Table of contents for February in Practical Classics

‘We need to inspire the generation coming up’ I was recently asked to speak at the Automobile Club de France in Paris on what FIVA can do to keep trade and skills alive for the next generation. Well, the experience got me thinking. What struck me was that the overwhelming focus was on the top one percent and big money restos. Although I appreciate the workmanship and historical importance of one-off cars being restored to this level, our approach has to be far more involving. For me it’s real world classics being returned to the road and taken to shows that matter more. Classics that are seen and capture the imagination of the next generation hold the key to preserving skills for the future. We need to catch the next…

INSURANCE INCREASE Classic car insurance is set to rise in the wake of Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond’s Autumn Statement. Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) will rise from 10 per cent to 12 per cent in June 2017. Insurance companies anticipate these costs to be passed on to the motorist. MODIFIED CLASSICS CONCERNS The FBHVC has warned that the DfT’s proposed Vehicle of Historic Interest category could restrict modifications to classics. ‘From our point of view, the Government should not be arbiters of authenticity. It should only be an arbiter of road safety,’ said Geoff Lancaster, FBHVC Communications Director. BRIGHT IDEA? Be wary of swapping classic bulbs for LED ones that do not meet legal standards. A spokesperson for the DfT said ‘fitting LED bulbs is only permitted when the…

More tea vicar? MG CAR CLUB BREAKFAST BREW £7 + £4.50 P&P The MG Car Club has teamed up with an Oxfordshire Teasmiths to create an MG tea. Breakfast Brew is a loose-leaf tea blended in Witney. Club General Manager Adam Sloman said ‘It tastes fantastic.’ The Club launched the Brew at the Classic Motor Show. If you want yours then email the club at the address below. inkae@mgcc.co.uk Clear and bright AUTOGLYM HEADLIGHT RESTORATION KIT £22.99 Cloudy plastic headlights can seriously affect not only your car’s aesthetics but the performance of your bulbs, too. This kits works in conjunction with your electric drill to quickly, safely and effectively revive your lights to their former glory. Having cleaned the lights and masked the paintwork, use the abrasive discs on the…

One car shown at the NEC that has never been seen before – and was largely unknown until recently – was the last car made by Panther’s Robert Jankel before he died in 2005. Called the J99, it was supposed to herald the relaunch of the enigmatic marque. The Panther Car Club’s Bob Clare says: ‘Jankel bought back the Panther name in 1999 after the company had gone bust in 1980. His plan was to relaunch the brand with the J99, a two-seater coupé with gull-wing doors and a 4.6-litre supercharged V8. The car isn’t finished but it would be great to get it running.’…

Jon Lakey has nominated Steve. ‘He is the backbone of the C-O OC and has been for 25 years. He’s organised countless events, including a number of very successful tours, he knows more about these cars, technically, than any man alive and is always willing to help members with technical matters and problems. He even has a garage full of hard-to-find bits. Steve always carries a full kit of tools and is happy to help anybody who needs any help, whatever they drive. He’s a fabulous ambassador for the club and is the very definition of a club hero.’…

Toyota’s titch Before the Starlet came the Publica – the P30 version was called the 1000 outside Japan. Like many Japanese cars (at £1649 it was less than these Escorts) it was temptingly kitted-out: radio, tinted glass, headrests, heated screen… Popular pluses The folded-paper styling would still have seemed crisp in 1976, a year after the launch of the Escort MkII. The Popular Plus was just £1782 including tax but you didn’t get much: 76mph flat out, and none of the goodies offered by the Toyota 1000 – not even a glovebox. Warrington, 1976 What’s going on here, then? Well, the people holding up keys have just won a car in a ‘Spot The Ball’ competition, run by the manufacturers of Solvite wallpaper paste. They’ve gathered in this car park…

