKW Auto Union F5 700 De Luxe Drophead coupé in Setubal, Portugal. Howard Jones, Preston Morris Marina I saw this Morris Marina 1.8 Estate in a retail park. It had the original dealer sticker in the rear window. Chris Osborn, Bristol Morris Ital Here is a rather patinated Morris Ital…

‘We just can’t let things like this keep happening’ We’re still reeling from the news of the massive auction of Rovers in which £6 (plus commission) would have bought you a project P5 and £2000 a rather nice P4 Cyclops. Okay, the sale of some 150 cars was in Australia but I was more than happy to cover it for PC after editor Danny instantly issued me with a first class Quantas air ticket (no, not one way!) a docket for a Leyland P76 private hire car and a booking for a spa room at the New South Wales Hilton under the names of Larkin, Mr N.P and Minogue, Miss K. Plus a big shipping container waiting on site for my purchases. Then I woke up. That was a nice…

Renault 12TX Along with the three Transits pictured here, North Cyprus is also the resting place of another formerly common car from a bygone era, namely this Renault 12TX that is minus a few light fittings. Ford Transit MkI This winning trio of Transits may be a slight departure from the norm, but admit it – when was the last time you saw a trio of pre-facelift Ford Transit MkIs in the same place? We suspect that these examples were most probably assembled in Turkey and subsequently found their way to the Mediterranean haven for sleeping classics awaiting saviours that is North Cyprus, where they were discovered by Chris Melvin from The Netherlands. Ford Consul Chris spotted anther Ford in the same area – this Consul. It’s only missing a…

SAT JAN 28 Anglia Car Auctions’ classic sale, The Cattlemarket, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. (01553 771881, angliacarauctions.co.uk) WED FEB 8 RM Sotheby’s, Place Vauban, Paris, France (020 7851 7070, rmsothebys.com) SUN FEB 9 Bonhams, Grand Palais, Paris, France (020 7468 5801, bonhams.com/cars) SUN FEB 12 Charterhouse Auctions, Royal Bath & West Showground, Somerset (charterhouse-auction.com) WED FEB 22 H&H Classic Auctions, Donington Park, Derbyshire (01925 210035, handh.co.uk) FRI-SUN FEB 24 Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro sale, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire (01926 691141, silverstoneauctions.com) TUE FEB 28 Barons Auctions’ Classic Winter Warmer, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey (023 8066 8413, barons-auctions.com barons-auctions.com) THU MAR 2 Dorset Vintage & Classic Auctions, Athelhampton House, Dorchester, Dorset (01963 363353, dvca.co.uk)…

1983 The Austin Maestro arrives with 1.3 or 1.6-litre petrol engines. There’s also a twin-carb MG 1600. 1983 There’s now an automatic gearbox available, but only on 1.6-litre Austins. 1984 1.6-litre S-Series engine supersedes R-Series. The HL model arrives and the twin Weber MG 1600 is replaced by a fuel-injected 2-litre. 1985 The City and City X replace the base model. 1986 The 1.3 LE arrives with a 65bhp eco engine and 4+E gearbox. Montego style dash fitted. Mayfair models replace HL and HLS.…

With values on the floor, there’s no financial incentive to buy a really tatty Maestro and revive it. You’ve got to do it for the love of it, although finding the requisite parts will be a problem if you need lots of them. New panels are rarely available, but there’s lots of used stuff around; keep an eye on the Maestro and Montego Owners’ Club forum. Conventional construction and engineering make the Maestro DIY restoration-friendly. Parts like grilles, dashboards, seats and wheels can be unique to a particular derivative and finding the right parts in good condition can be a thankless task. WHAT TO PAY? Project: £150-£1200 Runner: £ 350-£2500 Good: £800-£10,000 Turbos rarely come up for sale, especially in good condition, so watch out for fakes. THINK AGAIN IF……

ORIGINAL AD 1999 Rover 416iS Only 89,000 miles. Six months MoT. This is a cracking little motor car and goes like stink. New car forces sale of this lovely, much underrated and increasingly rare hatchback. This car started as a dare between myself and my mate Craig Cheetham. Could we find and buy a roadworthy car for less than the cost of the petrol used to collect it? We searched long and hard, spying numerous temptations for just a few hundred quid. Sadly, we failed in our original idea – though we did buy this 89,000 mile three-owner Rover 416iS with a quid from my jacket pocket and £50 withdrawn as cashback at a petrol station. ‘Project Cashback’, as we’ve dubbed it, has since ferried two colleagues and I to…

