Table of contents for January 2020 in Practical Classics

I spoke at the Houses of Parliament, highlighting the need for us to celebrate the value of classic vehicles to the UK economy and our green credentials. I helped judge the RAC Awards Restoration category. It was between a Bentley Corniche, Land Rover No. Seven and Jim Clark’s Lotus 80 (which won). Popping into Vauxhall Heritage in Luton, I came face to face with the former Top Gear Astras, now sadly redundant. One day they will be worth a few quid. Childhood dream come true. I met the Sweeney Consul GT, fresh from its restoration, on door guard duties at the NEC. I hadn’t even had my breakfast! Loved the NEC show. Huge and magnificent. Our stand was packed all weekend. Thanks to everyone who stopped to say hello. If…

Eighties races The Historic Sports Car Club has unveiled a new race series. The 1980s Production Car Challenge will include classics such as the Porsche 944, VW Golf and BMW 3 Series. PC at 40 Practical Classics contributors past and present are joining forces to locate former staff project cars to help celebrate the mag’s 40th birthday in 2020. The event – to be held as part of the Beaulieu Spring Autojumble on May 16-17 – will mark four decades of Britain’s biggest hands-on classic car magazine. If you own a former project car from the Practical Classics stable, contact Danny: danny.hopkins@ practicalclassics.co.uk. Peak attraction Plans have been approved by Amber Valley Borough Council for a new attraction commemorating Britain’s motoring history in the Peak District. ‘The Great British Car…

In 1959, Claude Tipper drove a 250cc Bond Minicar from England to Bled in Slovenia. That car is now owned by Nick and Sandra Mander who thought up the idea of marking the 60th anniversary by doing it all again – but this time with another four Minicars along for the ride. Club magazine editor David Miller organised the trip. He comments: ‘We covered more than 2000 miles in three weeks, raising over £2500 for End Polio. We showed that a 60-year old single-cylinder car really can do European touring.’ There’s more at bondstobled.co.uk.’…

S AT, NOV 30 OXON VSCC Winter Driving Tests at Bicester Heritage, OX26 5HA (vscc.co.uk). SUN, DEC 1 SOMERSET Haynes Museum Breakfast Club, BA22 7LH (haynesmotormuseum.com). YORKS Midlands & Yorkshire Classic Car Club’s Classic Car Meet at the Black Swan, Brandesburton, YO25 8RG (eastyorksclassic.com). GLOS Cotswold Classic Car Club Monthly Meet, The Frogmill, Shipton Oliffe, GL54 4HT (cotswoldclassiccarclub.com). BUCKS Milton Keynes Classic Car Club monthly meeting, The Giffard Park, MK14 5QN (tinyurl.com/ yb49pwrf). MON, DEC 2 KENT MG Track Day at Brands Hatch, DA3 8NG (mgs-on-track.com). SURREY Classics at the Duke, Tadworth, KT20 5SL (facebook.com/pg/ classicsattheduke). LONDON BMW & Mercedes Night at the Ace Café, NW10 7UD (london. acecafe.com). TUE, DEC 3 HANTS Test Valley Benz Group monthly meet, for all Mercedes fans (01794 301233). DORSET Transport of Yesteryear monthly…

The products of Vauxhall and Chrysler UK were created in Britain as the Sixties became the Seventies, although Vauxhall did collaborate a little with Opel for the original HA Viva of 1963. The equivalent Opel Kadett shared many of the engineering features, including a metricated version of largely the same engine. Ford of Britain, however, worked ever more closely with its Cologne counterpart as the Sixties progressed, first with 1965’s Transit and then with the Escort and Capri. The MkIII Cortina took this a stage further, with metrication of its measurements and fixings except in UKsourced gearboxes and Kent engines, but also a stage backwards in that the German Taunus versions lacked the Cortina’s curves and looked instead like the precursor to 1976’s Cortina MkIV that they were. As for…

