Table of contents for June 2018 in Practical Classics

‘Everything we do is laced with danger’ You don’t have to get much beyond emptying the ashtray on your classic car to be suddenly at real risk of arc eye; a slipped disc; dermatitis; mental breakdown; and a slow, lingering death from lead poisoning. Everything is terribly dangerous, isn’t it? That tool catalogue in the downstairs toilet may look like a smorgasbord of practical delight but it is in fact a cornucopia of dangers, plying you with all the apparatus for self-harm at hitherto-unseen low prices. Saint B&Q, the patron saint of laceration by power tool, is celebrated every Easter when A&E units are clogged with grit-laden eyes, bleeding digits and battered crania. It’s all too frightening for words. The thing is, though, absolutely everything is laced with danger. We…

Took the ‘Lowlight’ Morris Minor on a scenic tour of Oxford’s landmarks before our trip to Paris (see p62). Saw the unveiling of the Classic Oils rebrand to ‘Fuzz Townsend’s Classic Oils’ at Bicester Heritage on DID. Stopped for a case of Good Old Boy from the West Berkshire Brewery and checked out its Minor pick-up. Visited the Hagerty stand with the Westminster on Drive It Day and bumped into PC’s Russ Smith. Enjoyed a relaxing weekend away with my classic caravan in rainy North Yorkshire.…

SVW Spares Ltd relaunch Hull-based MG, Morris and Wolseley specialist SVW Spares is under new management. New manager Tony Norris told PC: The business is going through a complete revamp presently with an exciting relaunch due for late summer.’ The firm specialises in all aspects of restoration of MG SA VA and WA cars, including full body frames, panelwork, mechanical and electrical work and interior trimming. svwspares.co.uk Autopsy engines wanted Do you have an interesting engine that we could borrow, sensitively disassemble, clean, photograph for our Engine Autopsy series and give back as a box of bits? If so, please contact sam.glover@practicalclassics.co.uk.…

The Beaulieu spring autojumble gives you the chance to buy parts to get that project back on the road. But the best reason to go is to catch up with the PC team and our latest acquisitions. The Morris Minor’s 70th birthday is set to be celebrated with 300 examples on display, and on the Saturday the museum’s 1950 BRM V16 is set to be started up after its painstaking restoration. On the Sunday it’s the Land Rover Rummage and Trunk Traders section. The date? May 19-20; more at beaulieu.co.uk .…

The MR2 Drivers’ Club is pushing the boat out with a multi-club event for all Toyota fans this year. MR2 DC chairman Darren Letts says: ‘We’ve run our national day at Hatton Country World for the last few years and the event has become extremely popular. But this year we’ve decided to open up the day to other Toyota groups, in particular those aimed at the Celica and Supra. There will be a show and shine and we’ll be raising cash for the Royal British Legion.’ The day takes place on June 3; for more log on to mr2dc.com.…

‘Mr Bowen chose a 3.3 Cresta for his brief flight’ The class of the field! BMW’s new saloon changed the company forever from 1961 – until then, they’d been building expensive luxury machines and bubble cars… this one filled a massive gap. But even great cars get scrapped in the end, don’t they? The Griffin flies! T-Bone Bowen was going at quite a lick – that’s 3000lb of Luton’s finest soaring over the scrappers. The comfy suspension must have compressed a bit when it hit the ramp, hence the cloud of smashed underseal and rust. Here’s an old lag… It’s probably between this and the A35 for the oldest crock in the line, because the Series III Oxfords like this one had been around since 1956. Nearly 20 years was…

Where did you go on Drive-it-Day? Had a fab day at Cowley’s Drive It Day Meet celebrating 50 years of BL. Tom Morley The Stilton Run. Uppingham to Stilton… 350 cars and sunshine. Every parking space in Uppingham was full. Neil Jervis Santa Pod for GTI festival. Chris Burt Drove from Castleford down to Lincoln after collecting the Manta from having a bit of paint fettling done. Steve Hancock Took my ‘98 Jeep Cherokee to pick up a ‘97 project Alfa 916 Spider. Hope to get it through an MoT in time for some sunshine! Andrew Sharp Devon Vintage Car Club meet in Ivybridge. Nick Nakorn Saw loads around the roads of mid-Essex… such an encouraging sight! Philip Chidlow I took a 300km trip down the coast. I use to…

