Table of contents for September 2017 in Practical Classics

‘It’s a line in the sand, but it is also a token’ Early in July, the French government announced plans to phase out diesel and petrol cars from 2040. Then BMW announced that a fully electric version of the MINI will be built at Cowley. So the government’s announcement that from 2040, sales of new cars with diesel and petrol engines will be banned, should come as no surprise. It’s a line in the sand, but it is also a token. The real death of the internal combustion engine will happen well before then. I would be surprised if there are any major marques making fuel burners beyond the mid-2030s. As with all major technological advances, the biggest shift will happen as an evolutionary process. We shouldn’t panic. As long…

APPRENTICE TRAILBLAZERS A new apprenticeship scheme will launch at Bicester Heritage, Emtec College in Nottingham and at specialists P&A Wood in September. The Trailblazer Heritage Engineering Standard Course will see over 130 apprentices undertake a newly designed and funded standard at the three sites. It will have more engineering content than previous apprenticeships and is recognised as being unique by the Department for Education. The course will start with general principles and then allow students to move into specialisms. HISTORIC ELIGIBILITY After a meeting with the FBHVC the DVLA has fixed a technical problem that prevented some classics from gaining historic vehicle status. The DVLA will now accept the date of manufacture rather than registration when allotting historic status as long as the application is made with manufacturers’ record or…

MG Midget High Performance Manual £35 ISBN 978-1-78711-001-4 Revised, updated and enlarged, this is the ultimate guide to building a fast Spridget. It was written from the author’s own experience of developing his own car. MT veloce. co.uk The Last Real Austins £15.99  ISBN 978-1-787111-12-7 After WWII Austin made a range of vehicles from sports cars to trucks. This book examines how, despite severe material shortages, it went on to find customers in all corners of the world. Rare archive photography accompanies a chronicle of each model built between 1946 and 1959. JW veloce. co.uk How to Power Tune: Mini £22.50 ISBN 978-1-787110-87-8 Newly revised and now in colour, this book is aimed at the Mini owner who wants to improve power output without spending a lot. The mods focus…

Following the success of his E-type Club’s round-Britain run last year, Philip Porter’s Jaguar XK Club has just completed an 18-day tour of the country’s 3500-mile coastline in aid of Prostate Cancer UK. He said: ‘We have exceeded our £50,000 target. More than 100 XKs took part in an event in which everyone wins – the publicity raises awareness of prostate cancer, the funds go towards research and treatment, and we have fun in classic Jaguar XKs.’ See xkclub.com…

WED AUG 9 BUCKS Gerrards Cross Classic Car Show, the Memorial Centre, SL9 7AD.(gxclassiccars.co.uk). SAT-SUN AUG 12-13 WARKS Rover Fest at Wroxall Abbey (roverfest.uk). HANTS Volkswagen T Fest at Beaulieu, SO42 7ZN (beaulieu.co.uk). CHESHIRE: S Cheshire Moggies Rally at Blake-mere village, CW8 2EB (tinyurl.com/y7llo886). YORKS Driffield Vintage Rally, The Showground, YO25 9DN (driffieldvintagerally.co.ukdriffieldvintagerally.co.uk). GLOS Tortworth Vintage Rally, Wickwar Show-ground, GL12 8LF (shakespearesrally.com). SUN AUG 13 WARKS BMW Festival at British Motor Museum, Gaydon, CV35 0BJ (britishmotormuseum.co.ukbritishmotormuseum.co.uk). CUMBRIA Classics Over Sands, Grange-over-Sands LA11 7AB (classicsoversands.orgclassicsoversands.org). HANTS Classic Motor Show at Breamore House, SP6 2DF (classicmotorshows.co.ukclassicmotorshows.co.uk). LINCS Boston Classic Show, Graves Park, PE20 1LR (bostonclassiccarclub.org.ukbostonclassiccarclub.org.uk). ESSEX VWs at the Museum of Power, Maldon, CM9 6QA (museumofpower.org.ukmuseumofpower.org.uk). CO DURHAM Raby Castle Classic Vehicle Show, DL2 3AH (markwoodwardclassicevents.commarkwoodwardclassicevents.com). TUE AUG 15 LONDON Air-cooled VW…

I had a hardened valve seat drop out, shatter, and embed itself in the head of my 1976 Scimitar GTE. It happened in the last 20 miles home of a 600-mile journey from France. Martin North I bought a Ford Escort Cabriolet blind off eBay. It was a barn find, off the road for 12 years. Got it started took it for an MoT and it passed. Twenty miles later, catastrophic engine failure. James Zalewski For absolutely no reason my no expense spared rebuilt Morris Minor 1098cc engine decided it would fuse No 4 piston into the bore after 700 miles. It had oil, water and was run in properly. Another engine rebuild, plus reline of the block and a new set of pistons and we’re going well now. Geoff…

