Table of contents for March 2020 in Practical Classics

The 2020 Festival of the Unexceptional (July 25) has a new venue – Grimsthorpe Castle near Bourne. Organised by Hagerty Classic Car Insurance, the so-called ‘Concours L’Ordinaire’ each year gathers a host of models once common on UK roads, that now representing some of the rarest classics. Past winners of the award for the most unexceptional car included the likes of a Chrysler Alpine, Hillman Avenger, Datsun Cherry and, last year, Michael Carpenter’s 1977 Morris Marina 1.3 Deluxe estate. PC editor and one of the event judges, Danny Hopkins, reckons the festival is going from strength to strength. ‘What makes this event unique is the look on visitors faces when they see the cars – rare, classics that, once upon a time, sat on the driveways of millions of Brits.’…

Rerouting the tube… 16 TONNE HYDRAULIC PIPE BENDER £383.94 This floor standing pipe bender with fabricated steel chassis and heavy-duty 16tonne hydraulics with integral pump and reservoir is perfect for fabrication work on your classic. It’s suitable for bending gas and air pipe from 15mm up to 75mm and is supplied with eight steel dies to help prevent pipe distortion. Fitted with externally mounted return springs, it’s easy to use and can bend up to 180 degrees. sealey.co.uk Shock to the system GAZ SHOCKS NEW TO DMG FROM £72.80 DMG has recently introduced a collection of GAZ front and rear shocks that are suitable for a wide range of Jaguar cars including XC 140/150, E-type S1-3, Mk1 and Mk2, XJ6, 12 and XJ-S and S-type. For more information…

With the Triumph Stag celebrating its 50th birthday this year, the Stag Owners’ Club (SOC) is pulling out all the stops to get as many to the Silverstone Classic as possible, to bag the record for the biggest ever gathering of these V8 drop-tops. SOC President Lesley Philips says: ‘We’ve had confirmation that members are coming from across Europe and even the US and New Zealand, so we think we’re being realistic in trying to get 400 Stags on to the circuit at some point over the weekend. For anybody who can’t get to Silverstone we have a packed programme of events taking place throughout the year, details of which are at stag.org.uk.’…

It’s also half a century this year since the wedge-shaped brilliance that is the Bond Bug was first unveiled. The Bug Club’s Karl Russell told PC: ‘To mark 50 years of the Bug, we’re hoping to get 50 examples to our annual rally in Henlow in Bedfordshire. The event will run from June 16-22. The big day will be the Sunday (June 21), when Bug designer Tom Karen will be coming to see us. We’re really keen to get 50 cars there so all support will be very welcome.’ Simply visit bondbugs.co.uk for more information.…

IN THE NEWS British Formula One champion Graham Hill was killed in November when the plane he was piloting crashed in fog on a night approach to Elstree Airfield. Having only retired from racing earlier in the year, aged 46, Hill was running his Embassy Hill team, five members of which also died in the accident. AT THE FLICKS It’s not the best remembered of films now, but Three Days of  the Condor did well at the box office as one of raft of political thrillers appearing in the wake of the Watergate scandal. If you do need to be reminded, it teamed up Robert Redford and Faye Dunaway in a suspense-filled CIA cat-and-mouse game. IN THE CHARTS Amid the usual suspects – Queen, Rod Stewart, The Bay City Rollers…

I’m a Renault 5 enthusiast and parts hoarder. I have an early Super 5 MkII (my first car) and also own an early MkI TL, the culmination of an eight-year search for my dream car. They provide the stimulation that keeps me sane, but with the MkI off the road for some attention last year, I needed another classic to keep me going – this Renault 10 was just right. It’s a 1968 car, imported from Rhodesia in 1980, and its tax finally expired in 1986. I bought the car as a project in July 2018 and set myself the goal of recommissioning it in time to drive to the PC Restoration Show in March 2019. A motivated mission The project became the backbone of my engineering blog (you can…