For a supposedly lightweight car, the 3.0 CSL packs in the heavyweight luxury, with figure-hugging leather bucket seats and a dashboard of oh-so-Seventies pale wood. Stripped down it definitely isn’t. Neither is it claustrophobic, with its expanses of glass punctuated by the slimmest of pillars. There’s a lot of power on tap, and it’s accessed easily – the clutch is lighter than expected and the ZF gearbox, while mechanical in feel, snicks easily through its four ratios. The steering feels almost too light at times, but the tightness of the handling overcomes the oversteer. Enormously charismatic, superbly effective.…

Ukraine owed me £2400. Exactly how this came about was detailed in the May issue of Practical Classics . In short: Ed Hughes and I had been obliged to pay a bond of £2400 to drive a Zaporozhets 968M across Ukraine. When we tried to exit into Poland, customs officials explained that they could give us our money back and let us out of the country, but not in that order. They claimed they’d pay up if I presented my papers at the main customs office in Lviv within a year. Ed and I suspected that this was simply a ruse to get rid of us. Nevertheless, I thought I’d give it a go. Lviv is a nice place. At worst, I figured, I’d get a short and weird holiday…

REVIEW British victory Traditional classics excel at Brightwells If we brought anything away from Brightwells latest sale at Bicester on April 11, it was clear confirmation of what the market wants this year. As with almost everywhere else, expensive cars – by which I mean north of £50k – are with a few exceptions proving hard to shift. But grassroots classics in top order are in demand, so prices are on the up. The car everyone went home talking about was a 1969 Minor Traveller with just 300 miles since a fastidious restoration. Estimated at £9700-£11,500, it more than doubled that to sell for £23,520. Yes, really. However amazing this car was, that’s still a heck of a lot of readies. We also saw further evidence that MGBs are on…

Matt George PRODUCTION EDITOR 1971 Triumph TR6 Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 104bhp@4500rpm Torque 146lb ft@2000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 10.7sec Top speed 109mph Fuel economy 28mpg Work done Rear inner arches painted; calipers fitted; engine oilway plugs fitted. Also in Matt’s garage 1992 TALBOT EXPRESS A weekend away is coming up. 1993 PEUGEOT 205 JUNIOR A set of four fresh tyres has improved the handling. The TR engine build is coming along, although progress was held up for a few weeks while I prepared the car itself for a trip to the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show at the NEC in March. My dad Keith and I had a great time working on the car on the PC stand and plenty of progress was made. We stripped down the…

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. BRAKES Should I use silicone fluid? Q What are the advantages of silicone brake fluid?…

The overhead valve layout is common to most classic engines. The valves are mounted ‘overhead’ in the cylinderhead, but they’re operated indirectly by a camshaft in the block. An overhead cam engine has its camshaft(s) in the cylinderhead. A sidevalve engine has its camshaft and valves in the block. 1. Camshaft Driven by a chain or gears from the crankshaft, the camshaft rotates at half the crankshaft speed. There’s an egg-shaped lobe for each valve. The lobe pushes its tappet up as it rotates. 2. Tappet The tappet rides up and down on the lobe. It acts as an interface between the cam and pushrod, saving wear and contributing to smooth motion. Hydraulic tappets incorporate automatic valve clearance adjustment. 3. Pushrod The long, rigid pushrod transmits motion from the tappet…

You will need Blowtorch, sanding and polycarbonate discs, rotary wire brush, hammers and dollies, panel degreaser, microfibre cloths, tinning paste and brush, lead sticks, paddles, tallow, gloves and respirator, bicarbonate of soda (optional). Torch type The best tool for lead-loading is a basic gas blowtorch, as it gently heats a wide area. A propane torch can also be used – or specialist nozzles can be bought for oxy-acetylene sets. Sealing qualities Lead creeps into seams, both sealing and strengthening them. It’s also perfect for filling pinholes around screen apertures or gutters, as it’ll seal out moisture. Careful prep Only apply lead to a perfectly rust-free surface. Use a rust remover, then prepare it using abrasive paper and a rotary wire brush. Anyone who tells you that filler wasn’t used in…

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…

An Austin Anthology £14.99 ISBN 978-1-787111-91-2 A mix of tales documenting the early days of the Austin empire, from the Austin heir killed by a German sniper during WWI to the Austin bi-plane you could keep in your garage… this really is a fascinating read. veloce.co.uk The Good, The Mad & The Ugly £14.99 ISBN 978-1-787111-84-4 This book takes a look at what the author considers the golden age of motoring journalism – the last two decades of the 20th century. We meet industry moguls and unusual motoring journalists in this humorous page-turner. veloce.co.uk The MG T-Series £13.49 ISBN 978-1-4456734-8-6 A class above the rest, the MG T-series is immediately recognisable. In this book, John Nikkas describes the technical developments and BMC’s competing interests throughout their production. amberley-books.com…

