Table of contents for November 2017 in Practical Classics

‘Laws are made for the idiots, not the majority’ My classic’s MoT costs an average of £40 a year, less than a £1 a week. For that I get a dispassionate, rigorous third-party appraisal of my car and its ability not to kill me or other road users, conducted by a trained expert. I welcome it and, especially when my kids travel with me, I welcome the fact most other road users cars’ have to undergo the same stringent test as mine (unless their owners are flouting the law). I go to a test station that understands classics, I observe the tester as they assess my classic and I take note of advisories when they occur. It’s a bargain, and I’ll carry on with it, even after the Government introduces…

Friend of PC Edd China popped along to say hello and enjoy a cuppa at CarFest for BBC Children in Need. I thoroughly enjoyed wading through the festival of rust that is the Beaulieu International Autojumble. Danny and I found the last hubcap for our Westminster project at Beaulieu. Lotus 45 engine start-up at the National Motor Museum Beaulieu was a ground-shaking event. I’ve had many late nights in the workshop readying this year’s NEC stage build for paint. More on p94.…

Blazing Beaulieu More than 34,000 enthusiasts from across the world turned out for Beaulieu’s International Autojumble on September 2-3. It was the 50th anniversary of the popular event – another Practical Classics-sponsored success. Outstanding jumblers PC editor Danny Hopkins judged the Beaulieu Autojumble and awarded Mark Cocklin and David Wilkinson the best stand for a pitch packed with Austin 7 parts. Quirkiest Stand went to John Keith, whose Airstream Bambi van display was laden with spares and a selection of novelty hats. Virtual showroom There’s a new way to buy and sell your classic. By entering your car on the online virtual showroom at contact-classic-car-owners.com contact-classic-car-owners.com you will be part of a relaxed community of buyers and sellers. The service is aimed at the many classic car owners who would…

WED OCT 4 WARKS B5000 Barbers monthly meet, North Warwickshire Recreational Centre, B78 1HT (tinyurl.com/ y7tvr9z6). THU OCT 5 WARKS Kineton Sports & Social Club Classic Gathering, CV35 0DF (01926 642474). SAT OCT 7 CUMBRIA Lakeland Motor Museum monthly meet, LA12 8TA (lakelandmotormuseum.co.uklakelandmotormuseum.co.uk). YORKS Rufforth Autojumble, Rufforth Park, YO23 3QH (rufforthautojumble.com). COTSWOLDS Jaguar Drivers’ Club annual rally (jaguardriver.co.uk). SUN OCT 8 LONDON French car meet, Ace Café, NW10 7UD (london.acecafe.com). WORCS Shelsley Walsh Breakfast Club, WR6 6RP (shelsley-walsh.co.uk). SURREY Autumn Motorsport Day, Brooklands, KT13 0QN (brooklandsmuseum.com). WORCS Malvern Festival of Transport, WR13 6NW (classicshows.org). WARKS Jaguar Spares Day at Stoneleigh Park, CV8 2LZ (jaguarsparesday.co.uk). NORTHANTS GTi Festival at Santa Pod for all water-cooled VWs, NN29 7XA (vwaction.co.uk). SUSSEX Amberley Museum Autumn Historic Gathering, BN18 9LT (amberleymuseum.co.uk). TUE OCT 10 LONDON…

Matt is one of those people who just loves tinkering with classic cars. Not that he has much of a choice, it would seem. When we turned up to meet him, his friend Ben had just popped over complaining of a misfire on his Triumph 1500 that Matt quickly solved with a new set of points. ‘I end up with most people’s cars here to fix,’ laughs Matt. ‘My garage has been the venue for many an engine swap and brake rebuild.’ We wander across to the unassuming pair of single garages and Matt swings the door of the first open. Inside sits a stunning Dolomite with a Webasto sunroof and just 11,000 miles on the clock. ‘I actually bought the car because I loved the sunroof’ smiles Matt. ‘That…