‘Nothing beats a classic on a fine day. It’s such great fun’ 1970 Sunbeam Vogue Marion New, Boston, Lincolnshire 1976 MG Midget Shirley Baxter, Wigtoft, Lincolnshire MARION: This Vogue is the only one on the road in the UK – Rootes made it a Singer soon after this car. We found it on eBay – its previous owner had it for over 20 years. It has just been restored by a friend over the last two years. It’s a beautiful colour and it creates loads of interest wherever it goes. People tell me it’s not a real Vogue, but I know better. SHIRLEY: I’m in the Boston Classic Car Club – that’s how Marion and I know each other. I’ve owned my MG Midget since 2002 and in that time…

OWNER PROFILE Alex first met his Marina – his first car and first restoration project – when he was 16. His father John and grandfather Colin (right) worked on it with him. Alex is now studying Vehicle Mechanics and has become something of a Marina expert. ‘All the work was carried out on my parents’ driveway…’ Alex Parrot’s first car holds a far better story than most. A Corsa, Fiesta or Twingo it ain’t – it’s a 1977 MkII Morris Marina 1.3 Deluxe Coupé. It was while installing some mobility equipment for his family business into a great-uncle’s house in London that he spotted the remains of a garage hidden almost entirely by undergrowth. ‘The garage was so rotten that when we tried to open it, the doors fell off,’…

‘Cool your engine by bolting a fan to your fan pulley’ We’ve always dedicated a lot of pages to promoting classic upgrades and modifications. In the name of balance, I thought it was time to dedicate one page to promoting bog-standard parts. I’m not saying that upgrades are a bad thing – they do, of course, have advantages. Many of my cars make good use of the products I’m lampooning. I’m just saying that there are two sides to every argument… Contact breakers This elegant system performs the same function as electronic ignition, yet it uses only simple moving parts. Points contain no non-serviceable integrated circuits and have a clever built-in diagnostic system – flick them with your finger to see if they’re working. Mechanical advance Tired of poring over…

‘The P6 buyer hadn’t arranged breakdown cover…’ There’s a small but – it seems – growing number of less well informed enthusiasts who believe that buying at auction is largely the same as buying from a dealer. At least going by several tales I’ve heard from the trade recently. They won’t be PC readers, obviously, but we all get something from shaking our heads in sage despair at the foolishness of others. The thing is, you pay that bit extra to a dealer, fairly safe in the knowledge that the car’s been checked over and fettled as necessary. They have a reputation to maintain and would prefer not to deal with calls from unhappy customers. Dealers want you to pass on good vibes about their business to other potential customers,…

I bought this Sprite MkII from an estate clearance to help with the restoration of a MkI I’m doing. Then I realised it had never had an engine fitted and the speedo showed just one mile. I checked the body numbers with the club and they confirmed it was the car displayed at the 1962 Earls Court Motor Show to promote the car’s new disc brakes. So now I am going to restore it but I am unsure whether to keep it as it was as a display car or fit an engine. I wonder if that might devalue it? There are mixed opinions on that. I will cut out bad metal and weld in new rather than replacing whole panels where possible, to try to retain as much of…

1989 The Discovery debuts in three-door form, with 3.5 petrol V8 or 2495cc 200 TDi. Air-con and a third row of seats are optional. 1990 September, V8 gets fuel injection – 164bhp, or 153bhp if catalytic converter is fitted. Five-door, seven-seater arrives November. 1992 From October a catalytic converter is standard (previously an option)and an automatic gearbox joins the V8 options list. 1993 June, 2.0-litre 4-cyl petrol offered. In September the V8 is enlarged to 3947cc, 180bhp. A four-speed auto is optional on the 1994 Facelift: new grille, larger headlamps, redesigned dash, optional twin airbags. 300 TDi unit launched. 1998: Discovery 2 replaces Discovery 1.…

My name is Craig and this is my confession… I have a massive soft spot for the Rover 45. I appreciate this distinguishes me from a ‘normal’ person, but there’s method to my apparent madness. First of all, I think it’s an astonishingly pretty car. A flawed one, yes, but one that has aged far better than most of its contemporaries, perhaps because it looked ancient when it first came out. Second, I don’t think there’s a better bargain out there. The 45s aren’t interesting enough to have established a classic following. They are undesirable… therefore unbelievably cheap, and that’s talking my language. After all, where else are you going to find a fully working, well-maintained, two-owner family hatchback complete with ice-cold air conditioning and a CD player for the…

