Retro Cars - November 2015

LOTUS
POWERED
MINOR
SAUCY
LITTLE
VIXEN
If Colin Chapman
built Minor pickups
Expertly crafted,
and rare, TVR racer
80
NEW
LISTER
KNOBBLY
Fifties Le Mans
royalty back on track
AR
-C AL
IT CI E
BR E SU
P
S
IS
modified classics
RUN DMC
A LITTLE
SNOOTY
STUNNIN
G FIRENZA
DROOPSNOOT
Flux Capacitor... check.

Time circuits... check.
Ready to go back in time?
CAUGHT THE
BUG
Four-wheel Bond Bug

restored from scrapheap!
PLUS: HILLMAN IMP RALLY CAR RARE ROVER ZAGATO

ZAGATO EURO RALLY REPORT
THE AUTOBAHN LOCKUP PORSCHE 944 & SCIROCCO PROJECT UPDATES
www.retrocarsmag.com
www.facebook.com/RetroCarsMagazine
NOVEMBER 2015 Issue 89 4.40
@RetroCarsMag
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LOTUS
POWERED
MINOR
SAUCY
LITTLE
VIXEN
If Colin Chapman
built Minor pickups
Expertly crafted,
and rare, TVR racer
80
NEW
LISTER
KNOBBLY
Fifties Le Mans
AR
-C L
IT CIA E
BRSPE SU
IS
modified classics
RUN DMC
Introduction
A LITTLE
SNOOTY
STUNNING FIRENZA
DROOPSNOOT

Ready to go back in time?
CAUGHT THE
BUG
Four-wheel Bond Bug

restored from scrapheap!
PLUS: HILLMAN IMP RALLY CAR RARE ROVER ZAGATO

THE AUTOBAHN LOCKUP PORSCHE 944 & SCIROCCO PROJECT UPDATES
NOVEMBER 2015 Issue 89 4.40
@RetroCarsMag
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elcome! We know youve been waiting for this special issue since we started
running our nation-themed specials earlier this year. Yes thats right its the
British special. In this issue were covering the lesser known gems of the
motoring world that have emerged from our sheds, factories and driveways.
Theres everything from Le Mans winning sports cars to little plastic orange
novelty vehicles. We Brits have contributed more than our fair share to the worlds collective
classic car consciousness. But weve actively avoided the obvious contenders, the E-Types, AustinHealeys, Minis and Range Rovers. Instead were casting some light on those makes and models
that many of you might have overlooked
Bond No not the super spy frolicking around the globe bedding as many femme fatales as
possible, the funny little micro-car makers. Theyre probably best known for producing an off-thewall little three wheeler with distinctive orange bodywork. In fact I was lucky enough to interview
the cars designer Tom Karen for Retro Cars back in 2013. He wanted to make a vehicle that
was fun, which could be aimed at the youth to get them mobile and wouldnt cost too much. It
achieved almost all of these goals (it wasnt too cheap) but more than that, it gathered its own
following. Two such devotees are brothers Jason and Anthony Heather who rescued, modified
and returned to the road this stunning scrap-bought Bug (see page 6).
DeLorean DMC-12s are instantly recognisable and identifiable by everyone. Even kids today
who werent even alive when these were made will still shout DeLorean and point as one goes
by. For a car company that went into liquidation 2 years after it started making the car and with
less than 10,000 ever produced, its a remarkable feat. Its only made possible of course because
of a certain film role that gave the DeLorean a chance at redemption. After a bit of research we
found that Gadget Show presenter Jason Bradbury has just converted his own DMC-12 into a
replica of the famous time travelling sports car (see page 18).
We also explore the history of a unique Rover Zagato prototype, an astonishingly faithful periodtuned Morris Minor with twin-cam Lotus power, a works Hillman Imp rally car, a tasty Vauxhall
Firenza and much, much more This issue is rammed! Enjoy
John-Joe Vollans,
editor
the team
Matt Woods, photographer
Daniel Bevis, contributor
Retro Cars is now available digitally to download! See: www.pocketmags.com
RetroCarsMagazine
www.kelsey.co.uk
Paul Sander, designer
follow us online
@RetroCarsMag
contents
FEATURES
006 LOGBOOK: BOND BUG
80
FORD
FIESTA
ZETEC
This is no mere replica, this is one of just

three works Imps that took part in the
1967 Monte Carlo Rally and is still going
strong today!
040 LOTUS/MORRIS MINOR
Colin Chapman never took it upon himself

to craft a Lotus Minor Twin-Cam pick-up.
But its the sort of thing he might have
done
052 TVR VIXEN
Seasoned TVR racer Pete Reeve went

from a 400bhp Tasmin handful to this
185bhp Vixen screamer, but with less
weight its proving to be a blast
082 EVENTS
096 READERS RIDES
098 NEXT MONTH
See page 16
WE GATHER 12
POD FOR OUR SHOOT
88 4.40
OCTOBER 2015 Issue
www.facebook.co
CAUGHT THE
BUG
PAGE 78
036 WORKS RALLY IMP
069 THE OILY BITS
Win an indoor car dust

cover from Metex
A LITTLE
SNOOTY
STUNNING FIRENZA
DROOPSNOOT
Four-wheel Bond Bug

!
restored from scrapheap
89 4.40
NOVEMBER 2015 Issue
zine
www.facebook.com/RetroCarsMaga
SUBSCRIBE NOW & GET A