My old diesel Volvo cost me £350. I could get up to £2k if I part exchanged it for a new BMW. But then the interest on the remaining amount would be lots more than I pay to keep my Volvo on the road. Ben Wallace Don’t tell James Walshe but I chopped in a C5 estate a couple of years back on scrappage against a new Astra. The C5 was worth maybe £500, so that was £1500 quid off the Astra and I negotiated a further chunk off with the dealer. Steve Hancock I’ve just driven past the local Toyota garage and a Starlet that I once owned is outside in a terrible state. I can only assume the dealer gave it a ‘going over’ to make it look…

‘This is my very own graffiti car’ 1979 2CV Tim Dodd-Wilson, Woking This is my ‘Graffiti Car’. I’ve covered it in blackboard paint so that everyone can write on it… great fun with kids at shows, although some of the older ones need to have an eye kept on them. I’ve got a board rubber though. It is in regular use, this car is my daily transport so it gets seen and it gets the looks, too. 2CVs are great like that… you can use and abuse them and they come back fighting. A good car. ‘It’s a bit of a hybrid’ 1984 Saab 99 GL Philip Hodges, Poole It’s one of the last of the 99s but it is a bit of a hybrid. It has 900 brakes so…

Audi 80 Prices of the 1991-era Audi have just begun to rise so you’ll need to get in quick. Based on the previous generation ‘B3’ coupé and running to 2001, the car’s image was boosted when Princess Diana was pictured driving one. Quality was excellent and a well-cared for example will go on for years. There was even a diesel cabrio but make sure you search the service history for bills. Replacement injectors are extremely pricey. VW Golf MkIII There was no drop-top Golf MkII, so the boxy 13-year-old MkI was replaced by this model in 1994. It was a bit on the stodgy side to drive thanks to heavyweight build and somewhat underpowered engines but the cars got better as time passed. Watch out for rot, ripped hoods and…

The cabin is cosy and very familiar, with a generously-proportioned steering wheel for the driver. Turn the key in the ignition and the A-series fires instantly. Clutch down, into gear and away we go with the classic whine of a straight-cut, nonsynchro first, with all gears slotting home nicely as we find our way into top and settle down into a gentle cruising pace. The 1098cc motor is keen enough, though progress is more leisurely than lively thanks to the commercial-spec final drive. No problem, as the van charms with its driving experience – the steering is light and precise, it rides well, performs nicely and is a credit to Gary and James.…

‘It crashed into life with a slapping of pistons and tappets’ Georgia is the only country on earth where Joseph Stalin isn’t necessarily considered a bad egg. He was born in the Georgian city of Gori and is still viewed by some as a local boy made good who happened to suffer some unfortunate misunderstandings. Gori proudly sports a museum that unironically celebrates the life and work of its favoured son without once using the word ‘genocide’ (offset by the US-funded Museum of Soviet Occupation in the capital Tbilisi, which never once mentions Joseph Stalin). Ed Hughes, Julian Nowill and myself set out to visit a satellite Stalin museum in the costal city of Batumi, but we found it had closed for business. Nearby, however, we came across something altogether…

1969 Rover 2000 Price: £4250 Desirable Series I car in beautiful restored condition at a very sensible price. Unused Rover toolkit and original push-button radio. 1975 Mini 1275GT Price: £12,750 Well preserved period piece with full history from new and a genuine 37,136 miles, first owned by BL. Seller reducing collection. 1989 Renault 5 Monaco Price: £1950 Limited Edition with 1.7 engine and leather interior. Recently resprayed, 66,000 miles. Similar car just sold at auction for £2940.…

Ron Inskipp is the UK moderator for bigcoupe.com , an E24 forum. He says: ‘I’ve been around BMWs for 30 years and have owned about 20 E24s. i’ve done everything to them – I’ve restored, maintained and upgraded them. I’ve owned every derivative, including seven or eight M cars and I now offer technical help to owners. The E24 has a big following in the States, across Europe and in the UK.’ SELECTED SPECIALISTS Autobahn Services, Herts. 01923 718907, autobahn  services.co.uk bmwe24.net  (all current E24 eBay parts and car sales) BMW dealers Cooks Ferry Engineering, Middlesex. 020 8804 2002, cooksferry.com Fritz’s Bits, Somerset. 01823 674459, fritzsbits. co.uk Jaymic, Norfolk. 01263 768768, jaymic.com Linwar, Lancs. 01704 540047,…