Mum had a classic Polo that never broke down but could be difficult to start on a cold morning. Michael Bolt The rare and much underrated Suzuki Swift GTI. 1.3 twin-cam , fuel injection and 5 speed box in a tiny car. Loved mine. Ben Wallace Definately the Metro! Very underated car. Our family had two, I had one at university and I also built and raced one for several years. Duncan Hobbs Nova had punchy overhead cam engines... the 1.2 with a 5-speed box could do silly speeds. Rob Dixon Ah, I vividly remember both of my mum’s 1978 and 1983 Fiestas back when I was just 10 or 11 years old. Every weekend with the vacuum, the hose, the polishing, the hands sliced by rust! And then ruining…

‘I bought it with 12 sheep’ 1950 Vauxhall Six (Velox) Alain Curchod, St Martin, Switzerland This is an original Swiss car and I am only its second owner. I have had it for 12 years and in that time I have restored the whole car, even though it only had 34,000km on the clock when it came to me. I bought it from a farmer in the next Alpine valley to mine. He didn’t want any money for it, but he did want some livestock. I ended up paying him with 12 sheep – not a bad deal in my book. It is a beautiful car and so rare. The L type Vauxhall was really advanced for its time… the six-cylinder engine in this Velox spec car is turbine smooth…

‘It has the same power-to-weight ratio as a 24V Carlton GSi 3000’ I droned on at length about Lada’s undercover Wankel programme in the January issue of Practical Classics . In short, Lada produced numerous high-performance Wankel-engined models as dogonyalkas (‘catcher-uppers’) for the KGB and the upper echelons of the Soviet police. Twin-rotor engines of Lada’s own design boasted between 120bhp and 140bhp, which led to psychotic performance in otherwise standard cars. Production numbers were never made public. Early Lada 2101s and late 110s were built in piffling quantities. Wankel Rivas and Samaras, however, were churned out in hundreds – or even thousands. Many were crushed when they left official service. A handful, however, sneaked into private ownership – and a second handful were sold privately by the factory when…

Jaguar XJS The manual 3.6-litre XJS is 30 per cent more fuel efficient than the V12. Ford Focus Original spec ST170s will often be worth more than modded cars. Rover 75 When new, 16 years ago, this £200 Rover 75 was a staggering £25,625. Spitfire The MkIV can be bought for less than an equivalent MkIII Midget or early Spit. VW Beetle The steady 1200 is more than half the price of earlier Beetle models, yet more usable. If 2016 taught us anything, it’s that we live in an age of the unexpected. It seems that the only thing we can say is constant is the continuing robustness of classic car values. We can enjoy a rewarding hobby along with the knowledge that our efforts will probably pay off financially…

‘Everything from supercars to crusty Jags was offered up’ The auction world went a little crazy in Milan recently. From all over the world, thousands descended like starlings for a feeding frenzy on the collection of Luigi Compiano. 423 cars plus lots of bikes, boats, parts and automobilia were being sold off over three days by RM Sothebys on behalf of the Italian government. Mr Compiano, you see, had been a naughty boy and had his toys taken away to pay for financial indiscretions. This was an indiscriminate collection, with everything from supercars to crusty Sixties and Seventies Jags and Rovers, and even crustier Alfa and Fiat bodyshells. With all lots being offered at ‘no reserve’, and most rather light on or completely lacking paperwork – hence some really low…

1982 Reliant Scimitar GTC Price: £5200 Riding on period-correct Wolfrace alloys, MoT’d until June and comes with both hard and soft tops. Not a lot for a V6-engined convertible. 1967 Opel Rekord Coupé 1900 Price: £10,995 Said to be a one owner 66,000-mile car recently imported from South Africa. You won’t find a better one – if you can find one at all. 1963 Ford Consul Classic Price: £2000 Barn find that was last used in 1975 due to engine problems. Engine is in bits in the boot. Interior in great condition. Has V5 and old buff logbook.…