Ascona Voyage, one of only three in the UK – this one is looking for someone to save it I believe. Only one is on the road, and that has been fitted with a Manta front end, plus I have the third, which is a long term project. Steve Hancock My Hyundai Stellar is definitely an endangered species! They sold in surprising numbers, but there aren’t many left now. Dave Roberts My Lancia Gamma coupé – fragile engines took most of these off the road. Rare car to start with and only a handful left now. Steve Mogg Mk1 Renault 5 TL. I’ve owned it since 2002 and it’s very rare now. James Herschell My friend and I rescued this Nissan from the original owner’s drive, where it sat for…

1973 Bristol 411 Series III This imposing 411 was in the car park at Ingrow station on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. Fantastic condition and stunning colour, too. David Wooff, Lancs Ford Bronco There were a few of them in town – Depoe Bay, Orgeon. I can’t believe how valuable they are. Mark Ward, Bridgnorth, Shropshire 1968 Mercedes 280 This wonderful Mercedes 280 SE was looking resplendent on a residential street in Maida Vale, London recently. Aidan Smith, Glasgow Cadillac Eldorado While I was on holiday last year I spotted this Cadillac on the marina in Palma, Majorca. Steve Sykes, Mountsorrel 1952 Citroën Traction Avant We spotted this beauty at the Exbury Gardens, nr Beaulieu. Robert & Jill Spence, Shoreham-by-Sea Austin A40 MkII Out for a drive along the…

This is a cracking interior – all period correct and original. The dogleg gear change feels quite soupy at first, but you soon bond with it. Just don’t make the mistake (like I did) of trying to fish for a gear mid-corner, leaving one hand to wrestle the weighty steering through the bend. ‘You steer it with the throttle’, explains big Gary. On these chunky racing profile tyres the back steps out gracefully, returns to line very forgivingly, and the tweaked engine soars towards the redline. I’m being egged on from the passenger seat – ‘Go on, keep it planted!’ And he’s right, too – it just keeps pulling. It’s an absolutely epic little machine.…

I recently found myself Citroënless for the first time in 15 years. I bought a derelict 1984 CX at the age of 19, then bought a less-derelict 1976 CX at the age of 21 and used it to whoosh between Cirencester and Sunderland, where I was labouring through a design degree for reasons that now escape me. I’ve since had another CX, a Dyane and an Ami 6, with some overlap. Last year, though, I sold my Ami. It’d been waiting for a transaxle rebuild for so long that I concluded it was never going to happen. It wasn’t that fine a specimen, really, having had its personality erased by an unnecessary restoration. Being an unloved Break (estate) rather than a coveted Berline (saloon), I figured that I could always…

‘The arrival of Minor number eight?’ With a creeping sense of paranoia, I really am starting to think they’re after me. Not the people I sold that 306 to, although… no, it’s the massed ranks of the Morris Minor world, ever since I stopped by their stand at the NEC back in November and accepted a free drink. Never mind the regular updates from Matt Tomkins on his latest project – I’ve developed a degree of immunity to those. It really kicked off with an email out of the blue from Paul Ludlow, who as you can see on the opposite page has bought my old Spitfire 1500-powered Traveller. That was the last of the seven Minors I’ve owned, and it was a jolt to realise I’d sold it 19…

1980 Opel Monza 3.0E Price: £4250 Has covered 50,000 miles, recent MOT, sills and strut tops repaired to high standard by previous owner. Lovely interior plus a van-load of spares. 1948 Morris 8 Series E Price: £7750 Close to concours condition, five files of history and only six owners in 70 years. Drives beautifully and wants for nothing. 1973 Volvo 145 Price: £6999 A rare crossover model that is solid and has been well cared for throughout its life. Interior great apart from small tears in front seats. Period Swedish roof rack included in sale.…

When we ran our Smart CityCoupé buyers’ guide a couple of years ago, I was sceptical. There is a huge following for the cleverly packaged toy Mercedes, especially early ones, but I wasn’t sure I could love one. Time for an education then. I was a Smart virgin. I’d never driven one – I had never even been a passenger. The prospect of ownership was, therefore, intriguing. I love a ‘blank paper’ design and I love a new driving experience; the CityCoupé would deliver both. So when Ben Jones called, I went to investigate – it was a SMART decision. His June 2002 Smart CityCoupé (Fortwo) Pure, the earliest known ‘2002 restyle’ car in the UK, looked perfect for a novice like me. I was on the train to Wilmslow…