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 0rvis Engine 3690cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 185bhp@4750rpm Torque 220lb ft@4000rpm Gearbox 4-speed auto 0-60mph 8.9 sec Top speed 112 mph Fuel economy 23 mpg Work done Family holiday prep… gulp. Also in Danny’s garage 1950 RILEY RMA Pausing for breath then on with the rear arches. 1956 RILEY PATHFINDER Welding proceeds slowly. 1971 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR Boot trimmed, hatch brightwork on. Now it’s off to PALE Classics to finish. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 My frontline classic. Service required soon though. 1986 AUSTIN MAESTRO VANDEN PLAS AUTO It’s back! In all its goldness. 2002 RENAULT AVANTIME The V6 beast now has a new owner. The Jeep Grand Cherokee Orvis that I inherited from my brother-in-law is a 70k-mile minter. As a top spec ‘Orvis’ it is full of cow and tree…

1970 Triumph TR6 Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 150bhp@5500rpm Torque 164lb ft@3500rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d 0–60mph 8.2sec Top speed 119mph Fuel economy 28mpg Work done Readying the TR6 for MoT, finding and fixing faults with the indicators and speedo. Also in Nigel’s garage 1977 RELIANT SCIMITAR GTE The Scimitar remains on daily driving duties, a role it fills with comfort, style and… considerable thirst. That time has come round again for the TR – it’s due for its annual visit to the MoT station. Going through my pre-MoT drill at home, checking lights, wipers and so on, it was clear that the indicators would be featuring on an MoT fail list if I didn’t get them sorted out. All the indicator bulbs were flashing erratically then they soon stopped flashing…

1965 Volvo ‘Amazon’ Engine 1780cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 90bhp@5000rpm Torque 105lb ft@3500rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d 0-60mph 14.4sec Top speed 100mph Fuel economy 25mpg Work done Bought, serviced, overhauled brakes, replaced distributor, repaired sill and bodywork, removed extraneous items. Also in Sam’s garage 1934 AUSTIN RUBY Made it to Prescott and back. An achievement. 1954 PANHARD DYNA Local duties only until I fit its rebuilt engine. 1960 CHEVROLET CORVAIR Lapping up miles and remaining an absolute joy. 1969 VOLGA M21 Also getting lots of use. Now running satisfactorily. 1982 WARTBURG 353 The engine’s back together but not yet installed. ‘An electric fan had been fitted to combat a seized thermostat’ I used to covet the Volvo ‘Amazon’ of former Practical Classics deputy editor Keith Moody. It’d clearly spent some years in…

You will need Soft mallet, copper grease, manifold-to-downpipe gasket, penetrating oil, exhaust assembly paste, clamps and hangers. Prior lubrication Ideally, treat all threads a joints a dose of penetrating oil the day before you start work. Use the right clamps Exhaust clamps come in specific diameters. Make sure you have the right sizes for each joint. Original quality OEM mild steel exhaust systems are usually the most refined… if you can find one. Removing an exhaust is often viewed as an unwelcome DIY job. It’s very simple in principle, but it can be awkward in execution. You’re bound to have to do it on occasion for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, you’ll just want to replace a single exhaust section that’s corroded. Or maybe you’ve decided to splash out on…

You will need Trolley jack, axle stands, oil pan, metric spanners, long lever, oil can. Shock absorbers Bounce each corner of the car to check the function of the shock absorbers. It should rebound once then stabilise. Tyres Check for wear, damage and age-related deterioration. Investigate uneven wear. Pressures vary between models – check your manual or handbook. Diesel engines The 205 was also fitted with the PSA Group’s super-reliable XUD diesel in 1769cc and 1905cc forms. Non-engine servicing requirements are the same as the XU petrol models. Parts and support Everything you need for routine maintenance is available online or through mainstream motor factors. Prices are extremely reasonable. No specialist tools are required for servicing jobs. What’s it like to work on? Access to the power unit and most…

I bought this car in January 2013. The guy selling it lived in Shewsbury – I paid him £1800 and thoroughly enjoyed the drive home. It’s the second one I’ve had, so I am familiar with both the pitfalls and pleasures of the little French rocket. My father owned a 1.9 GTI when I was very young, so I have vivid memories of that, and I have loved 205s ever since. It is a really useable classic, with all the benefits of a normal 205 just with added speed and fun. The overall design and look and the frantic fun it gives make it addictive. And the Peugeot smell… it must be something to do with the glue used at the factory. I love the fact that 205s are so…

