Table of contents for Spring Issue 2020 in Practical Classics

With brand new features, more cars than ever and everything you have come to know and love about what we do, the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration Show is ready to go for 2020. The Carole Nash ‘Barn Finds’ display will once again be groaning under the weight of its own decay with some real gems in the offing including a 1948 Austin 16 stored in a lock-up garage for a quarter of a century, a 1966 Mini Cooper S modified by Stewart and Ardern that hasn’t seen daylight since 2004. An anniversary car, a pre-production prototype Metro Plus will also be on display in the biggest collection of rusty relics  under any show roof. Once again the Restoration Theatre (Hall 4) will be hosted by Michael Coman from…

IN THE NEWS Britain was caught in the grip of a joyriding epidemic at the start of the Nineties, which pushed up insurance  premiums to sky high levels . In response, the Conservative government brought in a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment as well as unlimited fines and automatic driving bans. Which was some comfort for owners of easily nickable Ford Cosworth and XR models. AT THE FLICKS ‘I’ll be back,’ said Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1984’s The Terminator. And he was, after seven years, in Terminator 2: Judgement Day, which was the highest grossing film of 1991 at almost $520 million. The sci-fi movie’s success meant Arnie returned several more  times. And made us all a bit scared of computers, thanks to Skynet. IN THE CHARTS Britain lost one…

While watching a classic car show recently, one comment appalled me. On a road test of a Fiat 500, the presenters were reading off the DVLA website the ten MOT failure points associated with the vehicle. They took the car for the test drive, telling the viewers that this vehicle doesn’t need an MOT, but failing to point out that it should still be of a roadworthy standard. They’d pointed out how the rotten the sills were and appeared to pull a lump off! I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing, especially then seeing them driving it. Roy Finch, Romford ED : A car of this age can be exempt, but to drive it in an unroadworthy condition is illegal. Three points (and £100) per fault. With ten failure…

‘It’s great to drive and originally from the UK’ 1967 Triumph Vitesse Geoffrey Kennedy, Co. Offaly, Republic of Ireland Just thought I’d contact you to say that I’ve been an avid reader of PC for 40 years. I started driving in 1979 and my first car was a Fiat 600. I’ve always wanted a classic and last year bought a 1967 Triumph Vitesse convertible –a great car and good to drive. I have redone the brakes and heater hoses but I’m not sure if the engine is original. It has been imported from the UK – I know very little about its background, but its original registration number was EHC 4F. ‘This is one of the very last Rileys’ 1969 Riley Kestrel Liz Jones, Rugby My late husband was chair…

We all love reading about restorations and big mechanical overhauls. Sometimes they’re stories of other people’s battles against rust and ruin, other times we’re at the back of the magazine in the how-to part reading step-by-step guides to repairs or rebuilds. And then we wade in. Taking my cue from Theo Gillam and his serialised epic renovation of a Ford Essex V6, I’ve just waded into rebuilding my Rover 2000 TC’s engine and it seems to be going well so far, with vital parts away at Gosnay’s Engineering to be rebored or balanced or refurbished ready for me to build the thing back up again. It’s the most complicated engine rebuild that I’ve yet attempted, so I want to talk about the stuff that you don’t get to read about,…

THU MAR 19 Dorset Vintage & Classic Auctions, Henstridge Airfield, Henstridge, Somerset. (01963 363353, dvca.co.uk) SAT MAR 21 Bonhams MPH, Bicester Heritage, Bicester, Oxfordshire. (01869 229477, mph.bonhams. com) SAT MAR 21 Mathewsons, Thornton-Le-Dale, Pickering, North Yorkshire. (01751 474455, mathewsons.co.uk) SAT-SUN MAR 28/29 Classic Car Auctions’ Restoration Show sale, NEC, Birmingham. (01926 640888, classiccarauctions.co.uk ) SUN MAR 29 Bonhams’ Goodwood Members Meeting sale, Goodwood, nr Chichester, West Sussex. (020 7468 5801, bonhams.com/cars) SAT APR 4 Anglia Car Auctions’ classic sale, The Cattlemarket, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. (01553 771881, angliacarauctions.co.uk ) WED APR 8 Charterhouse Auctions, Royal Bath & West, Shepton Mallet, Somerset. (01935 812277, charterhouse-auction. TUE APR 21 Barons Auctions’ Spring Classic sale, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey. (023 8066 8413, barons-auctions.com)…

