Table of contents for November 2019 in Practical Classics

Each year at the Beaulieu International Autojumble, I bump into a young car enthusiast who will – for obvious reasons – remain anonymous. In his early Twenties and exceptionally talented under the bonnet, he is absolutely passionate about his Eighties classic and recently decided to have a specialist do all the hard work before applying a shiny new coat of paint. This was to be the restoration of a car he has owned since passing his driving test at the age of 17, involving a big chunk of his savings. On its return, the ‘professional restorer’ presented a lesson in careless welding and distorted metalwork. Paint defects abounded: orange peel, dirt in the paint and paint runs. Court proceedings have now, thankfully, commenced and we wish our unfortunate young friend…

RIP Sir Michael Former boss of British Leyland, Sir Michael Edwardes, has died at the age of 88. His time at the helm from 1977 to 1982 was a challenging one, as he attempted to stand up to the unions and rationalise the company. Edwardes is widely regarded to have saved the company from closure with a new strategy built around the streamlining of the entire product range. The Million Run Morris Minor Millions have been out and about again. This time the Million Register hosted number 1000001, repatriated from America, the first time it’s been driven on British roads. Two American owners did join the parade of 11 cars, however, one owner having her car permanently over here and the other having a car in Nevada. Lucas Classic launch…

For the first time ever, this year the Triumph Sports Six Club and TR Register joined forces to combine their international weekends. The result was 1000+ Triumphs gathered at Stratfordupon-Avon race course to celebrate 60 years of the Triumph Herald and 50 years of the TR6. Next year, the TR Register celebrates its 50th birthday, so expect something special when the club takes over the British Motor Museum. More at tssc.org.uk and tr-register.co.uk.…

WED,OCT 2 BIRMINGHAM B5000 Barbers Classic Gathering, B78 1SY (b5000barbers.com). THURS OCT 3 WARKS Kineton Classic Gathering, CV35 0DF (classicgathering@ hotmail.co.uk). SAT, OCT 5 YORKS Rufforth Autojumble, Rufforth Park, YO23 3QH (rufforthautojumble. com). WARKS Jaguar Breakfast Club at the British Motor Museum, CV35 0BJ (jaguarbreakfastclub.org.uk). WILTS Castle Combe Autumn Classic, SN14 7EY (autumnclassic.co.uk). SUN,OCT 6 LANCS 4x4 & Vintage Spares Day at Newbury Showground, RG18 9QZ (markwoodwardclassic events.com ). SUSSEX Autumn Transport Gathering at Amberley Museum, BN18 9LT (amberleymuseum. co.uk). GLOS Coffee & Classics at the Classic Motor Hub, GL7 5NX (classicmotorhub.com). OXON Sunday Scramble at Bicester Heritage, OX26 5HA (bicesterheritage.co.uk). SOMERSET Haynes Museum Breakfast Club, BA22 7LH (haynesmotor museum.com ). CORNWALL Cornwall Vintage Vehicle Society Autumn Amble (facebook.com/ CornwallVVS). SAT, OCT 12 HANTS Rawles Motorsport Austin-Healey Open Day, GU34…

Triumph Spitfire, GT6, Vitesse & Herald Restoration Manual £17.95 ISBN 978-1899238-39-2 This 314-page book is bigger and better than before, with over 900 illustrations and black and white line drawings. amazon.co.uk Sharp’s Commercials and Bond Cars Limited £20 +£5 P+P ISBN 978-0-0543265-5-5 It’s certainly niche, but this detailed illustrated guide to the production totals, vehicle types and their various production changes may well be appealing and of some use to Bond enthusiasts. A superb piece of reference material. theclassicmoulton.co.uk Dino Days £30 ISBN 978-178456-650-0 With focus on the author’s Ferrari Dino, this book reveals the ups and downs of life amongst classic cars, from the author’s own experience. All profits from the book go to the Sporting Bears charity. thegreatbritishbookshop. co.uk…