IN THE NEWS The Angry Brigade, a far-left extremist organisation, was responsible for several bomb attacks during the early Seventies. In January, it bombed the Hertfordshire house of Robert Carr, the Conservative Secretary of State for Employment. Nobody was hurt, but Jake Prescott, who’d been jailed for the attack, eventually apologised in 2002 and even sent Carr a Christmas card. AT THE FLICKS As it was on at the Odeon in our Memory Lane photo, let’s look at Bedknobs and Broomsticks. This Walt Disney magical musical wartime fantasy, starring David Tomlinson and Angela Lansbury, was one of 1971’s most successful films, grossing $17.6 million upon release. USA, Corfe Castle in Dorset was used for some scenes. Although largely filmed in the IN THE CHARTS George Harrison emerged from the long…

Making the most of your classic before winter? Yup! Here we are at Redcar, by the sea. Howard Smith I made the most of the last of the summer with a day of rust prevention and an interior swap on my Puma. Perfect tinkering day. Dave Williams UK weather is no problem for me over here in Malibu. Here’s my 1968 Catalina in the morning sun. Marc van Baal Yes. I drove my E30 BMW halfway through a flood. Oops! Luckily it fired right back up once I pushed it out. Daver Houghton Yes! I’ve been out in my Maserati Biturbo before winter strikes. Norman Vickers The Lake district this time of year is gorgeous no matter what you drive or ride. Ian Entwhistle I took my family for a…

Citroën Ami 6 I came across an immaculate Citroën Ami while visiting the Viaduc de Millau last summer. Check out the trailer – wicked! Bill Thomson, Alloa. Toyota Corolla Seen in Porto, Portugal recently. A Deluxe version, it looked to be very well used! Michael Wood, Bury St Edmunds, Ford Fiesta The Fiesta was parked on the street in Callo Millor, Major Adamsca. It looks like a runner. Andrew Adams, Lancashire Opel Ascona I spotted this Ascona while wandering around the port of Lixouri on the island of Kefalonia waiting for a ferry. Colin Homewood, via email Mercedes-Benz W110 A lovely old Mercedes taking a breather outside the Maratim Hotel in Albena, Bulgaria. Chris Davies, Portsmouth 1970 Triumph Vitesse A real classic in daily use locally. The Vitesse was in…

Jaguar XJ-S Vernon Coles spotted this tatty XJ-S in a field at Lacasaidh on the Isle of Lewis. Registered in 1981 and, according to the gov. uk website, has not had an MOT since records were computerised. Jaguar XJ12 HE Kevin McNerney suspects this Jaguar XJ12 HE could be saved, but it’s stood outside for many years. VW Transporter, Ford Escort MkIV Estate & MGB GT Kevin also came across these other classics parked up along a side road in County Kerry; the VW van, Escort estate and MGB GT all look fairly solid and ready for recommissioning. Ford Cortina 1.6XL This from Cyprus, found this in Nicosia by Sean Greenwood. Back in the day, almost all of Cyprus’ cars were UK exports and it’s likely this Cortina was one of…

This is one of those ‘never trust the photos’ tales, that so nearly went very wrong. A good friend I’ve helped to purchase two classics in the past pinged me an email the other day. He was keen on replacing his very tired and boring modern Volkswagen with an older and better-quality German saloon for daily duties, which sounded like a fine idea. He’d even seen such a car coming up in a classic sale very soon. ‘The photos did make the car in question look quite tempting’ There’s always a catch in these conversations, and here it comes. Said friend was on holiday in Scotland; said car was being sold about 500 miles or so closer to the English Channel. Was I by chance going to the sale and…

1959 Opel Rekord Olympia Price: £10,000 Recent import from Portugal, now UK reg’d. Very original, rust-free and in excellent condition. 1700cc, only two previous owners. 1977 Mercedes-Benz 280CE Price: £7950 Exceptional condition with just 102,500 miles. Automatic gearboxbox, recently serviced, MOT until July 2020, private plate included in sale. 1967 Triumph Herald 1200 Price: £1750 Fitted with 13/60 front and alternator upgrade. Lots of new parts but still needs paint and some interior work. Comes with six months’ MOT.…