Mild mix Mild and stainless steel can be welded together using MIG and standard steel wire. It won’t be pretty or stainless, and you’ll need to rust-treat the area. 1959 Peerless GT Engine 1991cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 110bhp@4800rpm Torque 117lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual + o/d 0-60mph 10.8sec Top speed 120mph Fuel economy 28mpg Work done Filler necks, vent pipes and main fuel line feeds fitted. Wiring refitted. Also in Gary’s garage 1958 RENAULT 4CV I’m enjoying working on this. It’s in my workshop to have its faulty x Solex carb xx addressed xx. 1980 SAAB 99 TURBO TWO-DOOR Next in line for full restoration once the Peerless is finished. ‘It’s critical not to undermine the lining, as the hose will be wrecked’ I recently finished fitting the GT’s inner rear arch…

1972 VW Karmann Ghia Engine 1584cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 50bhp@4000rpm Torque 78lb ft@2800rpm Work since last report Engine oil changed for fresh fluid; gearbox topped up. I’m a big fan of my Karmann Ghia – but I’ve recently put it up for sale. I’ve long lusted after owning a Porsche 911 of my own and the simple fact is that I need the money currently ‘tied up’ in the Ghia to have any chance of achieving that ambition. With the way air-cooled Porsche values have risen over the past five years – and look to have every chance of continuing to do so – the truth is that if I don’t take the plunge soon, I may miss my chance forever. We’ve had a great run together and I’ll always be glad…

1978 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 2 Engine 6750cc/V8/OHV Power ‘Adequate’ Torque Not Disclosed Gearbox 3-speed automatic 0-60mph 10.7sec Top Speed 113mph Fuel Economy 11mpg Work done Sourced my dream classic. Also in Dave’s garage 2003 ALFA ROMEO GTV Looks great… just don’t watch this old bloke trying to get out. Where is Ellie? The Spirit of Ecstasy mascot, modelled on Eleanor Thornton, was one of the few things missing. Nice and clean now Some elbow grease soon made Dave feel a lot better about what he’d acquired. I have a theory about classic car owners. Take away the speculators and by and large you’re left with owners who bought the cars they lusted over as teenagers. Back when I was a car-mad youngster, when all my friends wanted Minis, Escorts or…

Poor performance? Sluggish performance even with the correct ignition setting? Check the centrifugal and vacuum advance are free to move. Replenish lubricator Some distributor shafts have a grease cup. Clean it out and fill with fresh grease while you have the distributor apart. Tighten it a quarter-turn at each service. If the shaft has an oil cup, give it a few drops. Check advance Use a timing gun to check the advance matches the figures in your workshop manual. It should state the correct advance in degrees at various rpm. You will need Basic tools, petrol, paint brush, oil and grease. The distributor triggers up to several hundred sparks per second. The importance of doing this with pinpoint accuracy can’t be overstated. A distributor that’s slightly awry will throw the…

RENAULT STATS 270,000 MILEAGE TODAY 63,000 MILEAGE BOUGHT 3.8P COST PER MILE I bought my first 16, secondhand, in 1967. It was one of the first sold in the UK in 1965 – I was hooked. In 1976 I found this one for sale at a Peugeot dealer in my home town. It was a green metallic 16 TL and with the help of my parents-in-law I purchased it, for £795. I was also rather drawn to it because it was built in the same year that I married my wife, Joy. For the next six years DUK 833J was my everyday car as well as work transport for my job as a radio and television service engineer. During this time we took quite a few holidays abroad including a…

My Traveller played Dorothy in a Wizard of Oz- themed stand at the MMOC National Rally. Filming for Edd China’s classic car health check. Videos now live on the Heritage Insurance website. The Lowlight we restored with the MMOC in 2016 is about to drive LeJOG for charity. Search ‘MMLEJOG’. Project Mini uncovered and dragged into the workshop. Find out more in the next issue of PC. Making the most of summer with another weekend away in the newly-refurbished Thomson Mini Glen.…

Pre-war and proud of it PC has created a special guide in honour of Britain’s favourite vintage classic, the Austin Seven. There are 100 pages of historical and technical insight, reflecting the excitement and ingenuity present in all models and owners of this special car. It has been curated by PC Tech editor Sam Glover. Adrian’s 10 The latest classic to be offered to a younger enthusiast, on loan, is the Austin 10 tourer (below) of Adrian Shooter. It has been in Adrian’s family for many years, ‘but I would like to someone else get some enjoyment from it. Cars need to be used and enjoyed.’ Editor Danny Hopkins visited Adrian and the car. Email Danny if you have a classic to offer up for loan. Forrest Lump Hollywood will…

