Table of contents for Spring 2017 in Practical Classics

Will the PC/C B R Motor Bodies team get the Westminster running on the Live Stage by Sunday? The Restorer of the Year 2017 winner will be announced… don’t worry, we’ll get the envelope right! Will Danny be driving his Interceptor off the Live Stage on Sunday? Be sure to swing by and find out! Editor Danny’s old Rover P4 80 will be on the RSR stand (7-230) alongside Alan Buttle’s JET 1 replica. Keith Buckley’s MG YB that starred in the 2016 Barn Finds display will be at the 2017 show… completed!…

Skill Shack gets 100+ classes Our online ‘how to’ video service now has over 100 individual classes to offer new subscribers. Another four classes have been added in March alone. You can discover it at skillshack.co.uk or on the Resto Theatre at the PC Show. 1000hp Sunbeam return The National Motor Museum will be breathing new life into one of its Sunbeam 1000hp’s engines to make it run for the first time in over half a century and celebrate the 90th anniversary of it breaking the 200mph Land Speed Record. The restoration project will begin in time for the record-breaking 90th anniversary on March 29, with an engine startup planned for later in the year at Beaulieu. Win yourself a workshop! The nice people at Machine Mart have launched a…

Amazing RBRR fundraising total Club Triumph has revealed the impressive fundraising total for its 50th anniversary Round Britain Reliability Run. The final figure donated to Guide Dogs UK was an incredible £95,800! PC’s Matt George took part and contributed £807.12 with his team. BMH Mini MkI British Motor Heritage now offers its long awaited prototype MkI bodyshell. It comes with external hinges and other MkI details and is mainly aimed at the historic motorsport market where sourcing early replacement Mini MkI shells is becoming increasingly difficult without using another ‘donor’ car. Prices from around £10k. Nice little earner Arthur Daley’s infamous coat and trilby went under the hammer at a Newbury auction in February and made £12k – ten times the estimate. George Cole’s attire from Minder was eventually sold…

We like the Great Western Classic Car Show as it’s a bit rough around the edges. It’s a proper show, held in cattle sheds and it brims over with enthusiasts, whether they’re selling parts or showing off their classic. It’s not the biggest show going but there’s always a decent spread of clubs. Car of the Show was scooped by Adrian Evans and his Cortina MkII 1600E while the best club stand was awarded to the Norton Radstock Classic Vehicle Club. bccs.bristol  classiccarshows.com…

A dose of Douze The ‘12’ was a huge seller, topping 2.8 million units from at least 14 different assembly plants around the world. We think that an astonishing 1.9 million of those are from Dacia’s licensed versions built in Romania, where they remained in production until 2006 in pick-up form, the saloons and estates dying in 2004. Simca sympathy Simca made some interesting cars, but thanks to low-ish UK sales and notorious rustiness, they’re rarely seen. The 1300/1500-family estates had a bottom-hinged tailboard with wind-down glass and in GL and Special form (like this) the spare wheel cover lifted out and converted to a picnic table thanks to folding legs. Conwy Castle, North Wales, 1977 Edward Longshanks can hardly be a popular historical figure in Wales, but his 13th…

‘The plate came with the car’ 1957 Rover P4 Brian Peas, Letchworth The later Rover 75 (post-1954 Bache redesign) is quite a rare beast, but considering the plate it couldn’t be anything else really. I love the car it is supremely comfortable and great to drive as long as you don’t have to rush. I am only the second owner having purchased it in 1980 from the first and it’s all original – never been restored. It’s basically all that you could want from an older classic – I’d recommend a P4 to anyone. ‘She’s only done 43,000 miles from new’ 1966 Triumph Herald 1200 Ronald Warburton, Lancashire My Triumph Herald 1200 is no stranger to these pages… it was shown first in ‘Readers Cars’, as it was then, 24…

Inside, it’s basic but cultured, with Jaeger dials up front and one of the most magnificently bolstered seats I have encountered. Pop the gear lever into first, and away we go. The steering wheel doesn’t have as much play at the straight ahead as I was expecting. But it responds nicely – if not pin sharp – and for its era there’s surprisingly little correction required. The engine delivers its wares in a refined and smooth manner, with a reassuring ‘whuff’ from the exhaust pipe under load. First application of the anchors initiates squeaky bum time and pre-planning quickly becomes a definite necessity. The body flexes disconcertingly through bends – initially, at least – leaving you feeling as if you’re having an out of car experience. This becomes second nature…