Richard Myers The Renault Scenic RX4 is a funny old creature, falling firmly into the bracket of ‘just too darned crazy for it’s time’. By that I mean it was either way too early for the buying public or was such a weird concept that nobody really got it. The RX4 is rapidly falling out of living memory, too. I’ve had a few over the years and have always loved the quirky looks, so when I was looking through some photos about a year ago and saw some snaps of our last one on a family holiday, I decided to search out another. The intervening time had dulled the staggeringly huge maintenance bills and the reasons for scrapping it after yet another expensive breakdown. Over a few months we looked…

‘In 2010, I replaced my Jeep Cherokee with a Saab 9-3 SE Sport as I wanted something more economical. Since then, I’ve done 50,000 miles and I’m still in love with the car. I usually get bored of my cars but not this one as it’s comfortable, fast, well equipped, well made, spacious and great to drive. Parts availability is excellent and it’s easy to work on too – I do all of the maintenance myself. I love the looks, ergonomics and low running costs too – what more could I want?’…

James likes... THE OLD ONE The 1999 9-3 I owned was a non-turbo model and was better made than the earlier MkII 900 – aside from the crummy GM floorpan made from metal so thin, it was very un-Saab. I had to fit a steering rack brace to stop the bulkead cracking, too. The 900/9-3 is pleasant enough but to me, it doesn’t come even close to the original ‘78-’94 900. Matt G likes... THE BARGAIN ONE These cars were built for freezing Swedish winters and North American summers – Saab’s two big markets. Build quality and safety are priorities and the 900 excels in most areas. Turbos and V6s are fast, but not too furious, while the 2.0-litre cars are honest and dependable transport, if not exactly capital-F fun…

1972 Triumph GT6 MkIII ‘2500S’ Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 130bhp@5500rpm (est) Torque 140lb ft@3000rpm (estimate) Gearbox 4-speed man + o/d 0-60mph 8sec (est) Top speed 120mph (est) Fuel economy 27mpg Work done Several ‘finishing off’ jobs completed on the GT6 following engine upgrade. Also in Nigel’s garage 1977 RELIANT SCIMITAR GTE I’ve replaced some perished tyre valves and polished its Wolfrace alloy wheels. 2002 BMW 325I TOURING Running beautifully and clocking up plenty of miles. 2006 BMW 318CI COUPÉ Trudi’s daily drive for both commuting and shopping.…

For most people, a 1098cc A-series engine is hardly the stuff of high-octane, adrenalin-fuelled daydreams. But for me? It’s a powerhouse of an engine, capable of adding zest to my newly-recommissioned Minor. In fact, compared to the old 803cc lump that used to live in the engine bay, it’s a rorty revelation. Perhaps I’m getting a bit carried away, but there’s no denying that over two busy days, I have managed to transform the car into something far more eager – and hopefully more usable – with the addition of later Minor running gear. You can thank BMC for that; with minimal modifications, any split screen Series II like mine can be given the mighty power of a Minor 1000. To recap, my car’s 803cc engine started knocking loudly on…

1 Standard machine This is the type of machine we’ll be copying. The frame is robust and rigid, the bottom jaws are fixed and the top ones are forced downwards by two levers in series. The hardened jaws are available separately and cost about £100 for both sets. 2 Jaw sets Shrinker jaws [A] are spring-loaded apart and stretcher jaws [B] are spring-loaded together. As they’re forced together, serrations grip the metal and pull it apart or push it together. The spring-steel loop keeps the top jaws in contact with the lever. 3 Form a plan We’re going to sandwich some scrap 20mm steel to create a chunky frame that’s 46mm wide, with a throat that’s 250mm deep and 200mm high. The G-shape will be 115mm thick…

Winter is a punishing annual pincer movement on the electrical system of any classic car. The starter motor uses extra energy to turn an engine that’s full of cold, viscous oil. Once the engine’s fired-up and running, it’s likely that current-hungry lights, wipers, heater fans and heated screens will all be deployed simultaneously. To add to your electrical system’s woes – and potentially to yours, too – the ageing wires and connectors of the engine bay spend a great deal of time in a light mist of salty spray. It’s rare to suffer a major electrical failure. It’s not in the slightest bit uncommon, however, for a neglected electrical system to very slowly degrade. Lights will get dimmer, wipers slower and heater blowers more pitiful. You may not notice this…