FREE GIFT WORTH 29.95!
In the late 1950s, the Lister Jaguar

Knobbly was a dominant and unstoppable
force in motor racing. And now, thanks to
new ownership, the original team can build
you a brand new one
050 POSTER
COMPETITION!
RUN DMC
YEARS OF THE COSSIES AT SANTA
030 LISTER KNOBBLY
016 PRODUCT REVIEW
B
SPRIT
IS EC -CA
SU IA R
E L

time?
Ready to go back in
30 COSWORTH
No, your eyes do not deceive you those

are Rover badges stuck to this slinky
Italian coup. So what is it, and where did
it come from?
014 NEWS
Fifties Le Mans
ALFA Q4
GOLF ENGINE SWAP PROJECT
RARE ROVER ZAGATO
PLUS: COMMER CAMPER PROJECT NEWS & PRODUCTS EVENTS LISTING
PLUS: HILLMAN IMP RALLY CAR
RIDES
944 & SCIROCCO PROJECT UPDATES
@RetroCarsMag
SCRAPPAGE SCENE READERS
m/RetroCarsMagazine
THE AUTOBAHN LOCKUP PORSCHE
@RetroCarsMag
025 ROVER ZAGATO
012 RETRO AD
Expertly crafted,
and rare, TVR racer
modified classics
A 330BHP INTERCEPTOR
GETS US VERY EXCITED
All motoring icons of the silver screen

have a special place in the heart of the
petrolhead, but theres one undisputed
king one that has a DMC badge on
its grille and a certain time-travelling
party piece
REGULARS
80
NEW
LISTER
KNOBBLY
SAUCY
LITTLE
VIXEN
If Colin Chapman
built Minor pickups
ROAD WARRIOR
018 DELOREAN DMC-12
When the world was going mental for

performance versions of everyday
family hatches, two brothers were
dreaming of rear-drive coupes from the
previous decade
Expertly crafted
M3-powered E30
modified classics
When brothers Jason and Anthony

Heather rescued this Bond Bug from a
scrapyard over a decade ago they werent
sure what to do with it...
056 VAUXHALL FIRENZA
BTCC
CAVALIER
HOMAGE LOTUS
Budget built
POWERED
90s Touring car! MINOR
FROM
325 TO
M3
Home-brew
build done right
025
ISSUE EIGHTY NINE

018
006
036
040
056
030
070
ention three-wheeler to
most people today and theyll
immediately conjure up images
of yellow Reliant Robins with
Trotters Independent Traders
on the side, but before Del Boy and Rodney
became household names, three wheelers
meant affordable motoring for many, or in the
case of the Bond Bug, fun.
6 RETRO CARS
The Bug was designed by Dr Tom Karen

and was on the market for just four years from
1970-74. Reliant had wanted to create a fun
car and with the Bug had certainly succeeded
but it cost more than a Mini and didnt offer
nearly as much car for your cash as BLs baby.
With its distinctive wedge shape and vivid
colour scheme the Bug was hard to ignore and
while it might not have been the success that
Reliant had hoped it would be, it did find a

core of loyal owners and a strong community
soon grew up around the car.
Owners like brothers Jason and Anthony
Heather, who between them own more than
a few cars from the Reliant and Bond stable.
When they found this particular Bug it was a
little past its best. We found it in a scrapyard
down in Plymouth, recalls Anthony. It had
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/RETROCARSMAGAZINE
BITTEN BY
THE BUG
When brothers Jason and Anthony Heather rescued this Bond Bug from a
scrapyard over a decade ago they werent sure what to do with it. Today theyve built
something totally unique.
Words: Adam Sloman images: Jon-Robinson Pratt
had a front end smack, the chassis was rotten,

the canopy was broken and the engine was
missing. Thankfully it had the chassis number
though, so I could get the logbook.
We paid about 250 for it I think, notes
Jason. It wasnt much. That was back in
2000 and once theyd got the Bug home
it was squirrelled away in a corner of the
brothers yard while other projects came and
@RETROCARSMAG
went. My first car was a Bug since I was 17

Ive been into them.
Fast forward to 2009 and having already
built a prize-winning three-wheeled Bug,
Anthony decided he wanted to sort a Bug
once and for all. Id always had in mind
to do something different with the car Id
done a couple of four-wheel conversions
previously but I wanted to make something a
bit more modern looking. Since this one had

been damaged previously I thought itd be
the ideal base.
Several companies had taken a run at
creating a four-wheel Bug, most notably the
Webster Motor Company who secured the
old Bug moulds in the 1990s and began
producing a four-wheel version based on the
three-wheelers ladder chassis but demand
NOVEMBER 2015 7
After two years work, the brothers Bug was finally able to hit the road,
just in time for the cars 40th birthday celebrations.
was limited and wasnt the success WMC had
hoped it would be. While the Websters might
not have succeeded, the Heather brothers were
determined they would.
Anthony began at the back end, chopping
off the rear arches. The back was the starting
point, says Anthony. I made a frame up
and formed a mould using wire, plastic and
newspaper to get the profile I wanted for the
rear arches and then made a mould. Once I
was happy I copied it for the other side.
Anthony would have you believe it was an
easy job, however he would go on to spend
nine months using everything from sewage
pipe to wood to flexi plastic to create the fourwheel body he had in mind. I added the curve
to the rear by using a thick piece of sewage pipe
to give the right profile. The front arches I made
using flexi pipe, it bends nice and easy so you
can get the right curve you want. I then lined
the moulds I made with parcel tape so that the
fibreglass would pull out easier, says Anthony.
He says it was easy, adds Jason but I can still
hear him swearing at it now!
When it came to the front bumper Anthony
remained just as creative. The front is a piece
of tongue and groove, which I fibreglassed
over to get the shape right. I sculpted
everything by hand to get the shape I liked.
Jason and Anthony were keen to use
whatever materials came to hand in the
creation of their custom Bug, mainly with the
intention of keeping costs to a minimum.
The front grille is actually a piece of builders
8 RETRO CARS
mesh which I shaped and curved says