1970 Morris Minor Saloon Engine 1310cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 130bhp (Predicted) Torque TBC Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph Untested Top speed Unknown Fuel economy Unknown Work done Exterior primed, Interior painted, Engine work continued. Also in Matt’s garage 1937 AUSTIN SEVEN RUBY A trip to Bicester for the VSCC winter driving tests gave me some inspiration. Plus I’ve discovered the block is cracked. 1960 MORRIS MINOR CONVERTIBLE Still sheltering from the inclement weather. 1969 MORRIS TRAVELLER In the workshop drying out ready for me to reproof the wood. Sikkens is on order.…

1 Not fit for purpose A tired example of the original hinge design and why it’s inadequate. 2 Tackling the issue New hinge arm sections were jigged up ready for tack welding. 3 Big me up The lug plate hinge arm slots needed to be enlarged. 4 It’s all good The new partially threaded pins tack-welded and then checked with the new arms fitted. 5 On a plate The fitted lug plate fitted to the D-plate with colour coded hinge arms. 6 In the slot The enlarged holes on the door shell quickly became somewhat more slotted than had been first anticipated. 7 Adjust to suit The internal clamp nut. Both nuts allow for full adjustment both top and bottom, independently.…

I was sawing through a Range Rover P38 water pump with a 9in disc cutter. I’d donned a full set of eye, ear, face, arm and foot protection, which left me blissfully unaware of the torrent of red-hot steel and molten  aluminium spewing from the grinder. A warm feeling in my crotch area told me something was awry. My overalls and trousers were on fire and my smouldering pants were the last line of defence against immolation.…

Aright-hand drive car with a steering box turns the right-hand wheel through a trackrod connected to the box’s drop-arm. The steering motion is transferred to the left wheel via a relay rod. The relay rod runs across the car and moves a second drop-arm on the left chassis rail. Another trackrod runs from this drop-arm to that wheel. The left-hand drop-arm is connected to what, in effect, is a dummy steering box called an idler. The idler’s job is simply to follow precisely the action of the steering box, ensuring that the left wheel moves in perfect harmony with the right. A well-sorted idler can make the difference between a heavy, slow and clumsy steering action and a light, sporty and precise one. The idler is often neglected or misunderstood.…

Our MG has covered more than three hundred thousand miles, so it qualifies for the High-Mile Club quite easily. To be honest, it was fairly worn out when we originally bought it in the Sixties, having already had its crankshaft ground four times, so you can imagine the mileage it had covered before that. We then put another 150,000 on it as the ‘daily’, – we needed a car and it did the job, but by 1970 it had to have a replacement engine. I kept the original unit that, after fifty years, I have just got round to overhauling! The biggest change since 1970 has been the fitment of a Ford Type 9 five-speed gearbox, mainly because we live in the modern age. And you’ve got to be able…

Restorer Of The Year with Lancaster Insurance final. Six cars – you choose the winner at the show. Carole Nash ‘Barn Finds’ exhibition. The biggest collection of classics, fresh from the shed, in Britain. The clubs. Everyone is active and happy to tell you about it – that’s why it is the ‘friendly show’. We’ve got new ideas for an interactive Live Stage ‘in the round’. Plans will be revealed in the next issue. Skill Shack Restoration Theatre. Learn stuff ‘live’… a full program of restoration tutorials and demos.…

Much ADO The first new car to be built in Scotland since the Hillman Imp – and the first ever to come from Dundee – has been revealed. The ADO Coupé brings to life a 1964 BMC concept that was originally designed to replace the MG Midget. It will be available as a road-going version or as a competition shell for the racetrack and can be supplied either as a kit or ready-assembled. Chevrons on TV A group of Citroën enthusiasts has raised more than £10,000 for Cancer Research UK by driving clockwise around the French coast in a trip that included a starring role in hit Channel Four show Escape to the Chateau. Presenters Dick and Angel Strawbridge welcomed the owners to their home in Normandy after ten days…

