Table of contents for February 2022 in Practical Classics

Some months ago, as you might recall, I purchased my very first ‘sensible’ modern car – a 2010 Volvo V50 1.6-litre diesel (Bangernomics, PC August 2021). Bought with good intentions, the 60mpg diesel engine that qualified it for an annual road tax bill of just £30 made sound financial sense. It was also fitted with a tow bar that would allow me to drag small classics around when required. I spent good money having the cambelt and water pump replaced, plus a leaking injector seat re-cut and its seal replaced. I gave it a thorough service and genuinely enjoyed modern motoring for a few weeks. But it was to be short lived. A dreaded DPF fault surfaced. That was soon joined by a second light on the dashboard signalling an…

SAT, DEC 18 SURREY Four Counties Car Club meet at The Bletchingley Arms, RH1 4PE (tinyurl.com/d4crab8m). STAFFS Classics and Customs Club West Midlands monthly meet at The Trucker’s Rest, WS11 1SF (tinyurl.com/kxzey9ku). LONDON Waterloo Classics on Lower Marsh Street, SE1 7RG (waterlooclassics.com). SUN, DEC 19 NOTTS Newark Autojumble, Newark Showground, NG24 2NY (newarkautojumble.co.uk). DORSET Transport of Yesteryear Annual Christmas Steam and Classic Vehicle Meet, Top o’ Town car park, Dorchester, DT1 1XT (tinyurl.com/77477yf5). MON, DEC 20 SUFFOLK Classic Car Meet at the Queen’s Head in Hawkedon, IP29 4NN (hawkedonqueen.co.uk). TUE, DEC 21 LONDON Volkswagen Air-Cooled night at the Ace Café, NW10 7UD (london.acecafe.com). SUN, DEC 26 LONDON Cold Turkey day at the Ace Café, NW10 7UD (london.acecafe.com). WILTS The Distinguished Gentlemen’s Eccentric Drivers’ Club meet at Castle Cary, BA7 7BH…

Is your classic hibernating now? I’d love to have a heated garage to help keep my Mondeo 2.0 Ghia X pristine but real life says no! I’ll do my best to preserve as hopefully a full restoration is on the cards one day. Andrew Braddon My old Dodge truck is the best winter chariot I’ve ever owned. Oil sprayed and will be driven all winter as always. Nowhere it won’t go in our snow in Canada! James Ellis I’ve been forced to put my Skoda Rapid away for the winter. I’ve ordered a new front subframe with all suspension and steering bits, so it should be ready about spring! Łukasz Sochacki My Fiat Uno will be my chariot for the winter and has been for that last few winters. Am…

A few issues ago I mentioned that I had visited restoration specialist Classic Motor Cars in Bridgnorth, Shropshire for ‘a story that I was covering’. While there, CMC fine-tuned my Rover 2000 TC’s engine with very pleasing results, as I reported in a Staff Car Saga. But what was that unspecified story? It was one of a series of updates for the recently, and sadly, defunct Vantage magazine on the restoration of the machine pictured here, a vision of wedginess first revealed to the world in 1980. The Aston Martin Bulldog was created to showcase the talents of Aston’s designers and engineers and to give a glimpse of a world beyond traditional front-engined GTs. Its starkly angular form was the work of William Towns who had previously shaped the also-wedgy…

REVIEW Cheshire bargains What you missed at Manor Park’s latest auction Manor Park Classics’ November sale went well, with 350 bidders in attendance at its Runcorn site, as well as online action. In the end over 75 per cent of the 86 lots sold, with some strong results like the £13,440 paid for a rare 190bhp EFi version of the Rover SD1 Vanden Plas. However, we were much more excited about what is believed to be the oldest surviving Vauxhall Chevette. Built during the first month of production in 1975, it has been bodily restored and has still only covered 50,000 miles from new. The wonderfully Seventies interior is still in superb condition. What price this piece of history? It was bagged for what seemed like a very reasonable £4704.…

1993 Fiat Tempra 1.6 SX ie Price: £5000 One of only three of this model left on UK roads. Has done less than 36,000 miles. Recommissioned two years ago and still in very good order. 1960 Riley One Point Five Price: £8500 Price is a bit tasty, but this very smart Riley has been resprayed, rechromed and treated to a full brake and suspension rebuild. 1980 Chevrolet Corvette Price: £14,995 Has the very rare attraction of a four-speed manual gearbox behind the hulking 5.7-litre V8. In the UK since 1988. Price reflects some paint micro-blisters.…