Having enjoyed a successful career in the construction industry, Mark Fishpool has never been afraid of getting his hands dirty. It’s a trait that has served him very well since he was a teenager. ‘My first car was a Ford Corsair – I bought it when I was 17 and there was always something going wrong with it,’ he says. ‘I had to teach myself how to fix it, as I could never afford to pay anybody else to do it for me.’ So far, so much like many young lads growing up in the Seventies and Eighties. Mark’s ‘light bulb’ moment eventually came along a few years later in 1983: ‘I went to a custom car show at Stamford Meadows when I was in my mid-twenties. I was really…

Q How did you end up getting the job of designing engines at Cosworth? ‘I’d always been into bikes, so when I graduated I went to work for Triumph Motorcycles, designing engines. Cosworth recruited me in 1993 and soon put me on a plane to Germany to meet the guys at Ford. I only found out as we were about to go into the meeting that Cosworth had already pitched me to Ford as an expert in balancer shaft design, as all the engines I’d designed at Triumph had used balancer shafts. ‘Ford at that time needed a mid-range engine for the Scorpio. They’d decided to scrap the two-valve V6, so there was the Cologne V6 at the top of the range [the run-out volumes of those were built by…

MGB Roadster or MGB GT? I had a GT. Arguably the better looking car, although the roadster remains the definitive MGB. Gorgeous lines. Big Webasto sunroof gives you nearly all of the roadster fun. I want another! David Lewis GT. It has an elegance that the roadster lacks. Really needs a Webasto though. Jim Pace I had three roadsters and once the hood was down, fantastic. The works hardtop in my opinion was better than a GT. Roger Parton No contest. Roadster all the way. And it would be driven with the windows down when the roof is down, too. Steve Mackenzie GT for me! I live in the west of Scotland, so a roadster would only get used for about three days per year! Simon Taylor A Marina 1800TC…

We can only try to imagine the thoughts of a certain enthusiastic, err ‘driver’ leaving a classic car show. ‘Mmm!’ he maybe said to himself as the adrenalin, testosterone and, who knows, even the sugar rush from a Toblerone kicked in, amidst the primeval booms of the rocking V8 in the immaculate, customised Chevrolet Chevelle. ‘I know. I’ll completely ignore that very large and pointless sign asking all show traffic to turn left and I’ll go right instead. Just like James Dean would have done in Rebel Without a Cause. ‘Then I’ll floor the throttle so hard that the engine will drown out the gasps of admiration from the crowds. ‘Here we go then. This is just like the chase scene from Bullitt, and I am very similar to Steve…

Citroën Ami 6 We’re off to Le Mans, France, this month with rust ranger Jack Brands from the Netherlands, who has unearthed an incredible collection of rusty classic vehicles in a rustic woodland location. Few cars had an inward-raked back window like the Ford Anglia, but the Citroën Ami 6 is one of them. This example appears to have snapped clean in half. Simca 1200S Coupé There is hardly anything left of this once-pretty Simca 1200S coupé. Even in France, this one is an extremely rare find. Renault Monaquatre There are several pre-war cars in some corners of the yard, and this embedded Renault Monaquatre is one of the more complete examples. Chrysler 1307 GLS Alpine & Peugeot 304 break Here is pair of familiar French family cars from the…

By the time Moulton took over the family firm in the Fifties, the list of customers was vast – former regulars included Isambard Kingdom Brunel who, 100 years before, had bought hoses and rubber springs for his ships and railways. Alex’s tough but compact cone spring caught the attention of Alec Issigonis. Further developments saw Hydrolastic fitted to the 1962 Morris 1100 and Hydragas, both systems ending up on 12-million cars until until the demise of the MGF in 2002. Using the same rubber cone fitted to the Mini, the famous Moulton bicycle remains a design icon, best-seller and is highly sought-after worldwide.…