Anthony. The sunroof came from a Robin
that we had in the yard.
With a new, four-wheel body created the
question became what to put beneath it. The
original chassis had been damaged and was
obviously only intended for three wheels.
Anthony opted to keep things within the
Reliant family. The chassis is from a Fox,
which Ive shortened, says Anthony. I also
shortened the wishbones to bring the front
track in theres nothing worse than a car
thats wider at the back than the front. He
also made changes to the rear so its the
same as an original Bug chassis, and the
whole thing has been galvanised to stop it
rotting any further.
The rest of the running gear is largely Minibased with a Mini steering rack and Mini
brakes, meaning, unsurprisingly the Bug runs
Mini wheels, in this case 13 x 7 Minilite style
alloys, shod with Yokohama tyres.
With Anthonys custom body and chassis
complete, the next problem was to source an
engine for the car. I have seen one with a
Mini engine in it, says Jason. I dont really
see the point in that and the only one Id
seen hadnt been done very well, he adds.
In the end he went for a Reliant 850 engine
and gearbox, adding to the diminutive little
lump with a four-branch manifold, a Weber
32 carb and electronic ignition. Anthony
also modified the clutch, fitting a hydraulic
conversion found on later Reliants.
The car was really gathering pace so

Anthony was soon faced with the decision
of what colour to paint it. I thought about
maybe red but really its a Bug so its got to
be orange, he adds. Anthony opted to paint
the Bug Ford Signal Orange, albeit with a hint
of metallic flake. The flake was an accident,
to be honest some fell into the paint while
I was mixing it and I thought Id see what it
looked like and to be honest, I really like it.
Once it was painted Anthony was able
to apply the finishing touches, fitting BMW
Isetta headlamp pods with Mini Angel Eye
headlamps as well as some motorcycle wing
mirrors they happened to have kicking
around the yard, as Jason puts it.
The interior was a blank canvas but Anthony
kept things fairly close to the original spec. I
had a pair of good condition Bug seats that had
been kicking around for ages, so I fitted them as
well as inertia reel seatbelts normally the Bug
has statics. Its a simple interior as youd expect.
The centre consoles clocks have been updated
with round, white-faced dials and an engine
start button, with a gearknob from a late model
Mini Cooper finishing things off. Anthony has
also modified the Bugs doors, fitting a pair from
a Webster kit, but with his own touch. Ive
modified the doors by fitting them with quick
release latches I made myself. Ive also fitted my
own internal hinges for the canopy.
After two years work, the brothers Bug
was finally able to hit the road, just in time
for the cars 40th birthday celebrations.
@RETROCARSMAG
NOVEMBER 2015 9
10 RETRO CARS
cost of all my labour I dread to think what the

car would have cost, concedes Anthony.
Its great fun, says Jason. We really dont
get to use it much maybe only two or three
shows a year, but we get plenty of attention
with it when we do go out. Its just a silly,
fun thing, he adds. Youd be surprised how
practical it is and its cheap to run too says
Jason. There are loads of places to put stuff,
despite it being so small I can get everything
I want in there and it barely uses any fuel, you
can fill it up for about 20.
Plenty of people would have been happy
just to have taken a battered, beaten Bug
and returned it to the road but the Heather
brothers went further, creating something even
more fun than the original. RC
ENGINE: 848cc, in-line four, OHV.

TRANSMISSION: Standard
four-speed manual
SUSPENSION: Standard Reliant Fox
BRAKES: Mini 8.4 discs front, Mini
drums rear
WHEELS AND TYRES: 13x7 Minilites
with 175/50 Yokohama A539 tyres
specification
Dr Tom Karen gave it his approval and it won

the award for Best Modded Bug, says Jason.
Its won that twice since, he adds, grinning.
While Jason continues to show the Bug,
Anthony is happier in the yard, working on
other projects. Shows dont do a lot for me, Id
rather be at home building the next car, he says.
Everything I know is self-taught, paintwork,
mechanics, interior the lot. I dont think theres
any substitute for experience, notes Anthony. I
wanted to create a more modern version of the
Bug using the skills I had. I think Ive succeeded.
Thanks to being able to tackle the project
between the two of them, Anthony estimates
the entire project, including buying the car has
cost somewhere around the 2500 mark, which
for a Bond Bug is cheap. If you added in the
INTERIOR: Standard, original spec

Bug seats. Custom gauges. Quick
release door panels and custom
internal canopy hinges
EXTERIOR: Custom four-wheel
Bond Bug with self-fabricated arches
and front and rear bumpers. Body
resprayed in Ford Signal Orange with
metallic flake
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RT
IS
AN ASCONA BY ANY OTHER NAME
hether you need a car for pleasure or business driving,

according to Vauxhall the Cavalier provides both.
Too right we say, the MkI Cavalier was an excellent
all-rounder with, down-to-earth economy, stylish
aerodynamic good looks and sheer room. Though it always seemed to
play second fiddle in sales terms, to Fords MkIII Cortina.
12 RETRO CARS
Whether you were after luxury, basic motoring or sporty performance,

the Cavalier line-up gave you it all. GL or Grand Luxury gave you plush
velour and excellent instrumentation plus a choice of Opels 1.6- or
1.9-litre CIH engines, while the L model was aimed squarely at the fleet
market. There was also of course the coupe and sport hatch versions that
shared much of their DNA with the Manta, cracking! RC
IN
Moto-Lita Ltd., Thruxton Industrial Estate