Unexceptional champion This year’s Festival of the Unexceptional was won by the 1983 Datsun Sunny 1.5 GL of Mark Ashbridge. The Hagerty Insurance show saw PC editor Danny Hopkins, who was also one of the judges, present the prizes. A record turnout of cars, from Maestro to Nissan S Cargo, invaded Stowe School and will be featuring in the Your Cars section here over the coming months. Ferrari fest Ferrari models will swamp London’s Design Museum in November, with a major exhibition celebrating the firm’s 70th birthday. In tribute to Enzo’s iconic supercars, there’ll be a display of Ferrari’s racing heritage as well as a nod to those associated with the marque. Ferrrari: Under the Skin is between 15 November and 15 April 2018.…

The Fiat 500 had its 60th birthday in July and its enthusiasts club is celebrating in style. The club’s Steven Abbott says: ‘The club has commissioned a special logo and is celebrating with a series of drives and events. These include drive-outs in the Cotswolds and Surrey hills, events such as the Silverstone Classic, Festival Italia at Brands Hatch, Goodwood Revival and the NEC Classic Motor Show.’ Log on to fiat500enthusiasts.co.uk for more details.…

IN PRAISE OF THE MULTIPLA I was glad to see the Multipla in your Practically Classic section ( PC July 2017). I bought mine new in 2001 and it did sterling family service until a couple years ago. My wife and I still love it and hope to get it back on the road when we retire. Brilliantly designed, for passengers rather than looks (although we think it looks fine, albeit unusual, not so the facelift)! Kids love it – the windows are very low so they can see out. We ’ ve never had any getting car sick. You’re high up for a good view, it’s smaller than you think, with a wheel at each corner stance and a typically Italian engine willing you on. The gearknob looks odd…

I used to love talking to my grandad about his car’s when I was a kid. My favourite story was one about him speeding towards Leicester in his brand new Audi Quattro Coupé. When he finally slowed down a police car pulled up behind him with its lights flashing. Instead of giving him a ticket they were more interested in the new German sports car! Lee Jordan My Grandparents lived most of their lives in India, my maternal grandparents never had a car and my paternal grandparents didn’t have a car until the Seventies, an Austin A40. Ian Nesbitt My late grandfather had a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost for quite a while growing up, had a teak/mahogany boat-back from what I can see in the photos. There was one boat-back SG…

1974 Vauxhall 2300S Danny Hopkins, Bourn, Cambs On our round-Britain jaunt to judge Britain’s best classic café, we borrowed a beautiful 1974 Vauxhall 2300S from Vauxhall Heritage in Luton. The car was in superb condition. How Many Left? tells us there are only four manual cars and two autos on the road. Imagine our surprise then when another own turned up at the Haldon Forest Diner in Exeter. Tell us about it, David. 1975 Vauxhall 2300S David Pierce, Bude, Devon This is my daily driver – it’s in great condition with only 16,000 miles on the clock but I’m about to replace it with an Austin Princess 2200 HLS auto. I do love the Vauxhall but it is a bit basic – it only has a four-speed box and no…

Matt says ‘What a find! Blink and you cold almost be on a UK garage site, rather than a Texan classic car lot. This needs more research…’ Husky, TR7, Alpine Roger Neate was on a rip to Dallas when he stumbled into a yard full of rusting tin, mainly of Sixties British variety, and earning him this month’s prizedRust in Peacegong. From left to right, we have a Hillman Husky, Triumph TR7 and Sunbeam Alpine. Lurking behind a white Triumph GT6 is a Wolseley 1500 and a Rover P6. Vanden Plas 3-Litre Here’s a Vanden Plas 3-Litre (the luxury version of the Austin Westminster) and behind it what looks like an Austin A135 Princess. A number of Jaguar E-types and XJS coupés in various states of disrepair are in the…

Sometimes fate plays a hand and you get to enjoy automotive toys that you would never choose for yourself. No bad thing in my book – it’s a motoring adventure. So when my brother in-law offered me his 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee (one of the last of the ZJs) I jumped at it. It was Sean’s ride for almost 20 years and he and partner Audrey had looked after it impeccably. So with 67,000 miles on the clock and as an Orvis (top of the range), you would expect the impending need for new brakes and an exhaust system to be a financial no-brainer. There would surely be plenty of life in that old bus yet? Surely? Not so. Jeeps of this era are going through the doldrums in terms…