 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.…

The Story of the Austin 3 Litre ISBN 971-1-5272-0766-0 £9.95 Packed with even more 3-Litre loveliness than our feature on p63, Neil Kidby’s book commemorates 50 years since the car’s launch. The story is lavishly-illustrated including previously unseen images. austinthreelitre.co.uk Cortina: The Story of Ford’s Best Seller ISBN 978-1-787111-00-4 £27.50 A genuinely interesting tome, this is the definitive history of a class-defining car. Over 180 photographs are complemented by facts and figures alongside captivating storytelling. A must-read. veloce.co.uk Jaguar XJR-9 ISBN 978-1-7852-111-33 £25 Haynes’ technical know-how, – including cutaways and anatomy – is supplemented with driver interviews and the history of the development and on-track success of these legendary race cars. haynes.com…

Bedford and the Blitz The Bedford CF was a case of a ‘Vauxhall’ also sold as an Opel – in some countries outside of the UK, it was badged as the rather awkwardly-named Opel Bedford Blitz. When dropped in 1979, the CF was the last purely Vauxhall-designed vehicle in production. Capri changeover It’s more difficult to tell the difference between a MkII and MkIII Capri from the rear than from the front, where the quad headlamps and smoother bodywork of the newer model give the game away. The wraparound bumpers are the big clue at the rear. Cortina trap After the fake wood of earlier MkIIIs, the plush 2000E returned to real wood in the cabin, in this case teak. Other bonuses were deep pile carpets and Savannah nylon upholstery.…

Trouble-free BL cars Reading Danny’s White Arrows saga about his 820E reminds me of the 820 I bought in 1988. It was a fantastic car that sadly became a write-off after 102,000 trouble-free miles. I had always had BL cars before that, starting with a Morris 1800. Then a 1978 Princess, a 1982 Ambassador 2.0 HLS and then a 1984 MG Montego 2.0 EFi. All the cars did big mileages and none gave me any problems. I have nothing but praise for them. Mr Haverson, Suton, Norfolk MOT MADNESS I find it tough to comprehend how anyone can think that the ending of a statutory annual safety test can be anything other than a ticking time bomb. It will take one car, causing a ‘fatal’ through component failure after a…

My Mum owned an FC Victor. It was fast and comfortable – the first 100mph car we had. Philip Ohara My dad had a FE 3300 SL estate. One snowy New Year he lost control going down a hill and hit a parked Reliant Robin that ended up on a Cornish hedge. Due to trouble getting spare parts from Vauxhall the car was only returned from the garage in May! Lee Wagland I had a 1969 Victor in the Eighties. It cost £140, was hand painted blue and I bought it from a man in Luton. I thought it was fabulous. One of the few cars that I managed to sell on. Most of the stuff I’ve owned have been on their last legs. John Hill Had a Ventora FE…

Hindustan Ambassador I found these in Fort Kochi, Kerala, India. A diplomatic corps of Ambassadors indeed. Niall Campbell, by email 1970 Austin Maxi 1750 This Maxi was at The Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne in Kent. It’s well travelled judging by all the stickers. Kai Bailey, Kent Morris 1800 Rally Car Spotted this ex-endurance event Landcrab in a Filton carpark, Bristol. Gwen Williams, Blaenavon 1968 E-Type This E-type looks to still be in regular use around Buxton, in Derbyshire. Excellent! P R Rowlinson, by email Lada Niva This rusty old tub is a Lada Niva. Despite looking a little decrepit, it’s still in regular use in Cala Galdana, Menorca. Richard Yarwood, by email 1964 Amphicar This is often seen out and about - here pictured in Gloucester. I’ve never…