Usually I’m very happy to receive emails about inaccuracies in the Price Guide – especially when accompanied by evidence. It isn’t easy keeping track of around 1400 models at once. But a couple of recent ones – both quite scathing about the undervaluing of their beloveds – had me rolling my eyes as all their ‘evidence’ was based on asking prices they had seen. ‘You can only trust values where a deal has been done’ The growing gulf between asking prices and what cars actually sell for is a subject I’ve touched on before, but perhaps not enough. Back when I started compiling PC’s Price Guide, something like 20 years ago, you could get fairly reliable data from asking prices. Largely there seemed an unwritten rule that sellers would ask…

Wolseley 4/44, 15/50 Often overlooked in favour of their MG Magnette cousins, these Fifties Wolseleys have now been recognized as the bargains they had become. Yet even now they remain two-thirds the value of a ZA or ZB. Peugeot 205 GTi Values of the Eighties’ greatest hot-hatch rocketed a few years ago on the back of a few spectacular auction results. But if you thought you’d missed the boat on these, fear not – it’s back in port with realistic prices.…

1961 Morris Minor Price: £6500 Recent restoration with upgrades – 1098cc engine/’box, disc brakes, servo, telescopic rear dampers. In Clipper Blue – the best Minor colour! 1952 Jowett Javelin Price: £8950 Lovely example, well cared-for by an enthusiast owner. Fresh MOT, although car is exempt. Comes with lots of paperwork and drives extremely well. 1989 Nissan Bluebird Price: £1350 1.6 petrol five-speed manual model with 103,000 miles and with new MOT. One family from new, bodywork is straight and rust-free.…

Danny Hopkins Adventures with older cars are full of surprises and you never know when an opportunity will come along. But you can also count on one simple truth – it’s easier to buy a banger than it is to sell one. A fact that made itself only too apparent when I tried to move my 36,000 mile Proton Wira on. It had just provided 3000 miles of faultless service, so it was time to find it a new home. The price for my mint Malaysian mate ended up at £395, with no takers – less than what it owed me, but I wanted it to go to a good home. In stepped the erstwhile Craig Cheetham, with an offer of a swap for his 2004 Rover 75 Club S…

Kevin Bricknall: ‘I own MkII and MkIII Cavaliers and was sceptical of the Vectra due to the media hype, but in 2017 I fancied a performance Vauxhall and tracked down a 2002 GSi 2.6 V6 hatch. What an under-rated performance bargain! I then replaced my daily driver with a 60k-mile Vectra B Design Edition hatch with heated leather seats, xenon headlights and climate control – an utterly useable and economical bargain. Anyone looking for a daily car should look at a Vectra B while prices are low and there are still plenty available.’…

1985 Citroën 2CV Engine 602cc/2-cyl/OHV Gearbox 4-speed manual Power 29bhp@5750rpm Torque 31lb ft@3500rpm Top speed 71mph 0-60mph 32.7sec Work done Wheel bearing replaced. Also in James’s garage 1980 CITROËN DYANE Being driven daily again after extensive restoration. 1988 CITROËN CX 22TRS Problem-free summer. Phew! Still my favourite car of all. 2003 VOLVO S80 D5 Just about to hit 200,000 miles! Still sound as a pound. 2004 SMART ROADSTER Serving as the daily driver again – roof down, naturally! I was an odd child. Show me a Countach and I would shrug my little shoulders, yet the mere sound of a 2CV would elicit a giddy outburst. This was thanks in part to a trip to Paris at a young age when, standing at the roadside on the Champs-Élysées, I was…

1972 Triumph GT6 MkIII Engine 2498cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 130bhp@5500rpm (estimated) Torque 140lb ft@3000rpm (estimated) Gearbox 4-speed man + o/d 0-60mph 8sec (estimated) Top speed 120mph (est) Fuel economy Unknown Work done Bespoke airbox and remote filter designed and fabricated for the GT6. Also in Nigel’s garage 1977 RELIANT SCIMITAR GTE Following the loss of our Jaguar and BMW (more soon), the Scimitar has been literally an everyday car. It’s taking the workday commute and shopping trips in its stride. When I installed the 2-5-litre engine in my GT6, the priority was to get it fitted and start the running-in process. Having built the engine, fitting it, getting it running and sorting out a few teething problems presented quite enough of a challenge. As a result, the first few hundred miles were…