1958 Austin Westminster A105 Estate Auto Engine 2639cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 102bhp@4600rpm Torque 142lb ft@2400rpm Gearbox 3-speed auto 0-60mph 17.8sec Top speed 97mph Fuel economy 20mpg Project overview Saved from the banger track, this Austin Westminster A105 Estate is one of just ten made and is the only one with an automatic gearbox. CBR Motor Bodies and Practical Classics are restoring it in conjunction with Anglia Car Auctions, Hagerty Insurance and CL Panelcraft. Proceeds from its sale will go to Lennox Children’s Cancer Fund. Full on Working out in front of the crowds was an additional, yet welcome challenge. When we last reported on the Westminster ( PC , May 2017), we were frantically preparing it for its starring roll on stage at the Practical Classics Restoration and Classic Car show. We…

1972 Triumph GT6 Engine 1998cc/6-cyl/OHV Power 98bhp@5300rpm Fuel economy 27mpg Work since previous report Ready for engine overhaul. Fitting a new gutter to the offside screen pillar and the finishing strip to the roof seam above the windscreen completed repairs to the main bodyshell. Now Jamie at Complete Car Care has smoothed in all his repairs with a skim of filler, the shell is looking very sound indeed. That means we still have to repair the one-piece front end, doors and tailgate. The doors don’t look too bad and shouldn’t need much work. The bonnet has a few of the usual Spitfire and GT6 issues though, with a little rust on the wheel arches and a hole high up on the offside wing. Typically for these one-piece Triumph fronts, there…

Sam Glover TECHNICAL EDITOR Sam has broken down in a gigantic variety of classics over the years, then worked out how to fix them. John Simpson MASTER MECHANIC Big John has worked at the greasy end of the motor industry since leaving school. Theodore J Gillam TECHNICAL EXPERT Theo teaches automotive engineering and makes amazing things in his shed. Ed Hughes WORKSHOP GENIUS Ed singlehandedly keeps a fleet of obscure classics on the road. He’s never owned a modern car. Kim Henson CLASSIC CAR GURU Kim’s been restoring classics for over four decades. BMC vehicles are his speciality. Nigel Clark DIY RESTORER Nigel’s driveway achievements rival those of professional mechanics. He’s our resident Triumph expert. DIFFICULTY LEVELS One to two spanners An easy job that’s well within the reach of…

The band that started the ball rolling on The Beatles will be performing at the NEC Classic Motor Show in November, to mark 60 years since John Lennon first met Paul McCartney. Surviving members of John’s original Quarrymen have been invited by the Federation of British Historic Vehicles to play on Saturday November 11. There will be two 30-minute sets and to capture the spirit of the band’s July 1957 appearance at the St Peter’s Church fete in Liverpool (where John and Paul first got together), they will be on the back of a truck, a 1937 AEC Matador courtesy of the Commercial Vehicle Society. John and Paul went on to possess a varied collection of cars. McCartney was often seen driving a 1965 Radford Mini Cooper S , Aston…

Nifty ratchet SWIVEL PALM RATCHET £42.65 Ideal for reaching those difficult to access fasteners, Laser Tools’ Swivel Palm Ratchet features a swivel joint on the driver, three swivel adaptors and a swivelling handle to ensure the socket or screw bit gets a firm grip even when straight access is difficult. You’ll wonder how you managed without it! MT lasertools.co.uk Mighty Mini MINI SPARES/GAZ TWIN ADJUSTABLE MIGHTY MINI DAMPERS £132.30 Mini Spares has teamed up with GAZ Shocks to produce the Mighty Mini Twin Adjustable damper. These enable you to adjust the damping bump and rebound rates separately to suit the individual track conditions and personal driving style. They’re available for both front (part number C-STN238) and rear (C-STN239). Alter the rates by rotating knobs on…

Douglas Newton, organiser of the classic vehicle section of the Egham Royal Show, is urging PC readers to take part. ‘Entries range from the Twenties to the mid-Eighties and include vehicles of every size and shape,’ he says. ‘Each entrant gets a brass commemorative plaque and there are small cash prizes for the classes.’ Entry is £5 per car and all its occupants; see eghamroyalshow. org.uk  or call Douglas on 01908 511894.…

