Sommaire pour June 2021 de Classics World

Earlier this week, I watched the auction at Manor Park Classics which included eight cars that were being sold from the Vauxhall Heritage Collection. Sadly I was not in a position to bid on any of them, but I was interested to see what they sold for. Inevitably, of course, when following a sale from a distance like this, your eye gets caught by other things. I was particularly taken by a lovely Rover P6 2000TC, but I also had a strange desire to make an offer on a 1947 Leyland Tiger PS1 bus – perhaps the less said about that here, the better! There was another item that caught my attention too, but this time for all the wrong reasons. I must admit that I have never understood the…

The National Motor Museum Trust is celebrating 60 years of its Reference Library with a selection of films on their YouTube channel. These films will take viewers behind the scenes of the library, a resource which contains over 300,000 items spanning from the beginning of the automobile era in the 1880s right up to the present day. The Reference Library, or National Road Transport Library as it was originally called, was officially opened on 28th April 1961 by the late Edward, 3rd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, who recognised the importance of providing a motoring library and archive service for historians, researchers and members of the public. From its unlikely location in the kitchens of Palace House, the Montagu family home, the library expanded quickly, relocating to larger premises at Beaulieu’s…

“Having assembled these three glorious vehicles for our photoshoot, I am thinking that I must have died and gone to heaven” If you were looking for a sporting grand tourer in the mid-1950s, there was a reasonable sprinkling of GTs on offer. From Italy, there was the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Sprint Veloce and Lancia Aurelia GT, from Germany the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, whilst from the UK there was the Jensen 541, the Aston Martin DB2/4 and the Jaguar XK140 Coupé. For me, the three that stand out must be the Gullwing because it has become an icon of the time, the Aurelia GT because it was aeons ahead in the handling department, and Jaguar's XK140 because of its apparent value for money. So having assembled these three glorious vehicles for…

Tthis project has mushroomed far beyond the original plan, and so the story is taking longer to tell than I had envisaged. There is, though, a balance to be struck between telling the complete story and over-staying your welcome, so the time has come to up the pace! While it made sense to detail the body repairs fully as this could well help readers contemplating a similar project, we can be a little more choosey with the mechanical overhaul because that work is fairly well covered in workshop manuals. As a result, it makes little sense to try and reinvent that particular wheel here. Instead, we will focus on sharing any little tips we picked up along the way, and showing the highs and lows of this particular project. To…

To start with a quick recap for new readers (or those who fell asleep while reading last issue’s diary), I live in Canada but I’m heading for Scotland in a while, and my long-term Cobra project has evolved to become a rebodied V8 1972 Triumph TR6, partly to sidestep choosing between a TR6 and the Cobra by combining them into one car, and partly because I want nothing to do with the IVA test. At this stage, the TR6 is stripped down to the rolling chassis, and it’s time to figure out how the body is going to be mounted and how much of the TR6 body substructure I’m going to use. From a styling point of view, it only needs one major visual feature to be a few inches…

Last issue saw us get the rear suspension bushes replaced on Lancaster Insurance’s XR3i, and afterwards the car felt much more stable at speed. Driving home into the setting sun, however, threw up the fact that forward vision through what may well be the original front screen was less than ideal. It was pretty scratched in places, and not only could we not see where we were going, but seeing where we’d been was a also a problem after the rear view mirror had fallen off. Various attempts to refit it had obviously been made, as witnessed by the many layers of double-sided tape, but it was usually to be found in the passenger footwell. The car’s previous custodian had also mentioned that the screen in this Mk3 car was…

Another month rolls by and the work on the 1970 Morris Minor van is much the same – it’s been a long job of spraying filler, guide coat, rubbing down, spraying filler, guide coat rubbing down, repeated countless times. I dread to think how much it would have cost to pay someone to do this. Anyway, after a lot of hard graft, the van is nearly ready for the top coat. We are lucky to know a semi-retired paint sprayer who still does the odd job. He’s a real asset, as he’s had enough of doing prep work (I can see why), but enjoys spraying the top coats. Not many places trust you to do the prep for them. Having sanded the filler with a longboard and 40 grit paper…