‘The crisp sound of a V6 – allied here to the shape of an MX-5 – is thrilling’ I’ve recently driven two new takes on the world’s favourite sports car, the Mazda MX-5. One was a brand new MX-5 RF, which stands for Retractable Fastback, and it makes a neat GT coupé out of the original roadster idea. The other was much older, PC -era old, and it made a sound like that of no MX-5 I’ve ever heard before. That’s because it hid under its bonnet an engine from another part of what was then Ford’s worldwide empire. That engine was a 3.0-litre Jaguar V6 with four overhead camshafts and, as fitted to the early Noughties S-type in which it left Jaguar’s Castle Bromwich factory, 240bhp. This, according to…

This has to be a good time to take the plunge and buy a classic car from the continent, before the final Brexit curtain falls and the powers that be invent some tariffs to make it a more expensive game for us mere mortals. It was with that in mind that we headed for the Bonhams sale in Paris during Rétromobile week (February 8-12, 2017). The heaving catalogue for this contained the usual selection of interesting oddities that we don’t get to see in the UK; perhaps a few less than before, but enough to make the trip worthwhile. In amongst some delightfully oddball Fifties and Sixties small commercials, there were two standout great deals – both Italian-registered cars offered with no reserve that failed to get the attention they…

1990 Company car fleet oriented four-door saloon launched, offered with the same engine and trim options as the hatchback variants. 1991 Cosworth 195bhp 24v 2.9i Scorpio – hatch and saloon. 1992 Estate arrives with 2.0 or 2.9-litre engines. Redesigned nose and dashboard, smoked rear light lenses fitted. 1994 Facelifted car called Scorpio, not Granada, offered as saloon or estate with 2.0 and 2.9 V6 petrol engines or a 2.5 turbodiesel. 1996 A 2.3-litre four-cylinder petrol engine joins the Ford ‘ovoid’ design range for the last two years of the Granada/Scorpio run.…

1971 Saab 96 V4 Engine 1498cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 65bhp@4700rpm Torque 85lb ft@2500rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 16.5sec Top speed 93mph Fuel economy 29mpg Work done Stripdown, welding and parts sourcing continues. Also in James’s garage 1980 CITROËN DYANE Getting ready for the Dyane’s 50th birthday celebration. 1988 CITROËN CX Water leak from somewhere. Investigation required. 1997 HONDA LEGEND Most thirsty car I have ever owned! Now sold. Saabs don’t rust. ‘They just get slightly wounded by time.’ There is some chin-scratching and nods of agreement from my pals at the Saab Owners Club, before we burst out laughing. Of course, we’d like to think these sturdy little Swedes are bulletproof but they’re still vulnerable to time and the elements. This particular 96 has survived a lifetime in the salty Isle of…

1977 Reliant Scimitar SE6A Engine 2994cc/V6/OHV Power 138bhp@5000rpm Torque 192lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-speed man+ o/d 0-60mph 9.4sec Top speed 118mph Fuel economy 21mpg Work done The Scimitar brakes have been thoroughly bled, resulting in a super sharp brake pedal. Also in Nigel’s garage 1970 TRIUMPH TR6 It’s been another few weeks of hibernation, so nothing to report unless trickle charging the battery counts. (No - Ed) Time for all of us to own up. What’s your least favourite classic job? Yep, me too. Brake bleeding. Brake fluid is evil stuff – seized nipples, air bubbles that won’t budge or worst of all, a fluid spill eating into pristine paintwork. There are plenty of reasons why we’re right to hate this particular task. When I recently overhauled the Scimitar’s master cylinder,…

1988 Mercedes-Benz 250D Engine 2497cc/5-cyl/OHC Power 93bhp@4600rpm Torque 116lb ft@2800rpm Gearbox 3-speed auto 0-60mph 16.5sec Top speed 109mph Fuel economy 40mpg Work done Bought, bodged through an MoT, dumped in Romania. Also in Sam’s garage 1954 PANHARD DYNA Engine swap imminent. 1960 CHEVROLET CORVAIR Awaiting fettling for first MoT. 1979 VOLVO 245 Superior winter motoring. 1979 VOLVO 343 Odd Variomatic problems. Research required. 2002 RENAULT VEL SATIS Another unwise purchase (see p50). Better owner required. ‘We’re going to crash again,’ reported Kris. We were approaching a T-junction at a steady 30mph with all four wheels locked. The brakes proving useless, Kris floored the accelerator and twirled the steering wheel to the right. ‘Turn right at junction,’ advised our sat nav as we hurtled sideways past the give way signs and…

