Classics Monthly September 2021

Do you ever stop and take a good look at the classic(s) in your garage and catch yourself feeling faintly surprised by what you find there? Or maybe that only happens to me! I certainly did just that last year, and the roll call of Morris Minor, MG Midget, Volvo 340, Mini Clubman and Triumph Acclaim seemed a little out of character. Now please don’t get me wrong because I really liked each of them, but as a group they really were all very conventional cars, and mostly straight out of the classic mainstream. This surprised me because I have always been drawn towards the more unusual cars, particularly when it comes to engines. Rear -mounted engines, air-cooled motors, two-stroke twins and triples – I’ve had them all. The radial engine…

Do you ever stop and take a good look at the classic(s) in your garage and catch yourself feeling faintly surprised by what you find there? Or maybe that only happens to me! I certainly did just that last year, and the roll call of Morris Minor, MG Midget, Volvo 340, Mini Clubman and Triumph Acclaim seemed a little out of character. Now please don’t get me wrong because I really liked each of them, but as a group they really were all very conventional cars, and mostly straight out of the classic mainstream. This surprised me because I have always been drawn towards the more unusual cars, particularly when it comes to engines. Rear -mounted engines, air-cooled motors, two-stroke twins and triples – I’ve had them all. The radial…

Specialist vehicle insurance provider, Footman James, has announced Lee Sunderland and his family as the outright winners in its Show Us Your Shed competition to find the best garage or work space where enthusiasts can indulge in their automotive passions. Launched in March, the social media competition called on motoring nuts, engineering fans and garagistas to share their places of solitude – the spaces where they felt free to tinker, learn a new skill, or simply chill out. From the tiny to the tremendous and the clinical to the chaotic, sheds of all conceivable type were submitted for consideration. With a space inspired by Hot Wheels, Lee’s family entry wowed the judges with its simple yet creative approach to a special motoring space. Conceived and then executed during the first lockdown…

Specialist vehicle insurance provider, Footman James, has announced Lee Sunderland and his family as the outright winners in its Show Us Your Shed competition to find the best garage or work space where enthusiasts can indulge in their automotive passions. Launched in March, the social media competition called on motoring nuts, engineering fans and garagistas to share their places of solitude – the spaces where they felt free to tinker, learn a new skill, or simply chill out. From the tiny to the tremendous and the clinical to the chaotic, sheds of all conceivable type were submitted for consideration. With a space inspired by Hot Wheels, Lee’s family entry wowed the judges with its simple yet creative approach to a special motoring space. Conceived and then executed during the first…

The J40 Motor Company (www. j40motorco.com) has purchased a number of J40 and Pathfinder pedal cars since it opened in April 2020, some of which will be restored while others will be kept for historical documentation and to be used at shows and events. This month, company director Jamie Burnett purchased a very special J40, a car that will remain a permanent part of the company fleet. The latest acquisition was originally found covered in rubbish at the back of a garage before undergoing a full restoration by George Rowbotham from Diddlebury in Shropshire. George is a retired automotive bodyshop professional, as is his friend Ken Gwillam who also worked on the two-month restoration project. George is also a long-term supporter of the Lingen Davies cancer charity, which funds treatment and…

The J40 Motor Company (www. j40motorco.com) has purchased a number of J40 and Pathfinder pedal cars since it opened in April 2020, some of which will be restored while others will be kept for historical documentation and to be used at shows and events. This month, company director Jamie Burnett purchased a very special J40, a car that will remain a permanent part of the company fleet. The latest acquisition was originally found covered in rubbish at the back of a garage before undergoing a full restoration by George Rowbotham from Diddlebury in Shropshire. George is a retired automotive bodyshop professional, as is his friend Ken Gwillam who also worked on the two-month restoration project. George is also a long-term supporter of the Lingen Davies cancer charity, which funds treatment…