1999 There’s now an 1120cc engine, in the 211i. 25 and 45 replace the 200 and 400. Engines are carried over and a 2.0 V6 unit offered in the 45. 2001 The MG ZR debuts with 1.4, 1.8 or 2.0D engines. The ZS arrives too, with 1.6, 2.5 V6 or 2.0D powerplants. 2003 The pseudo-4x4 25-based Streetwise arrives with 1.4, 1.6 or 1.8 petrol engines or a 2.0 diesel. 2004 A facelift for the 25, 45, ZR and ZS brings new lights, bumpers and grille. 2005 Final cars are built as MG-Rover goes bust. Honda then took back some tooling from Longbridge. It was the end.…

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 Fitting rebuilt SU HS6 carbs Also in Gary’s garage 1980 SAAB 99 TURBO Ex-factory press car currently awaiting a full restoration. In my previous Saga ( PC , December 2016), I sourced a pair of HS6 carbs. They needed a rebuild to take them from an Austin Maxi 1750 to a TR3/4 spec good enough for the 89mm pistons and liners. The original H6 carbs linkage can’t be used either, so a conversion kit was required to connect the pedal linkage to the HS6s. Luckily, DMG could supply everything for the conversion, including the fixed needles. Although I’d soda blasted the carb bodies I hadn’t…

1964 Wartburg 1000 Engine 992cc/3-cyl/TS Power 45bhp@4200rpm Torque 71lb ft@2200rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 22sec Top speed 82mph Fuel economy 30mpg Work done Sorted fuel pump, rear leaf spring and instruments. Also in Ed’s garage 1972 MOSKVICH 427 Perfect at last after 16 years’ tinkering. Can’t stop driving it. 1985 LADA 2102 Moskvich has usurped it as my daily driver, poor thing. ‘The rear spring had misaligned leaves, so off it came… or rather, it didn’t’ We solve our problems by marching forward’ was a strapline of the old GDR and it’s an apposite metaphor for restoring my broken East German Wartburg 311. The previous report ended with the engine and gearbox ready to go in. That went well, so I popped in the driveshafts, went round the brakes and…

1972 Volkswagen Beetle 1302 S Engine 1584cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 50bhp@4000rpm Torque 78lb ft@2800rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 17.1sec Top speed 82mph Fuel economy 27mpg Work done Dragged it out of a field. Began the assessment and stripdown process. Parts hunt is now in process… Also in Matt’s garage 1971 VW KARMANN GHIA MoT has now expired – I must get that sorted. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 I think that the gearbox cross shaft pin has snapped – that’s a box out job to fix it then… Ididn’t mean to do it, honest. What with the Triumph 2000 and Karmann Ghia already ‘on the books’ so to speak, plus a not quite so classic (but no less worthy) Ford Mondeo MkI on the side, I was at my self-imposed limit of three cars.…

DIFFICULTY RATING TIME MONEY You will need Miniature screwdriver and socket set, watch hand remover, metal polish or P1000 wet-and-dry paper, soldering iron, clock oil. Dry it out If the car’s been stored in a damp place, start by placing the instrument cluster in a very cool oven. This will dry it out and may revive various functions. Watch your fingers Keep dirty or sweaty fingers off instrument dials – you’ll permanently stain them. Titillate the plugs Before removing an instrument cluster, try simple disconnecting and reconnecting the multiplugs a few times. This might be enough to revive furred connections. Faulty instruments are a nuisance. Warning lights that don’t warn; fuel gauges that cry wolf or over-read when the tank’s almost empty; clocks that stop; needles that wave around at…

I visited Paris to speak to FIVA about preserving classic heritage for the future. A joyous trip in a Montego estate allowed me to collect most of a Morris Minor. I had a pleasant drive of this Cinnabar Red Metro, then proved it’s really orange… nice onesie! I’m having an ongoing conundrum over which soft-top is best. Eunos or MGF – what would you go for? We burned some midnight oil to get the MMOC Lowlight Minor ready for the NEC.…