A rather magnificent Saab 9000 2.0t has been my main winter chariot this year and, after 7000 miles of salt strewn abuse, I have one more challenge to throw its way. A family holiday to the Lake District – In February! And it is a family that demands high standards. Nutmeg (the dog) needs to be accomodated in the boot, my 11- and 12 year-old girls must be kept safe and warm in the back and my wife, Oonagh, will only work with me on this with strict assurances. It WILL NOT break down. Then there is luggage and the need to conserve pennies with reasonable economy and service costs. We were off to stay in Ambleside at the Ambleside Inn and, once I had loaded my Swedish friend with…

1998 Saab 9000i Engine 1985cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 130bhp@5500rpm Torque 127lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 9.6sec Top speed 121mph Fuel economy 25.7mpg Work done Cracked windscreen replaced with a period-correct ‘green strip’ item; leaking heater matrix replaced. Also in Danny’s shed 1950 RILEY RMA Stretched its wheels several times over winter. 1956 RILEY PATHFINDER Engine at Formhalls, body at Theo Gillam’s place. 1970 JENSEN INTERCEPTOR MKII Engine ignition issue persists. Will sort next month. 1972 TRIUMPH 2000 Hibernating in a mates barn. I must go and visit. 1981 TRIUMPH TR7 2.0 Vibration issue not solved – more headscratching ahead. 1980 RENAULT 14 TS Still needs an interior. I will make a decision very soon. 1998 TOYOTA AVENSIS CDX Continuing to do sterling work while looking after a friend.…

1985 Citroën CX GTi Turbo Engine 2500cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 1168bhp@5000 Torque 217lb ft@3250rpm Gearbox 5-speed manual 0-60mph 7.8sec Top speed 137mph Work done New wheels and tyres bought; electrics fettled; engine thoroughly serviced. Also in James’s garage 1988 CITROËN CX 22TRS Currently serving as a storage unit for its older sister – how very undignified. 1988 STERLING 825 SL Time for the American Rover to go. Any takers? 2003 VOLVO S80 D5 Another 1500 effortless miles around the country.…

1 Spot the problem… Supercharger belt directly intersects timing cover breather in its original position. 2 Make a mark Matt stripped a non-breather 1098 timing chain cover back to bare metal and fitted it, then marked the belt run with a marker pen. 3 Measure twice The breather would need to be moved forward of the belts, so Matt took a measurement from another Minor to ascertain radiator clearance. 4 Measure again… Before checking the theory, ensuring there would be sufficient belt and radiator clearance. 5 Drill and weld Matt drilled a 1.25in hole in the plain cover then joined the breather can using an off-cut of exhaust. 6 Test before paint Test-fitted, there is plenty of belt clearance – even accounting for belt whip.…

1956 Riley Pathfinder Engine 2443cc/4-cyl/DOHC Power 110bhp@4400rpm Torque 135lb ft@3000rpm Gearbox 4-speed man+ o/d 0-60mph 17.5sec Top speed 100mph Fuel economy 20mpg Work done Engine machining and reassembly begins. Story so far… PROJECT PATHFINDER The Pathfinder came from Alec Gatherer, who had kept it at his lock-up for many years. Since then it has been stripped and welded, with panels and parts sourced from places including Classic Car Connection in Switzerland. One thing is certain… she will live again!…

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 single-handedly 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. HUMBER SCEPTRE How to stop your classic wandering Q My Humber Sceptre suffers from imprecise…