Purists look away now. This two-day event, incorporating Triumfest, conjured up a blend of modified and original, road and track – something for everyone. Where else would you see an Anglia 100E trouncing modern BMWs on the drift pad, or a Fiat 126 leaving an Escort RS2000 for dead on the strip? Among the rows of immaculate Triumphs and jaw-dropping hot rods were curiosities such as a Golf MkII converted to rear-mounted air-cooled Beetle power. The question was always: ‘Why?’ And the answer was always the same: because you can.…

IN THE NEWS Harold Macmillan wins the General Election and among his new MPs is the 34 year-old member for Finchley, one Margaret Thatcher. The first section of the M1 is opened between Watford and Rugby, Tyne Tees Television launches and Ronnie Scott opens his now legendary Jazz Club in Soho. An experiment begins in the city of Norwich, where they introduce special sequences of numbers and letters called postcodes… they will never catch on. IN THE CHARTS Juke Box Jury made its debut on TV, just in time to catch Cliff Richard’s Living Doll , recorded with the Drifters. Award yourself a trivia medal if you knew it was written by Lionel Bart. Cliff also did Mean Streak with the Drifters…

Your profile of Triumph chief development engineer Tony Lee was interesting ( PC , July 2017). One of his tasks was to attend the monthly meetings of the field engineers to find solutions for engineering problems picked up from dealers and owners. A perpetual subject was transmission balance on Herald models, which caused unpleasant drumming in the body at cruising speed. Tony’s entrance to the meeting was greeted by humming and whistling of the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations! On another occasion, when we were beset by crankshaft failures due to the pump intake getting fouled by paper ‘fluff’ from a defective joint, he was advised to contact Kelloggs for help as the trade was rectifying the problem with joints made from cornflake packets. One of my earlier occupations involved testing…

Many years ago I used to be in that game. I drove many Bedford CFs… quite a challenge until you got used to them. One was a diesel, the slowest thing I’ve ever driven. My favourite had the 2.3 slant-four, once mastered a pleasure to drive. The company is still going, as far as I know they still have all those old vans but they don’t use them any more. Rob Madin Our local Mr Ripple and his 40 year-old Austin still does his daily rounds in Dublin. John Nealon I saw this at a show recently in Messingham, North Lincolnshire. Ashley Christie…

A pair of Minis I saw these two Mini beauties outside Pirates Bar in Spain after a hot day on the beach. Andy Winfield, by email Austin A40 In a field – between Kerang and Echuca in the Murray Riverlands – was this A40 Devon. For sale – I couldn’t get near it though. Phil ‘The Blade’, Australia 1968 Porsche 911 I’m not really into Porsches but would like an early 911. This immaculate one was in Ludlow. Ron Gittings, Ludlow 1972 Victor FD I spotted this Victor FD VX 4/90 in the golf club car park recently. It looked to be in good nick. Tim Webb, Saffron Walden Chevrolet Suburban My Canadian brother-in-law thinks that the blue station wagon is a 1967-72 Suburban. This was in Vancouver near the…

Capable and comfortable are the watch-words of this range-topping Granada. Slide behind the wheel and the well-padded driver’s seat gives you a big bear hug, while there are plenty of buttons and switches to play with on the wood-effect dashboard. The Cologne V6 quietly idles away somewhere beneath the huge bonnet; select ‘drive’ and you’re away without a fuss. As the automatic transmission unobtrusively changes ratios, it all seems remarkably civilised. Plant your right foot into the carpet, though, and the Granada’s true character is revealed. The gearbox kicks down, the V6 roars and this big car leaps forwards. Other road users best get out of the way, this is a classic Ford that’s in a hurry.…

‘You’ll never nod off in a classic car as there is simply too much to do’ New cars are super-safe, yes? The very latest ones keep you in your lane, beep at you if there’s a car in your rear blind spot, brake if they detect an obstruction fast approaching, relay traffic signs to your dashboard including speed limits. Some can even be set not to exceed a posted limit, and to brake and accelerate automatically in slow traffic so you don’t have to do anything with pedals or levers. It’s almost as if they are driving themselves. And soon, of course, they will be doing just that, which is what everyone apparently wants. Soon after that we won’t be interested in owning cars at all, as we’ll be too…

THU AUG 17 Brightwells Modern Classics, Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire. (01568 611122, brightwells.com) SAT AUG 26 Anglia Car Auctions, The Cattlemarket, King’s Lynn, Norfolk (01553 771881, angliacarauctions.co.uk) S AT SEP 2 Silverstone Auctions’ Salon Privé Sale, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire (01926 691141, silverstoneauctions.com) SAT SEP 2 Bonhams, National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hampshire (020 7468 5801, bonhams.com/cars) THU SEP 7 Dorset Vintage & Classic Auctions, Athelhampton House, Dorchester, Dorset (01963 363353, dvca.co.uk) SAT SEP 9 Bonhams’ Goodwood Revival sale, Goodwood Circuit, West Sussex (020 7468 5801, bonhams.com/cars) SUN SEP 10 Essex Classic Car Auctions, Crowne Plaza Resort, Essex (01702 416153, essex classiccarauctions.co.uk) WED SEP 13 Charterhouse, Royal Bath & West Showground, Somerset (01935 812277, charterhouse-auction.com)…