1985 Jaguar XJ-S Engine 5343cc/V12/OHV Power 295bhp@5000rpm Torque 290lbt ft@3000rpm Gearbox 3-speed automatic 0-60mph 6.7sec Top speed 150mph Fuel economy 19mpg Work since last report Driven hard everywhere. Cooling system redesigned. Also in George’s shed 1965 MASSEY FERGUSON 35 The farm hack and a joy to work on. I’ve restored it and it gets used most days. I’ve been modifying the cooling of late. In the XJ-S HE, the V12 has a number of cooling problems to overcome, partly because Jaguar styling gurus insisted the elegant bonnet must be extremely low. By contrast, modern Jaguar sports cars tower over the XJ-S. In the Lyons era, styling, while aerodynamically led, was sacrosanct. It was the Jaguar engineer’s job to make the car work given the styling, rather than the reverse. This…

Ask our experts Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead are among the guests on the PC Live Stage, hosted by our own Hopkins and Walshe, and you’ll find loads of resto action at the Workshop stand, where Leeds City College and Skill Shack will be giving live demos. Barn finds We present 25 cars which have been unearthed from garages and in one case, from the bottom of a garden. The Autojumble Row upon row of 100 spares stalls will be bustling with bargain hunters across the weekend. Dream Rides The Sporting Bears Motor Club will be raising money for charity by taking visitors on a ten mile drive in all sorts of supercars. Pride of ownership A stunning array of classics will be on display at the Lancaster Insurance Pride…

A group of Morris Minor Owners’ Club members have just completed a five-month restoration for their friend, Jeff Lawrenson, who had to stop rebuilding his 1964 saloon 20 years ago due to health problems. Completed in early Spring Jeff’s car was unveiled at the 21st anniversary rally of the Manchester branch of the MMOC, held at the Manchester Bus Museum. Jeff – who has organised the Manchester branch rally since its inception – was proud as punch as the car shone among the other Minors that took over the Museum for the day. He was heard over and over, enthusiastically telling the tale of four stalwarts of the local branch: Tony Price, Richard Perry, John Freegard and John Bailey, who stepped in and brought his car back from the brink…

• After the success of the E-type Club’s 2016 Round-Britain Run, which raised over £50,000 for Prostate Cancer UK, the XK Club is set to repeat the feat in 2017 on June 12-29. Both clubs are run by Philip Porter, who said: ‘Cars can do the whole event, a few days or whatever suits. I urge all XK owners to take part. If you like driving, this tour is for you.’ More info at xkclub.com • The Austin Gipsy Register’s Alan Dunderdale has been in touch with a plea. The group is holding a gathering at Preston Hall, Stockton-on-Teesl, County Durham on June 24-25 as part of the Fire Engine & Vintage Vehicle Rally. Alan explained to PC: ‘So far we have been promised ten Gipsys, including two from Belgium…

IN THE NEWS The Silver Jubilee dominates domestic events in the UK, or seems to – an industry of Royal memorabilia from mugs to tea towels to silver AEC Routemasters gets a boost here that will last right through the Royal Weddings of the Eighties. The Sex Pistols jump on the bandwagon by subverting the Queen’s image for their debut album. Liverpool win their first European Cup, Red Rum wins his third Grand National and Geoff Boycott scores his 100th hundred. AT THE FLICKS A young director with one sci-fi flop ( THX 1138 ) and one nostalgic hit ( American Graffiti ) has another go at the sci-fi genre with an ambitious story interweaving military rebellion, romance, laser guns and somewhat cheesy dialogue –…

MG SV. Total parts bin car made from a redesigned European coupé, with Mustang power and bits of Fiat Punto. A desperate attempt to save the marque – priced at Porsche money it was always doomed but I’d love one as a piece of history. Sam Houghton The Renault Avantime… the French should stick to handbags and little black dresses. Jim Magill I used to walk past an Avantime on the way to work every morning and often found myself admiring it. Personal favourite flop though would have to be the Citroën C6. I read somewhere they sold just four in the UK in 2011! Dan Post Audi A2. So many clever things crammed into a small package. Not a cheap Audi at all, merely a small one. Pete Lonsdale…

Lancia Fulvia I spotted this Lancia Fulvia in Rome. Lots of classics are still in daily use around Italy. Grant Mackay-Howard, Kent Triumph Toledo I spotted this recently in Evesham, I’ve seen it around town before so I think it’s in regular use. Roy Prosser, Worcs Kübelwagen It’s a 1943 Kübelwagen the my classic car mad son Ákos spotted on the outskirts of Budapest. Paul Turner, by email Ford Escort MkII My son and I saw this near Southampton recently. Nigel Gilroy, Hants Austin 7 I was shopping in Wisbech recently and an old gentleman pulled in and parked up in this lovely Austin Ruby. He told me he had owned it for many years and used it all year round. Ray Howes, Wisbech Citroën DS I saw this beauty…