WED, MAY 16 WORCS Black Plate Wednesday at Shelsley Walsh, WR6 6RP (shelsleywalsh.com). SAT, MAY 19 LONDON Waterloo Classics gathering, SE1 7RG (waterlooclassics.com). FRI-SUN, MAY 18-20 YORKS North Yorkshire Triumph Weekend, TS13 5EB (nytw.org.uk). SUN, MAY 20 LONDON Classic & Cake at Duke of London, TW8 8AT (dukeoflondon.co.uk). SURREY Breakfast Club at Brooklands, KT13 0QN (brooklandsmuseum.com). BUCKS Chiltern Hills Classic Vehicle Rally, HP22 4NN (facebook.com/ChilternHillsRally). DERBYS Crich Tramway Museum Classic Transport Gathering, DE4 5DP (tramway.co.uk). NORTHANTS Denton Classic Vehicle & Family Fun Day, NN7 1DQ (face-book.com/DentonShow). SUSSEX Southern Classics Society Breakfast Meet at Roedean Café, BN2 5RL (southern-classics.org.uk). SHROPSHIRE Classic car breakfast meeting at Alderford Lake, SY13 3JQ (tinyurl.com/ybghzjg2). SAT, MAY 26 LINCS Lincoln Autojumble, Caenby Corner, DN21 5TJ (lincolnautojumble.com). SAT-SUN, MAY 26-27 GLOS La Vie en Bleu and La…

Q How did your car career begin? ‘My career started in 1946 as an apprentice at BMC under the guidance of my uncle, Harry Musgrove. Working through the ranks of management I ended up running Bathgate, the giant BMC truck plant and stayed in Truck and Bus until Michael Edwardes promoted me to Manufacturing Director of Austin Morris.’ Q You were in the thick of it at BL cars. What was it like? ‘On my first day in the job at Austin Morris I was handed four pages of disputes and layoffs. The Car Division’s efficiency was just 65 per cent and quality of the current Austin Morris products was poor. What had been seen as normal by previous management was no longer tolerated and this culminated in the well-publicised…

‘It’s people, stories, and at this event, skills that make the classic movement’ Apart from the feelings of deep inadequacy from being surrounded by so many people with great skills, the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show left me with a happy new insight into the old car movement. I’d always missed the show due to my dubious presence being required elsewhere, but this year I had scrawled ‘day off’ in my diary. I was determined to have a relaxing trip, even deciding to forsake the usual hours stuck on an M6 slip road and go by rail. The cost of the fare suggested that the Flying Scotsman or Mallard would be steaming into the station to pick us up rather than a diesel railcar containing the entire population…

Bentley Mulsanne Turbo R First a pair of enormous early Eighties luxury-barges including this Bentley Mulsanne (or Turbo R) with slatted grille. Rolls-Royce Silver Spur These were all seen along a nondescript side street in the city of Khobar in the Eastern Province. In the front of the queue is a scruffy white Rolls-Royce Silver Spur (LWB Spirit). Rolls-Royce or Bentley Eight Another one languishes across the road, although with no badges or grille we can’t tell if its the Roller or Bentley version. Mohammed doesn’t know much about the cars but thinks they belong to a local guy who buys a replacement car each time something goes wrong. Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow The other theory is that they belonged to an expat working in the oil industry who loved Rolls-Royce…

‘What did I think about buying a car from the USA? Unseen!’ There’s an odd but, it has to be said, slightly warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from inspiring someone. But at the same time, it can prove very nerve-wracking. Late last year, a friend pinged me an email to say he’d just read a piece I’d done on best buys of the many generations of Merc SLs. He’d even shown his wife and they had come to the agreement that buying one was a good idea, and not just because she doesn’t really like the MGA I helped him find a few years back. But he was cagey about exactly which model they were going for, so it had to be followed up with a call. To my…

1972 Triumph 2000 Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 135bhp (estimated) Top speed 114mph Work done New 75amp alternator fitted. It has been a quiet year so far on the 2000 front. You can blame the TR6 for that… however, I did find time to address a minor niggle. Rather embarrassingly, I’d been forced to call out the AA just before Christmas when the car, ahem, failed to proceed after I went to liberate it from the lock-up. The issue was ultimately traced to an ailing alternator, so the search was on for a suitable replacement unit. Fellow Club Triumph member Andy Thompson mentioned in passing that he’d had good results with a pattern Lucas A127-type model from Auto Electric Supplies, so that was my first port of call. Best of all, the…