Thruxton Airport, Andover, SP11 8PW
Tel: 01264 772811
Email: info@moto-lita.co.uk
Please call for a catalogue or visit us
9am-4pm Mon-Thurs,
9am-12 noon Friday
FRONT WINGS
Each
A30 / A35 / A40 / Allegro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
A55 Farina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102.90
A60 Farina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93.45
A55 / A60 Van & Pickup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102.90
Alfasud & Sprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Alpine Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111.75
Anglia 100E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94.50
Anglia 105E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Anglia / Popular E93A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Avenger Mk 1 & 2, Imp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Bedford CF Mk 1 & 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
BMC 1100 / 1300 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
BMC 1800 Mk 1 & 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102.90
Capri Mk 1 RS 3100 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .109.50
Capri Mk 1 / 2 / 3, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93.80
Cavalier / Chevette / Carlton . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Celica TA 22 / 23 / RA28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102.90
Consul Mk 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110.25
Cortina Mk 1 /2 / 3 / 4 / 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Dolomite / Toledo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Escort Mk 1 / 2 / 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Escort Mk 1 Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94.25
Escort Mk 1+ Works (Bubble) Arch . . . . . . . .103.15
Fiat X19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .97.30
Granada Mk 1 & 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94.50
Hunter / Horizon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93.45
Jaguar XJ6 series 1, 2 & 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .122.00
Lancia Beta Saloon / Coupe . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Lancia Monte Carlo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94.50
Lancia Gamma . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120.75
MGA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113.90
Marina / Ital / Maxi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Manta B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Mazda RX7 Mk 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95.30
MG TF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116.95
MGB and GT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108.25
Midget / Sprite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102.75
Minx Series 1-5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Morris 1000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78.75
Rapier -68 on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93.45
Renault 15 / 16 / 17 / Fuego . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99.75
Rover 2000 P6 / SDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94.50
Rover P4, P5, P5B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147.00
Saab 95, 96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Samba . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Scirocco Mk 1 / 2 / Golf Mk 1 . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Simca 1000 / 1100 / 1301 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Sunbeam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
TR 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101.60
Toyota MR2 Mk 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126.00
Transit Mk 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110.25
Transit Mk 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Triumph 2000 Mk 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94.50
Vauxhall Cresta PB / Royale . . . . . . . . . . . . .104.90
Victor FB, FD, FE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94.40
Viva HA, HB, HC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Volvo 120, 144, 145, 240 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95.50

Westminster 110 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126.00
Wolseley 1500 / Riley 1.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Wolseley 16/60, Riley 4/72 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102.90
Zephyr Mk 2 / 3 / 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115.50
REAR WINGS
Anglia / Popuar E93A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78.90

MG TF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116.85
MGA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .94.50
Morris 1000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63.00
Morris Traveller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52.00
Rover P5, P5B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103.15
Rover P6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107.95
Saab 95, 96 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.00
Spitfire Mk 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63.40
TR 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101.60
BONNETS With interior frame
Anglia 100E / 105E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141.75

Bedford CF early . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147.00
Capri Mk 1 / 2 / 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .186.90
Cortina Mk 1 & 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .168.90
Escort Mk 1 / 2 / 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141.75
Escort Mk 4 RS Tubo (with vents) . . . . . . . . .169.30
Fiesta Mk 1 & 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143.75
Golf Mk 1 & 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .156.00
MGB RV8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189.65
MGB & C / Midget/Sprite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157.50
Peugeot 106 / 205 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .168.00
Sierra Mk 1 Cosworth (with vents) . . . . . . . .197.95
TR 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189.00
Transit Mk 1 Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .157.50
Transit Mk 1 Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141.75
BODY KITS
Ascona 400 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .620.00

BMW M3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,365.00
BMW E30 M Tec 1982-1990 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .725.00
Capri Mk 1 Broadspeed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,000.00
Capri Mk 2 & 3 X pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .700.00
Capri Mk 2 & 3 Cartel / Profile . . . . . . . . . . . .590.00
Chevette HS Group 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .380.00
Chevette HSR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .995.00
Escort Mk 3 Turbo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .505.00
Escort Mk 2 X pack
From . . . . . . . . . .450.00
RS 2000 to RS 2001
From . . . . . . . . . . .470.00
Escort Mk Cosworth style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .980.00
Fiesta Mk 1 X pack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .400.00
Fiesta Mk 1 XR2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .295.00
Fiesta Mk 2 XR2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .405.00
Fiesta Mk 2 Wide Arch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .915.00
Fiesta Mk 3 Turbo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .610.00
Manta 400
From . . . . . . . . . . . . .755.00
Metro 6R4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,575.00
MGB Sebring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .545.00
Sierra X pack to 87 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .670.00
metex
car covers
FRONT VALANCE
100E Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106.80

105E Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204.75
Capri Mk 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59.60
Capri Mk 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79.80
Capri Mk 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95.45
Cortina Mk 1 Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .204.75
Cortina Mk 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75.95
Granada Mk1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72.95
Herald / Vitesse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49.50
Morris 1000 Bumper Valance . . . . . . . . . . . . .37.80
MGA / MGB / MGC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42.60
MGB / MGC Sebring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73.10
Riley 1.5 front panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173.25
Spitfire Mk 1 / 2 / 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49.25
Spitfire Mk 4 each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43.00
Transit Mk 1 Diesel Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . .203.15
Wolseley 1500 front panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173.25
Volvo 120 Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155.00
Zephyr Mk 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77.95
REAR VALANCE
Anglia 105E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37.00

Cortina Mk2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42.70
Morris 1000 Bumper / Valance . . . . . . . . . . . .37.80
BOOT LIDS with interior frame
Anglia 105E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127.60

A40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98.70
Capri Mk 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .136.50
Capri Mk 1 with spoiler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178.50
Capri Mk 2 & 3 Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .182.10
Cortina Mk 1 & 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132.85
Escort Mk 1 & 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141.75
Escort Mk 2 with RS spoiler . . . . . . . . . . . . . .176.95
Golf Mk 1 & 2 Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150.00
Hillman Imp (front) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .164.85
MGB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128.10
MGB GT Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .155.00
Midget / Sprite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90.20
Morris 1000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99.85
Peugeot 106 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .150.25
Spitfire Mk 1 / 2 / 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100.40
Spitfire Mk 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115.65
THE BEST PROTECTION FOR GARAGED CARS
THE FLEECY SOFT FABRIC OF A METEX CAR DUST COVER WILL

GUARANTEE TO KEEP YOUR GARAGED CAR FREE FROM DUST
AND DAMPNESS.
EASY TO USE, THE COVER SIMPLY DRAPES OVER YOUR CAR
COVERING IT COMPLETELY.
WE COVER ALL MAKES, MODELS AND SIZE OF CARS.
EXAMPLE CAR COVER SIZE, E-TYPE JAGUAR 18ft X 11ft.
CUSTOMISE
TH
YOUR COVER WIR
A LARGE CA
EM
EMBL
JUST 9.95
WING EXTENSIONS
Capri Mk 1 RS 3100 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83.50