1970 Interceptor II Engine 6313cc/V8/OHV Top speed 136mph Fuel economy 14mpg Work since last report Brought back to the PC workshop. Heater blower restored. Bonnet struts and boot struts on. Valance dink sorted. After it’s prolonged holiday at Culverland Classics near Southampton, the Jensen made a starring appearence on the Practical Classics Resto Show promotional stand at the NEC Classic Motor Show in November, followed by a return to our place . It was great to have it back home again and so much closer to completion than when it left. The Culverland boys had done everything I asked of them, sorting the dashboard and electrics while I visited to strap shiny new bits on as they came available. But now I had to get serious. I need the car…

1960 Morris Minor Convertible Engine 998cc/4-cyl/OHV Power TBC Torque Unknown Gearbox 4-speed manual 0 – 60mph Hopefully Top speed Anyone’s guess Fuel economy Some Work done Body stripped the hard way, panels stripped the easy way, primer applied. Also in Matt’s garage 1969 MORRIS MINOR TRAVELLER Still used sparingly in the winter months. 1970 MORRIS MINOR SALOON Has been awoken, but needs a little fettling. 1992 EUNOS ROADSTER May be up for sale soon. Bare Back to plain steel is the best option when you are striving for a perfect finish. When I last reported on my convertible project, it was having the underside and wheel arches treated at Rustbuster Ltd after I declared the welding complete. Now back in the Practical Classics workshop, progress has continued and I’m pleased…

1965 Rover 2000 Engine 1978cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 90bhp@5000rpm Torque 114lb ft@2750rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 15.1sec Top speed 103mph Fuel economy 28mpg Work done Fixed electrics and clutch drag, rebuilt De Dion tube, repainted sills, refinished dashboard, fitted new Pirellis and front dampers. Also in John’s garage 1934 SINGER NINE LE MANS The next job is to reassemble the interior on this one. 1961 SAAB 96 2-STROKE New Wipac Quadoptic headlights fitted up front. 1968 SUNBEAM STILETTO The rebuilt rev counter has just arrived. Excellent! ‘I really think my Rover has become one of the nicest early ones around’ Welcome to my P6’s third appearance in PC . The first was early in 2016, shortly after I’d bought it and taken it to Brooklands’ New Year’s Day gathering. The second time…

My Mercedes-Benz W124 200TE suffered an intermittent but profound misfire. Internet forums led me to conclude that either an ECU apocalypse was imminent or that I needed to shell out on new engine wiring looms (both of them). Last week, however, as I leaned into the engine bay to fart around with the HT leads, I noticed a wire dangling in a most un-Mercedeslike fashion under the inlet manifold. Seconds later, the multiplug that allows the mixture sensor to talk to the throttle body was once more doing what Stuttgart intended. It’s been fine ever since.…

Interrogate doors Doors are often taken apart and then thrown back together again. Check all screws, clips and pads are intact and tight. Lubricate? Remember the rule of thumb: if it’s supposed to move, oil it; if it isn’t, fasten it tightly! You will need Screwdrivers, sockets and spanners, scrap foam, contact adhesive, cable ties, insulation tape. Add damping Have a few scraps of felt or thin foam to hand. They’re useful for preventing direct contact between components. Attach them with contact adhesive, if necessary. Nothing makes a decent classic seem like an old crate quite like an assortment of squeaks, rattles, creaks, groans and bangs when traversing a bad road surface. A single noise is relatively easy to track down and address, but when a car’s seemingly harbouring a…

You will need Cutting compound (eg, T-Cut), microfibre cloths, orbital sander, magnet. Light of sight Look down the length of the vehicle from various angles to pick up defects. Trust nobody Identify previous repairs and work out how they’ve been done. Bad repairs can be harder to put right than good, honest rust. Be pernickety Investigate even the most minor of imperfections. They might be hiding something significant. This is part of a new series of bodywork restoration features in Practical Classics. We’ll be guiding you through all the skills you’ll need to transform a rusty heap into a lustrous classic you’re proud to park next to professionally-restored examples. Over the next four issues, we’ll be focusing on achieving perfect paintwork. We’re starting at the end… but this isn’t as…

Some of my earliest memories are of a noble little SJ410, but sadly surfboards and speed boats were never part of its daily routine. Nothing was too hard for that dinky 1.0-litre engine. My mum and dad used it for scrabbling up our impossibly steep and stony Scottish driveway, and when it wasn’t bouncing up hillsides it was thrashing along the motorway or whizzing me to nursery school. I once used my 1968 Land Rover to yank one out of a lake and tow it until the water was thrashed out of its cylinders… which worked, eventually. Its owner then unleashed both barrels of his shotgun into it, either as a primal gesture of triumph, or to let the mud drain from its footwells. How decadent the SJ410 makes modern…

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