This is the second ‘drive of my life’ in the past year. The first was a recent spin in KITT – the Knight Rider car – and now this: the iconic Bond Esprit. Neither are perfect by any stretch of the imagination but nobody ever complained about the legroom on Concorde, did they? Dependable it isn’t, but the Lotus Esprit S1 is a B-road thriller. There’s a fruity exhaust note and a reasonable thump of power from that modest 2-litre and the cornering is truly outstanding. The combination of chatty steering and tenacious grip enable you to slice through bends like Bond himself. Things get a little twitchy at the limit but get it right and there’s no reason you couldn’t give a Ferrari 308 a…

1 JUN 2009 Slumming it The first garage Reg and Mark used had no running water or electricity. After six years Mark built this one. 2 JUL 2009 Heavy handed The engine had seized and Reg had to unleash his sledgehammer to get things moving along. 3 JUN 2010 Engine time The engine required a complete rebuild, with excellent support from specialists and the club. 4 JUL 2012 At last! After numerous false starts the body was finally painted by Reg’s neighbour, Andrew Allicock. 5 MAY 2014 Short circuit With the interior wood restored and fitted, Reg could start fitting the replacement wiring loom; it’d prove trickier than expected.…

I bought a Renault Vel Satis to force myself to learn about modern car electrics. The gap in my knowledge irritated me. Hearing younger people serenade each other with acronyms and laugh lightly of nodes, CAN buses and data packets made me feel threatened and inadequate. I learn best through mistakes, failures and acts of idiocy – so I surmised that to master electrics I needed to buy a modern car and break it repeatedly. I’d have to find a car that I liked in order to have an incentive to mend it. My options were drastically limited, as I generally find modern cars repulsive. I’ve always admired the Vel Satis, however. The extrovert Avantime is brilliantly weird, but the refined Vel Satis is a far more convincing concept. It’s…

As the thrusting buds of spring unfurl, many a classic car is disinterred and tickled up ready for the impending season. If the car went into hibernation in good condition and was mothballed meticulously in a dry, dark environment, the only flies in the ointment would be the sorts of things that usually degrade due to disuse. However, the reality is that most cars won’t have fared so well and will need a thorough check over before bothering any B-roads. And what better way to recommission one’s classic than to give it an MoT in the driveway in readiness for the real deal, especially if it’s a pre-1960 car and exempt from official probing? The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) report that 50 per cent of cars that fail…

25 SAT MAR Mendip Auction Rooms’ Classic Sale, Binegar, Somerset (01749 840770, mendipauctionrooms.co.uk) 29 WED MAR H&H Classics, Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambs (01925 210035, handh.co.uk) 1/2 SAT-SUN APR Classic Car Auctions’ Restoration Show sale, NEC, Birmingham (01926 640888, classiccarauctions.co.uk) 5 WED APR Brightwells, Bicester Heritage, Bicester, Oxfordshire (01568 611122, brightwells.com) 8 SAT APR Anglia Car Auctions’ classic sale, King’s Lynn, Norfolk (01553 771881, angliacarauctions.co.uk) 12 WED APR Charterhouse Auctions, Royal Bath & West, Shepton Mallet, Somerset (charterhouse-auction.comcharterhouseauction.com) 20 THU APR Brightwells’ Modern Classics, Easters Court, Leominster, Herefordshire (01568 611122, brightwells.com) 22 SAT APR Barons Auctions’ Spring Classic sale, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey (023 8066 8413, barons-auctions.com)…

On seeing a Zoe Yellow Alfa Spider at a show my wife Alice said, ‘I’d love one of those.’ And repeated that assertion for the next 16 or 17 years. So at long last, I consulted the web recently and immediately found one in exactly the right colour and spec. On seeing the car my eyes misted over… I knew I was going to have it. I did manage to carry out some inspections, while the comprehensive history and 56,000 miles on the clock was a big positive. Asking price was £ 2495 and we settled on £2150 after the briefest of haggles. Of course I hadn’t noticed the cracked front valance, and have since had to spend over £1000 on various remedial work, but the important thing is that…

