The stock list

Well that's February over and done with and another payday in for those of us still  in employment.

Over the last three months I have been working to a plan of completing as many of my older and nearly finished projects as I can. I won't call these classics deadwood because they aren't but like a rosebush, all businesses needs regular pruning and maintenance to keep them nice and fit.

Currently, I have in over eighteen projects and a further three or four out at various sub contractors and I felt it was high time that some of the slow restorations were either stopped or completed. This represents a huge amount of labour for me and not much profit but the effects are gradually becoming visible in the workshop with a more tidy appearance and even the odd space being available to put things down  on the shop floor.

I'd like to get the number of workshop spaces down to around ten in total but it's not that easy with so many interesting projects out there to take on. and I do have to hold myself back sometimes. Our current remaining stock list is as follows:

Rover P5B Coupe ( Marg.) currently a very slow mover fr a variety of reasons. However, the final repair parts plus some fittings that were holding the car up are now in and I'm looking to get this very large scale project moving along now. None the less it may take a full year to see this one driving away.

Rover P5B Coupe ( Emma) Although behind schedule, this car is currently going very well. Those of you who take an interest in my facebook page will be aware of the amount of work that has been lavished lately on this particular classic.

Rover P5B Coupe ( Reg) Still at the painters, over budget ( aren't they all) and over time. Due back shortly but only in primer and for a few months I will be able to put some man-hours into this project before it returns to the painter for a short time.

Rover P5 saloon ( no name for this one which is unusual around here) in for alignment work and paint plus a little welding. Delivery of the bonnet has been a nightmare but it should be with me next week. A short term project that should be away within two to three weeks once it's started.

Rover "P1" ( Snowdrop) A full concourse restoration of a very rare 1934 10HP model. Chassis work well advanced and bodywork catching up now after a period of inactivity. 

1963 Ford Consul Capri 1500. Just in and due to go away to the cavity waxing bay today.

Ford Escort RS2000 mk2  A project that tends to come to a standstill on a fairly regular basis. There were some problems with the project fairly early on ( now resolved) The project is being hampered by the discovery of more serious corrosion in the bulkhead. A new bulkhead will be required and I need to set up a meeting with the owner to discuss how we proceed. The required panels are available but very expensive.

Ford Cortina MK1. Project at a fairly advanced state but stopped only due to time constraints. As projects are completed I hope that I will have more time shortly to complete this one.

Dolomite Sprint. A white manual example. The discovery of more rust ( quite usual for a Dolomite) caused this one to stop whilst other projects were fast tracked. Due to be resumed in a few weeks when Emma ( see above) goes into to the paint shop.

Dolomite Sprint. A blue automatic example. Due back on the road this spring but has taken a back seat for a few week while Emma The P5B Coupe receives all the attention.

Triumph Herald 1200 saloon Project that has been going great guns until a few weeks ago when like the auto Sprint it went on the back burner whilst Emma was fast tracked. Should still be back on the road this spring after the best part of 20 years in a garage.

Triumph Spitfire 1500. Body and chassis complete and painted to show condition when owners life changed. In storage for around three or four years now. The owner has recently suggested that the project could revive this year. In storage elsewhere.

Triumph Vitesse 6 convertible. as above really, in storage elsewhere.

"Round Arch" MG Midget. Lots of progress last spring but the same scenario as above, Currently in storage outside until  the opportunity arises to finish.

Austin Mini Van. completed project apart from a missing fuel tank.

Austin 1300GT. been standing since early Jan. Hope to have the welding and  various mechanical issued sorted out and an MOT within the next two weeks.

Austin A35. This one should really be on the road by now. Just a few jobs left to do. Parts to locate has caused delay in recent months.

Lotus Elan. Currently a live project but the wiring on this car must have been designed by the devil himself!  Making good progress and looking forward to being able to start this car up soon without the fear of spontaneous combustion from behind the dash.

Spartan Kit Car ( Ford Cortina base) currently taking the engine out after a long delay after mechanical issues the brief is to concentrate on the cosmetic side of this car.

Due in shortly is an E-type Jaguar for under body work.

Quite busy then.

Test drive

.....Yet another satisfied customer leaves the workshop with his finely restored car!