Capri Mk 1 Bubble (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110.25
Capri Mk 1 Cologne (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .310.00
Escort Mk 1 Mexico front (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . .43.25
Escort Mk 1 Mexico rear (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43.25
Escort Mk 1 Works (4) (Bubble) . . . . . . . . . .110.25
Escort Mk 2 (4)
From . . . . . . . . . . . .110.25
Fiesta Mk1 & 2 Rally Arches (4) . . . . . . . . . . .128.25
Rover SDI (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134.00
Sierra Mk 1 Cosworth (3 door) (4) . . . . . . . .235.00
Sierra Mk 1/2 Cosworth (5door) (4) . . . . . . . .270.00
Sunbeam GP4 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119.70
1 wing 10.25, 2 wings 11.50, Bonnet or boot 15.00, Bodykits 45.00
2015
from only
37.50
Postage cost 7.50 per order
Phone now with your order: 01254 704625

or order online at: www.cardustcovers.co.uk
news
72 TOYOTA CORONA FOR SALE
s those who have frequented the Retrorides forum for a few

years will no doubt know, Simon Baldwin (hongkongphooey)
was a prominent member who tragically passed away behind
the wheel of his TA22 Celica in 2011.
Si was an avid collector of rare and Japanese cars, having a number
of stunning builds on the go at any one time. A Lancia Beta Spyder,
Datsun 180B Wagon, a TA22 Celica and a 1972 Toyota Corona were
just some of the four-wheeled steel highlights that passed through
his garage. All of these cars receiving the magic touch during his
ownership, going from rare to awesome in the process.
Simons cars were always modified with a serious attention to detail
and a huge amount of care. All the work was done right first time and
the results speak for themselves.
His build threads were popular and drew many admirers, one
ARP BOLTS FOR RB26
Fastener technology experts ARP has just released a new Pro Series
Harmonic Balancer Bolt Kit for Nissan 2.6L (RB26) applications.
Each kit includes one 8740 Pro Series (M18 x 3.500) bolt
that is nominally rated at 200,000 psi tensile strength, one 8740
chamfered washer and a 1/2 oz. pack of ARP Ultra-Torque
fastener assembly lubricant.
ARP bolts are cold forged to ensure molecular integrity; heat
treated prior to thread rolling and machining and are designed to
exceed the OEM fasteners in both strength and durability.
ARP products are widely available from appointed distributors
throughout Europe.For further information visit: www.arp-bolts.com
14 RETRO CARS
of whom is Retro Cars photographer Chris Frosin. A massive

inspiration to me in my earlier years and the reason I was brave
enough to tackle a lot of my projects, including my Galant. Hes
sorely missed, Chris admits.
One of Simons final projects was a 72 MkII Toyota Corona (build
thread: http://retrorides.proboards.com/thread/54121) that was
converted by Simon to run a bike-carb fed Toyota 18RG engine. The
car has been kept dry stored since a selection of Retrorides forum
members and friends of Simons came to finish the car in his honour.
Simons widow Rebecca Baldwin is looking for a good home for
the Corona thats sporting bronze SSR wheels, pristine bodywork and
interior and that nice pokey new engine. So if youre interested she can
be reached at beccibaldwin@btinternet.com or on tel: 07788 374479.
Offers around 9000 are being considered.
TAILORED INDOOR CAR COVER
With winter on the way youre no doubt thinking of putting your car away
again, so why not properly care for it with a new fitted car cover?
Those knowledgeable ladies and gents at Richbrook (www.
richbrook.co.uk) have a tailored range of car covers that are
specifically designed to hug your model of retro car.
These covers are guaranteed to fit correctly first time and are made
from super soft lycra-blended satin that protects the cars paint and
clings while still breathing.
It stops moisture being trapped against the paintwork and will
allow the body to remain dust and scratch free for its hibernation. At
129 its also a cost effective way to leave your car stored and with
piece of mind. For more information visit: www.richbrook.co.uk
FROST RESTORATION PRODUCTS
Frost Auto Restoration has a huge range of specialist and high quality
automotive tools and equipment for any Petrolhead.
Frost offers an outstanding choice of automotive tools &
equipment for the car restorer, competitor and craftsman, including;
painting, electroplating, rust removal, polishing, bodywork, additives
and much more.
Some new products for this autumn/winter include a dashboard
filler thats formulated from special polyester resin to increase
adhesion to vinyl and other plastic substrates. This filler is designed
for padded dash repairs since the sanding is normally done by hand.
This product is easy to use and costs just 23.40.
Another new item to get your car looking spot on for next
years show season is the Eastwood Plastic Bumper Restore &
Resurfacer - Matt Black Aerosol. Eastwoods Plastic Resurfacer
Aerosol will restore and resurface your plastics, and is claimed
to return these to their original luster. Not just another wipe-on
coating - this is designed as a permanent repair! This useful
product is available for 29.62. Visit:www.frost.co.uk for more
information on these and many more restoration products to keep
you out of trouble in the garage this autumn.
BLACKLINE PRO-IMPACT WRENCH
The last (but the flagship) of the current range of Blackline Power
Tools, this impact wrench is unusual in that it offers 450Nm to release
the most stubborn nut or bolt, but also tightens at 120Nm to avoid
over tightening or stripped threads.
The set includes two 4Ah lithium batteries, (16) sockets metric (1027mm) and Imperial (1/2-13/16) plus extension bar, all impact quality.
It also includes a 72-tooth hi-quality ratchet wrench and 72-tooth
extendable ratchet wrench when hand leverage is required.
A professional set, purpose designed for speedy impact work,
makes wheel changing much less effort and priced as a set at just
164.50+VAT its an essential addition to any workshop.
For more information or to order call: 01227 792792 or
visit: www.rallydesign.co.uk
@RETROCARSMAG
NOVEMBER 2015 15
product review
JL AUDIO
MBT-RX
BLUETOOTH
RECEIVER
FEATURES
A2DP AUDIO STREAMING
AUTO-RECONNECT
11M RANGE
TINY FOOTPRINT
Where do you keep your music? Im guessing