Carers get a free pass The Haynes International Motor Museum is now offering a free carer pass to every paying disabled visitor. The move follows feedback received from visitors and should now allow disabled visitors who have no option but to be accompanied by a carer to visit the museum at the same cost as a non-disabled visitor. Museum skills The British Motor Museum is hosting a number of motoring related workshops in March, April & May 2020. ‘Is a Classic Car for you?’ takes place on April 4 and is a hands-on, informative day aimed at those who wish to buy and own a classic car. Living with a Classic is a two-part course, taking place on April 19 and May 16 and offers classic car owners the opportunity…

Design Between the Lines £35.00 ISBN: 978-1-8589-4676-4 Ford, VW-Audi and Renault designer Patrick le Quement tells his life story and gives his opinions on the automotive world in this lavish tome. RG merrellpublishers.com Ford Mustang - The First Generation. £14.99 ISBN: 978-1-4456-8788-9 Celebrating the first generation Mustang and the evolution thereof, this book explores the era when Mustang became synonymous with the name Ford. MT amberley-books.com Gilbern Cars £14.99 ISBN: 978-1-4456-9091-9 An essential read for anybody with an interest in the history of British car manufacturers, Michael Burgess delivers an insight into Wales’ only motorcar manufacturer. MT amberley-books.com…

THURS JAN 30 ESSEX Chelmer Valley Car Meet, The Lodge, SS11 7QT (chelmervalleycarmeet.co.uk). WED - SUN FEB 5-9 PARIS Retromobile, Portede Versailles (retromobile.com). SAT, FEB 1 CUMBRIA Classic monthly meet at the Lakeland Motor Museum, LA12 8TA (lakelandmotormuseum .co.uk). SUN FEB 2 SURREY Classics at the Duke, Tadworth, KT20 5SL (facebook.com/pg /classicsattheduke). YORKS Midlands & Yorkshire Classic Car Club’s classic car meet at the Black Swan, Brandesburton, YO25 8RG (eastyorksclassic.com). BUCKS Milton Keynes Classic Car Club monthly meeting, The Giffard Park, MK14 5QN (tinyurl.com /yb49pwrf). GLOS Cotswold Classic Car Club Monthly Meet, at The Frogmill, Shipton Oliffe, GL54 4HT (cotswoldclassiccarclub.com). TUES FEB 4 DORSET Transport of Yesteryear monthly meet at the Lugger Inn, Weymouth, DT3 4DY (transportofyesteryear .com). THURS FEB 6 ESSEX Club Triumph Eastern monthly meet. All enthusiasts welcome…

1970 TRIUMPH VITESSE The latest in a long line of Triumphs Ben has owned – this one is a keeper. OWNER PROFILE Ben Gillet trained as a mechanic before becoming a ‘very bad’ salesman for Vauxhall. Ben, 52, now lives on St Martin’s in the Isles of Scilly, where he runs the island’s campsite with wife, Caroline. Ben Gillet’s decision 28 years ago to move 30 miles west of Land’s End to St Martin’s on the sub-tropical Isles of Scilly would test his restoration skills to the full. ‘Living on a two-mile long island in the middle of the Atlantic means having to make do and mend. Not ideal when it comes to rebuilding a classic car. But it does make you very resourceful!’ Ben’s lifelong love affair with…

That man in his shed Seeing the headline ‘Golf reborn by a man in a shed’ ( PC , October 2019) explained where my interest in old cars started. Some 50 odd years ago when I was playing with motorcycles, our neighbour invited my father and I round to see what he had been doing. On his drive was a beautiful dark green Daimler with flowing wings and dinner plate headlamps, shiny and bright. The bonnet was open, the engine gleamed. He took a florin from his pocket and stood it on edge on the rocker box top… it just stood there and I wondered why he had done it, then I noticed the fan was turning. An amazing piece of engineering considering he was working in a small garage.…