It’s a common story, and one we hear all the time here at Practical Classics. ‘I’ll get my classic out of the shed soon, but there are a few jobs I need to do first.’ Believe it or not, a huge number of classics which are currently off the road could be back up and running in a weekend with just a few simple fixes. A car may have been taken off the road for work that’s never been finished or just been put away for winter and time from standing taken its toll, meaning the when you come to pull it out for that summer show, it won’t start, so there it stays. ‘I’ll get round to sorting that out this summer’ soon becomes forgotten and, as winter sets…

A vacuum brake servo uses atmospheric pressure and inlet manifold depression to amplify the force you exert on the brake pedal. It’s quite common to find one or even two remote servos fitted to classic cars as original equipment or as aftermarket modifications – and the Girling Powerstop family we’re focusing on here was very popular across the British motor industry and beyond. Some 60 years after their heyday, most servos are showing the effects of wear, ham-fisted repairs or, most commonly, simple neglect. Brake fluid absorbs water and should be changed every couple of years to preserve the hydraulic parts of the braking system – including the servo. This often doesn’t happen, causing metal parts to corrode and rubber parts to shred themselves or degrade. To make matters worse…

Practical Classics magazine, ISSN 0957-6975, (USPS 9080) is published 13 times a year by H Bauer Publishing Ltd. The US annual subscription price is $105.88. Air freight and mailing in the USA by agent named WN Shipping USA, 156-15, 146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA. Periodicals postage paid at Jamaica NY 11431. US Postmaster: Send address changes to Practical Classics magazine, WN Shipping USA, 156-15, 146th Avenue, 2nd Floor, Jamaica, NY 11434, USA. Subscription records are maintained at Bauer Media, Subscriptions, CDS Global, Tower House, Sovereign Park, Lathkill Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 9EF, United Kingdom. Air Business Ltd is acting as our mailing agent.…

CARS IN ACTION! At 11.45am and 12.45pm and then at 2.15pm and 3.45pm each morning and afternoon. Be there before the start to take your seat, slap bang in the middle of the action. FUZZ TOWNSHEND Every day at 2.45pm Fuzz, will be live talking about Car SOS , his own classics and how he got to be part of such a successful restoration setup. ANT ANSTEAD AND JIMMY DE VILLE Ant and Jimmy will be live on stage at 12.15pm and 4.15pm respectively. JOIN THE DEBATE At 1.15pm and 3.15pm each day we will discuss the classic issues that matter to all of us.…

Coventry City Council is considering proposals to demolish the former Carbodies/London Taxi Company factory and turn the land over to housing developers. It’s the latest in a line of former car plants to be flattened in the Midlands, with the bulldozers currently demolishing more of the Longbridge factory buildings after years of uncertainty. Carbodies moved to the Holyhead Road site after its founder Robert ‘Bobby’ Jones began coachbuilding in 1919. Back then, MG and Alvis were the largest clients. Later, the firm became heavily involved in ‘ADO6’ – better known as the 1959 Austin FX4 taxi. In 1982, the company was renamed London Taxis International (LTI) after acquiring the rights to make the Austin FX4 and continued to build black cabs until 2018.…

The PC Guide to British Classics of the 1970s is a collection of stories celebrating a rollercoaster period of automotive adventure. It’s crammed with classics ranging from the Bond Bug to the Lotus Esprit, with restoration stories as well as period snapshots of life in the Seventies. Editor of the bookazine, Matt Tomkins, says it’s a must-have for fans. ‘From an interview with impressionist Jon Culshaw on his love of the Ford Granada, to our grand celebration of the Rover SD1, we had fun putting it all together. It really was a decade of incredible cars, shapes and shades!’ The PC Guide to Classics of the 1970s is available at WH Smith or at greatmagazines.co.uk.…