The aim with this project had always been to show that you can buy and run an interesting classic on a modest budget of £1500. Given the way classic car prices have rocketed in recent years, this represents a good entry point if you are willing to be realistic in your wish list, flexible in the options open to you and able to do some basic maintenance and repairs. No doubt there are readers who have achieved better results for less money, and if so we’d love to hear from you. This was, though, a genuine effort with no corners cut and so is truly representative of what others could achieve. The Acclaim did not come at a bargain price from Aunt Gladys, nor was it obtained through a complicated…

Perhaps we could start this feature with a brief note on nomenclature! Standard and Triumph were two entirely separate companies before WW2, but Triumph went bust in 1939 and the remains of the company were bought by Standard in 1944. Those remains amounted to little more than a name and a reputation, and so the postwar Triumphs were built by the Standard Motor Company. We bring this up here because the fact that Triumph survived into the 1980s but the Standard name disappeared from UK showrooms in 1963 makes most people assume Triumph took over Standard, and that does tend to annoy the Standard aficionados! So for the sake of clarity, we will use the names Standard, Triumph and Standard-Triumph through this feature, and hope that the entity we are…

Eight cars from the famous Vauxhall Heritage Collection covering 85 years of the Luton company’s history were auctioned off by Manor Park Classics on 27th April. The vehicles, all of which were sold at no reserve, had been consigned for sale in order to rightsize the Collection for its future move to a new purpose-built and public-facing venue, details of which are yet to be announced. The oldest of these vehicles offered in the Manor Park sale was a 1929 R-type 20/60, which was the first car to be manufactured after Vauxhall had been bought by General Motors. The R-type became the staple of the Vauxhall range until 1930 and marked a departure from many of Luton’s engineering norms, with the adoption of a central gearshift, single-plate clutch and 12-volt…

Citroën is celebrating 60 years of the iconic AMI 6, which was first revealed on 24th April 1961. With its compact dimensions and spacious interior, the vehicle went on to be a great success for the brand with over one million models sold, half of which were the capacious estate version that arrived in 1964. At launch, the new AMI 6 completed Citroën’s vehicle line up, joining the iconic 2CV, ID and DS models. It presented a shape and style that many perceived as surprising in the automotive sector at the time, but designer Flaminio Bertoni described the car to his friends and family as his masterpiece. For AMI 6, Bertoni had the bold idea of inverting the rear window, meaning that it would remain clear when it rained. It…

TR7 UNDER-BONNET FLITCH PANELS Price: £299.99 each Robsport International have announced that one of their old tools has been recommissioned to produce the TR7 front and rear under-bonnet flitch panels. As a result, these are now back in stock after years of delay. They are priced at £299.99 each, and are available directly from Robsport International as well as other Triumph parts specialists. We are promised that the suspension turrets are to follow soon, which will be a great boon to owners. Call Robsport on 01763 262263 or visit www.robsport.co.uk LOTUS ELISE AND EXIGE 1995-2020 THE COMPLETE STORY By Johnny Tipler Hardback • 260mm x 215mm • 192 pages • 390 colour pictures • Price: £25 • ISBN: 9781785008429 www.crowood.com Named after Elisa, the granddaughter of Lotus's owner at the time, Romano Artioli of…

Harry Douglas has been a devotee of the A30/ A35 range since he was a small boy riding in his uncle’s van in the 1960s, so much so that he later made a replica of that van with his name on it. And now there is his 1957 pick-up that you see here. This is not only the sort of vehicle that could have graced any self-respecting Austin dealership of the day, it is also a prime example of the fascinatingly offbeat BMC product planning – it was an utterly diminutive utility vehicle that was devoid of a tailboard and featured a rear load bay that could double as a bench seat. The A30 and later A35 were among Austin's most critical post-war models, but the pick-up version was –…