James likes the… 4x4 ONE I’ve owned three of these Model 169 Pandas and the 4x4 was my favourite (though I loved my Active, too). I took on the boys from our sister mag Land Rover Owner International and even they were amazed. The UK Panda 4x4 Facebook group is a must-join if you buy one. Simple and slow, but charismatic and lots of fun. Matt likes the… ORIGINAL ONE They’re not as easy to get along with as a daily driver, but I’d go with one of the original Pandas for their sheer simplicity and character. Parts availability isn’t as good as it was and you’ve really got to keep on top of the rust, but they reward commitment – and there’s a great community behind them. Matt T…

PROJECTS EDITOR 1968 Austin Mini Countryman Engine 998cc/4-cyl/OHV Power 39bhp@5250rpm Torque 50lbft@2600rpm Gearbox 4-speed manual 0-60mph 22sec Top speed 82mph Fuel economy 60mpg Work done Front subframe and rear doors removed; car mounted on a rotisserie. Also in Matt’s garage 1960 MORRIS MINOR CONVERTIBLE Away for the winter. 1969 MORRIS MINOR TRAVELLER On log-hauling duties. 1970 MORRIS MINOR ‘SUPERCHARGED’ SALOON Head gasket failed in traffic entering the NEC. Fixed now. 1972 MGB GT My daily while the Volvo is out of action. Yes, at long last, my barn find Mini, which sat lingering in a garage since 1977, is finally getting the attention it deserves. I took the project on back in 2017 after being alerted to its potential doom at the hand of the scrap man, by an old…

Matt Tomkins PROJECTS EDITOR Our resident workshop puppet master, Matt has Morris Minors and A-Series engines in his blood. This month Three A-series engines stripped for rebuild in as many weeks. Martin Domoney WORKSHOP EDITOR Former Jaguar Land Rover technician, Martin, knows his modern classics inside and out. This month Idly browsing the classifieds, having sold his MX-5. Theodore J Gillam ENGINEERING EXPERT Former Motor Vehicle lecturer and classic fiddling perfectionist. Has a love of compression ignition. This month Still knee deep in glassfibre resin. Ed Hughes WORKSHOP GENIUS Ed singlehandedly keeps a fleet of obscure classics on the road. He’s never owned a modern and will keep it that way. This month Brake rebuild time. Nigel Clark DIY RESTORER Nigel’s driveway achievements rival those of pro mechanics. He’s our…

MATT’S JOB CARD CRANKSHAFT SWAP Today we’ll be assessing, then changing the crankshaft of this grumbling, but otherwise sound, A-series engine for an exchange crankshaft, supplied with correctly sized bearings, by ESM Morris Minors. If time is no issue, you could have your own crankshaft ground locally and purchase bearings to suit. Before you start, establish that your engine is in otherwise good condition. Check compression and assess the condition of the bores. Remove the ’head if you haven’t done so recently. If the bores are worn, you may have to opt for a full engine rebuild including a rebore and fresh pistons/rings. How tough? You’ll need: ▶ AF socket set ▶ Screwdriver ▶ Torque wrench ▶ Feeler gauges ▶ Micrometer or calipers ▶ Plastigauge ▶ Workshop manual Specialists: ESM…

All you need to know about everything important The Aston Martin Bulldog supercar prototype has been officially launched to huge acclaim. Painstakingly restored and upgraded by Classic Motor Cars. Ltd (CMC), the ‘uber-wedge’ won the Royal Automobile Club restoration of the year award (co-judged by PC’s Danny Hopkins) and, on Saturday November 27, the car hit 162 miles an hour on its first shake-down session at RAF Yeovilton, the first time in over 40 years, the car has been driven at speed. All this came days after the official launch aboard Britain’s biggest aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales at Portsmouth. Nigel Woodward, managing Director of CMC, said: ‘The last few days have been a whirlwind, to win two prestigious awards within a week (CMC won specialist of the year…

Mercedes Benz W124 Series £45 ISBN 978-1-787117-14-3 Learn the history of the W124-based models with this new book, covering the whole range from the first 1984 models to the end of production. Contemporary images are used throughout, making this an ideal reference, as well as a pleasing taking a trip down memory lane veloce.co.uk Strictly No Admittance! £110 (Standard Edition) ISBN 978-1-908658-21-0 From the launch editor of PC and Peter D. Wilson, this large book tells the inside story of the ‘Lightweight’ E-types, covering the evolution of these amazing cars and their astonishing XK engines paulskilleterbooks.co.uk Lotus Elite £40 ISBN: 978-1-787115-17-0 Discover the comprehensive history of Colin Chapman’s first GT car, the Elite, as well as how this car influenced its successor, the Elan. Ex-factory staff and current owners give…