Lotus Europa ISBN: 978-1-787112-84-1 £40 An exploration of the design, development and production of Lotus’s first mid-engined road car. This lavish tome covers the Renault-powered Series 1 and 2 cars, the Lotus Twin Cam-engined versions, and the Type 47 racing models. veloce.co.uk Welding For Vehicle Restorers ISBN: 978-1-785006-81-4 £19.99 A detailed guide to fabrication and welding of both sheet steel and aluminium alloy in a bodybuilding context. Written by Contour Autocraft’s master craftsman Bruce Macleod, it’s perfect if you want to improve your skills. contourautocraft.co.uk Haynes Car Hacks ISBN: 978-1-785216-51-0 £12.99 Packed with 126 tips or ‘hacks’ on how to keep your car in fine fettle – from toothpaste for headlight restoration to protecting tyres from overspray. A very entertaining and informative book indeed. haynes.co.uk…

SAT, MARCH 21 SURREY Woldinghamring Classic Breakfast Meet, pre-1990 classics. Botley Hill Farmhouse, CR6 9QH (xkeidp@gmail.com). SUN, MAR 22 SURREY Mini Day at Brooklands, KT13 0SL (brooklandsmuseum. com). THURS, MAR 26 ESSEX Chelmer Valley Car Meet, The Lodge, SS11 7QT (chelmervalleycarmeet.co.uk). FRI-SUN, MAR 27-29 BIRMINGHAM Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show, NEC, B40 1NT (necrestorationshow.com). SUN, MAR 29 WEST SUSSEX Southern Classics Society monthly meet at Hill Barn Golf Club, BN14 9QF (southernclassics.org.uk). SAT, APR 4 CUMBRIA Classic Monthly Meet at the Lakeland Motor Museum, LA12 8TA (lakelandmotormuseum. co.uk). KENT Heritage Transport Show at Kent County Showground, ME14 3JF (kentshowground.co.uk). LONDON Nissan Figaro Day at the Ace Café, NW10 7UD (london. acecafe.com). SUN, APR 5 BERKS Newbury 4x4 & Vintage Spares Day, Newbury Showground, RG18 9QZ (4x4sparesday. co.uk). WORCS…

Tales of a classic traffic jam Sifting through family photos recently, I came across this picture of my late father’s Standard 8, taken by him in about 1957. Alongside myself (front right) are my sister and brother. We’d just arrived at our luxurious (!) caravan in a field near Dawlish in Devon, after an interminable 155-mile journey from Chichester, five up and suffering endless traffic jams through all the many small towns along the way. I still remember Axminster as one of the worst, now all mercifully bypassed. Apologies to Standard Eight fans, but I recall how my father hated this car and how he cursed the wheezing 803cc engine as it struggled to top 50mph! As for us three small children, we had to endure journeys with nothing more…

I made my own chainsaw after watching a YouTube video, but it’s not proved as effective as I’d hoped. Barrie Jones I made a pair of tilters from builders’ trestles using a plan from a 1995 edition of Practical Classics. They cost me £11.80, including some other steel offcuts, and worked a treat! Doug Vince Made this years ago for removing the clip that secures door lock barrels on Eighties/Nineties vintage Peugeots. Colin Brown It’s easy to make a multi-v belt tensioner tool by drilling appropriate distance-apart holes in a metre length of 3mm x 40mm bar and putting nuts and setscrews in to engage in the tensioner pivot. Dave Richards My penknife… Matt Stockdale…

Morris Marina This Marina saloon was parked on the main Nissi avenue in Ayia Napa, Cyprus. It was in very good condition, with evidence of only minor body repairs (mainly upper front wings and wheel arches). Unfortunately the owner could not be found. Philip Connor, Wiltshire 1983 Pontiac Parisienne This Canadian-built Pontiac Parisienne is driven year-round every day by my neighbour, James. It is his only car, and he does all the work himself. The paint is original and, although faded, it’s incredibly rust-free for a vehicle that has seen 37 salt and snow-laden Canadian winters. Jonathan Stokes, Ottowa, Canada Saab 96 This bright brown Saab 96 V4 Super was outside our hotel in Helsinki when we were there. Andrew Parrott, Northamptonshire 1989 Jaguar XJ-S I spotted this lovely Jag…