Austin 7 continental challenge To celebrate 95 years of the immortal Austin 7, the 750 Motor Club has thrown down the gauntlet to it members to join Eurotour, a 1500-mile continental journey through France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and back to the UK. At least 45 baby Austins are expected to join the epic run. Head to 750mc.co.uk for more information. Long-term Minor owner search Have you owned your Minor for decades? If so, the MMOC would love to hear from you in its search for the longest-serving Moggie owner. Front-runner in the search so far is club member John Neve, who bought his Clarendon Grey convertible new back in 1959. Ford Model A for loan A generous Ford Model A Club of Great Britain member is offering to loan his…

The BMW Century £35 RRP ISBN 978-0760350-17-1 Celebrating 100 years of one of the oldest and most influential motor manufacturers of all time. This lavishly illustrated history looks in depth at some of the company’s most impressive achievements. quartoknows.com Essential Buying Guides £12.99 EACH RX8: ISBN 978-1-845848-67-5 W124: ISBN 978-1-845848-77-4 These latest editions to Veloce’s Essential Buying guide range both give you expert advice essential if you’re considering taking the plunge. veloce.co.uk Rover SD1: The Full Story 1976-1986 £25 RRP ISBN 978-1-785001-91-8 Lavishly illustrated with over 250 images, this book covers everything from initial concept to the the of production including racing, developmenmt and a guide to buying and owning an SD1 today. crowood.com…

If you’re a Rootes fan, head to the Rootes Archive Centre Trust (RACT) HQ near Banbury on one of its open days, held on the first Sunday of the month. The RACT has a mass of fascinating material whether you’re a historian or you want to restore your Rootes rarity and you want to refer to the original drawings. The Trust’s Andy Bye says: ‘We recently had three Commer owners come along for the first time and all of them found the archive invaluable.’ rootesarchive.org.uk…

• In July the 75 & ZT Enthusiasts’ Club will celebrate its fifth birthday. Until now it’s survived on donations only but in a bid to put the club on a firm footing an annual fee of £20 will be introduced, so the club can do more for its members. More at forums.75-zt.com • The chaps in the Weymouth Vehicle Preservation Society have been toiling over a hot server and have come with a sparkly new website at wvpsclassiccars.co.uk, where you can keep up to date with what the group is up to. • Details of the 2017 Citroën Challenge have been revealed, with the 3000 mile drive around France open to all Citroëns from 3-10 June. Details are at citroencarclub.org.uk…

IN THE NEWS H.M. the Queen opens the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. It’s a tense summer, exacerbated by the famous drought, and summed up when Big Ben conks out on August 5. AT THE FLICKS All the President’s Men , Rocky , Marathon Man , Carrie , The Shootist, The Omen … let’s ignore those and focus on a little-known horror picture aimed to cash in on the success of Jaws the previous year. Grizzly featured a 15-foot man-eating bear and rock-bottom production values. Seek it out, if you dare. IN THE CHARTS We cant really ignore the rise of punk ( New Rose…

Fiat 127 MkII launched in May 1977. Probably the best supermini, in the world… Gavin Bushby 1969 Vauxhall Viva HB MNE 721G. It was my first car before I passed my test, and wore L plates until 1977. David Chadwick As a kid I went in the actual 1977 James Bond Lotus. It was being sold by Peter Townsend garage in Winchmore Hill and still had the PPW 306R number plate. We went for a drive and it was fantastic, that drive has stayed with me for nearly 40 years… Ian Holly Mine was much more exciting – Moskvich estate, went like a bomb, just not so good at stopping or cornering Geoff Mason…

Ford Transit MkI This is a Ford Transit MkI minibus that I saw in Porto de Soller, Majorca while on holiday. It was in lovely condition inside and out… the note on the windscreen was from a person wanting to buy it. Howard Spence, by email Opel Astra convertible Italy has plenty excellent home grown cars, but while in Salo on Lake Garda I spotted this Austrian-registered Opel Astra convertible. It seemed in fine fettle, despite a slight mismatch in the shades of gold between door and wing. David Hunter, Eyemouth, Scottish Borders Renault Gordini At the NEC. I’m too young to have any memories of these, but I know a lot of people have great affection for them. Tarot Swift, Bolton Riley RMA pick-up I saw this rather attractive…