1999 Volkswagen T4 Engine 2461cc/5-cyl/SOHC Power 87bhp@3600rpm Torque 195lb ft@1900rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 21sec Top speed 93mph Fuel economy 40mpg Work done Bought; serviced; thoroughly rustproofed; headlamp fixed; dodgy springs replaced with standard versions. Also on Theo’s drive 1968 LAND ROVER SERIES IIA A solid old friend, overdue a new steering relay. 1998 FORD SCORPIO ULTIMA Lovely cruiser, far better than I deserve. When it comes to my main runabout, I have quite odd vehicular needs. They’re best served by something discreetly camper van-shaped, compact enough to behave like a car, and old enough for me to understand how it works. I’d had an awkward relationship with my previous bus (an uninspiring 2007 thing), mainly because the ride quality was utterly horrid – ergo the vomit so frequently emitted…

Welding any sort of casting can be a very humbling experience. No matter how far you think you’ve progressed as a welder, a casting can bring you right down to earth in a filthy puddle of molten metal and disappointment. Cast iron is brittle, so if a localised area expands or contracts a smidgeon more than another, it’ll take great delight in cracking. This will usually happen exactly where you’ve repaired it and with perfect comic timing. Cast aluminium, meanwhile, will have soaked up dirt like a sponge and this will ooze into your weld and make it horrible. Cast aluminium is used for engine blocks, cylinderheads, manifolds, transmission casings, sumps and many other things. The biggest issues when trying to weld it are what other ingredients were added to…

Cars are meant to be used, so that’s exactly what I do with my trusty Ford Capri. I cover between 6000 and 8000 miles a year in the car, most of that running around locally, but if I need to go somewhere, I’ll just jump in and drive, whatever the weather. I’ve had the car for eight years, but I’ve really only pressed it into daily service in the past 18 months. I live in Bridgwater in Somerset and my mum lives in Derby, so every two or three weeks, I get in the Capri and drive up there because… well, why wouldn’t you? The car has had four previous owners and is original, which is the way I like it, although I do like my period accessories, as you…

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:…

Yes, really. This supermarket staple can be as useful in your workshop as it is in the kitchen. Whether it’s for wrapping your freshly-stripped gearbox components to keep them together and dust-free, or preventing dust and debris from entering an engine mid-rebuild, it’s deployment can prevent hours of extra work or premature failure. It’s also great for covering paint stripper, either on a body panel or wrapping individual components, to prevent evaporation and maximise effectiveness. Cling film really is a must-have on the workbench – you’ll be amazed just how often it comes in handy. Please use it sparingly though – cling film is a single-use plastic and is currently unrecyclable.…

Historic bus rides are under threat from Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone. The Transport Museum, Wythall, offers public rides on its fleet of heritage buses, some of which are 60 years-old. On 11 event days a year it runs service 750 to Birmingham City Centre. Birmingham City Council has agreed an exemption applying to historic vehicles (aged over 40 years) but this will not apply to Wythall’s vehicles as the museum is deemed to run its vehicles commercially, for profit. TMW requested that the council exempt this service but to date, this has been denied, so it has launched a petition at wythall.org.uk/petition. Denis Chick, TMW Press Officer, said: ‘As a 100 per cent volunteer operation, we work hard to preserve the heritage of public transport in the West Midlands. Last…

The Mini and Herald have hogged the diamond anniversary limelight, but also launched in 1959 was the BMC Farina. The Cambridge-Oxford Owners’ Club celebrated in style on July 20-21, at the Midland Railway in Derbyshire. Club chairman Taff Gillingham said: ‘We organised the first anniversary event in 1989 and many of the owners who turned up then were at the latest gathering. More than 150 cars took part, including rarities such as an Australian-market Wolseley 24/80.’ More details can be found online at co-oc.org.…