We used to go to the Docks in Wisbech, Cambs, on Sunday afternoons to see the ships. Dad had a Simca Aronde Élysée. Josephine Stecak Early memories of sitting on roof of a Cortina MkIII as a toddler, watching the planes at Heathrow. Martin North My dad took me on the Ford Dagenham Factory Tour around 1979-80. We used to go to all the Earls Court Motor Shows, too. Mike Fuller Used to be bundled into a Viva Estate to spend the day with father at work on the base at Portsmouth. Spent a few afternoons playing football on the deck of the Ark Royal! John Firth (VIVA)…

Mini Special WayneCourtnagerecentlyunearthed a scrap yard full of relics near Oxford and he’s now shared the haul with us. First up, a very rare,six-wheel,Mini-basedutilityvehicle! Ford Capri & Ford Escort MkI More Fords scattered around; a black Capri MkI sits as a trophy car on a container, while an Escort MkI is falling to pieces while surrounded by trees. Mini, Maxi and Capri The two-tone Ford Capri in the foreground is one of several here, alongside a white Austin pairing in the form of a Mini on top of a Maxi. 1100 Estate & Ford Capri The scrap yard in Oxfordshire is run by a family that’s owned it since the war. The site is ten acres in size, and hoards all sorts of vehicles from 1928 to 1990 – this…

James likes... THE TOYOTA Sure, I know the MX-5 is superb but having tried a MkIII, I’d still prefer a last-of-the-line (1999-2007) Toyota MR2 Roadster. Granted, it has no space for luggage but the engine is where it should be (behind your ears) and, for the money, the driving position, steering and gearchange are as close to a Lotus Elise as you’ll ever get. Matt G likes... THE CHEAP ONE It always amazes me just how cheap the MX-5 MkII continues to be. I regularly trawl online forums, auction sites and other car sales outlets and I could pick up a tatty sub-£1k example almost every week if I so desired. The MkIII is getting ever more affordable, too – it offers a similar package, but with more power on…

2000 Vauxhall Omega 2.5 V6 Elite Engine 2498cc/V6/DOHC Power 168 bhp@6000rpm Torque 167 lb ft@4200rpm Gearbox 4-speed auto 0-60mph 8sec Top speed 142mph Fuel economy 31mpg Work done Welded; MOT’d; new MAF sensor fitted; diagnostic applied; new part ordered. Also in Danny’s 2020 Shed 1950 RILEY RMA Run up to temperature. 1956 RILEY PATHFINDER Will be coming to the PC Resto Show – I hope. 1971 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR Sleeping through winter. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Stored for winter, too. 1980 RENAULT 14 TS Still needs a new interior. 1980 TRIUMPH TR7 Up and running. Re-bush required; Polybush called. 1987 MAZDA 626 COUPÉ Just needs some brake work for an MOT… very close now. 1998 TOYOTA AVENSIS ESTATE CDX Approaching 250k miles. Looking after a friend. 2002 SMART FORTWO New fleet member…

1985 Citroën CX GTi Turbo Engine 2500cc/4-cyl/OHV Gearbox 5-speed manual Power 168bhp@5000 Torque 217lb ft@3250rpm 0-60mph 7.8sec Top speed 137mph Weight 1370kg Work done Welding galore; new exhaust. Also in James’s garage 1985 CITROËN 2CV6 My daily driver come wind, frost and rain! 1988 CITROËN CX 22TRS Noses out of my garage on sunny days. 2003 VOLVO S80 D5 Has just topped 200,000 miles – it still drives like new. 2004 SMART ROADSTER Leaking badly in the rain! Damp carpets now removed.…

1972 Triumph 2000 Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 135bhp (est) Torque Enough Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d 0-60mph Unknown Top speed 114mph Fuel economy 25mpg Work done Rotten outer sill cut off; internal damage assessed; rusty metal cut away; process of replacing with new begun. Also in Matt’s garage 1968 MORRIS 1100 Fitting a cast carbon steel exhaust/manifold clamp has made it much quieter. 1972 TRIUMPH TR6 Post-10CR snagging list has grown – some attention will be needed before new season.…