1 All working? Check the function of all electrical equipment – lights, wipers and washers, blower, heated screen, electric radiator fan, horn, etc. Look for dim, slow or intermittent operation and address any faults. 2 Fusebox Take a close look at the fusebox. Turn on everything and let it run for a while, then very carefully feel for any hot spots. Clean hot contacts, fuse ends and fuse clasps to remove high resistance. 3 Light units Faults are caused by corroded or loose bulbs, sockets and earths. Dismantle and clean. Be careful with parts that are old and fragile. Check connectors on the back and in the wiring. 4 Heater fan A sluggish heater fan is probably down to a high-resistance joint. It’s quite current-hungry. Check for a…

Prices are researched from several sources, including clubs, auctions, the trade and advertisements online and in print. 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 full rebuild, but may be driveable and MoT’d. PLEASE NOTE You can’t value any car without seeing it – don’t buy blind. KEY auto: automatic cab: cabrioletcon: convertible est: estate lhd: left-hand drive lim: limousine rwd: rear-wheel drive sal:…

Club Triumph President, Derek Pollock MBE, has passed away after a short illness. He was 93. Derek’s love affair with Triumph TRs began when he bought a TR2 in 1954. That then had to be substituted for a Standard Ten prior to the arrival of his daughter and was then itself replaced by a TR3A. Three more daughters and a Standard Vanguard estate followed before the purchase of his beloved TR4 in 1963. He was to ensure that this car was kept constantly maintained, running and on the road until his death, and indeed, thereafter. It was at around the time that he bought the TR4 that he joined the forerunner to Club Triumph, then duly used the car through the next three decades on a variety of club runs,…

The A40 Farina Club has just celebrated its 40th birthday – and it all took off thanks to this magazine. The group’s Keith Bennett told us: ‘The late Cynthia Hiller founded the club, but it wasn’t until she placed an advert in the newly-launched Practical Classics that things really got going. We’ve now got numerous local meets, including a newly-formed Northern group, plus a national presence at the two big NEC shows each year. Annual membership costs just £17.50 per year, too. More information at a40farinaclub.co.uk.…

If you live in the south west of England and want to expand your social circle, check out Great Western Saabs at facebook.com/ groups/greatwesternsaabs. The group’s David Dallimore told us: ‘We started in 2005 and since then we’ve gained followers around the world; we launched a free online magazine this year (at greatwesternsaabs. co.uk/forfina.html) with features on Saab owners from places as diverse as Hungary, Taiwan and California – plus the UK of course. We have a monthly meet, membership is free and we organise numerous events throughout the year.’…

FORD CORTINA MKIII Two famous problems afflicted the MkIII and MkIV Cortinas when most of them were under the control of company car fleet managers. One was the disintegration of the voided rubber bushes in the rear suspension arms, giving rise to a characteristic rear-end waddle and curious steering characteristics. The other applied to the overhead-cam Pinto engines (early 1600 GT, all later 1600s and all 2000s), which used to destroy their camshaft lobes and clatter loudly. A revised oil-feed system cured it, and brisk business was done in cam-and-feed repair kits. Both problems could still crop up today, but otherwise the Cortina is a simple, robust car. Check for the usual rust, though, and beware that once plentiful secondhand trim bits and pieces are now anything but. HILLMAN AVENGER…