the days of having it all bursting out of your
glovebox are long gone. You see, in olden
times we used to have tons of these shiny
round discs littering our motors. They held
up to 15 songs a piece and, if you were a bit
posh, you might have spent a few quid on a 6,
or maybe a 10, disc changer too. With up to
150 tunes at the touch of a button you could

have quite rightly strutted round like Charlie Big
Potatoes but that was 10 years ago.
Yep, times have changed and all this seems a
little redundant now because, although we all still
have the odd CD knocking around, most of us
keep our entire music collections on our phones.
Thousands of songs, just a swipe away.
The problem is not everyone has a headunit

that will stream downloads from a mobile
device, and plugging one in with a 3.5mm AUX
jack-lead, well, thats so last Tuesday right?
Luckily, this is the 21st Century and there is a
better way young Padawan
Price: 44.99
www.jlaudio.co.uk
WHAT IT DOES
Is it a conventional audio product? Is it an out-and-out gadget?

Maybe its somewhere in between. What we know for sure though,
is this tiny box of tricks is as clever as it is simple. For just under
the measly sum of 45-quid it lets you stream you music, via
Bluetooth (3.0), to just about any system out there, even one that
doesnt have a headunit in the first place.
HOW IT DOES IT
Fitting is pretty easy, this one comes with a stereo pair of RCA
outputs that can be connected directly to your headunits AUX
inputs. From then on theres just 2 wires to hook up - an ignition
(switch) power live and a ground (earth) lead.
Pairing your device is even easier and, after youve done it once,
the MBT-RX will automatically reconnect every time its turned on
and in range. Thats a distinct lack of hassle right there!
16 RETRO CARS
BACK IN BLACKAND OTHER COLOURS

CLASSIC STREET, RETRO AND MODERN BESPOKE WHEELS. LIGHTWEIGHT, HEAT TREATED, RACE AND RALLY PROVEN.
Since
1973
sales@comp.co.uk www.compomotive.com
MO - performance ML - classic CXR - lightweight TH - timeless
LEATHER CARE &

REPAIR SPECIALISTS
68*;#8)>;"%"@ (# 8 ;*<$;% "8*!% (# /%8>?%" )/%8*<*!3

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After
Before
After
SCUFFS, SCRATCHES, RIPS, TEARS & BURNS

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BACK IN
TIME
All motoring icons of the silver screen
have a special place in the heart of the
petrolhead, but theres one undisputed
king, one with outrageous doors that
runs on household refuse, has a DMC
badge on its grille and a certain
time-travelling party piece
Words: John-Joe Vollans images: Chris Frosin
he futurists Mona Lisa is surely

a DMC-12 given the time travel
treatment from Robert Zemeckis
landmark 1985 movie Back to the
Future. The cars gullwing doors,
brushed stainless-steel bodywork enhanced
with aircraft parts and neon lights, plus a
household blender sporting a Mr Fusion
badge. This time machine was, in hindsight,
a stroke of filmmaking genius with a DMC-12
as the perfect basis for a fourth-dimension
18 RETRO CARS
taxi. With a liberal dose of under-lighting

and smoke to hide its less than glamorous
edges, this DeLorean transfixed a generation of
cinema goers and remains the key reason for
the cars popularity today. But before we get
onto the story of one mans fascination with
the film and all things gadget, its well worth
delving into the history of the man who gave
the car its name
DeLorean. A name with so many
connotations. On his native US soil John
DeLorean was best known as an energetic

and forward-thinking executive at General
Motors. He climbed GMs management
ladder to the height of executive engineer in
charge of Pontiac by the age of 43. Yet those
who knew him tell of an outspoken critic
of GMs Detroit way of thinking, which
mired the company in the philosophy of the
previous century. Especially when it came to
green-lighting bold new projects or the firms
advertising campaigns. DeLorean wanted to
sell the public a dream, one which they didnt

even realise that they had wanted. His adverts
were more akin to modern perfume ads than
the staid old fact-spewing GM car commercials
of the day. He was selling a lifestyle and an
aspiration, there was no room for economy
or horsepower figures in Johns commercials.
He mentioned that such facts were bullshit
and of little significance in the modern world.
Judging by modern car advertising, he seems
to have been spot on.
@RETROCARSMAG
Feeling disenfranchised with the American

car giant, DeLorean began sketching his
idea of a revolutionary new sports car in his
spare time, a car design that looked toward
the future. As early as the late sixties he was
penning engineering designs for what would
eventually emerge as the DMC-12. He left
GM in 1973 to form the DeLorean Motor
Company and by the middle of the decade
had commissioned a prototype called the DSV
(DeLorean Safety Vehicle). This was designed
by Ital, whose master stylist Giorgetto