Founded in 1975, the Austin Counties Car Club caters for the Austin range of cars and commercial vehicles produced at Longbridge, Birmingham from 1945 to 1954. This includes Austin 8,10,12 and 16, Devon, Hampshire, Hereford, Atlantic, A40 Sport and the Somerset and Austin A40 Light Commercial. The club is run by real enthusiasts and is open to all with an interest in these cars, whether they own a ‘Counties’ vehicle or not. It is also a producer of award-winning stands at NEC classic car events. New and Used Spares An extensive range of new remanufactured parts and secondhand parts are available for Counties Austins. The club’s dedicated spares service is continually looking into the remanufacture of obsolete parts as well as regular service items to keep these Austins on…

Crawley, West Sussex June 18, 1980 It’s obviously ‘Bring your vinyl roof to work day’ at Hubners (a Garrod and Lofthouse company, you know) in Kelvin Way, Crawley. The parade of panache starts with a slightly frilly-silled 1974 Hillman Avenger 1600. We suspect this car, last taxed in 1988, may have had its vinyl cladding as an option, since other details don’t correspond to the GLS model that had it as standard. It’s squaring up to one of its newer, Chrysler-badged sisters that, with striping and fancy wheeltrims, does look like the real GLS McCoy. The vinyl-fest continues with a Ford Capri MkII. It’s a GT model, but one that has seen better days; just look at that front crumpled front wing and bent trim. The owner of the gold…

1 Favourite tool ‘My trusty electric polisher. Many of the cars I buy have spent years in storage, with dull, flat paint. But if you’re prepared to spend two or three days sympathetically buffing away, it’s eminently possible to get it looking lovely again.’ 2 Biggest fail ‘Some years ago, I rebuilt the engine from my Daimler V8-250 and decided to use silicone sealant between the block and sump. Unfortunately, it squeezed out and found its way to the oil pump, blocking it. Cue oil starvation and a damaged crank.’ 3 Greatest success ‘The Daimler. It was a basket case when I bought it – a rolling shell with everything else was in boxes with no labels. I kept a diary of when I worked on it – it added…

...the Rover K-series ‘When I was at Triumph Motorcycles I took a big interest in the K-Series, as it was quite an influential design. The 1.1 and 1.4-litre versions had a great reputation, but somebody somewhere pressured the engineers into stretching them to 1.6 and 1.8, and that involved bigger bores. The bigger bore meant reducing the step around the top of the cylinder liner, so with the pressure on the aluminium from the clamping loads it starts to give, then you lose your seal and your head gasket goes. With any engine where the liners sit on the step, if you make the step too small, you lose compression. That’s the issue.…

‘My pride and joy for over 30 years now’ 1962 MGA Mike Thwaites, Denmead, Hampshire I had a hankering for a sports car after being tempted by a Wildcat kit car (an E-type lookalike on Ford running gear). It drove horribly, but it sowed the seed, and a short while later I happened upon this MGA 1600 on a forecourt, newly-imported from the USA. It was looking sad but was solid underneath, so I agreed to the asking price, on the condition that it was resprayed in the Renault red you see here. That was way back in 1990, and it has never needed major restoration before or since – just ongoing maintenance. I had the engine reconditioned shortly after buying the car, and the nasty maroon trim was replaced…

There’s an SUV called the Lexus RX that is the ugliest car I’ve ever seen. The current version is, anyway; earlier RXs, of which there have been three generations, get progressively less objectionable as time recedes back to the breed’s launch in 1998, but any of them would do aesthetic damage to your driveway. Today’s version, though, is actually offensive, designed deliberately to shock. Shock, however, is a transient feeling. So, when you keep seeing a current RX, or any other current Lexus SUV, as they’re all deeply troubled, you just become nauseous instead and have to look away. Lexus is a curious brand. You’d think that a company, or company subsidiary in this case, which wanted to attract buyers of sophisticated taste to its premium products would make those…