‘It may seem strange that people drive around in something with big holes in it’ Maybe the time has come to get a group of psychiatrists, psychologists, analysts and even the odd witch doctor together to debate one question. I daren’t organise this gathering in case they unanimously recommend detaining me somewhere, for a number of reasons, but please, someone, make it happen! But tell me this. Why are people, including myself, so obsessed by ‘barn finds?’ Particularly why someone would pay as much for basically a tatty wreck as they would a restored or even original car. The very term evokes Nellie the Austin Somerset. She has patiently spent the past 42 years in a thatched leak-free barn in a bucolic paradise of rolling hills and lush pasture. It’s…

£50 STAR FIND Can you do better? Send your high-res images to practical.classics@ bauermedia.co.uk Sam says ‘The ‘gas-saving Austin Marina’ was BL’s attempt to cash in on the 1973 oil crisis in the US. Lumpen safety bumpers and hilarious go-faster stripes failed to win people’s hearts. Only 23,000 or so found takers.’ Austin Marinas A wintry wasteland full of British classics adorns the pages of Rust In Peace this month thanks to Alex Kwanten from Seattle who came across British Auto Salvage in remote western New York. We begin with a perishing panorama of two dozen Austin Marinas – almost all terminally rotten – which are an extremely rare sight in the US. Sunbeam Alpine IV This yard began as a British car repair facility near…

New & updated 2017 Price Guide Also available in our digital edition Estimated values, engine capacities, 0-60mph times, parts availability, build dates and fuel consumption figures – our Price Guide is updated online every issue Prices in this guide are researched from several sources, including clubs, auctions, the trade and advertisements both online and in print. These prices are reviewed and updated every issue. C/D rating is a basic guide to what you can expect to pay (in pounds sterling) 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…

I am fond of E30s and searching the local free ads one caught my eye: 325i Sport, spares or repairs. The interior was torn, engine butchered, valance missing and there was rot. Lots of rot. But we agreed on £150. I was going to strip it for parts, then my boss had a look and said he had everything that I needed to replace laying around. I stripped it to a shell and rebuilt it, acquired an engine, had the interior re-trimmed and resprayed her in Diamond Schwartz II. Doing most of the work myself it’s only cost about £4500. With BMW E30 prices constantly on the rise it’s only a good thing for me! I’ve got a Schrick camshaft to put in but I’m in no rush to do…

1995 400 series debuts, in 414i, 416i, 420i and 420 Turbo petrol form or there’s a 2.0-litre 420D diesel. The 200 series also arrives in November. 1996 The 200Vi hot hatch has a 143bhp 1796cc VVC engine. Sharper in both the suspension and steering departments. 1997 A 16-valve 214i joins the range alongside the 218i. The 200 is the seventh best selling car in the United Kingdom that year. 1998 The BRM is a limited edition 200Vi with unique paint and interior trim. Model is becoming eminently collectible today.…

1971 Citroën D Spécial Engine 1995cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 103bhp@5250rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 14sec Top speed 105mph Weight 1260kg Work done A thorough dusting. Also in James’s garage 1983 PEUGEOT 104 Sold to the Francophile from Parkers Car Price Guide. 1997 HONDA LEGEND Bum warming luxury for peanuts. 1988 CITROËN CX Looking forward to meeting her older sister. ‘I offered contacts for specialists but the reply im ply stunned me…’ Panels Everything simply unbolts, allowing total access to the many small access hatches. The last time my latest acquistion was on the road, Ronald Reagan was president, Live Aid hadn’t happened yet and I was pushing a model of a Citroën DS around the carpet, imagining what it would be like to own the real thing. Since then, I have lived…