1950 Rover P4 I snapped this gorgeous P4 Cyclops on the way to the corner shop recently. Looks totally original and has some wonderful patina. David Gillespie, Motherwell 1965 Fiat 600 A very tidy Fiat 600 that I found parked up in Earlsfield, London. Grant Mackay-Howard, Kent 1975 Fiat 127 Spotted in Northampton – a Fiat 127 Sport. Rare as you like but, looking in good, regularly used condition. Paul Adams, Northampton 1991 Toyota Carina Estate I saw this very rare Toyota Carina estate that lives near me in Edgware, north London. It looks like it’s in everyday service, too! Graham Rich, Mill Hill 1981 Vauxhall Astra One of the few benefits of lockdown: empty roads. Spotted in Cranbrook, this immaculate Astra MkI takes the high street back to the…

I dismissed the receipts as recycling. Decades of service reports, tax discs and paperwork that detailed everything from repairs to general running performance – they all went in the bin, too. I destroyed my MGA’s provenance willingly, but not knowingly; I can only plead ignorance for my defence. Please forgive me, dear car fam, for I have well and truly sinned. At the time of their disposal, my mum and I were enduring the intrusive but necessary process of clearing my grandfather’s home of his possessions after he’d passed away. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and those months turned into a year. What to throw away, and what to keep? We made dozens of decisions an hour, but with the passing of time our resolve faltered, and…

‘A classic bargain that’s being missed’ There’s a lot to be learnt about the market by looking at what doesn’t sell, especially at an overall successful sale like Silverstone’s two-dayer at the recent NEC Classic Motor Show where it shifted nearly 83 per cent of the 138 cars on offer over the course of the weekend. But what really stood out was the failure of two really nice MG TDs, both recently having been restored, to find homes. Either could have been had for what seemed a very reasonable £17k. So I dug bit deeper into the world of TDs. I was surprised to find that, during 2021, a grand total of 32 of them had been offered at auction and just 50 per cent had been sold, which against…

Originality over safety? Saying ‘It’s still on its original set of tyres’ is a trigger statement for me that represents the mark of an obsession tipping into something downright dangerous. I get that an old car is only original once and that, to some, there’s a certain thrill to be had from preserving a car’s factory specification. What I can’t understand is the mentality of preserving originality over safety. Old machines wear out even if they spend most of their lives in storage or moving just five miles a year to and from the local MOT station, and tyres are the single most important part of your classic, regardless of use. It’s worth stating again that these are the only part of your car that are in physical contact with…

‘I now have a full house’ Craig buys a Marea because a Bravo and Brava aren’t enough Fiats Craig Cheetham Social media can do many great and wonderful things as well as some pretty damaging ones. And I’m still not entirely sure where my latest acquisition sits on that scale. You see, the last thing I needed was another car (I currently own more than 40) but I’ve also had a bit of a fetish for Nineties Fiats since my teenage years when they were still new. As a result I get tagged left, right and centre whenever a car comes up for sale that my friends think might appeal to me. And the latest car to get forwarded to me no fewer than 14 different times was this 1998…

DEPUTY EDITOR 2004 Citroën Berlingo 2.0 HDi Engine 1997cc/4-cyl/OHC Power 125bhp@4000rpm Torque 151ft lb@1900rpm 0-60mph 10.5sec Top speed 110mph Fuel economy 49.6mpg Gearbox 5-speed manual Work done New front suspension and brakes fitted. Also in James’s garage 1985 CITROËN CX 25 GTI TURBO A happy MOT pass with just one split CV boot to replace. 1987 CITROËN AX 11 TRE Struggling to find the time for this one. A colleague has shown interest... 2001 FORD PUMA 1.7 Engine out for refurb! Should be ready for our winter road trip next month. 2004 SMART ROADSTER Curious squishy brake pedal issue. A trip to a specialist for advice is needed. This is one little box of delights, as it turns out. The evidence can be found in my email inbox this month,…