1985 Granada MkIII hatchback launched with 1.8, 2.0, 2.8 V6 petrol engines or a 69bhp 2.5-litre normally aspirated diesel. 1986 Granada Scorpio 2.8i 4x4 arrives – 150bhp to all wheels. 1987 2.4 and 2.9 engines join range. Both are V6s, the latter replacing the 2.8. Soon after, the 1.8 is discontinued. 1988 The 92bhp 2.5-litre TD turbodiesel appears, with LD or GLD trims. Six months later a Ghia trim option is introduced. 1989 All-new twin-cam 125bhp 2.0i petrol engine supersedes the 2.0 and 2.4 units.…

Chris Searle acquired his first Granada MkIII in 1994, when he first started driving. ‘It was a 2.0 Ghia bought to provide cheap transport,’ he says. ‘I’ve owned another seven MkIIIs since. I love the massive cabin, comfortable seats and easy performance. What’s surprising is how few people know what the car is – I often get asked. It’s an easy car to own, too, as parts availability is still very good.’ CLUB & SPECIALISTS Granada 1234 Club, ford-granada-1234-club.com ford-granada-1234-club.com Granada Mk3 & Scorpio, facebook. com/groups/ 707171009355267 Burton Power, London. burtonpower.com burtonpower.com Retro Ford International, Sussex. 01323 351259, retroford international.com Tickover, Kent. 01322 839303, tickover.co.uk…

1970 Jensen Interceptor II Engine 6313cc/V8/OHV Power 330bhp@5000rpm Torque 425lb ft@2800rpm Gearbox 3-speed auto 0-60mph 7.4sec Top Speed 136mph Fuel economy 14.4mpg Work done Fit up in mid frenzy. Final wiring and air-con offered up. Fettled and adjusted. In Danny’s shed 1950 RILEY RMA Chassis rustproofed… 1956 RILEY PATHFINDER Will be up on the ramp when the Jensen is off it. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Passed its MoT - happiness. 1992 SAAB 9000 FPT Best winter car in the world. 1997 MGF 23k mile bundle of joy. 2002 RENAULT AVANTIME Bucket list V6 awesomeness. More next issue. Right from the start this car has fought me… but I knew it would. Over five years, the sweat and blood have been mopped up with ever-absorbent cash in a war of workshop attrition.…

1991 Peugeot 205 Trio S Engine 1124cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 60bhp@6200rpm Torque 65lb ft@3800rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 14.5sec Top speed 102mph Fuel economy 50mpg Work done Oil leak fixed, lubes changed, paint done, cooling checked. Also in Kim’s garage 1938 AUSTIN BIG SEVEN Ready to roll, but dormant. 1938 STANDARD FOURTEEN Has been resting lately. 1955 AUSTIN A50 CAMBRIDGE Long-term restoration – so no progress! 1956 AUSTIN A50 CAMBRIDGE DE LUXE Short runs out locally. 1959 AUSTIN A55 CAMBRIDGE MKII No progress lately. 1964 AUSTIN A60 CAMBRIDGE Only used for local trips. 1965 AUSTIN A35 ESTATE Another long-term project. 1972 RELIANT REGAL 3/30 Sang Three Wheels On My Wagon to it… 1978 AUSTIN MARINA COUPÉ Awaiting my attention. 1983 MORRIS ITAL 1.7 ESTATE Log-carrying duties for a friend, plus country runs.…

1972 VW Beetle 1302 S Engine 1584cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 50bhp@4000rpm Torque 78lb ft@2800rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 17.1sec Top speed 82mph Fuel economy 27mpg Work done Split body and pan; found lots of rust; cried a little bit. Also in Matt’s garage 1971 VW KARMANN GHIA New wheel bearings, discs and pads = MoT success. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Another victim of my ankle layup. Next on the to-do list. After a frustrating six-week injury-enforced period on crutches (see PC , February 2017), it was early January before I was able to even think about getting back into the workshop. The Beetle had languished around the back of the unit until then, but once I was back on my feet, it was time to get stuck in again. With the interior already…

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…

You will need Test lamp or multimeter, feeler gauges, jar, spare condenser. Add fresh fuel If the car hasn’t moved for over a year, drain the tank and add at least five litres of fresh fuel. Fit a new in-line filter to catch any rusty shrapnel from the tank. Dry condensation If everything’s dripping with condensation, dry the coil, HT leads and distributor cap before you start. Visual inspection Start by looking for loose wires, crusty-looking connection, decaying fuel hoses, coolant leaks, nesting rodents and anything else that’s obviously not as it should be. It’s the time of year to throw open your garage doors and awaken the classic that’s been slumbering all winter. Although we may be enthusiastic, the car may be less so: machinery hates to lie unused…