MINI: FUZZ SAYS The Mini was manufactured for more than 40 years and the range of models is huge, so the buying equation boils down to budget divided by preference (+ skills + facilities). Rot, from the screen pans down to the ‘A’ posts, rear quarters and boot floors is common, even on relatively recently restored cars. Rear subframe mounts are problems areas too, as can be the subframe itself and dodgy repairs to these areas can lead to wheel misalignment, with subsequent ‘crabbing’. If you intend to purchase a MkI or MkII Cooper, it’s vital to have it checked out by a marque expert. There are loads of lookalikes out there. MAXI: FUZZ SAYS Maxis are rare machines nowadays but rarity doesn’t mean having to spend big bucks on…

Values of all A40s have risen, but it’s the Countryman that is worth the most today, as so few survive; these were used as vans by most owners so they led a hard life. A Countryman can go for up to £6500, although asking prices can be significantly higher, so don’t pay over the odds. Two-door cars have a ceiling of more like £5500, but runners can still be picked up for £1200-£2000; an equivalent Countryman is more like £1600-£2500. A40s are still being dragged from barns and garages and if these are worth reviving, they’ll fetch £500-£600.…

British Leyland nearly merged with Renault in 1978 before BL pulled out and agreed a venture with Honda. Twenty-five years later, the companies could have ended up sharing more than tenuous link. This time, the deal was to have been struck between MG Rover and Matra over the production of the Matra-built Espace MkIII, which had recently been phased out by Renault. Matra approached Rover submitting a design proposal for a Rover MPV. According to an informed source, MG Rover were ‘ninety per cent’ of the way to signing a deal with Matra. Technically, it would have been simple as the old Espace was easy to restyle, given the fact that the panels were not load bearing. The plan advanced as far as devising an engine strategy, which revolved around…

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 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. FORD CORTINA How can I make my classic quieter? Q My Ford Cortina MkI is…

The 2019 Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, will include an anniversary line-up. It which will be the focal point of Hall 8. Called ‘35 Years in Motoring with Greatest Hits Radio’ the eight-car timeline will be accompanied by Eighties and Nineties music. The first car in the special display will be Mark McClelland’s 1984 Vauxhall Astra GTE (the Astra is also celebrating its 40th birthday this year). To mark this special anniversary, on his drive to the show, Mark is planning to make a special commemorative pilgrimage all the way from his home in Kilmarnock to Birmingham’s NEC. Representing 1989, John Davies’ Land Rover Discovery MkI was one of the press cars used by Land Rover for its UK launch. Having just completed a full restoration, the ‘Disco’…

Were you part of the Silver Arrow team in 1980? The Practical Classics Guide to Classic Vauxhall is now on the shelves: it includes exclusive stories and pictures from every era of the Vauxhall story. It also includes a brief look at the Silver Aero – Vauxhall’s 2.4-litre Turbo concept car from 1980. The Vauxhall prototype is 40 years-old next year and, after reading the guide, David Boon contacted PC with a request. He is looking for the stage staff recruited to promote the car at the NEC Motor Show back in 1980. ‘It was on the Vauxhall show stand and I have been trying to track down any of the girls, to maybe try a recreation of the photo. I just wondered if any readers might know anybody in…

Jaguar Breakfast Club Across the Midlands (see website) If you’re a Jag owner, Peter Simpson has just the thing for you; a monthly meet for big cat lovers. Says Peter: ‘I’m a long-time Jaguar fan and three years ago I decided to do something about the fact that there’s no dedicated meet for the marque, so I set up a gathering each month, all year round. Now we get up to 150 cars assembling, and even in the winter we get still a good turnout, partly because any Jaguar is welcome, whatever its age.’ Check out the schedule online at jaguar breakfastclub.org.uk.…