TTXPB3A: Three-piece heavy duty pry bar set with Power Thru handles – £79.08  HMSF: Top quality rubber and soft face hammer – £38.28  TTEAF62: 62 piece set containing AF combination spanners and socketry covering 3/16in to 1¼in – £474 PPS06: six-piece punch set with 150mm high carbon steel parallel pin punches – £41.88  RC1012: Cleaning tool for spark plug threads – £15.60 With thanks to project partner Teng Tools Telephone: 015257 11500 Email: sales1@tengtools.com www.tengtools.com…

Leaving cars standing unused is never a good idea. No matter what the weather has to offer throughout the winter months, I have always made a point of running the Gentry regularly. Until Covid. For once, I let things go and did not start it or take it out on a run for almost three months. Eventually, on a very cold day in February, I grasped the nettle. The Gentry has always been very reliable and has never failed to start. This time however, although it fired and almost started several times, it simply would not catch and continue to run. I decided to have one more try, but this time when I twisted the key, the starter motor simply whined, the dog did not engage and it stuck. The…

Group Editor at Kelsey Media, Paul heads up the team which brings you our weekly paper Classic Car Buyer and the monthly Classic Car Mart, as well as being unofficial marshal of the company’s eclectic and ever-changing fleet of classic project cars. Ranging from Honda CRX to Bentley Turbo R, the collection temporarily includes this Escort XR3i, while Paul’s own Alfa Spider has recently been changed after 23 years of ownership for a modern classic in the shape of a Honda S2000.…

FORD CAPRI SECURITY CONCERNS Q I have a 1973 Ford Capri Mk1 (facelift) which I have cherished for many years now. I am very careful about ensuring it is safely locked up in the garage when I am at home, and I also always use a Stoplock when my Capri is parked up. After a recent incident with a neighbour’s vehicle, I have been informed that security glass can be fitted which will prevent a would-be thief smashing the side window to gain access. As my Capri does not have the benefits of double locking which is on newer cars, if the window were smashed access to the car would be easy. Is this something which is easily available and could it be fitted to my Capri? If it is…

You could say that I’ve well and truly shot myself in the foot over the MINI One’s rear brakes and consequently spent more money than necessary. I should have read the signs when it failed the MoT test in July 2020 due to the offside rear brake fluctuating excessively. I’d assumed the brake disc was warped, and having noticed the dust boot for that caliper’s piston was split, wisely replaced that along with the seal inside. However, I’d assumed the handbrake cable was OK despite the fact that its metal outer sleeving was seized to the caliper, because when applied, the rear brakes did lock. And when I realised I couldn’t save the old but newish rear discs and pads, I hoped everything would be fixed with a new set.…

You will often read articles in the classic press offering advice about the best way to prepare your classic for winter storage, and then later how to recommission it in the spring. Classics Monthly is no exception, and such features are always well-received. It is true that much of the advice on storing and recommissioning a vehicle remains the same from year to year, but there will always be subtle changes as new products come to market, others become the dreaded NLA (no longer available), or as opinions on best practice change and evolve. This year, however, there is a whole new dimension as a result of the last 12 months of lockdowns, cancelled events and travel restrictions. The net result of all this is that many cars which were…

Caterham Cars has been acquired from businessmen Tony Fernandes and Kamarudin Meranun by Japan-headquartered automotive group, VT Holdings. The company assumes custodianship of the legendary British sportscar brand having been the Japanese importer for the Seven since 2009, where it currently sells over 120 cars annually. As one of Japan’s largest retailer groups with over 200 showrooms nationwide and investments in the UK, Spain, Thailand and South Africa, VT Holdings is also the importer for a collection of two and four wheeled brands including Royal Enfield and Lotus in its home market. Motorsport, and the global trackday communities, have always played a central role in Caterham’s commercial success, and VT's Chief Executive, Kazuho Takahashi, shares the same passions, having raced competitively in JGTC, Super GT and Super Taikyu championships for…