You reach in, pull the cord inside the top of the door to swing it open and then feed your legs in under the large wheel. Pulling the starter to wake the B-series seems to confirm the Fifties ambience, but once on the move, you start to notice differences. Most obviously, the gearlever offers five forward speeds. Team this with an engine that pulls harder than any period MGA and you soon discover this version of Fifties motoring requires no apology in modern traffic. It feels nimble but well-planted, indeed rather better than most MGBs, never mind MGAs.…

I generally try to avoid taking cars to pieces. Being reduced to a morass of cardboard boxes, bin liners and jam jars in the name of restoration has been the death of thousands of classics. Those that do get put back together are often pale imitations of their former selves. I have a personal preference for cars that look their age and wear their years with dignity. Even the best of restorations purges the originality, integrity and soul that’s been conserved for so many decades. It was therefore with scepticism that I agreed to help my friend Eleanor to dismember her charming 1972 Citroën Dyane. In a dark, damp recess of Eleanor’s shed, it looked like a reasonably well-preserved survivor and a candidate for sensitive recommissioning rather than full-blown restoration.…

The growth of interest in everyday classics is something I’ve touched on in the past. Now I have numbers to back it up and they make interesting reading. ‘Hillman Minx values have jumped up by 50 per cent’ It is now around three years since investors stopped buying expensive classics to wrap up and tuck away, removing a distortion from the market that has allowed values to drop back to more realistic levels. In that time, prices paid for numerous and relatively affordable Ferrari 308s have dropped by 13 per cent, and it’s the same for those ‘wideboy’ Testarossas. Porsches too have felt the pinch, with the popular ‘last of the aircooled 911s’ 993 models losing 10 per cent of their value. If nothing else this starts to put them…

1937 Morris Eight Tourer Price: £8500 Much spent in last three years – new brakes, tyres, carpets, seat retrim. Fitted with later Series E engine and four-speed ’box. 1978 Reliant Scimitar SE6a Price: £2950 Engine rebuilt and uprated 16 years ago. Regularly used and always serviced by Scimitar specialist. Recent radiator and alternator. 1974 Fiat 126 Price: £3995 Stunning early example that has been restored and imported from southern Italy. No rust anywhere and only 53,500 miles from new.…

James likes...  AN ESTATE Sorry, Land Rover fans, but if I need space with a bit of off-roading, I’ll take Volvo’s second gen XC70 with the five-cylinder diesel. Almost as roomy, but a more stable package. I know the view up there is nice, but I just can’t buy into the idea of driving a top-heavy off-road vehicle to work. Estate cars of this era are cheaper to buy, too. Matt G likes...  THE PLUSHER ONE I’ve always fancied a Land Rover but, given that I have no need to spend any time ‘off road’, I would plump for a Range Rover Classic instead. I’d relish the leather-clad interior and revel in the exhaust note of the classic Rover V8. Hang the fuel consumption, too – it’s all about the…

1974 Series 3 Land Rover 88in Engine 2286cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 77bhp@4250rpm Torque 124lb ft@2500rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual/ 2-speed transfer box Top speed 69mph 0-60mph (30 seconds-ish) Fuel economy 18mpg Work done Unearthed at last; tyres inflated; fuel introduced; ignition system fettled. Also in Jimmy’s shed 1959 AUSTIN-HEALEY ‘FROGEYE’ SPRITE Stripped out for speed. 1976 MINI CLUBMAN Getting rare these days. 1979 VAUXHALL FIRENZA HC One of Luton’s finest. 1997 RELIANT ROBIN Three-wheeled funster.…

While tightening the locknut on a friend’s handbrake, the 8mm steel rod snapped. Investigation revealed that somebody had cut it and badly welded in a section, presumably to get the cables on. Then, finding it too long, he’d chucked on a couple of loose nuts to take up the slack. The final insult was the clevis pin. He’d lost the E-clip, so he’d welded it in. The weld hadn’t stuck to it, of course.…