1967 Triumph Vitesse Price: £3700 Offered at half the price of a higher-mileage Vitesse in the next ad, this looked cheap with its new clutch and recon gearbox. 1970 SEAT 600 E Price: £4750 Shipped from Spain in 2014, so unlikely to have the rot that dogs these. Less than 50,000 miles and only for sale due to ill health. 1953 MG YB Price: £3500 With prices for Y-types on the rise you could maybe smell a profit in this resprayed but unfinished project. It’s a runner but it has no brakes – an easy enough fix, though.…

With a dismal showing in the Euro NCAP safety tests, a K-series engine renowned for head gasket failure, and tiny proportions vs 6ft 2in me, this might seem a very silly purchase. But I’d made an offer on it after a few beers and woke up to discover that the offer had been accepted. I’m determined to give it the benefit of any doubts, though. Why? My mum had one, of course. Didn’t everyone’s? Actually, mine sold hers when I was only one year-old and replaced it with a Volvo 740, and that’s what I’d really been after. Oh well. Now, we’re always telling you that buying blind on eBay is risky, but so far, this gamble seems to have paid off. Just three former keepers and a service book…

1950 Riley RMA Engine 1496cc/4-cyl/DOHC Power 55bhp@4500rpm Torque 76lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 25sec Top speed 78mph Fuel economy 26mpg Work done Rear wheelarch work continues… and some. In Danny’s shed 1956 RILEY PATHFINDER Old doors, bonnet, boot and wings off. New ones ready. 1971 INTERCEPTOR II On the road by Christmas -ish. Niggly problems to fix. 1982 VAUXHALL VICEROY Bought to restore. Now being sold as a resto project. Time/money/stupidity. 1988 MAZDA 626 GTI COUPÉ So instead I now have this. It works but needs a sunroof. 1998 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE ORVIS 4.0 I have inherited this from my brother-in-law. It’s ace! 2002 RENAULT AVANTIME Still in love with it. But it’s now for sale. Money needed for Jensen completion. ‘Theo set to work with his homemade machines…

1969 Morris Minor Traveller & 1971 Thomson Mini Glen Engine 1098cc/4-cyl/OHV Gearbox Four-speed manual Differential 4.2:1 Fuel economy 21mpg (towing) Work done Serviced, driven and enjoyed. Also in Matt’s garage 1960 MORRIS MINOR CONVERTIBLE Bodywork fettling continues at a snail’s pace. 1970 MORRIS MINOR SALOON Some panels purchased, but still in the queue. 1992 MINI MAYFAIR Plans afoot. We had more than 1400 miles ahead of us in 50-year-old cars that we were putting under considerable strain by asking them to tow our homes for the fortnight. So when my friend Tom Morris arrived at my door with two low-loaders (one for his car, the other for his caravan) we realised the enormity of what we’ planned to do. The 1275cc engine in Tom’s black two-door saloon had burst the…

1997 BMW 318is Engine 1895cc/4-cyl/DOHC Power 138bhp@6000rpm Torque 133lb ft@4300rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 9.9sec Top speed 132mph Fuel economy 35mpg Work done Fuel pump and senders replaced with good secondhand items. Also in Matt’s garage 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Ready for a road trip to EDB and the far north of Scotland. 1972 TRIUMPH TR6 Oil change for rebuilt engine; cylinder head bolts retorqued. It has been a while since the zingy 318is appeared in the pages of this magazine. So what has happened to it since then? Well, I have covered almost 3000 miles so far and, as you might expect from a mid-Nineties German product the car has been entirely trouble-free. End of Saga then? Well no, that wouldn’t be very interesting now would it. I mentioned during…

Brakes Inspecting the pads. They’re in there somewhere! Arch liners found on a trip to Kiev. 1993 ZAZ 1102 ‘Tavria’ Engine 1091cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 53bhp@5500rpm Torque 60lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 16sec Top speed 90mph Fuel economy 40mpg Work done Major service; tracing water leaks Also in Ed’s garage 1969 WARTBURG TOURIST Another Devon-Peterborough round trip without incident. 1979 LADA 1200 SALOON Starter overhauled to quell grinding noises. In my previous Saga ( Practical Classics , May 2017), I explained how I came to own my Ukrainian ZAZ Tavria. I promised to tell you how it finally lost its ‘problem child’ status. But first, let me say something about its conception back in the USSR of the Seventies and Eighties. Back in the USSR The groundwork was done at the…