1937 Austin Seven (Ruby) Special Engine 748cc/4-cyl/SV Power Unknown Gearbox 4-speed manual Work done 12v regulator mounted and dynamo sent for reconditioning. Although my still bodyless Austin Seven is now running and driving, there is one fairly critical area that has been ignored until now. Having taken the decision to convert the car to 12 volts, and fitted a 12v motorcycle battery ahead of the project’s first outing to Grimsthorpe Speed Trials, the Seven remained a plug-in hybrid, with the three-brush 6v dynamo acting only as a distributor drive. I have no shortage of 12v regulators from the Morris Minors that I’ve fitted alternators to over the years, but I opted to fit an upgraded electronic regulator unit (from Classic Dynamo Regulator Conversions) to ensure reliable charging. With fuel and…

Cleaning fabric seats (Experts, November 2021). Before using liquids, vacuum the seats or carpets while gently patting them to release loose dust that can turn to ‘mud.’ James Nicholls Convention is that a fuse doesn’t blow out until twice the rating printed on it… whereas the number on Lucas glass fuses is the actual blow-out current. So a 10A Lucas fuse blows at 10A – as does, say, a modern 5A blade fuse. Beware, therefore, of repro glass fuses that follow the modern convention! Roger Parker, MG Owners’ Club…

SEAL THE DEAL After replacing the plastic end cap, put a single turn of tape over the joint between cap and magnet body to create a moisture-proof seal. LOSING THE THREAD? The screws and nuts have BA threads – don’t lose them! BA threads were used on electrical equipment, so consult your spares pile (or the internet) for replacements. ED’S JOB CARD OVERHAUL YOUR PUMP Here I’ll show you how to service and set-up an SU pump, fitting a new diaphragm that’s guaranteed to resist ethanol fuel blends. A complete overhaul kit is not much more expensive than a diaphragm alone – so given the contact set is the most troublesome part of the pump it makes sense to go the whole hog. How tough? You’ll need: ▶ Spanners ▶…

Cordless ratchet wrench £45.54 (body only); £75.54 (with battery and charger) sealey.co.uk Since being delivered for us to test as part of Sealey’s cordless combo kit featured in the Christmas gift guide last month, this little 10.8v electric ratchet has barely stopped turning. Available separately, as well as part of the bundle, it is compact, light of weight and a real time and arm saver when it comes to both stripdown and reassembly. Functioning as a standard ratchet for initial cracking of bolts or for final tightening, squeeze the handle and the ratchet springs into life, spinning the fixing out for you in no time. Part no: CP108VCRWBO. A FOND FAREWELL TO SIR FRANK WILLIAMS Motorsport in mourning for Williams F1 founder The man behind no less than seven manufacturers’…

Online offering One of the biggest names in classic auctions has added a digital platform to its repertoire after recognising the growth in such channels over the pandemic. Silverstone Auctions says the move will supplement the company’s position via a digital offering. Morgan reveal The Morgan Motor Company has showcased the design direction of its all-new three-wheeled model with the release of a series of never-before-seen design-sketches. Taken from the drawing boards of Morgan’s design team, the illustrations demonstrate the aesthetic intent of the new model, as well as the inspirations that underpin it. Still on brand Kamkorp Autocraft, the owner of the Bristol Cars concern and all associated trademarks, has won a legal fight against the UK Intellectual Property Office to retain the right to the brand names despite…

SECRET MEETS Benz club hits 70 Nationwide adventures are in store There aren’t many classic car clubs that can claim to have reached their platinum anniversary, but the Mercedes-Benz Club can. The group’s Red Mackinnon told us: ‘We’re the world’s oldest Mercedes-Benz Club, set up in June 1952 at the Berrystead Hotel in Ascot. We’re set to return there in July 2022 for a three-day weekend, but the year will be packed with events from the start of February until the end of November. Our various regional groups are also running a relay which will see a baton start off in the south west of England before travelling up to Scotland, Wales then to Ireland.’ mercedes-benz-club.co.uk. HISTORIC RALLY CAR REGISTER Gaydon to welcome rally fans Every year the Historic Rally…

EMAIL OF THE MONTH Ahoy there! That’s my ship! I am in the middle of restoring a 1972 Vauxhall Viva HC that has been in our family since it was nine months old! I love your magazine and always look forward to the Memory Lane pages to see what photo will appear each month. When I opened up the December issue, I immediately got the attention of my wife Brenda when I saw my old ship in the old photo of Lerwick! The ship in the background is called the St Clair and was operated by the North of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Shipping Company Ltd, which was later swallowed up by P & O Ferries. I worked as a fresh faced 16 year-old steward on the ship from 1975…