IN THE NEWS British politics today may be a tragi-comedy, but back in 1980, the first series of the BBC’s Yes Minister made Westminster genuinely hilarious. That the political chaos at the heart of government, played for laughs, became PM Margaret Thatcher’s favourite TV programme suggests it was probably pretty close to reality. IN THE CHARTS The start of the new decade marked the end of an era for the group that had so completely defined the Seventies. In November, ABBA had their final British number one single with  Super Trouper. While the less successful hits continued until 1983, the glory days for Sweden’s most successful export behind Volvo had come to an end. Mamma Mia indeed! AT THE FLICKS The disaster movie genre received a big and well-deserved kick…

1974 Rover P6 3500 Has lived in Peterborough its entire life. Bought in 2018 and often used for towing a classic caravan. 1947 Ford Pick-up Supplied in Guelph, south Ontario, Canada. It came to the UK in 2017 and is in very original condition. 1959 Renault Dauphine A nostalgic purchase as Mark’s dad had one in ’61. Found in a lean-to behind a garage in the Dordogne in 2015 and imported. 1965 Austin A35 Van Bought in October 2018 and immediately restored over a three-month period. Now fitted with a 1098cc engine. 1962 Renault 8 Earliest right-hand drive 8 known to be in existence, it was the 26th RHD car off the production line. 1967 Daimler V8-250 The car that Mark cut his restoration teeth on back in 1997. Resplendent…

It’s about community You published my letter last year, and seeing ourselves in PC really spurred us on. We made it to the NEC for the final day of the Classic Motor Show and watched you guys trying to get the Riley RMA started on the Live Stage. We were blown away at how big the show was and just how many amazing cars were on display. We have also just been back to our local annual show, Motorfest in Ormskirk and what a difference a year makes. My brother Ben’s BMW 316i and Andrew’s Ford Focus ST170 were on show again. The weather could not have been better, with the sun shining all day. The turnout was brilliant, with cars varying from an Isetta to a De Tomaso Pantera.…

So how did a 20-year-old lad end up with an MGB? 'I’ve always been in to classics. My dad works for a wire wheel company and I regularly help him at events such as the Beaulieu Autojumble. It was there that the bug really bit me. I began to see so many MGBs on the road and at shows, while the practicality of the GT really appealed. It really is a classic that you can use.' Why this 'B? 'I went to view a few before settling on this one. The British Racing Green paintwork really stood out to me and the condition was just right. It’s very good, but there’s room for improvement. It had a full nut-and-bolt restoration in 1998, from which I have all the pictures, and…

1967 Citroën DS I spotted this while on holiday. We were at Cowes, Isle of Wight and I thought: ‘Oh look, a Citroën DS.’ When I saw someone else taking a photo, I then decided to take one myself. A gorgeous machine. Darren Beakhouse, Hayes 1993 Fiat Panda A peek through the window revealed this Panda has only 70k on the clock. Paul Carey, Romford Anglia Taken by my brother Steven while he was travelling through Thailand recently. It’s a Ford Anglia, but what car was the front bumper originally fitted to? I’d be interested in finding out. Chris Westwood, Telford Austin Allegro I often see this parked up in Shaldon Road, Bristol. It’s not always in the same place, so it’s in use. Can’t remember the last time I…

‘Both cars take bumps and potholes in their stride...’ There really is nothing like a Mini in the city, and Jason Field’s 1960 Austin Seven is absolutely no exception. Light steering with just 2.25 turns lock-to-lock affords it superb manoeuvrability as we negotiate the capital’s famous south western suburbs, with the 7in drum brakes sharp enough to inspire confidence. Andrew Dyer’s Austin Maxi, by comparison, has notably heavier steering, but still enjoys a spirited drive. While a little stiff when cold, the much-maligned cable change gearbox of this 1969 example is actually very smooth and precise. I’d argue more so than the rod-operated system of later cars. Both the Mini and Maxi take bumps and potholes in their stride, the 587kg Mini skipping over them on its rubber cones while…