You will need Rubber sanding block, wet-and-dry paper, soap bar, masking tape, panel wipe, zinc-rich or etch primer, high-build primer, top-coat, thinners, rubbing compound, polish, microfibre cloth. Perfect your technique Practice makes perfect. Experiment on a scrap panel and build your confidence by starting on a small area somewhere inconspicuous – such as under the bonnet or in a door aperture. Position panel If possible, remove the panel and work undercover. Lay the panel flat to avoid runs. Masking If you’re using newspaper, fold the edge that you apply the tape to. Aerosols are often viewed as an inferior method of painting panels. They shouldn’t be. While that stereotype may have been correct twenty years ago, aerosol technology has now advanced substantially. They are no longer the preserve of undiscerning…

911 STATS 310,000 MILEAGE TODAY 220,780 MILEAGE BOUGHT 8.9P COST PER MILE I was surfing the web in November 2000 – just looking at 911s without really aiming for anything specific – when I saw it. It was the cheapest I had seen for a bit, at £9950. Today you’d struggle to find a rolling shell for the same amount of money! I’ve got to be honest… this was my dream car and I had been trying to find one in my price range for a while. It’s all about realising a lifetime’s ambition and as it turned out, it was a keeper and then some! It nearly all went wrong soon after I bought it. Driving across Dartmoor I locked the wheels coming into a left-hand bend with an…

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. Don’t buy blind. KEY auto: automatic con: convertible…

The finalists in the 2017 National Car Club Awards, in association with Tourism Ireland, have been revealed. Supported by Classic Car Weekly and Practical Classics, and endorsed by the FBHVC, the overall award winners will be announced at the dinner on Saturday April 1 at Birmingham’s NEC. Editor of Practical Classics Danny Hopkins said: ‘209 nominations have been made and every single one deserves recognition. I advised on nominations, and I will be judging the PC Resto Show awards… no easy task. There are so many deserving entries it will be an almost impossible job to whittle them down.’ A total of 16 awards will be presented – the shortlist covers eight of the award categories and one special Lifetime Achievement award. The nominees for the award are: Drummond Black…

Maximum Mini £40 ISBN 978-1-8458415-4-6 This encyclopedia of obscurities is the third and final book in its series. Containing 397 more Mini derivities, it’s a facinating book for the coffee table. Limited to 600 copies, it is one to grab now . je oenbooij.com Wolseley – A Very British Car £50 ISBN 978-1-906133-73-3 From sheep shearing machines to limousines… this is a fascinating and comprehensive history of not only the cars, but the company and the people who made it the success it was. herridgeandsons.com Vauxhall - Model by Model from 1903 £24 ISBN 978-0-9574585-4-3 Given the current situation this special edition of the Eric Dymok book arrives at the right time. Published in a special sleeve it has been brought out to celebrate the Astra being voted Car of…

SAT, MAR 25 LINCS Lincoln Autojumble, RAF Hemswell, DN21 5TJ (lincolnautojumble.com). SAT-SUN,MAR 25-26 MANCHESTER Spring Transport Festival at the Museum of Transport, M 8UW (gmts.co.uk). SUN,MAR 26 SUSSEX Southern Classics Society breakfast meeting at Shoreham Airport, BN43 5FF (south ernclassics.org.uk). HANTS Classic Car Meet at the White Lion Antiques Centre, RG27 8AE (thewhitelionantiques.co.uk). MIDDLESEX Jensen Owners’ Club and Jaguar Drivers’ Club at Whitewebbs Museum, EN2 9HW (whitewebbsmuseum.co.uk). BERKS 4x4 Spares Day and Vintage Spares Day at Newbury Showground RG18 9QZ (4x4sparesday co.uk). FRI-SUN, MAR 31–APR 2 BIRMINGHAM Practical Classics Restoration Show at the NEC, B40 1NT (necrestorationshow.com). SAT, APR 1 YORKS Rufforth Autojumble on the B1224 between York and Wetherby, YO23 3QH (rufforthautojumble.comrufforthautojumble.com). CUMBRIA Lakeland Motor Museum monthly meet, LA12 8TA (lakelandmotormuseum.co.uklakelandmotormuseum.co.uk). HANTS Classics on the Quay, Shamrock Quay Marina,…

DREAMY DS I enjoyed James Walshe’s article about stumbling across his dream project. It was a superb read that restored my faith in humanity. I was sorry to read the car’s previous owner is in poor health. I look forward to updates with regard to him and also that of the car. The story really gripped me and has motivated me to try and get a classic car of my own. Graeme Kann, via email Doris ruins a classic day out I’ve been enjoying a subscription to PC and all the contributors’ stories of classic ownership. Recently, I chose to attend the H&H auction at Donington Park. It was during a visit from Storm Doris and perhaps unwisely I took the train up on the basis that whether or not…