Best seats in the business? Renault seats always looked so comfortable. Mike Fuller The comfiest seats for me were either in my Citroën C5 or Saab 9000. Both were so snug that driving was a pleasure Al Romeo The most comfortable car seats I ever sat on were those in an Austin Maxi. Real luxury. John Mackenzie Vauxhall Carlton 3000 GSI. Comfy, yet great support. Just perfect for an office chair too. Miša Miškov Is it just me who finds nasty slippery leather so much less comfortable and welcoming than moquette or velour? Ian Tisdale Range Rover P38 seats are like big, comfy armchairs. Alfie Ford…

warned me about the snappiness of the aftermarket clutch, the only aspect of the car he’s not happy with. It’s a pig at first, but it’s feisty – after a few goes, I’m loving it. This little belter feels totally fresh and alive. The Pinto delivers plenty of poke in its standard tune, and the non-assisted steering loads up beautifully in the corners. Adrian Slotting between the four gear ratios is such a pleasure I can’t help letting photographer Bob in the passenger seat have a go while I push the pedal. Just once, though – there’s a corner coming up and I want to downshift for maximum fizz and thrust on the exit. This could get very addictive……

Big wheels look cool. So, bigger wheels must look cooler. Not my view, but the view of many car designers, many buyers of new cars and, worryingly, some in the classic fraternity. Sometimes, though, the fixation with big wheels shod with ultra-low-profile tyres can be an aesthetic disaster with absurd results. So, where did the fixation come from? Why were huge wheels and rubber-band tyres ever thought to be a good thing? It certainly didn’t come from motorsport, often the source of a fast car’s visual vibe; racing and rally cars often have plenty of rubber on the road, but they also retain enough sidewall depth to allow the tyres to cope with high-speed surface impacts and the effects of aerodynamic downforce. It comes, so ex-Jaguar designer Ian Callum once…

‘Midgets are far more plentiful than Sprites, but there’s no difference in values between the two. It’s the later cars that are the most sought after and the most valuable, with their 1275cc engines and a proper folding roof. Whatever you buy you’ll pay at least £1500 for a project worth saving. Roadworthy cars start at £3500 – but expect to pay upwards of £5000 for something tidy. The very best cars change hands for £15k or so, but for between £10k and £12k you’ll be able to secure something that’s really very nice.’…

1972 Triumph 2000 Engine 1998cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 84bhp@5000rpm Torque 100lb ft@2900rpm Gearbox 4-speed man + o/d 0-60mph 14.9sec Top speed 98mph Fuel economy 25mpg Work done Knackered front suspension balljoint replaced;rear crossmember welded up, painted and rustproofed. Also in Danny’s Shed 1950 RILEY RMA Needs electrical work and a master cylinder. 1956 RILEY PATHFINDER Chassis welding continues. 1970 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR II Now with refitted Edelbrock carburettor. 1980 RENAULT 14 TS Undercover – decision time. 1998 TOYOTA AVENSIS CDX New wishbone and exhaust fitted. Serviced and cleaned. 2000 VAUXHALL OMEGA 2.5 V6 ELITE Misfire. New plugs, new MAF sensor. No change. Oh dear… 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER 1.8I Hasn’t broken at all.…

1970 Morris Minor Saloon Engine 1310cc/4-cyl/OHV/ supercharged Power 130bhp (Predicted) Torque TBC Gearbox 5-speed manual (Ford Type 9) 0-60mph Untested Top speed Unknown Fuel economy Unknown Work done Engine bottom end assembled. Also in Matt’s garage 1937 AUSTIN SEVEN I’ve been reading John Haynes’ first publication: Building a 750 special and getting inspired… 1960 MINOR CONVERTIBLE Wrapped up warm for winter. 1968 MINI COUNTRYMAN I need a period-correct 998cc engine. Can anyone help? 1969 MINOR CONVERTIBLE Has been on tip-run duties quite a lot recently. 1972 MGB GT Never fails to put a huge smile on my face. 2002 FORD FOCUS Thoroughly rust-proofed and has best heater on the fleet.…

The internal combustion engine requires a separate system for it to start and run on its own. The ubiquitous 6V or 12V electric inertia or 'crash-type' starter was the standard solution for many years. This design [A] END PLATE Four brush holders are mounted to the alloy plate, which also carries a phosphor bronze bush. [B] PINION BRAKE This lives in the end plate, too. Two crescent-shaped plastic segments engage with the pin visible on the end of the armature and are spring-loaded against the end plate. They bring the pinion to a stop in case the starter needs to be engaged again if the engine fails to start first time. [C] CARBON BRUSHES Two insulated brushes make electrical contact between the field windings and the armature’s commutator, and two…