Giugiaro added his unique flair. Mechanical
components were all bought in from other
manufacturers including the PRV (Peugeot,
Renault, Volvo) co-developed V6 engine and
Renault transaxle.
It wasnt until the early-eighties however, that
John DeLorean finally found the means to meet
his ends. His car was largely ready (in concept
at least) but there was nowhere to actually
build it. Knowing that his home country was
NOVEMBER 2015 19
likely to kill off his dream with red tape before

it was even born, and no doubt wanting to
avoid entanglements with former colleagues,
DeLorean looked overseas to make his dream a
reality. Europe offered the best bet with a long
history of creating cars and more specifically
sports cars. The UK provided an even more
appealing prospect as the government offered
foreign investors financial incentives to build
new factories in deprived areas.
One such area was Dunmurry near Belfast in
Northern Ireland. Due to decades of sectarian
violence, the area was badly impoverished.
The height of The Troubles was less than a
decade before, but DeLorean wasnt fazed. The
area was still hugely dangerous and would
be akin to Jaguar setting up a new factory in
Iraq today to build an entirely new sports car
with totally untrained staff. However, this is
exactly what happened. With around a 100
million incentive from the Northern Ireland
Development Agency and with Renault
contracted to build its new factory, the first
DMC-12 or DeLorean as everyone quickly
referred to it, rolled out of Dunmurry in
January 81. The euphoria in Northern Ireland
caused by this beacon of hope and pride made
the inevitable collapse of the company all the
harder to bear for the locals.
So why did this space age dream car go so

wrong? Firstly and most importantly the DMC12 was under the skin a rather underwhelming
sports car. Its V6 engine made a flaccid 130bhp
(in a car that weighed 1244kg) allowing for
just 130mph top speed and a 0-60mph time of
9.6 seconds. Put in context, that meant that a
DeLoreans performance was basically the same
as a hot hatch, but its styling and marketing
attempted to place it squarely within the realms
of the super car. A Lotus Esprit Turbo, which
is the closest the car had to a competitor (and
shared some mechanical DNA), would get to
60mph in just under 6 seconds and top out at
over 150mph, and many complained that even
the Esprit wasnt quick enough!
Add to the lazy performance the fact that
the car was put together at lightening pace
by a staff that werent adequately trained, or
indeed had any history of car manufacture
and very little quality control... the vultures
began to circle. Quality issues were rife in fact
and early cars even had to be refinished once
they got to their dealerships in the US as they
were so bad! Some didnt even run properly!
Admittedly this was improved later in 81
but by that time it was too late and certain
uncomfortable questions started being asked
about the companys finances. Why had it
taken nearly ten years from the formation

of the DeLorean Motor Company to the first
cars actually being made? More worrying was
the growing rumblings of fraud.
When the DeLorean motor company
went belly up, just two years after making
its first DMC-12, John DeLorean had taken
80million from the UK government and
owed $175million to the US. He was also
caught in Los Angeles in an FBI sting in 82
trying to sell 12million worth of cocaine.
Despite his dream of bringing a new sports
car to the world (just under 9000 DMC-12s
were ever built), sadly Mr DeLoreans lasting
impression is that of a conman, felt most
acutely to this day in Northern Ireland by his
former workers, who were desperate to cling to
the hope he seemed to offer them
That wasnt the end of the DeLorean story
however. In spite of the deplorable exploits of
the man who gave his name to the company,
the reputation of the car he created was
thrown a lifeline in 1985 when a Hollywood
movie cast a DMC-12 in a lead role. Back to
the Future needs very little introduction and if
you havent seen it (all three of you out there)
I suggest you put this down, watch it, and then
come back, as the rest of this feature will make
no sense if you dont!
The euphoria in Northern Ireland caused by this beacon of hope and pride made
the inevitable collapse of the company all the harder to bear for the locals.
20 RETRO CARS
A FUTURE FETISH
Some of you might have already recognised
the owner of this DMC-12 as none other than
Gadget Show host Jason Bradbury. For those
of you who arent familiar with the Gadget
Show, its basically a programme devoted to
testing and showcasing all of the worlds latest
consumer tech goodies. Jason is one of the
original presenters of the show, which used to
be broadcast on Channel 5, and also featured
Jon Bentley and Suzie Perry as co-presenters.
Over the years working on the Show Jason
acquired hundreds of contacts in the field of
tech. So when he came to launching his new
business venture, Futureholic (www.futureholic.
com), these contacts became invaluable. The
idea behind Futureholic is to offer a unique
corporate experience with vehicles, props and
costumes that create a flavour of the movies or
the future. For their first venture Jason and his
business partner Darren Harris needed a vehicle
that stood out, was instantly recognisable and
put across the firms message.
Try and think of any car, classic or
modern, that will draw more of a crowd
than a DeLorean time machine, challenges
Jason when we met up for this photoshoot
at Twickenham Film Studio (www.
twickenhamstudios.com). Hes right you
know We were really struggling to think of
a super car or a classic, or even a race car, that
would strike a louder chord with the general
public than a DMC-12 sporting a Mr Fusion.
@RETROCARSMAG
NOVEMBER 2015 21
I went through Soho the other evening and

I had to get out of the car and ask people to
move out of the way, because so many of them
were crowding around the car. There was a row
of cars behind us beeping!
This isnt just a car to most people its
about their lives. It links parents to their kids
and transcends the generations. When I was
watching the movie for the first time I really
believed the messages about the future that
it was extolling, I still want a hoverboard.
Its a movie thats golden in the memory
of the generation that saw it in the cinema
and at home on VHS. None of the stars
were disgraced in later life or had cocaine
addictions etc. the whole message from the
film was positive.
Lets go back in time a little (excuse the
pun) and find out how this DeLorean came
to be in Jason and Darrens possession in
the first place. Luke, a friend of Jasons saw
the car for sale near Dunmurry, Northern
Ireland (the town where the old DeLorean
factory used to be) with just 12,000 miles
on the clock, it had been really well looked
after, recalls Darren. The car was in perfect
condition and we were about to cut into it

and make a time machine, which was a bit
daunting! Mechanically though it remains
pretty stock, with only a slight suspension
upgrade needed to cope with the extra weight.
We had Nigel at KMF Engineering in Stoke
do the fabrication work, they have a lot of
young apprentices (they do the apprentice of
the year awards in fact) and Jason helps them
out, hes known them for a long time. Anyway,
weve got some photos of the kids working on
the car doing some of the welding and they
were all really happy to be involved and learn
skills at the same time.
It takes some vision and trust to deliver an
expensive and appreciating classic sports car
to a bunch of apprentice engineers and ask
them to hack into it to make a time machine.
But thats exactly what Jason and Darren did,
albeit with project supervisors and a certain
Back to the Future fanatic who ensured
everything was as authentic as possible.
Luke Brynycz was our resident DeLorean
expert, continues Jason. He works in IT but
owned one of the most accurate Back to the
Future replica DeLoreans a few years ago. Hed
built it himself and went to ludicrous lengths