1972 Triumph GT6 MkIII Engine 1998cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 98bhp@5300rpm Torque 108lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual + overdrive 0 – 60mph 10.1sec Top speed 112mph Work done New shock absorber bushes for the GT6 and Scimitar headlight problem solved. Also in Nigel’s garage 1972 TRIUMPH GT6 A persistent oil leak from the head gasket has been fixed. It’s fairly typical of six-pot Triumphs, see a forthcoming technical feature in Practical Classics for full details. ‘The damper rate adjuster knobs had become stiff over the years’ Bush! That’s the badger! After a year, Nigel has replaced these small but significant parts. Nearly a year ago now I bit the bullet and changed all the suspension bushes on the GT6. The incumbents were past their best and it was time for some replacements. Well,…

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…

DIFFICULTY RATING TIME MONEY You will need Electric drill and small honing tool, brake flaring tool, grease gun, soft brushes for cleaning, methylated spirits, silicone grease, P1000 wet-and-dry paper. Silicone fluid If you’re overhauling the whole system, refilling it with silicone DOT 5 fluid is an excellent idea. It’s not hygroscopic, so it’ll significantly slow down seal degradation and corrosion. Painting order Paint the outside of the cylinder before reassembly if using silicone fluid or afterwards if using traditional glycol fluid. Paint won’t adhere to a silicone-soiled surface; glycol fluid strips paint. New old stock? If you’re fitting NOS seals, inspect them closely for damage or perishing. A hydraulic clutch is a common and effective system. It allows maximum flexibility for the car designer to position the clutch release lever…

DIFFICULTY RATING TIME MONEY You will need Gasket set, grease, scraper, wire brush, paraffin, torque wrench. Use grease Coat gaskets lightly with grease. It’ll hold them in place during assembly and make future stripdowns easier. Feng shui Give yourself plenty of space to tackle the timing case. With most Fords, it helps to take off the radiator. A Scimitar needs its suspension brace removing. Ford’s Essex V4 and V6 motors are tough and generally long-lived. This is just as well, since they power a decent proportion of the UK’s classic car population. However, this trusty engine has one major blot in its copybook – an annoying tendency to leak oil from multiple places. This constant loss lubrication might be good for rustproofing chassis rails and bulkheads, but it’s otherwise far…

This advert fascinates me mainly because it shows a new car advertising itself as a classic. Jaguar is attaching some ancient heritage to its brand by sketching a MkV in front of Oxford’s Clarendon Building. But the firm had only been building cars for 19 years at this point, with the Jaguar name appearing on models from 1936 and finally replacing the Nazi-infused SS initials in 1945. What’s more, the aforementioned SS models of the Thirties were regarded with widespread snobbery as cads’ cars; the choice of the nouveau-riche charmer. How better to shed that image than by projecting a totally fictitious ancient pedigree? There’s another angle. William Lyons made even the snobs gasp with amazement when the XK120 appeared at the London Motor Show in 1948, and in 1950…

Jaguar has unveiled the first new XKSS to be built in 59 years. Eight more examples will be constructed and all have already been sold for more than £1 million each. The legendary Rover V8 engine will be celebrated with a new event. Rover Fest will take place at Wroxall Abbey on August 11-13, 2017. roverfest.co.uk Restoration specialist Frost has a new warehouse and a new delivery vehicle… in the shape of this 1983 Metro van. First job was to do a parts drop at PC! The last Morris Minor saloon to roll off the Cowley production line has been saved by the MMOC. It will be on the club stand at the PC Restoration Show. A 1983 Vauxhall Astra with just 14,000-miles went under the hammer at Brightwells on…

Our online tutorials are growing – and the way you access them is changing. You can now become a member of Skill Shack and get 24/7 access to all of our premium videos and video tutorials – and everything that is currently in production, too. You’ll be given step-by-step tutorials, advice, inspiration and guidance from industry acknowledged experts in subjects ranging from servicing and electrics to welding and upholstery. Memberships cost £49.99 for a year, or £14.99 per quarter. Throughout your membership, you can access the full range of videos on your computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone. You’ll also get a weekly newsletter with tips and the latest updates and uploads to Skillshack to keep you in the loop. It’s the perfect place to learn new skills or just…