Prepare yourself properly for a year in which you might well be in the market for your dream car with this easy-to-use guide. Our market guru, Russ Smith, has cross-referenced every listing against auctions and private sales to bring you the best guide possible. 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. If you know better though, do get in touch. We would love to hear your buying stories. Remember that the prices listed are the price we think you should pay after negotiation,…

FRI JAN 28 South West Vehicle Auctions, Parkstone, Poole, Dorset. (01202 745466, swva.co.uk) FRI-SAT JAN 28-29 Mathewsons, live online, Thornton-Le-Dale, North Yorkshire. (01751 474455, mathewsons.co.uk) SAT-SUN JAN 29-30 Anglia Car Auctions’ classic sale, King’s Lynn, Norfolk. (01553 771881, angliacarauctions.co.uk) SUN JAN SAT FEB 30-5 Manor Park Classics’ 7-day Timed Online Auction, Runcorn, Cheshire. (0161 697 5223, manorparkclassics.com) FRI FER 5 Silverstone Auctions’ Race Retro Sale, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warks. (01926 691141, silverstoneauctions.com) SAT FEB 19 Morris Leslie Classic Auctions, Errol Airfield, Perth. (01821 642574, morrisleslie.com) TUE FEB 22 Barons Auctions’ Winter Classic, Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey. (023 8066 8413, barons-auctions.com) SAT MAR 5 Historics, Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire. (01753 639170, historics.co.uk)…

1982 FORD ESCORT XR3 Harold Hogg, Pembrokeshire None of that new-fangled fuel-injection for Harold – just a good old carburettor. 1988 RENAULT 5 GT TURBO Terry Duckworth, Somerset Keeps it largely standard, but loves driving it hard – can’t say we blame you, Terry. 1990 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF RALLYE Satty Singh, Bedfordshire Satty has a couple of Rallye Golfs, but also has an E30 M3. We’re not jealous one bit… We can help… So many cars here that we would all love to have on our drives. Call us to discuss your requirements, so we can help turn your modern classic dream into a reality. CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE EXPERTS... SPECIALIST CAR INSURANCE WITH YOU IN MIND…

How do you replace a practical, sturdy, affordable 23-year-old motoring icon? By replacing it with another one, that’s how. Sure, this second-generation Panda can’t boast the original car’s stratospheric status or production lifespan, but it presents a very strong case as a modern classic. Values of the boxy little hatch are gathering pace with both the Panda 4x4 and 100 HP striding onwards and upwards. Full classic status is surely right around the corner. Whether you’re after a £500 first car or one of the highly prized versions, here’s how to bag the best. Why you want one Expectations were high when the car was launched in 2003 – not least because Fiat was in some serious financial trouble. The response was overwhelmingly positive though, much to Fiat’s relief. It…

J-J Vollans CONTRIBUTOR 1993 Merc-Benz 280TE Sportline Engine 2799cc/6-cyl/DOHC Power 194bhp@5500rpm Torque 199lb ft@3750rpm Gearbox 4-speed auto 0-60mph 9.1sec Top speed 141mph Fuel economy 27mpg Work done Fan clutch and belt swapped, anti-roll bar links and bushes replaced, full service done. Also in JJ’s garage 1972 OPEL MANTA 1.9 SR A winter stay at the body shop is looming (more soon). 1984 VW SCIROCCO STORM Still lingering under its cover until the Mercedes 190E in front of it gets finished. 1987 LOTUS ESPRIT S3 Plans have changed for this one – I’m now going to build it back up stock. 1990 RANGE ROVER VOGUE 3.9 Anyone want a rusty old Rangie? Time to get to it seems to be disappearing. The family holiday is what the estate car was built…

At the heart of any fuel pump is a chamber with an inlet and outlet valve, and a diaphragm (or a piston in some types). The diaphragm is pulled down against the pressure of a spring – in this case by an electromagnet – drawing fuel from the tank into the chamber through the inlet valve. The electromagnet turns off and the diaphragm is pushed up by the spring, forcing fuel from the chamber through the outlet valve to the carburettor. The float valve of the carburettor controls how much fuel goes from pump to carb and the spring keeps its pressure constant (around 5psi). When the chamber is almost empty, a set of breaker points (controlled by a pushrod attached to the diaphragm) closes, turning on the electromagnet once…