1 Check balljoint Clean old grease and dirt out of the joint. Put the nut back on and manipulate the ball stem. It should be tight, but not seized. As a general rule, if it’s stiff but not rusty, it’ll be good to go again. 2 Apply fresh grease Replace the balljoint if movement is graunchy, the ball’s rusty or rusty water issues from it as it’s moved. If it’s fine, apply some fresh grease. Work it into the joint, then add a little extra on top. 3 Secure the boot Secure the new boot using the clip supplied with it, a very thin cable tie or stainless steel locking wire. Unlike MIG or copper wire, the special stainless wire won’t snap when it’s twisted.…

1 Mark out steel Mark out your main frame sections on your steel plate. Our design didn’t quite fit on our piece of 20mm scrap, annoyingly, so we’ve had to lose some of its alluring curves. The bottom jaws’ mountings, which are in compression, can be built up later. 2 Cut out frame If you lack serious cutting equipment, laminating 6mm steel plate might be a better idea. We’re using oxy-propane to cut our 20mm plate, which isn’t ideal due to the large amount of oxygen it uses. Traditional acetylene uses less oxygen, but is available on a deposit-only basis in small cylinders and can get expensive when cutting. It also demands great respect. Propylene (Pro Fuel) is an ideal safer alternative. Each fuel gas must be used…

Pierre isn’t just fun to drive and use every day, he’s one of the family. He entered our lives in May 1983 after our 1975 2CV Club’s bottom rotted away having spent a salty life on Jersey. I was working in Brighton at the time and needed transport, so I went for a test drive in Pierre and fell in love straight away. I think we paid around £2500 for him, brand new. Although he doesn’t do many miles each day, he makes up for it on 2CVGB Club activities. He soon got his taste for overseas travel with a long trip around the south of France, visiting Monte Carlo, Cannes and Nice in summer 1984, passing very close to his birthplace. He’s been to every world meeting since 1995.…

A collection of 135 classics has been sold by NCM auctioneers in Lancashire. A diverse range of lots included a humble Opel Monza, two Jensen Interceptors, a Ford T bucket conversion, a William Towns-designed Hustler and barn-find Jaguar E-types. Prices were robust – a Range Rover Carmichael Six Wheel conversion, in need of restoration, went for over £10k, for instance. Most of the cars were offered without paperwork and nearly all were in need of, at least, heavy recommissioning.…

Factory-Original MG T-Series £40 ISBN: 978-1-906133-80-1 A detailed guide to correct factory specification and equipment of all models of the MG T-Series cars, from TA to TF1500, including the TA Tickford drophead coupé. herridgeandsons.com The Ford that beat Ferrari £90 ISBN: 978-1-910505-47-2 This book tells the story of the Ford GT40 through a remarkable array of 850 period photographs. This release, coinciding with that of the film Ford v Ferrari, is sure to be on many a Christmas list. evropublishing.com Autopia £14.99 ISBN 978-1-786-49634-8 A fascinating tour of how cars might change in years to come from Gadget Show presenter and former producer of Top Gear, Jon Bentley. The book celebrates motoring heritage while meeting the engineers who are changing cars forever. A really compelling read, it’s…

The traditional season closer at Prescott near Cheltenham offered exactly what we’ve come to expect: a paddock full of American machinery mixed with varied grids across the weekend, with everything from pre-war racers to a fabulous V8-powered Rover SD1. Other high spots included classes for Triumphs and TVRs, a glorious Studebaker Champion coupé on the parade laps and an extremely patinated two-tone 1956 Chevrolet station wagon in the paddock. More at prescott-hillclimb. com.…

The MG Car club is embarking on another long-term restoration project, this time on a 1966 Midget MkII. The car will feature at MGCC events through 2020 and 2021 (including MGLive!, which returns to Silverstone) and will also become a regular in the Club Magazine, Safety Fast!. A stalled project from a South West club member, it has been in the same family since new. Club General Manager Adam Sloman told PC : ‘There is an awful lot of emotion surrounding this car, so we will make sure the restoration is completed to the highest possible standard as a tribute to the family who have owned it from new.’…