POLICE SCORPIOS The Scorpio feature in the May issue reminded me of my police patrol car experiences with a Cosworth version that was supplied direct from Ford for high mileage testing back in the early 1990s. It replaced a previous very long-term, Ford engineering built development Granada Cosworth that introduced the Cosworthdeveloped 24-valve version of the well-known Cologne V6 in 2.9-litre form. This was some considerable time before the public version with the Cosworthdeveloped engine arrived, and our high annual mileages and hard use provided Ford with great feedback data. Interestingly 'our' car supplied to West Midlands Police was fitted with an auto box. It was one of six cars built and given to different police forces around the UK, and the adjoining Warwickshire force had a manual version…

Idon’t think many cars have meant so much to as many people as the Ford Capri. From 1969 to 1986 it was the family-sized coupé that pulled at the heartstrings of people from all walks of life. Right from the start – the unveiling at the 1969 Brussels Motor Show – the Capri was a hit. With the sleek sporty lines, long bonnet and fake vents in the rear quarters, many people all over Europe were keen to stump up the £890 starting price to get one of their own. However, one of the key elements to the Capri’s success was the wide range of engine choices to suit any depth of pocket. The exact offerings would vary between home and abroad, our continental cousins having the Taunus V4 in…

I was completing the annual service on the Jaguar when I hit a problem. As explained last month, my car has a spin-on filter conversion that uses a Jaguar ECB9658 filter which I believe was fitted to later XJ models with the 4.0-litre engine. I normally fit an equivalent Ryco-manufactured filter Z133 that is complete with an anti-drain valve, which in theory reduces the time it takes for oil pressure to build when the car is first started. Ryco is a local company that started manufacturing filters to support the Australian market when importing filters during WW2 became problematic. It later produced filters to support the local car manufacturing or assembly plants. As the Triumph and Jaguar filters are not normally available off the shelf from local motor factors over…

This month I have news that is both sad and exciting at the same time. Hot on the heels of selling the beige Acclaim last month, this time it is the Morris Minor that has gone to a new home. The sad part about this is that I really liked both cars and was expecting to keep them, but as previously explained, eight cars is too many, something had to go to make way for fresh projects, and it always seems to be the cars you least want to sell that attract the most interest. Funny that... Kevin, the new owner of the Minor, came to check it out before making a decision, which was very sensible. He said it was a dead ringer for one he owned many years…

TTD912TXN £107.88 A 12 piece TX driver set covering TX6 through to TX45. Features include TTMV PLUS steel blades and ergonomically designed bi-material handles with hanging hole and T drive facility for added torque and comfort. The set is supplied in a unique Teng Tools TC tray and can be used either on its own or as part of the Teng Tools TC control system. MD910N £92.28 10-piece screwdriver set for slotted, Phillips and Pozi drive heads. The screwdrivers feature TTMV PLUS steel blades and ergonomically designed bi-material handles with hanging hole and T drive facility for added torque and comfort. 6510A £83.88 10-piece metric combination spanner set. The spanners are supplied in a plastic holder for carrying away or fixing on the wall or on a…

As the Soviet Union and its communist neighbours staggered uneasily towards the Western world during the 1980s, their car design suffered. Automotive highlights of the time tended to be superannuated remnants of yesteryear, inadequately and cheaply rehashed rather too many times. However, Škoda fared better than most Eastern bloc manufacturers. It is one of the world’s oldest car makers, having grown from Laurin & Klement who built their first car in 1905. By the 1980s Škoda’s output was old, but interesting – when Eastern Europe hit its doldrum period, outpaced by the West in the 1970s, Škoda had the rear-engined Estelle and Rapid on its books rather than factories full of cast-off Fiat tooling. The Škodas might have been the butt of jokes in the UK, but they rallied well…

ALFA ROMEO There is just so much detail to enjoy in this 1955 shot of Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spiders being prepared for shipment to the USA! See how crates were built around each individual car, work having started on the one in the foreground, while two completed crates are stacked one on top of the other at the far end of the line – both marked up as being for the Hoffman Motor Car Co Inc, but one bound for San Francisco and the other for Los Angeles. We like the way the cars have been given little shower caps for the journey, held down by a cord running from one door handle to the other. Presumably they will be loaded onto the railway line on the right to start…