1967 Triumph Spitfire MkIII Engine 1296cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 75bhp@6000rpm Torque 75lb ft@4000rpm Gearbox 4-speed man + o/d 0-60mph 13.6sec Top speed 100mph Fuel economy 33mpg Work done Engine bay side valances made for the Spitfire. Also in Nigel’s garage 1970 TRIUMPH TR6 Nothing much to report – the big TR is in rude health. 1977 RELIANT SCIMITAR GTE Continues to get regular use and makes a really practical alternative to the Touring. 2002 BMW 325I TOURING The Touring has been working hard for its living, clocking up plenty of miles. 2006 BMW 318CI COUPÉ Coping well with both commuting and shopping duties.…

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 Broken driveshaft replaced. Future left-hand driveshaft replacement is essential for peace of mind. Also in Ian’s garage 1938 TATRA T97 A set of new gearbox bearings has just been collected. 1997 RANGE-ROVER 4.6 HSE Now the property of Sam Glover, who will attempt to fix its cooling issues (see p78). Now replaced with a 2003 Porsche Cayenne Turbo.…

A petrol engine requires an external source of energy to ignite the air-fuel mixture compressed into its combustion chambers. For the engine to run efficiently, sparks need to be delivered at exactly the right moments under all conditions – so it needs a delivery device that can automatically adapt to engine speed and load. Enter the distributor. The 'Kettering' ignition system designed by American inventor Charles F Kettering comprises a battery, an ignition coil and contact breaker points. It first appeared commercially in 1910 and it remained the go-to solution until transistorised-switching took over from points in the Eighties and distributors started disappearing altogether at the turn of the century. The Bosch distributor seen here works on exactly the same principles as other types fitted to cars from the Forties…

We’re continuing to reap the rewards from putting in hard work earlier on in our Essex V6 rebuild. We started with some filthy stripping, then we measured stuff, spent money on having bits machined and more money on new bits, measured everything again and got filthy again as we prepared for reassembly. Finally, we started the glamorous bit: putting it all back together. This instalment begins with something approximating a short block, with the crankshaft, pistons and con-rods, camshaft and timing gears fitted and turning freely. As we’ve said before, the key to a happy engine and uneventful build is to keep things scrupulously clean and to get into a rhythm while you work to avoid errors. We’ve taken measures on both fronts. Firstly, we’ve confined all the dirty work…

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: cabriolet con: convertible est: estate lhd: left-hand drive lim: limousine rwd: rear-wheeldrive sal:…

If you want to visit by car, be sure to take advantage of our new partnership with NCP Car Parks that will provide an additional, cost-effective, parking option close to the venue. Visitors can park in the airport NCP Car Park 5, between 8am and 7.30pm, for just £9 when booking in advance. Please note: these times are very strict – any early arrival or overstay will be charged at the full day rate of £38 – so please ensure your stay is within these times. To book, visit the NCP website. From the Car Park, take the courtesy bus or make the short walk to the terminal to connect to the free monorail service that runs every two minutes to the railway station complex. From there, an internal walkway…

It’s that time of year again! We always have the best restos in the magazine and now it’s your turn to tell us which of them you think deserves to be at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show at the NEC on March 27-29. The Restorer of the Year competition, sponsored by Lancaster Insurance, celebrates feats of genius and each story is listed here. Your votes determine which classics will go forward to be displayed at the show. Once there, attendees will vote, live, for the winner of the coveted Golden Spanner trophy. VOTE practicalclassics.co.uk/ restorer-of-the-year-2020 . Choose from this years entries… APRIL 19 Jaguar XKE Scott Hilton With a host of updates, from modern electric upgrades to better power steering, Scott created an E-type fit for daily…

The Practical Classics team travels all over the UK to take part in classic car events each year, so it is always a huge delight to find one right on your doorstep. This was very much the case last month when I dropped into the legendary Stibbington Diner on the A1 near Wansford – just a few miles from my house. Organised by Mark and Sharon Fishpool, the regular event has been going for eight years, attracting an array of classics from all eras. On the day I went, I rolled back the roof of my trusty Citroën 2CV and pottered over to find delights ranging from a very early SD1 to a gargantuan Oldsmobile Cutlass. The base is Stibbington from October to April, then the gatherings thereafter take place…