Real square At a time when round headlamps were the norm, rectangular units were seen as more prestigious; hence the Deluxe/L Escorts having circular ones and the Super/XL cars going for oblong items. Traveller tourer Has this Clarendin Grey Moggy been to France? A French law passed in 1936 compelled all vehicles built from 1937 to have yellow headlamps. The rule lasted until 1993. Nicely preserved … but not in Johnnie Walker whisky! GJ 2098 was acquired by the London Bus Museum in 1984 and can now be seen at its Brooklands site sporting as-new Thomas Tilling livery. Big screen When opened in 1967, the Odeon Marble Arch (which replaced an earlier cinema) had the largest screen in Britain, at 75ft by 30ft and could seat 1360 people. It closed…

Most memorable breakdown? I helped a guy who had a puncture on an E-type Jaguar on a busy main road in West Wales. He then showed me the collection of handguns he had in the boot. I didn’t ask any questions. Neil Barrett The suspension arm snapped in Bolivia, while I was driving my Citroën 2CV around the world. Chang Luo I broke down in mid-Wales pre-mobile phone era, I lost a coolant hose but found a replacement on a rusty, abandoned Escort MkI. You dont want to know what was used for replacement coolant, but my girlfriend at the time was unimpressed. Pete Smith This is me, changing the rear shock on my VW Polo in Lisbon during day one of a drive home from the Algarve to Suffolk.…

‘It’s one of only two Terras on the road in the country' 1983 SEAT Panda Terra Jack Spokes, Hemel Hempstead This is a version of the Panda that was built for the Spanish market under licence by SEAT. It was bought by a holiday company in Lanzarote and is believed to be one of only two Terras in the UK. I’ve had it about two and a half years, and there were a few mechanical bits that needed sorting when I got it – the breather pipe from the rocker cover was blocked and the gear linkage bushes were knackered. But apart from that, all it has needed is a thorough service, with new plugs and points. It was built as a leisure vehicle, so the open rear body sets…

Interior & driving Stuart was lucky, as the Goodwood interior was in very good condition, except for a small tear in the rear seat. The dealer-fit wooden steering wheel and gear knob were missing, but he found replacements online. It drives like a brand-new car and, back in the day, the 309 GTi was said to handle even better than the 205. Stuart enjoys taking it to shows and Peugeot Sport Club events every year. Bodywork Stuart was lucky, as there was no serious rust on the car. The respray was done professionally and he’s even had the underside painted – Peugeot left it just in primer. The wheels have been fully refurbished with powder-coated anthracite centres. Engine The cambelt had failed on the original engine and the head couldn’t…

In the last issue, we looked at how Ford and the Austin Company were commissioned in 1929 to build a Soviet Detroit. A patch of swampy land became the Gorky Automobile Factory – or GAZ. It was Europe’s biggest car plant and it produced its first Ford Model A clone in early 1932. In 1938, it employed 40,000 workers and built more than 100,000 Model A and B variants. It was post-WWII, however, that things got really interesting – just as they did in on the other side of the Atlantic. Work began on GAZ’s first all-new car as early as December 1941 and continued while the factory suffered nightly visits from the Luftwaffe and built hundreds of thousands of military vehicles. Led by forward-thinking designer Andrey Lipgart, the car…

TR6: FUZZ SAYS Triumph TR6s are fabulous cars to own when they’re in decent shape, but beware, as there are some right old dogs out there masquerading as decent machines. Buy primarily on body and chassis condition, as putting this right will take anything up to 400 hours, if very rough. They commence rusting everywhere that there is a joint or gap, and there are lots of them. Buy the best car that you can, preferably via a Triumph club, and have it professionally inspected before purchase. It will save you a packet.…