Whatever classics you’re into the Queen’s Head (IP29 4NN) has got a gathering for you, as it puts on two each month. On the first Saturday the VSCC boys and girls rock up from midday in their pre-1931 cars. Then, on the third Monday, the 1066 Classic Car Club congregates from 7.30pm for food and banter. Even throughout the winter months both meets are popular, as there isn’t a lot of other classic car activity going on in the area – which is why a broad spread of classics is always guaranteed. More details online at hawkedonqueen. co.uk…

SUN, JAN 1 BEDS Vintage Stony Car and Motorcycle Gathering, Stony Stratford, MK11 1BE (vintagestony.co.uk). SURREY Brooklands New Year Gathering, KT13 0QN (brooklandsmuseum.com). DORSET Classic Cars on the Prom, Bournemouth, BH2 5BH (classiccarsontheprom.comclassiccarsontheprom.com). LONDON New Year’s day meet at the Ace Café, NW10 7UD (ace-cafe-london.comace-cafelondon.com). YORKS Midlands & Yorkshire Classic Car Club’s classic car meet at the Black Swan, Brandesburton YO25 8RG (eastyorksclassic.comeastyorksclassic.com). HEREFORDSHIRE Vintage Sports Car Club gathering at the Royal Oak Inn, Much Marcle, HR8 2ND. Pre-war cars only. (vscc.co.uk). GLOS Cotswold Classic Car Club New Year’s Day Meet, Shipton Oliffe, GL54 4HT (cotswoldclassiccarclub.comcotswoldclassiccarclub.com). ESSEX New Year Crank Up at the Museum of Power, Maldon, CM9 6QA (museumofpower.org.uk) SUFFOLK VSCC Meet meet at the Queen’s Head in Hawkedon, IP29 4NN (hawkedonqueen.co.uk). SOMERSET Yeovil Car Club Meet at Haselbury…

I know that registration! I was reading the November 2016 issue of Practical Classics and, looking at the pictures of Tony Owen’s car collection on page 23, a bell started ringing. Seeing the pictures of his tidy Talbot Tagora, I immediately recognized the registration number as being on a car supplied by the garage I work in. That was confirmed in the article, when he said that it had been a demonstrator for a year at a Glasgow dealership, before being sold on. It would have been unusual for us to hold on to a car for a year, but then I was sure I remembered it being given out to the legendary Glasgow Celtic and Scotland player, Danny McGrain, to use as a promotional vehicle. The dealership concerned was,…

Mine is the TR7 and TR8. I’ve had 13 and counting so far… Darren Hartman Ford Anglia 105E... I’m sick of hearing journos and celebs calling it ugly, when I’ve always thought its unique quirkiness charming Lloyd Ellery BL Princesses and Allegros… say no more. Gary Peach I had an Austin 3-litre when I was 21. It got me some strange looks from the hot hatch brigade, but I loved the luxury and comfort. Sadly it got replaced with a Saxo for the family. Dean Miller A Vanden Plas Princess 4-litre would be nice. I saw one recently on eBay but sadly couldn’t afford it. Colin MacDonald Why a guilty pleasure? Let’s not apologise for what we like. I’ve loved the Austin 3-litre for decades, long before it became ironically…

‘Judging by the NEC crowds, our beloved hobby is in a very healthy state’ Are you a collector, or do you just happen to have one, maybe two, classic cars because you like them? Mrs Simister looked a bit panicked the other day when I referred to my car ‘collection’ (four cars, only three working), because a word like that suggests scope for more. Which I am emphatically not allowed to have. Good thing, too, as it’s hard enough keeping on top of the ones I do have, and surely impossible to keep any more on the go without a lot more spare time or professional help. And if I went down the latter road, they wouldn’t be so intimately mine. So, why do we own particular cars, and how…