1 Charge the battery… before attempting a post-lay-up start to give the car the best chance. Clean the connections before re-attaching. 2 Check oil level Consider changing it and the filter for fresh if it hasn’t been done in the last year or 3000 miles. 3 Check coolant level and make sure the cooling system is in good condition. Check hoses for cracking and consider flushing the system and adding fresh anti-freeze at this stage, too. 4 Fresh fuel… will give you the best chance of getting a tune out of your classic. Modern petrol deteriorates quickly, so consider draining the tank if it’s been sat for more than a year. 5 Turn the engine… by hand either with a starting handle or a spanner on the crank nut to…

It’s been emotional, but finally we're on the last leg of our rebuild. Our Essex required intervention at every level. After the slog of cleaning, the expense of machining and a splurge on new parts, we’re now skiing down the other side amidst clean and sexy jobs, with a smattering of final adjustments along the way. There are a few things to note regarding running your engine in. The Essex’s internals reflect the technology prevalent in the middle of the last century. It has flat and heavy cam followers and low-ZDDP (zinc) modern oil will not necessarily provide the good boundary-lubrication they require. It’s really important, therefore, to not only use a top-quality assembly lubricant on the followers, but that you also choose top quality running-in oil, followed by a…

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: cabriolet con: convertible est: estate lhd: left-hand drive lim: limousine rwd: rear-wheeldrive sal:…

Droopy snoots The Droop Snoot Group is celebrating 40 years of the club by converging at the site of its very first meet in 1980. They’ll meet at the Turnpike Beefeater, Northampton on the weekend of May 30-31, with Droopsnoots including Firenza, Viva Sportshatch, Magnum Everyman motors on the up The classic market has picked up this year, according to industry experts who suggest a lull in sales late last year was in part due to the General Election and uncertainty over Brexit. PC’s Marketplace editor, Russ Smith, says the growth is very much in ‘everyday’ classics. ‘Sales and values of high-end classics is not so buoyant, but the likes of the Morris Minor and BMC 1100/1300 are doing really well.’ Erhard Schnell (1927-2020) Opel designer, Erhard Schnell, died last…

TR8 appeal Triumph TR8 owners are being asked to bring their cars to the British Motor Museum on July 12, in a bid to hold the biggest ever gathering of the model. 2780 cars were built at Speke, Canley and Solihull between 1977-81, but most were exported. tr8archive.co.uk Longbridge Community groups in Birmingham have gathered to provide emotional support to ex-Longbridge workers, as the last remnants of the plant are being demolished. Former workers and their families got together for the first meeting and, later, a service at St John the Baptist Church held by BL enthusiast, Rev. Colin Corke. Seven heaven The theme for this year’s National Austin 7 Rally has been announced, with an emphasis on coachbuilt and fabric-bodied versions. The 58th annual meeting takes place at Beaulieu…

You don’t read about Ferraris very often in PC , but something special is happening at Sywell Aerodrome on June 6 – the UK’s biggest ever gathering of Prancing Horses. The Ferrari Owners’ Club’s Gary Dearn told us: ‘Whether you drive a Mondial, 308GT4, or something far more valuable, you’ll be made very welcome at Sywell. You have to turn up in a Ferrari to get in, but whether you’re a member of the club or not, you’ll be able to be a part of what promises to be a very exciting day. As well as lots of Ferraris there will be vintage aircraft on display and in the air.’ More details at nationalferrariownersday.com.…