WED NOV 27 Brightwells’ Classic & Vintage, Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire. (01568 611122, brightwells.com) WED DEC 4 H&H Classics, The Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, Derbyshire. 01925 210035, handh.co.uk) S AT DEC 7 Classic Car Auctions, Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Leamington Spa, Warks. (01926 640888, classiccarauctions.co.uk) S AT DEC 7 Bonhams, New Bond Street, London. (020 7468 5801, bonhams. com/cars) TUE DEC 10 Barons Auctions’ Christmas Classic sale, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey. (023 8066 8413, barons-auctions.com) S AT JAN 25 Anglia Car Auctions’ classic sale, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. (01553 771881, angliacarauctions.co.uk) FRI JAN 31 South West Vehicle Auctions, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset. (01202 745466, swva.co.uk THU FEB 6 Bonhams, Les Grande Marques du Monde, Grand Palais, Paris, France. (020 7468 5801, bonhams.com/cars)…

Richard Elliott ran Derbyshire-based Saabtec for 20 years until his retirement, but he’s been working on Saabs since 1971. He told us: ‘The NG900 turned out to be a disappointment to most Saab fans, but the original 900 was dated by the time it was replaced, which is why the second-generation model sold in large numbers. It was a car with quite a few shortcomings though, which were generally fixed in the transition to first-generation 9-3. ‘For example, while the NG900 has a heavy cable-operated clutch, the 9-3 has a much lighter hydraulic set-up. The 900 also suffered from poor handling initially but, from late 1996, the suspension was improved, and this was carried over to the 9-3, which also got an improved interior with more comfortable seats. ‘On balance,…

1988 Sterling 825SL Engine 2494cc/6-cyl/OHC Power 151bhp@5800rpm Torque 154lb ft@4500rpm Gearbox 4-speed auto 0-60mph 10sec Top speed 120mph Weight 1435kg Work done Oil change; numerous pieces of trim reattached. Also in James’s garage 1985 CITROËN CX GTI TURBO Welding almost complete. 1988 CITROËN CX 22TRS Service done. Sweet as a nut. Love this car so much! 1989 SAAB 900 Work required for an MOT. Look out for the full story in PC, February 2020. 2004 SMART ROADSTER Judging by damp carpets, rainwater is getting in……

1968 Tatra T2-603 Engine 2472cc/V8/OHV Power 108bhp@4800rpm Torque 125b ft@4000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 18sec Fuel economy 24mpg Work done Car recovered to friend Tim Bishop’s place for repair. Also in Ian’s garage 1938 TATRA T97 Engine, gearbox and car are in different locations. 1996 TATRA T613-4 MILONG M95 My ‘youngtimer’ with bespoke 4.3-litre engine upgrade. 1997 RANGE ROVER 4.6 HSE LPG-converted workhorse just back from a 7000-mile holiday in Somerset and Devon. Running (and towing) well, but paint now scruffy.…

There are five things you can do to a flat sheet of metal to transform it into a car body panel: cut, weld, bend, shrink and stretch. It’s the latter two that really turn 2D into 3D. To add double curvature, or ‘crown’, you’ll need to stretch central areas and/or shrink peripheral areas. Enter the deep shrinker/stretcher: a quick, quiet and cost-effective method of putting the basic shape into panels. There are three types. The first is a large version of the small shrinker/stretchers that are now widely available – and they use the same jaws as the small machines. They generally have an 8in throat and cost around £265. The second is a type made popular by Lars Jansson in his excellent videos (lazzemetalshaping.com). They have two moving jaws,…

19 Simple crown The basic crown you’ll find everywhere on panels can be easily created using shrinking jaws. Shrink around the edge of the patch, then move in progressively with lighter strokes. Use a wheeling machine or hammer and dolly to finish it off. 20 Inner wheelarch shapes Mark ‘pie-slices’ on the metal, which will help you make uniform shrinks. Start at the edge, giving it full shrink, then work progressively along. Move in by the jaws’ depth and do the same, but slightly lighter. Keep repeating. Use uniform pressure on each pass. 21 Stretching Deep stretching is invaluable when making large reverse curves (Pringle shapes). Put a simple curve into the metal and make some arbitrary guide marks to help you. Again, start at the edge…