This is a scene that encapsulates what Seventies life was like for many, away from the more glamorous parts of the UK. Sheffield struggled during the decade as its industries declined – it’s much more vibrant today. But there’s a pervading sense of greyness here (or, in the case of the Class 47 diesel locomotive and Class 108 diesel multiple unit at Sheffield Station, British Rail blueness) enlivened only by the colourful cars on Granville Street. There are too many here to discuss in detail so we’ll pick some of the highlights. Most cars were still British-built at this time, thus it’s interesting to note that the only two imports – Volkswagen Beetles – have clustered together for companionship. The yellow one is a Seventies model, the grey one hails…

1 Best bodge Probably like most of us, Ben doesn’t do bodges when it comes to his beloved classic. However, raiding the island dump for pre-fabricated shapes of metal from old fridges and freezers is the closest he gets: ‘Recycling is a big part of island life,’ says Ben, ‘and awful lot cheaper if you can make it work,’ he adds. 2 Biggest fail Ben puts his hands up to his first attempt at painting the Vitesse: ‘Relying on the sun in the Scillies is a big mistake. I thought it would be enough to heat the conservatory, which would cure the paint. How wrong could I be?’ 3 Best advice Ben says to take loads of photos and label absolutely everything. ‘Trying to remember what something is months or…

The South African child of a one night stand between an Austin Allegro and a Triumph Dolomite! Steve Mulroy I first came across these when my family moved to South Africa in 1975. An interesting design with a much more sensible boot than the ADO16 it was developed from. Steve Silsby They were very popular in Spain – where they wore the Authi Victoria badge – back in the mid-Seventies. Built in a factory in Northern Spain – Pamplona if my memory serves me. Neat styling! Alastair Fitton I love my 1100s, but wonder how the Apache and Victoria would have sold in the UK. I suppose they looked to much like the Triumphs already on sale. Brian Hall Here’s a TC version meaning with a South African engine block!…

Admit it. You like spending money. Even when you’d rather not, the act of doing so makes you feel good. What I’m referring to here is the serotonin release in the brain, the feel-good buzz that happens when you’ve just ordered a shiny new piece of motor car from a specialist or, even better, you’ve found a part you think you need on eBay at a price hard to resist. When caught up in this euphoria of parts purchase, it’s easy to act too hastily. Then, if plans change, you’re stuck with bits you now don’t need even though you bought them with the best of intentions. Here’s how it can go a bit wrong, using my recently bought 1972 Rover 2000 TC as an illustration. As it happens, this…

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) SUN FEB 9 Charterhouse, Bath & West Showground, Shep-ton Mallet, Somerset. (01935 812277, charter-house-auction.com ) S AT FEB 22 Charterhouse, Royal Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. (01935 812277, charter-house-auction.com ) TUE FEB 25 Barons Auctions’ Classic Winter Warmer, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey. (023 8066 8413, barons-auctions.com) WED MAR 4 Brightwells’ Classic & Vintage, Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire. (01568 611122, brightwells.com) S AT MAR 7 Historics at Brooklands, Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Berkshire. (01753 639170, historics.co.uk)…

To celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Type 2, we at Lancaster Insurance have joined forces with Practical Classics to do something really special. First (using this guide!) we will buy a well-used camper, then ‘Team PC’ will bring it up to scratch in the workshop. Once complete, we’ll set out on the air-cooled adventure of a lifetime around the coast of Britain. This is where you come in. We want you to come out and meet up with us in your classics. If you ever needed an excuse to drive your classic to the beach, this is it. Look out for further details in PC including, in the next issue, the purchase of our Type 2 project van.…

The MX-5 Restorer, Sussex. 01323 768356, themx5restorer.co.uk Border MX-5s, Berwickshire. 01361 883727, bordermx5s. com CBS Autos, Lancs. 01282 697413, mx5specialists.com Kent MX-5 Services, Kent. 07412 061296, kentmx5.co.uk MX-5 Heaven, Dorset. 01305 258149, mx5heaven.co.uk MX-5 Motors, Yorks. 01302 726763, mx5motors.com MX-5 Works, Beds. 01525 372982, mx5works.co.uk SW Roadsters, Devon. southwest roadsters.co.uk Total MX-5 Repair, South Wales. 07971 e given the cost 293332,of totalmx the work 5repair weebly.comery real po…