FRI JAN 27 South West Vehicle Auctions, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset (01202 745466, swva.co.uk) SAT NOV 28 ACA 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) THURS FEB 9 Bonhams, Grand Palais, Paris, France (020 7468 5801, bonhams.com/cars) SUN FEB 12 Charterhouse, Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset (charterhouse-auction.com) FRI/SUN FEB 24/26 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) THURS MAR 2 Dorset Vintage & Classic Auctions, Dorchester, Dorset (01963 363353, dvca.co.uk)…

Saab 900 Turbo We mean the traditional chunky-shaped 900 Turbos, of course, which are very much on the move now as their 175bhp delights tug on the nostalgia strings and it becomes ever harder to find really good examples. Subaru Impreza Turbo Some clarification is needed here: it’s the ‘cooking’ Impreza Turbos that are looking decidedly secondhand, but also nicely affordable. The more focused and sporty WRX STi versions are heading in the opposite direction.…

1950 Riley RMA Engine 1496cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 55bhp@4500rpm Torque 76lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 25sec Top Speed 78mph Fuel economy 26mpg Work done Stripped roof, front end and suspension. Engine and gearbox off to be rebuilt. Also in Danny’s shed 1956 RILEY PATHFINDER My other Riley project – awaits panels and attention. 1970 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR Went to NEC, now back in the workshop – for the ‘Big Push’. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Living in my garage for winter. 1976 VAUXHALL CAVALIER GL Sold and now living near Thetford – a great car. 1987 ROVER 820E Beautiful car… commutes on dry days. Coveted by my dad. 1992 MERCEDES-BENZ 200TE ESTATE Huge, brilliant, mint, sold. Money to go Jensenwards. 1992 SAAB 9000 2.3 TURBO The ultimate winter hack… enjoyably Swedish. 2002 ROVER 75…

1949 Morris Minor ‘Lowlight’ Engine 918cc/4-cyl/SV Power 29.5bhp@4400rpm Torque 37lbft@2400rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-50mph 36.5sec Top Speed 62mph Fuel Economy 36mpg Work done Finished paint, Completely reassembled live on stage Also in Matt’s garage 1960 MORRIS MINOR CONVERTIBLE Steadily progressing – more soon... 1992 MINI MAYFAIR The next big project. Ruby! Well we did it… three days, copious amounts of caffeine and a fair few grazed knuckles, but it’s done. The Morris Minor Owners Club’s ruby anniversary car is complete. When I last wrote, we had a painted shell but all the panels were finally being primed, while we were also starting to prepare the refurbished suspension components. A team of Morris Minor Owners Club members filled the Practical Classics workshop for two weeks solid prior to the show –…

I found a flawed exhaust valve while treating my Lada 1200 to a decoke. As I poked at it, I noticed the working surfaces of the stem were magnetic but the head wasn’t. It turns out it’s made of two different steels for a combination of wear-resistance (stem) and heat-resistance (head). Investigation uncovered that some bi-metal valves are welded together. This one, through, seems to have a sleeve shrunk onto the stem. You live and learn……

DIFFICULTY RATING TIME MONEY You will need Angle grinder with grinding discs and twist-knot wire wheel, drill with polycarbide abrasive wheel and rubber-backed abrasive discs, hand files, chemical rust remover, MIG welder, seam sealer, zinc-rich primer, body filler. Zinc primer Zinc primer helps to defend against future corrosion, even if the top paint coat gets damaged. Rust remover The surface might look shiny after you’ve attacked it with a wire wheel, but the rust will come back quickly. Treat it with a chemical rust remover. Wire wool Steel wool is great for applying rust remover and accelerating its action. The area under the rubber seal of a windscreen is common rot-spot on almost any classic. It’s bombarded with the worst salty filth the road can throw at it and it’s…

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…