Chrysler Sunbeam… very few unrallied ones left. We had a 1978 1.6 S way back in 1988! Joseph Mitchell The Fiesta! 950cc of Fords finest, just a basic one with a big foot pump on the floor for a washer bottle. Paul Dalgliesh I have pushed more Fiesta MkIs than I care to remember! Andrew Peel Vauxhall Chevette, underated and very pretty little car. Alan Hill I am forever smitten by the Uno MkI. Never bettered. Had a few and got loads of mileage out of the little belters. Darren Wilson Renault 5 without a doubt. Oozed character, exuded charm. Ashley Thompson The Seat Ibiza MkI gets my vote. There is something very appealing about its simplicity. Gary Davies I had a red Fiesta MkI with a black vinyl roof.…

Citroën GS (x2) More gems from the Austrian breakers yard that our intrepid barn-finder Jack Brands first visited in 2014. Scroll forward to 2017, and there are even more extraordinary wrecks, including these colourful Citroën GS saloons shining brightly in a woodland clearing. Mazda 929 This 929 saloon has the great advantage of being indoors. These cars are surviving quite well considering many have not been touched for decades. Austin 1100 MkII An Austin 1100 MkII showing signs of longterm neglect, weather, and parts plundering. This rusted wreck was a new sight for rustfinder general Jack. He says some significant rearranging of the yard has allowed access to more areas he missed the first time around. No doubt he’ll be back for more some time. Ford Taunus 20M RS P7B…

‘The Volvo’s MoT history was absolutely flawless’ This is the inevitable follow-up to my column in the previous issue about using the gov.uk/check-mot-history website to put me off going look at any cars advertised for sale, despite wanting to buy another one. Then the very evening after writing that column I discovered the flipside of the aforementioned site. There before my eyes, on a famous internet car-shopping portal no less, was an almost too good-to-be-true low mileage Volvo 940 Turbo estate. So I swiftly checked its MoT history. Flawless: a regular few thousand miles a year, MoT’d on the dot each time and minimal trifling advisories like iffy wiper blades. Back to the ad, knowing that here was a car I really did want to have a look at. Which…

BMW 2002 Cabriolet All BMWs are hot stuff at the moment and collectors have cottoned on to how rare and entertaining the open-roofed 2002 is. There aren’t many around so every sale seems to push the price ever higher. Jaguar XK140 FHC Jaguar XK prices have been all over the place for a year or so now, but the general trend is flat or falling – apart from XK120s that is. Things could all switch again in a few months, but a decent 140 is definitely a good buy at the moment.…

1980 Citroën Dyane 6 4x4 Price: £7500 Converted to 4x4 by specialist Louis Barbour using a heavy-duty chassis. Has also had a photo documented bare shell respray and new wings. 1989 Lada Samara 1300SL Price: £1000 One of four on UK roads. Three owners and 36,000 miles. Usual sun-damaged trim, noisy gearbox and interesting electrics. 1980 Ford Fiesta 1.1L Price: £5250 Stunning condition with a genuine 18,000 on the clock. Interesting history and totally standard – it has never even had a radio fitted.…

Ford hasn’t supported the Granada MkIII for years and they’re now too rare for pattern parts to be manufactured. So if you buy a car that needs work you’re going to have to scour autojumbles and Ebay to track down any parts you might need. Prices tend to be reasonable, though. The Granada isn’t the kind of car that generally gets modified, so buying a project usually means restoring (or at least recommissioning) it to standard spec to get it back on the road. While sourcing replacement used trim shouldn’t be too difficult, finding an exact match for your project might prove easier said than done. Parts are more readily available for facelifted cars (from 1994), but these have less of a following than the earlier models, one of the…

1960 Morris Minor Convertible Engine 998cc/4-cyl/OHV Power TBC Torque Unknown Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph Hopefully Top speed Anyone’s guess Fuel economy Some Work done Filler work continues, interior repatriated, chrome acquired. Also in Matt’s garage 1969 MORRIS TRAVELLER Bimbling around happily. Towbar due to be fitted. 1970 MORRIS SALOON Holes poked in it and new sills definitely required. In a way, it probably looks like not a lot has happened in the past month. The convertible is still a shell in primer and filler, and from a distance looks just as I left it last time. It’s that part of a project when paint prep just goes on and on forever. I was feeling despondent aboutit, too, which is why I went online and bought a new top quality chrome…