1 Ask for advice Before starting, find out from fellow enthusiasts/club members how the headlining is fixed. It will help when locating all the clips and screws. 2 Out it pops Luckily, with some jiggling, the Saab’s board slid out of the boot. Beware: the same job on some cars may require removal of the windscreen. 3 Scrubber It’s vital that all the old glue is thoroughly scraped off to ensure the replacement headlining will stick. 4 Tricky sticky Sticking the headlining to the board must be done with care. Too much glue and it’ll end in a gooey disaster. 5 Holy job Ensure you’ve gently made holes for items such as interior lights and staple down the edges carefully. 6 Job done! New headlining simply…

1938 Standard Flying Fourteen Touring Saloon Engine 1776cc/4-cyl/SV Power 49bhp@4000rpm Torque 83lb ft@2300rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 30+ sec Top speed 70mph Fuel economy 22-28mpg Work done Carburettor and petrol pump replaced; reconditioned distributor installed; new tyres and tubes fitted. Also in Kim’s garage 1938 AUSTIN BIG SEVEN Enjoyable for local runs. 1955 AUSTIN A50 CAMBRIDGE Still in search of rear door window glasses (originals mislaid!). 1956 AUSTIN A50 CAMBRIDGE Local drives undertaken. 1959 AUSTIN A55 CAMBRIDGE MKII Seeking a rear ‘deck’ panel (behind rear window). 1964 AUSTIN A60 CAMBRIDGE Taken in several long-distance trips recently. 1978 AUSTIN MARINA COUPÉ Still patiently awaiting some much-needed attention.…

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 taught automotive engineering and makes amazing things in his shed. Ed Hughes WORKSHOP GENIUS Ed single-handedly 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. CITROËN To restore or not to restore? Q My parents’ 1970 Citroën 2CV has been…

The points are possibly the hardest working electrical component in the engine. They are required to accurately open and close once every two crankshaft revolutions for each of the engine's cylinders. They open and close 6000 times a minute (100Hz) in a four-cylinder four-stroke engine when the engine’s at 3000rpm – and they do this reliably at all temperatures for many thousands of miles. However, wear in the distributor shaft, cam and points heel – often the result of slapdash servicing – results in the timing wandering out of kilter relatively fast. This and increasing LT currents demanded by lean-burn emissions control technology prompted the move to transistorised switching, triggered by various systems: optical, Hall Effect or inductive pulse.…

Engine oil 7.3 litres (12.8 pints) decent 20w50. Gearbox oil Manual: 3.1 litres (5.5 pints) 20w50. Auto: Capacities vary (consult your manual). Dexron II ATF. Final drive oil 1.9 litres (3.3 pints) EP90. Steering Steering box and idler: EP90. Power steering: Dexron II ATF. Cooling system A99, Wolseley 6/99, Princess MkI: 21 pints (12 litres). A110, Wolseley 6/110, Princess MkII: 19 pints (11 litres). Use ethylene glycol (blue) antifreeze mix for all models. Valve clearances Inlet and exhaust: 0.30mm (0.012in). Set cold. Spark plugs Champion UN12Y or equivalent, gapped to 0.65mm (0.025in). Points gap 0.40mm (0.015in). Ignition timing A99, Wolseley 6/99, Princess MkI: TDC (static timing). A110, Wolseley 6/110, Princess MkII: 5° BTDC (static timing); 8° BTDC (dynamic timing at tickover).…

Founded in 1964, the Daimler & Lanchester Owners Club serves a very broad community. Some members still remain from the time when the Daimler brand was in production, even if as an upmarket Jaguar. Always looking for new enthusiasts, though, the club currently has about 1550 members and multiple branches around the world. Its most numerous model is the SP250, or ‘Dart’, of which – despite more than 60 years having passed since it came to market – more than half of the cars built survive. Daimler’s range was much broader than many drivers today might realise. Having started as an importer of German motors, it became the first maker of cars in the UK in 1897. From 1909 to 1931, it built sleeve-valve engines, these being the quietest cars…