Actually, the occasion was the first time in a few years that Emma the Rover P5B Coupe had been running. After a little initial engine  clatter  from the dry hydraulic tappets, the engine ran very sweetly. Only the re-spray stands in the way of having this one back on the road in May.

Snowdrop the vintage Rover 10HP (1934)

Wednesday 23rd February 2012

It was a busy day for Snowdrop the vintage Rover that we are gradually restoring here in the workshop. This car is thought to be one of only eight left in the country. As such we are trying to get every detail right down to the correct wood screws in the base of the seats correct so that the car can hopefully become a rolling record of what one of these cars would have looked like when new. This way if another is unearthed in the future, there's a point of reference.

Currently most of the work is centred around the sill or rocker panel assembly on the main body tub. The complexity is quite surprising as the section is made up from four or five sections of steel built up. Some run the length of the car, some are short odd shapes that layer over each other like scales on a fished back.

Between each layer is a layer of rust. The dilemma is how much to cut away at each stage before the shell becomes too weak to support it's self and sags out of shape.

The whole area has already had a second visit to the blast cleaner and the exposed metalwork, once cleaned back has been treated by a solution of Rust Buster- which was highly recommended by Practical classics magazine after year log trials. Over this where steel will be resting against steel, a layer of my favourite anti rust paint ( Bonda resin based high zinc paint, hard as nails and heat proof for welding) has been put on and allowed to dry off. The edges of the repair sections were then polished back to give a good key for the welder to bite into.

Owner Chris has made the repair sections up firstly by making a template from cereal packet and then transferring the design to the sheet steel. The first sections are a good fit.

Welding was disturbed last night by the arrival of the new wooden roof structure. Our local joiner ( ex graphic designer and car enthusiast) has mad a fantastic job of replication the original. One deviation is that he has formed the curvature of the roof line from a solid beam of wood on each side which is very clever. The original however turned out to be a straight plank that the manufacturers simply cut slots into and then bent to shape and held in place with copious amounts of mastic.

                                                     Who is that handsome devil? Oh it's me!

Further welding and panel manufacture is planned for the next few days.

Winter weather

Last year we had the heating oil tank filled and within a month is was empty. This year I decided to not bother with the oil and just wear a few extra layers. I'm used to working outside anyway. Despite the snow, the plan seems to have worked and I've saved a fortune in heating oil!

Because I'm always running around the workshop keeping busy I stay nice and warm and the workshop has stayed open. In the last week we have said goodbye to the Aston Martin DBS (welding project), the Mini Van ( well said goodbye and then hello when it's fuel tank split and it came back) and are about to hand the keys over for two other Minis. Coming in for general work is an E type Jaguar and a TVR Chimera plus there's more work on our longer term projects many of which are due out this spring.

Escort Ghia

This Ford Escort MK2 Ghia came into the workshop last year for some running reairs and cavity waxing. At the time I took loads of photographs but didn't file them so they ended up in a mountain of similar photographs and not necessarily together.

I'm currently sorting these all out ( I'm actually trying to find all the photographs of the Aston Martin DBS) so I thought that I'd give them an airing here.
Looking at this "before shot" you wouldn't think that there could be much wrong with this car ( mostly there isn't to be honest) The engine bay was clean enough to eat your dinner off of so I took some detail shots to aid the work we are currently doing on an RS2000.

 The problem with the car was that there was some rust bubbling through around one head lamp. This turned out to be because of a previous repair done using sealant and filler. I don't like to be too critical because whoever did this at least kept the car on the road and looking good for a few years more but the current owner decided to get a better repair done.

Two shots above showing corrosion from inside the front wing.

Holes revealed

After some exploratory blast cleaning it was decided to strip the trim out and work all around the end of the wing

After new steel was welded in, the car was sent to one of our local painters. The paint match was spot on despite the front wings and bonnet being different shades of red! You'd never know now. Sadly the car was collected direct from the paint shop but the car looked just as good as the day when it arrived so the " after shots would not have been that dramatic ( and it was wet that day as well)

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A selection of photographs as yet in no particular order of the repairs to the Aston Martin DBS. I'm still digging out photographs from various files and when I have a decent set I'll make a proper report for the project.

This vehicle has now been completed and has moved onto a different establishment to have new windscreen seals fitted.