For an engine with a tricky start in life, the Peugeot Renault Volvo (PRV) V6 enjoyed much success. It was planned as a V8 from 1971, but the Seventies energy crisis caused the amputation of two cylinders. This left an oversquare aluminium wet-liner overhead-cam V6 with the V8’s 90° angle between its cylinder banks. It was launched in 1974 and the first generation powered the Volvo 262C, 264, 265 and 760, Renault 30, Peugeot 504 and 604, Delorean DMC-12, Alpine A310 and Talbot Tagora. The second generation gained an even firing order and fuel injection, and powered the Volvo 780 and 960, Renault 25, Espace, Laguna and Safrane, Peugeot 505 and 605, Alpine A610 and GTA, Lancia Thema, Dodge Monaco, Eagle Premier, all the Venturi models and the Citroën XM.…

You will need Screwdrivers, spanners, sockets, large hammer, 1000-grit wet-and-dry paper, insert bearing puller (possibly). Get a proper charger An old-fashioned battery charger is a far better tool for the job than a ‘trickle’ charger. Remember that it can take up to three days to fully charge a totally flat battery. Buy decent bearings When ordering new bearings, spend a little more on sealed-for-life types marked ‘2RS’. Brush adaption In the unlikely event that you can’t get the right brushes, buy larger ones and carefully file them down. The dynamo’s often thought of as the alternator’s decrepit elder sibling. Before you rush out to upgrade, though, remember that most classics put very little strain on their charging systems. They’re used occasionally on longish runs in daylight – the perfect dynamo…

Classic recreation On September 29, 1968 Tyseley Steam Depot opened its doors to the fublic for the first time with a fantastic display of steam locomotives. Exactly fifty years later on September 29-30, the museum aims to recreate the atmosphere of that event and celebrate 50 years of open days at the depot. We will be there to support the event and you can to, by bringing your pre-1968 classics. Visit vintagetrains.co.uk for more details. Massive Motorfest More than 1000 cars and bikes are set to feature at this year’s Motofest Coventry on June 2-3. Coventry’s motoring heritage will be celebrated with track action and a dedicated classic car and bike display area in the city centre. The event is in its 5th year. Simply visit coventrymotorfest.com for more info.…

Now run by Gemini Events, the Weston Park Easter weekend extravaganza is always a great start to the outdoor season. This year, despite showers over the weekend, around 3500 enthusiasts and 800 cars stuck two fingers up to the weather. Gemini has raised the bar with its events, with live music and a Masterclass that sees previous show winners going head to head. Victory went to the Daimler Dart of Roy Watkiss while Car of the Show was scooped by John Heath with his 1926 Austin 12/4 Clifton – the oldest car to take part in the show. See classicmotorshows.co.uk  for more info.…

The P6 Rover Owners Club currently has over 900 individual members and was established in 1982 to further interest in the maintenance, restoration and use of all P6 models. Membership is open to anyone aged 17 and over and you do not have to own a P6 to become a member. The P6ROC exhibits at the major shows including the NEC Classic Motor Show, NEC Classic Car & Restoration Show and the Manchester Classic Car Show. The P6ROC Northern & Southern National Shows will be held at Crich Tramway Village, Derbyshire on Sunday June 10, 2018 and Brooklands Museum, Surrey on Sunday August 5, 2018. Their 48-page magazine P6 NEWS appears every two months and is the main source for many members. The club’s website also has a ‘P6 Index’…

it was in. A replacement shell was not an option as it wouldn’t have been ‘our’ car. The interior trim is original, apart from a re-trimmed driver’s seat, new headlining and carpets, as is all the chrome and shiny bits on the outside. Brian Steele, via email STANDARD BEARER I totally agree with Matt George regarding keeping a classic as original as possible as its patina is part of its history. I have a Ford Capri MkI that was restored in 2015-16 having spent 28 years in my garage, so you can imagine the state Spill the coffee… It’s Sam Glover’s fault! All was going well as I indulged in a morning coffee while making progress through the Zapor article (PC, May 2018). Then we arrived at the Ukranian border:…