‘Does this mean that our entire capitalist society has gone stark raving crazy?’ Someone presumably capable of eating, breathing and rational thought has just paid £65,000 for the engine and otherwise incomplete remains of a Ford Escort, and a printed card. Is this not, you may ask, living proof that the classic car market – or indeed our whole capitalist society – has gone stark raving crazy? There is of course the counter and indeed true argument that the buyer could do what they want with their 65,000 British big ones, but surely some of it could have gone on professional restoration of a rare BMC Farina variant or irrigating some African villages. Of course, what the internet auction bidder was actually transferring the large sum of cash to the…

Volvo 144 This 144 – found by Paul Undery in a carpark in Finland – has sat there since 2005. Sovereign Series I in a Cardiff back lane. It obviously hasn’t moved in quite a while. Fiat X1/9 A garage in Newcastle upon Tyne had Max Black reaching for his camera when he spotted this Fiat X1/9. It’s been off the road for 10 years. Rolls-Royce 20/25 This shabby but complete Rolls-Royce 20/25 dates from 1932. The car retains its fold-back roof, but the ornate B-pillars and accompanying small doors make the unusual coachbuilding stand out. Morris Cowley Bullnose His Bullnose Morris is in poor condition and is ripe for restoration. The collector is an elderly man with a love for all classics. Morris Minor A local collector owns this…

REVIEW Feeling hot, hot, hot Sale of the season so far at ACA’s August special A hot Saturday on a Bank Holiday weekend sent ACA’s usual spectators to lick ice cream at Hunstanton, so there was room to move and those there had their buying shirts on. Over 80 per cent of a good line-up of 198 cars sold, and for good prices, too. Bargains were few and far between, so we’ll focus on a couple of standout results, like the 1963 Sunbeam Rapier S3A that sold for £12,810 against an admittedly underplayed £6000-£7000 estimate. Restored between 2007 and 2012 by a Rootes specialist, using some super-rare new steel panels, this was one of the nicest we’ve ever seen. So while the price looked high, you’d struggle to restore one…

Craig Cheetham There was a time when having three children seemed like a good idea. Indeed, I remember it well. My wife told me: ‘I’d like another’, and from that day on a good idea it was. Much as I love my boys, though, they have meant making compromises. Not only am I forced to eat chicken nuggets at least once a week and listen to One Direction on road trips, but it has also meant that I have put my days of sports car ownership behind me. It also makes one of my beloved Rover hatchbacks a bit of a squeeze, which is far more upsetting to someone who drools over pictures of MG ZSs rather than MGBs. Throw a semi-resident mother-in-law into the mix, and adequate family transport…

1971 Saab 96 V4 Engine 1498cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 65bhp@4700rpm Torque 85lb ft@2500rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 16.5 sec Top speed 93mph Fuel economy 29mpg Work done Rust busted, brake system overhauled. Also in James’s garage 1971 CITROËN D SPECIAL Behaving impeccably. 1988 CITROËN CX 22 TRS Some chicken soup has come out of the engine. 2004 SMART ROADSTER Cutting out again. ‘The bodywork is now shiny, sealed and really solid’ Pity the poor hamster-faced Swede. It has been sat forlornly outside the Practical Classics workshop since June 2016. I bought it in a frenzy of excitement from a couple I met at last year’s Beaulieu Spring Autojumble but was soon distracted by other projects. The shabby V4 has had its restoration on hold but now the time has come for a…

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 Engine run up to temperature, cooling duct fitted, air duct and filter box fitted. Pleasure and pain, no loss no gain, so they say. Last month I felt the pain when I failed to get my Peerless’ engine running. My mind spent a weekend mulling over what I’d potentially done wrong during the rebuild. By the Monday after the failed Friday I had psyched myself up to go through the engine timing from scratch again. I began by checking all the rocker valve clearances. All good. My TDC and rotor arm timings seemed good, too. Perhaps I would have to remove the timing chain and…

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 Sewing machine, thread, fabric, straight-edge, try-square, chalk, scissors, superglue, stapler, staple gun, silicone spray. Standardise Use the least-worn front seat as a pattern for them both. Take photos Take photos and make sketches as you dismantle the covers. You need to replicate the construction exactly. Staplers Use an office stapler to pre-assemble fabric while you sew. A staple gun will attach fabric to a wooden frame – or use tacks if appropriate. The cloth panels commonly fitted in the centres of classic car seats often wear out long before the vinyl that supports them. Replacing this cloth ‘facing’ and reusing the vinyl ‘boxing’ is a relatively simple DIY job. It’ll save you the spacial awareness challenges of retrimming the seats from scratch and it’ll help to preserve…