Glasgow to Croatia and back in our two British open classics. Spread over nine weeks and camping all the way. France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Germany. My wife and I, plus two children and our dog. Trip of a lifetime. Would do it again in a heartbeat. John Reid London to Switzerland and back two years ago in my 1978 Austin Maxi. Dan Thomas Last year. San Francisco-Yosemite-Lee Vining-Hawthorn NV-Lone Pine-Death Valley-Las Vegas-LA, Santa Monica, Venice Beach (what a dump, avoid)-Monterey-San Francisco. 2000 miles in a Dodge Charger. Steve Mackenzie France, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy and Lake Como, driving Stelvio Pass and Furka Pass. Fantastic driving roads and a 2500-mile round trip in my 1986 Morgan 4/4. Peter Scott My ‘not quite classic yet’ Saab…

10mm spanner: Toolbox and garage hide and seek champion 1965-present; Windy Gun: designed to over tighten nuts and bolts making them impossible to undo. Tim Lewis I thought flat screwdrivers were a paint tin opener and stirrer combi tool. Roger Spragg Vernier caliper: the tool for unscrewing the back cover on Seiko watches! Mick Wood Angle grinders: for igniting one’s overalls for the amusement of the rest of the workshop. Phil Adams Drill Press : A tall upright machine useful for suddenly snatching flat metal bar stock out of your hands so that it smacks you in the chest and flies across the room, denting the freshly-painted project that you placed in the corner where nothing could get to it. Wire Wheel: Cleans paint off bolts with ease, but also…

The long-awaited phone call from reception sent me scurrying through the office, scattering tea trolleys and secretarial staff as I went. ‘Nick, your new car has arrived.’ A Rover motor car with gleaming blue coachwork and proud Viking-adorned chrome grille catching the August sunlight, and polished wood inside. ‘Wow,’ I gasped, while envious colleagues pressed against office windows and passing shoppers dropped their carrier bags. Sadly, delivery was not by a maroon and cream lorry with, ‘Rover – one of Britain’s fine cars’ emblazoned on the headboard. Nor did I sign an enormous ledger in fountain pen, merely scribbling on a form presented by the new car midwife from Marshall Rover of Peterborough I proudly drove R126 BFL through 1997 streets, past posters of manically-grinning Tony Blair, and the Spice…

Audi 100S coupé Spotted by Andy Bennett from Essex while travelling near Cape Town in South Africa, this rare Audi rots alongside an NSU Ro80. Several Jaguars are also lined up, with some American classics in the background. Rover 2000 & Daimler DS420 An early model Rover 2000 rusts away with a decaying Daimler DS420 Limousine sitting alongside. NSU Ro80 The collection starts at the roadside and moves back towards a workshop with dozens of cars, all collected by one man over several decades. The NSU Ro80 is missing its grille. BMW 1804 SA An ultra-rare BMW 1804 SA, or rather a Glas 1700 that BMW introduced to South Africa with a BMW grille and engine after dropping the Glas marque back in Germany. A dead Citroën GS carcass sits…

It has been a good winter of classic motoring for me, with the diverse Hopkins fleet behaving itself in traditional fashion; a potent mixture of both excellence and disaster. With Freelander and Sierra sold, the fleet rotation has been Smart, Saab 9000 and Omega. With occasional local Riley RMA outings and a couple of runs in the Volkswagen van before we ripped it apart (see p102) – I have looked forward to every trip. I’ve put in a few shifts at the workshop to keep it all afloat, with one of the main issues being the increasing realization that the Saab’s heater matrix was not actually watertight. That distant smell of curry and a damp driver’s floor carpet signified the necessity to get busy with the metric spanners. At around…

2002 BMW 325i Touring auto Engine 2494cc/6-cyl/OHC Power 189bhp@6100rpm Torque 181lb ft@3500rpm Gearbox 5-speed automatic 0-60mph 8.1sec Top speed 147mph Fuel economy 29mpg Work done Brake fluid renewed, plus new bleed nipples ordered Also in Nigel’s garage 1967 TRIUMPH SPITFIRE MkIII Marooned in the garage while my driveway is – finally – being re-laid, following damage sustained during the car fire disaster six months ago. 1970 TRIUMPH TR6 Like the little Spitfire, it’s stuck in the garage waiting for a new driveway.…