The Grinkle Park heroes During our Winter Warmers run before Christmas we visited Whitby and stayed at the Grinkle Park Hotel. On our first night there we put out on our Facebook page that if anyone fancied a natter then the manager was up for a gathering (Classic Lodges Hotels are very classic friendly like that). However on the night in question temperatures plummeted to minus eight degrees and snow was forecast. So this is a tribute to the plucky owners who did turn up. 1999 BMW 523i John King, Guisborough I commute 30k miles every year and use an older car as they are more engaging to drive and you can work on them. This often means I find myself in a modern classic BMW. I also have had…

1 LATE 1987 Spot the rot It was rampaging rust like this that caused Rick to take the tired BMW off the road. Thin-gauge steel getting thinner still. 2 SUMMER 1988 Bare BMW bones The bare inner structure at East Anglian Sports Cars, after having been shotblasted and etch-primed. 3 SUMMER 1988 Good to go? The engine fresh from Rick’s rebuild. However, it wouldn’t actually power anything for almost 30 years. 4 AUG 2011 Wood is good The interior wood had survived relatively intact, so it was just a case of cleaning and securing it properly back in place. 5 NOV 2016 Engine united The heartstopping moment when the engine and gearbox went in. It wouldn’t go in from the front so had to be carefully squeezed in from the…

Modern cars are amazingly reliable things. This means that owners expect them to work perfectly all the time, and even a minor malfunction becomes a big issue to the customer who expects total dependability. You can picture this mindset at its most extreme: ‘A sidelight bulb has blown twice now, and I’ve lost confidence in the car. It’s clearly not fit for purpose and I demand that the Frantic Motor Company [by which the consumer-savvy buyer actually means the FMC dealer that supplied the car] takes it back.’ You can get a sense of how this new dependency can be a poisoned chalice from the long-term test reports published in new-car magazines. During these extended loans, an entire year’s driving might not even include a service, so huge have the…

‘Soon after setting off, we discovered the 9bhp 2CV’s nemesis: hills’ Seventy years after they were unveiled, here are two cars – the accurate embodiment of their countries of origin – that are nowadays justifiably regarded as two of the most important in automotive history. Both record-breaking best sellers, they were not only an intrinsic part of daily life for millions, they are also culturally significant, having helped mobilise two nations ravaged by a period of worldwide conflict. It is a fortunate coincidence then, both the Citroën 2CV and Morris Minor happen to be adorable to look at, drive and own. Just ask the chaps driving the two cars you see here. Matt Tomkins fell in love with the Minor in his teens and rebuilt himself a Traveller on the…

1966 Ford Cortina 1500 Super Price: £8995 Car is appropriately in super condition. Fitted with 1500GT engine a year ago but also comes with original, matching numbers unit in need of rebuild. 1984 Toyota Celica Supra Price: £2995 One of five demonstration cars with unique interiors. Body solid but needs paint and windscreen. Also comes with its standard wheels. 1959 Austin A35 Price: £4000 Owned for over 21 years but now reluctantly selling due to ill-health. Recent brakes, wheel bearings, exhaust. Car is a show regular and has been fitted with lots of period extras.…

You will need Spanners, socket set, lamp, Tipp-Ex. Oil leaks? Replace any leaking shaft oil seals – it’ll rot the rubber of new the belt. Clean/ derust all pullies. Keep records Note down the dates and mileages of belt, idler and water pump replacements. Check belt Make sure the belt’s teeth are exactly the same as those of the old one. Buy a fresh belt Go to a motor factor and get a brand new belt. New old stock items may have exceeded their shelf-life. The cambelt first saw serial production in a 1962 Glas, but it quickly expanded across the motor industry to become the go-to method of driving an overhead camshaft. It’s a perfect solution from a carmaker’s point of view. It’s silent-running, it needs no lubrication and…

Hinges and catches Lubricate all catches and hinges with oil or aerosol grease. Wipe away excess. You will need Trolley jack and axle stands, oil pan, AF spanners and socket set, screwdrivers, long steel bar or lever, test lamp or multimeter, grease gun, oil can. Suspension dampers Press down on each corner of the car in turn. It should rebound and settle at its original height, without bouncing up-and-down. Tyres Check for damage, wear and deterioration. Recommended tyre pressures: 24psi front and 28psi rear (for standard 155 R13 tyres). What’s it like to work on? Under-bonnet access is spectacularly good. The whole bonnet-and-wing assembly tilts forward to provide a virtually unhindered working space around the engine. Access to the front suspension and steering components is also excellent. No specialist tools…