Practical Classics September 2021
Practical Classics magazine has a 30-year tradition of delivering the very best, hands-on classic car experiences to its readers. Every staff writer and contributor works on and restores their own classics. Each issue is packed with: * Rigorous buying advice * Real-world product tests * Inspirational classic driving features * Fascinating historical insight Practical Classics is also a campaigning title, taking the concerns of classic car owners to Parliament and keeping its readers' classics where they belong - on the road. So come and join PC in the workshop - the kettle's on.
in this issue
welcome to the workshop
Nearly there. Both my Marina project and the VW Camper we’ve been working on with Lancaster Insurance are almost ready to rejoin the ranks of the road legal. Which means there is a summer of fun to enjoy – and some money to be raised for charity. Check out Classic World (p8) to see which beaches have been nominated and get voting so we know where to meet you on our epic Camper Round the Coast marathon in aid of Prostate Cancer UK. We can’t wait to see you again – the run will be in early September – and have a look at what you have been up to during lockdown. The results of your votes and the route will be published in the next issue. E10 has just about arrived…
e10 by september 1
HISTORY Ethanol in fuel is not new. Ethyl Alcohol for internal combustion has been an option since the 19th century. All you need to know about everything important This summer will see a major change to the petrol supplied at UK forecourts. By September 1, 2021, standard 95 octane pump petrol will contain between five and 10 per cent ethanol, compared to the current UK standard of zero to five percent. Concerns have been raised that many vehicles built before 2011 will not be compatible with the new fuel. An online vehicle compatibility checker can be found at gov.uk/check-vehicle-e10-petrol Petrol that contains between zero and five per cent ethanol will continue to be available from petrol stations that offer two grades of petrol with a turnover of one million litres per year as…
starting handle
Ethanol is not a ‘green’ fuel, it is ‘potentially an environmental disaster.’ That isn’t a petrolhead talking, that’s America’s environmental agency (EPA). Ethanol production encourages a monoculture of industrialised non-food crops (usually corn or soya) with the overuse of pesticides that comes with it, plus it also uses a lot of energy to make and transport the fuel. There are various ways of making biofuels, but generally fermentation and heat break down the starches, sugars, and other molecules in plants. Ethanol producers burn coal and gas to heat the fermentation process to do this. The resulting product is then refined to produce a fuel that cars can use. It is almost as energy sapping as refining crude oil. ‘Dewilding for ethanol crops is a real issue’ When the fuel itself is burnt,…
britain’s best beach – it’s time to vote!
The nation has spoken and the nominations are closed. Over 200 beaches were individually nominated and the top ten are listed here. From Northumberland to Cornwall, you have chosen and now it’s time to take ten down to five: it’s time to tell us where to go! This September, Practical Classics and Lancaster Insurance will be driving round Britain in our project 1979 Bay Window bus to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK. The plucky little Volkswagen will lead Britain’s longest classic car show from beach to beach. But, we need you to tell us which beaches we need to rock up to. Choose one from the ten listed here, the top ten nominations you gave us, to create the definitive top five. We will be visiting them in September, with…
news in 4 pictures
▸An 18-year-old trainee mechanic has been put in charge of the classics owned by pre-17 driving school, Young Driver. Tianna Rawlings will be spannering on YD’s Morris Minor, Vauxhall VX4/90 and Austin 7. ▸A 1981 Ford Escort Ghia, bought for Princess Diana by Prince Charles as an engagement present, has been sold by Reeman Dansie auctioneers for £47,000 – the highest price ever paid for an Escort MkIII. ▸Shows are back and reporting good business. The Luton Festival of Transport and Vauxhall Bedford Show at Sywell (pictured) reported good numbers with social distancing measures in place. ▸Transport Museum Wythall’s Midland Red special running event on October 3 is on, 40 years since the Birmingham based bus operator was split up. Rideable routes will be run and classics are welcome.…
news in brief…
Go! Go! Go! A plaque marking the life and work of Murray Walker has been unveiled at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu to coincide with an evening celebrating the great man, hosted by Tiff Needell on August 15. Funeral partners flagship A working Austin FX3 hearse, ‘Morag’ has been restored to her former glory to mark her 65th birthday. A TV and movie star, Morag has made appearances in Heartbeat, Midsomer Murders, Father Brown and one of the more recent Batman films. Marcos acquired The Page Automotive Group, established in 1906, has acquired Marcos Heritage Spares Ltd. Marcos Heritage Spares Ltd own the intellectual property and manufacturing rights, original moulds, jigs and tooling for all Marcos models built between 1959 and 2001. Healey factory marked The site of the former Donald Healey Motor Company in Warwick has…