If your club’s contact details have changed, please let us know! A  750 MOTOR CLUB 01379 741641, 750mc.co.uk AC OWNERS’ CLUB 07768 363250, acownersclub.co.uk AMERICAN AUTO CLUB (UK) 0845 644 0345, americanautoclubuk.com AMBULANCE PRESERVATION SOCIETY southambpres.wordpress.com CLASSIC AMERICAN AC (GB) 020 8286 1120, classicamericanautoclub.co.uk/ PRE -’50 CLASSIC AMERICAN 01530 831170, pre50aac.com AEC SOC aecsociety.com ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA REGISTER giulietta.com ALFA ROMEO OC aroc-uk.com ALLARD OWNERS’ CLUB allardownersclub.org ALVIS OWNER CLUB alvisoc. org ALVIS REG 01509 412289, alvisregister.co.uk ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY OC 01225 723809, siddeley.org A-SERIOUS (A-SERIES ENGINED CARS) http://aserious.freeforums.org ASSN OF OLD VEHICLE CLUBS OF N IRELAND 028 9146 7886, aovc.co.uk ASTON MARTIN OC 01865 400400, www.amoc.org AUDI 100 COUPÉ S CLUB GB 01702 461513 audi100coupes.angelfire.com AUDI OC 07788 588449 , audiclub.co.uk CLUB AUDI…

Wheeler’s Deal This year’s NEC Classic Motor Show will host the world premiere of the new series of Wheeler Dealers, introducing Mike Brewer’s new co-host and lead mechanic Ant Anstead. The first episode will air on Saturday November 11 for 200 guests in an after-hours screening at the NEC, and the pair will be on stage there across the weekend. Tool time on the Resto Stage Practical Classics’ own school of spannerers will be dishing out top restoration advice and tips on the Restoration Stage. Michael Coman of restoration specialist Gilbert-Michaelson will be providing know-how, supported by PC’s online tutorial service. Go to skillshack.co.uk for details. Bidding for NEC victory Silverstone Auctions will return to the NEC this year with more than 100 classic vehicles in its auctions on both…

If you’re building a hot rod or you just fancy catching up with like-minded enthusiasts, the National Street Rod Association’s Northern Swapmeet will be right up your street. The NSRA’s Hannah Thomas comments: ‘The NSRA’s end-of-season Northern Swapmeet and Autojumble is the perfect chance to buy and sell a wide range of new, used and vintage cars and accessories. It’s the ideal opportunity to find that part you need for your winter hot rodding project or have a workshop clear-out.’ It’ll be held at Magna in Rotherham (S60 1DX); doors open at 9.30am and entry is just a fiver (£3 for NSRA members). More at nsra.org.uk…

We can’t be doing with any classic car snobbery here at PC, which is one of the reasons why we love what Ian Macaulay has done with the New Unnamed Classic Car Group. Set up in 2013, anything is welcome and the variety of cars at the recent monthly meet was intoxicating. Over 100 cars turned up, with a MR2 MkI and MG Magnette alongside early Thunderbird and a sweet Triumph Renown. Meets take place on the A451 near Stourbridge. Find out when the next meet is on at thenewunnamed  classiccargroup.co.uk…

Cleaning and preparing my R8 Gordini block to start the rebuild. Robert Huysamen Trying to fit the exhaust on my Jensen Interceptor! David Robins Collected my Reliant 850 block and head from Cambridge Rebores ready to start the rebuild for my Historic 750 Clubman car. Jonathan McKeggie Currently doing a body off restoration on my TR4A. Daniel Muxlow Just touching up a bit of windscreen black trim on my Renault 5. Dave Bishop I’m trying to get my Volvo painted so I can eject it and bring my Mini in for a long-awaited restoration. Andrew Hill…