Well oiled A century of lubes has kept the gearbox and its components largely corrosion free. 1916 Ford Model T Engine 2897cc/4cyl/SV Power 22.5bhp@1600rpm Torque 82lb ft@900rpm Transmission 2-spd epicyclic Top speed 45mph 0-60mph No chance! Fuel economy 20mpg The story so far Richard Skinner of Tudor Wheels and Practical Classics started restoring this 1916 car in its centenary year. Saved from a scrapyard in Colorado, it was imported into the UK in 2015 and Richard is carrying out a complete rebuild. This issue Dakota Katy’s transmission is stripped and reassembled. Henry Ford and his design team decided on a two-speed planetary gearbox for the Ford Model T. This consisted of three drums with cotton-lined contracting bands, three triple gears (each gear consisting of three gears riveted together) and with…

You will need Welding shield, gauntlets and skull cap, MIG welding set, welding wire, contact tips, gas and regulator, side cutters, angle-grinder with flap discs, degreaser and cloths. Poor metal? Make life easy for yourself and practise on new mild steel. If blow-through happens repeatedly when welding on a car, the metal may be corroded from behind. Cut back to good steel. Clear the area Remove combustable items, other people and pets before you start welding. Keep it clean Clean the surfaces you’re welding back to shiny metal and decrease thoroughly. It’ll make welding easier, neater and stronger. There’s MIG welding… and there’s MIG welding. Books the size of doorsteps have been written on every niche area of the subject, not to mention the underlying metallurgy. Pub bores, internet forums…

You will need Decent screwdrivers, small spanners, air nozzle, petrol or solvent cleaner. Spare bits A complete rebuild kit is not usually necessary. Gaskets, diaphragms and a needle valve are the only bits you’re likely to need. Cleaning apparatus A tyre pump with nozzle or an air-line blow gun will be invaluable for cleaning out small passageways. Aerosol carb cleaner is good stuff, too. Don’t contaminate the innards If the carburettor’s dirty on the outside, wash it with petrol and a paint brush before starting. The fixed-jet carburettor is a miracle of compromise. A variable-jet design (such as an SU or Stromberg) usually has a single fuel-dispensing jet that’s metered by a single needle. Once it’s set up properly, it should work perfectly across the whole operating range of the…

 Prices in this guide are researched from several sources, including clubs, auctions, the trade and advertisements online and in print. These prices are reviewed and updated every issue. Our C/D rating is a basic guide to what you can expect to pay (£) for the best examples of a model, a concours car or something from a dealer. CONDITION 1 means well-presented cars that have no obvious faults. CONDITION 2 cars are capable of regular use. They have a current MoT certificate but will need work and/or original parts. CONDITION 3 cars usually need a complete rebuild, but might be driveable and MoT’d – candidates for restorations. PLEASE NOTE You cannot accurately value any car without seeing it in the flesh.…

If your club’s contact details have changed, please let us know! A  750 MOTOR CLUB 01379 741641 AC OWNERS’ CLUB 07768 363250 AMERICAN AUTO CLUB (UK) 0845 644 0345 www.americanautoclubuk.com AMBULANCE PRESERVATION SOCIETY www.southambpres.org.uk CLASSIC AMERICAN AC (GB) 020 8286 1120 PRE -’50 CLASSIC AMERICAN 01530 831170 AEC SOC yellowayreliance@hotmail.com ALFA ROMEO GIULIETTA REGISTER www.giulietta.com ALFA ROMEO OC www.aroc-uk.com ALLARD OWNERS’ CLUB David Moseley, 19 Bramham Gardens, London SW5 0JE ALVIS OWNER CLUB www.alvisoc. org ALVIS REG 01509 412289, www.alvisregister.com ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY OC 0121 459 0742, www.siddeley.com, www.siddeley.net A-SERIOUS (A-SERIES ENGINED CARS) http://aserious.freeforums.org ASSN OF OLD VEHICLE CLUBS OF N IRELAND 028 9146 7886, www.aovc.co.uk ASTON MARTIN OC 01865 400400 AUDI 100 COUPÉ S CLUB GB 01702 461513 AUDI OC 07788 588449 , www.audiclub.co.uk CLUB…