S AT 0CT 5 Classic Car Auctions, Warwickshire Exhibition Centre, Leamington Spa, Warks. (01926 640888, classiccarauctions) WED 0CT 16 H&H Classics, Imperial War Museum Sale, Duxford, Cambs. (01925 210035, handh.co.uk) THU 0CT 24 Dorset Vintage & Classic Auctions, Henstridge Airfield, Henstridge, Somerset. (01963 363353, dvca.co.uk) FRI 0CT 25 South West Vehicle Auctions’ classic sale, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset. (01202 745466, swva. co.uk) S AT NOV 26 Barons Auctions’ Autumn Classic sale, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey. (023 8066 8413, barons-auctions.com ) FRI NOV 1 Bonhams’ London to Brighton sale, New Bond Street, London. (020 7468 5801, bonhams.com/cars) S AT NOV 2 Anglia Car Auctions’ Classic Car sale, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. (01553 771881, angliacarauctions.co.uk) SUN NOV 3 Charterhouse Auctions, Bath & West Showground, Somerset. (01935 812277, charterhouse-auction. com)…

Tom Morris Having sold my MGZT-T daily driver, and being left with just classics for daily transport, I needed a modern back in my life. Being used to the ZT-T’s capacious load bay, it needed to be big. At a friend’s wedding, the idea of a camper van came up, and an eBay browsing session followed. I put a cheeky bid on this T4, expecting it to sell for much more, and won the auction later that evening. A nerve-racking journey followed to collect this sight-unseen purchase, but all seemed well. It drove back without issue, other than the need to double de-clutch into second gear (worn synchro was mentioned on the ad, so I can’t complain about that). So far, I’ve replaced the off-road wheels and tyres with a…

James likes... THE NUTTY ONE Off the back of their BTCC racing campaign, Vauxhall sold 3900 GSi models, 317 of which were estates. Finding one would be tough but who can argue with a 192bhp petrol estate with a silky V6 soundtrack? Given its sporting intent, the one I drove was naturally a bit harsh around town but it was a B-road loony. Matt G likes... THE SPEEDY ONE My dad came home from work in a company pool car one day back in the early Noughties – the vehicle in question was a sporty Vectra 2.5 SRi. My overriding recollection of the car is that it went like stink! The memory has stuck with me ever since and, given how cheap you can pick up such machines today, it…

1937 Austin Seven Ruby Engine 747cc/4-cyl/SV Power 12bhp@2400rpm Torque Enough Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-50mph 58 sec Top speed 51mph Fuel economy 45mpg Work done Retrieved and assessed. Also in Matt’s garage 1970 MINOR TWO-DOOR Bodywork progress is slow, but I’ve started on the engine. 2002 CITROËN C15 Isn’t getting much use of late. It’s always been a dream to own an Austin Seven. For years, my dad and I have talked at length about buying a rolling chassis and building it up as a two-seater special, with me taking charge of the mechanical work and him the design and body side. Dad is an Art Director in the film industry, recently overseeing the vehicles and spaceships on Solo: A Star Wars Story (look out for the Morris Minor bonnet hinge…

A lovely MGA driven by an equally lovely couple stopped dead directly outside my workshop. There was no spark at the king HT lead. Hot-wiring the coil to a good 12V supply and trying a known-good substitute did nothing. The car was fitted with an expensive brand of Hall Effect electronic ignition. There was nothing visually or electrically wrong with it, so I rounded blame on the pick-up. The couple’s roadside recovery service reported a five-hour response time. I had a set of Lucas 25D points in my museum of wreckage. I fitted these, added a Lada condenser, contrived some wiring, set the timing and waved them on their way.…

Of all the stages of rebuilding an engine, this is the one that’s least likely to charm the underwear from the opposite sex. If you’ve come here looking for hot clickety-click torque wrench action, you’ve come one instalment too early. Instead, you’ll be standing in the rankest recess of your shed, speckled with filth, reeking of paraffin and sporting a pair of Marigolds. Yes: it’s time to clean everything. This stage is absolutely critical if you don’t want your engine to wear out before it’s run in or be embarrassingly incontinent. There is really nothing clever about it: it’s just about taking every single component and inspecting it minutely to make sure it’s as good as new. You’ll need to clean off oil and dirt, remove any old gasket or…