Do you remember George Eyles? In the Seventies he was the chief examiner for the Institute of Advanced Motorists, or IAM, which offered tuition in more skilful driving. If you passed its test, you could put the IAM badge on your radiator grille and everyone would know you were a smooth, swift, thoughtful driver, calm and capable with finely-honed skills of anticipation. It was a badge of honour. The IAM produced a series of films featuring George at the wheel, talking about the unfolding hazards and how to handle them. One, made in 1963, involved a drive along the A4 from London to Bath, mostly a single-carriageway road through towns back then. He drove a Jaguar Mk2 with great calmness but a decent turn of speed when the opportunity arose.…

Fifty years ago, at the London Motor Show, the Austin 3 Litre was unveiled. A problem child, already years behind schedule, it had been eschewed by BMC’s chief engineer, Alec Issigonis, at an early stage. If the car had not been championed by BMC chairman George Harriman, the 3 Litre may not have seen the light of a Warwickshire sky at all. But a troubled birth was followed by a very short life. The last luxury Austin had to see off two dynamic new launches from within the same group… Jaguar’s XJ6, Rover’s P6 V8 were both available within 12 months. Sales were poor and the whole AD061 project was over by the end of May 1971 with fewer than 10,000 cars produced. The Cowley production line was needed for…

‘This particular XJ-S was obviously quite a special car ’ Just over three months ago a PC reader asked me to advise a friend of his who had inherited a car his father had owned from new. I was happy to oblige – there’s nearly always an interesting story attached to such requests. This was quite a sad one: the son had a lot of sentimental attachment to the car. It was a rare early (as in gearbox No. 00002) manual XJ-S in ‘Saintly’ white that his father had bought in 1977. The car was always well cared for and never taken out in the wet. As it lived in the West Midlands that might explain how it had only clocked up 57,000 miles in 40 years. Living in a…

1982 E28 5-Series floorpan adopted, which means better handling. There’s a new interior and the 635 gets a revised engine. 1985 Twin-cam M635 CSi arrives. It looks much like any other 6-Series but is much more complex. Also, the 628 CSi gets ABS as standard. 1987 Top-specification 635 CSi Highline appears, packed with electronic gadgetry and lashings of leather and luxury items. 1988 Redesigned headlights and climate control. Within a year the 6-Series is replaced (sort of) by the costly 8-Series.…

Danny Hopkins Now that I have furnished my dad with a rather excellent Jaguar X350 (Bangernomics, PC August 2017), he, in return, has donated the family Vauxhall Omega to the PC fleet. Generous chap. I’ve known this car for several years and, as such, it means rather a lot more to me than the average midlife motor. I have driven it on holiday, had a look over it when problems have occurred ,and been taxied around in the back of it after a couple of ales (on more than several occasions). It is a 2003 3.2-litre V6 Elite and comes with many toys, much leather and a boot spoiler. It’s even fitted with a Bose sound system, which beats anything I’ve got at home. After five weeks serving in the…

1993 Mini City E Engine 998cc/4-Cyl/OHV Power 40bhp@5000rpm Torque 50lb ft @2500rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 17.9sec Top speed 80mph Fuel economy 49mpg Work done Welding… and lots of it. New front end; shell stripped bare. Also in Matt’s garage 1969 MORRIS MINOR TRAVELLER Still going strong and out and about most days. 1994 ROVER 111 Deposit taken, so now I can use the funds to push on with the Minor saloon project. Introduced this project last month as the stage car for this November’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor show at the NEC. It’ll be a replica of Mr Bean’s 1977 Applejack Green Mini. It has the provenance of being owned by the Atkinson family and, as such, fits with the show’s theme of ‘Family Ties’. A long list of…

1992 Talbot Express Engine 1905cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 68bhp@4600rpm Torque 89lb ft@2400rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph Really? Top speed 75mph Fuel economy 35mpg Work done Bought and used. Sloppy engine mounts diagnosed. Also in Matt’s garage 1971 VW KARMANN GHIA Now sold and heading east for a new life in Poland. 1997 BMW 318IS Not seen much action lately due to Triumph endeavours. In my previous Staff Car Saga ( PC , October 2017) I told you about the holiday in Scotland that my partner Abby and I recently enjoyed on board my trusty 2000. What I didn’t tell you was that during our trip we were also inspired to make a vehicular purchase that differed ever-so slightly from my usual fare that graces these pages. While camping in Glencoe we witnessed…