1 Gearbox gets a treat Transmission oil looked very clean, but fresh lubricant was the order of the day. 2 New thermostat fitted The old thermostat had served its time, so it was replaced by a shiny new one. 3 Small hose unblocked Kim used a length of oxy-acetylene welding rod to remove a blockage in the coolant hose running between the expansion bottle and the radiator. 4 Expansion bottle airlift A home-made cradle supports the expansion bottle during air bleeding. 5 Heavyweight help Heavy duty flushing agent used to help dislodge and neutralise remaining silt. 6 Trouble brewing After only a few miles coolant had filled the expansion tank and been forced out of the top of it. This suggested to Kim that the system was probably being pressurised…

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 Fitted Powerlite starter and Dynalite conversion. Adapted wiring for both. The engine cranks over at last! Also in Gary’s garage 1980 SAAB 99 TURBO Ex-factory press car currently awaiting a full restoration. Progress has continued, though not in the direction I intended. I had expected to be fitting twin fuel pumps and various fuel pipes but the arrival of another item created the necessary diversion. I’d previously had a chat with Powerlite about its high-geared starter motors, explaining what I needed and why. They were willing to help but had sold all their TR3 units and were awaiting stock. Come January and the new stock…

1979 MGB (Special) Engine 1798cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 95bhp@5400rpm Torque 110lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-spd manual +o/d 0-60mph 13sec Top speed 105mph Fuel economy 26mpg Work done Sold one project; soon bought another one. No change there! Also in John’s garage 1964 SUNBEAM RAPIER IV £89 for another screen seal and some LED bulbs. 1966 SUNBEAM ALPINE SERIES V GT LED bulbs also now fitted but not driven much recently. 2000 MGF Putting some miles down. Fitted new headlight. 2003 MG TF New purchase… now MoT’d and £320 spent on tyres! 2004 MG ZTT Lots of miles, £54 spent on a new rear silencer. It has been a while since my previous Saga, so I’ll bring you right up to date. The Mini ‘City’ project was eventually sold at Anglia Car Auctions. I…

I lent my friend Jack my spare Minor engine. ‘Have it for as long as you need,’ I said. A week later he turned up on the back of an AA lorry. ‘It went bang!’ came the cry. It didn’t take long to ascertain why. A core plug had dropped out and this went unnoticed until piston number four welded itself in the top dead centre position. The crank continued to turn and came crashing down, taking the bottom of the con-rod with it. The crank then hammered the con-rod through the block. It kept running in this state until Jack pulled over and turned it off.…

1. Charge battery If the battery hasn’t been touched since the car was parked, give it 12 to 24 hours until the cells are all gassing enthusiastically. Alternatively, let a smart charger take care of it. 2. Clean terminals Clean the battery terminals and clamps with abrasive paper. Fit them tightly with a smear of petroleum jelly. 3. Check fluids Check the coolant level in the radiator. Top it up if necessary with 30% mix of antifreeze and water. Check all other fluids, too. 4. Check for spark Turn the engine so that the points are closed. Switch on the ignition. Flick the points with an insulated object (eg, wood or plastic) until a small spark is seen at the contacts with each flick. 5. Prime oil and fuel Put…

You will need Plumber’s soldering torch or iron, steel wool, flux, tin-lead solder, wire brush. Leaded solder Use old-fashioned leaded solder. It’s easier to work with than the lead-free type intended for drinking water systems. Soldering torch A plumber’s torch is better than a decorator’s blowtorch. A large 250W electric soldering iron can also be used, but takes longer to heat the area. Use flux Resin flux doesn’t clean the metal itself, but seals the clean surface exposed by the steel wool. The hose stubs of brass radiators are very common failure points. The stubs are soldered to the top and bottom tanks and the joint can fracture due to vibration, expansion and ham-fisted attempts to wrestle the hose on or off. The solder sometimes pulls away from the tank…

You will need Jack and axle stands, low range torque wrench, grease, engine oil and filter. Prime pump Pack the oil pump with petroleum jelly to speed up priming when the engine is restarted. Wear gloves Old engine oil is nasty stuff. Wear rubber gloves throughout. Keep clean Cleanliness is important. Thoroughly clean the sump, the oil pick-up and the mating faces of the sump and engine block. Ford’s Essex V4 and V6 engines have a deserved reputation for toughness and longevity. They still power an armada of classics – from Reliant Scimitars to Ford Granadas and Transit vans. However, the Essex does have have one significant mechanical weakness: the shaft that drives its oil pump. Fortunately, the issue is cheap and easy to address. A bevel gear on the…

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 NIRELAND 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…