pouring over all of the photos to ensure that
every last wire was the correct colour and in
the right place. Id already met him and knew
hed been invaluable and after he sold his
replica he was dead keen to be involved in
producing another, which was fortunate for us
as thats what we asked him to help us do.
So you might imagine that all of this took
place over the course of several years, or at
least a few seasons, but no The car was
built in just three months; we really nailed
it there was no down time! Darren smirks
while he says this, but its a smile of pride and
an admission of the lunacy of the project.
There was a lot of work needed behind the
scenes; sourcing parts and running down
leads. Jason was always online or on the
phone to prop makers and fabricators from
the US, who were involved originally with the
film cars. Those green cylinders for example
on the rear sides of our DeLorean are from
US, Cobra gunship landing gear. Thats what
they used for the film! Theres an alarm clock
we need to still fit that was made in Germany,
and I remember the compass was really
I went through Soho

the other evening and
I had to get out of the
car and ask people
to move out of
the way
22 RETRO CARS
hard to track down. Its a US item that has a

specific light and Jason spent days trawling
eBay to find the exact model from the eighties
and one night he got it.
When were talking authenticity with a
famous prop car like this its a relative scale.
Some people will make it look there or
thereabouts and be satisfied, but this replica
was taken to a much higher level. To the extent
of tracking down actual parts fitted to the real
Back to the Future cars. The car that I would
say is the best point of reference now is one
that was sanctioned by Universal itself to be
renovated, admits Jason. We actually bid on
a part of one of the original cars on Kickstarter
that were going to mount in the car at some
stage. The A car as its known that was used in
the film, took five guys a year to build
For Jason especially, this replica had to be
perfect in every detail. The capacitors on the
back for example, are the correct ones from the
A car. An aviation warehouse in the States was
contacted and carefully discharged them (as
capacitors can give you a nasty shock) before
shipping them to us. The colour is the correct
pantone blue and even the wiring to them
@RETROCARSMAG
has been wound exactly 14 times and is of the

right diameter as it was on the movie car.
The attention to detail on this replica
has become an obsession for Jason and the
team. Each of the cable ties you see is in the
exact position they should be, as is all of the
electrical tape. Every wire that you see has
been colour coded correctly so that the right
wire is at the top of each bundle. Its been
done so that its movie perfect. At every step
we referenced back to the A car and a selection
of images that were made available to us from
the actual cars used in the movie.
At this point its worth remembering that
this car is still road legal and is regularly
driven by both the boys to and from events.
The first time I ever drove the car was after
wed had it for three months and wed just
got it back from having the Back to the Future
conversion, reminisces Jason. It was back
stage at Gadget Show Live, there was about
50 crew members around me, the car had
been delivered on the back of the trailer
and I needed to drive it up onto the stage.
There were only a couple of inches to spare
either side of a ramp to drive it on to a stage-
mounted rotisserie. I wasnt even sure if it was

going to start! In the end it just started and
drove on without any dramas and its been
reliable ever since.
You might think that with a car that looks
this accurate and fantastic the boys have
fulfilled their goal and made the car as good as
it can be. Weve got some more bits to source
and fit soon like some speakers to mount in
the doors for the opening and closing sound
effects. Theres also another console to go
above the driver in the roof, reveals Darren.
Were proud of the whole project and
its a great flagship for our new company
Futureholic (www.futureholic.com). The car
was our catalyst for the events were now
setting up. In the last week we used it as a prop
for an outdoor filming of Back to the Future
for a company, whos staff didnt even know
it would be there! The DeLorean has allowed
us to realise how to actually implement a
project. Moving on now were thinking a lot
bigger and want to make new vehicles, electric
vehicles, caravans as mobile games platforms
etc. There are a lot of plans We cant wait to
see what these guys build next! RC
NOVEMBER 2015 23
THE ITALIAN JOB

No, your eyes do not deceive you those are Rover badges stuck to this slinky
Italian coup. So what is it, and where did it come from?
Words: Daniel Bevis images: Chris Frosin
@RETROCARSMAG
NOVEMBER 2015 25
heres a reasonably short list of

names that will be forever heralded
as the grand council of motoring
excellence a group of artists,
engineers and design houses who
have ultimately shaped the progression of
automotive evolution since they first put
pencil to paper, or hammer to sheet-steel. It
includes Pininfarina and Issigonis. Gandini.
Chapman. Touring. Tjaarda. Some styling
firms, some individuals, but all contributing to
the greater good of motoring. And for those of
a more offbeat persuasion, theres none greater
than Zagato.
This is a styling house with many hits (and
a few misses) in its back catalogue. Whether
you prefer the slippery curves of an Alfa
Romeo TZ1 or the brutal right-angles of the
later SZ; the rebodied Delta Integrale that they
named Hyena or the incomparable beauty of
26 RETRO CARS
their take on the Aston Martin DB4 GT, theres

something about the fabled Z badge that
flicks your switch. We can be pretty confident
about that.
One Zagato product that you may not be
aware of, however, is the rather wonderful
little wedge you see before you today the
Rover TCZ. Not that wed blame you for the
blank spot in your knowledge, of course. This
is rare fruit indeed.
The idea was spawned in the mid-1960s,
with Rovers designers getting all excitable
about the performance potential of both
the 2000TC and the groups new V8 engine,
and wanting to create something low-slung
and slinky to shoehorn the sporty motors
into. A couple of designs were roughed out;
one by in-house pensmith David Bache, the
other by Carrozzeria Zagato, and it was the
latter that really piqued Rovers interest. A
prototype of the stillborn 2000S project was

duly shipped to Milan in 66 in order for the
legendary stylists to tear it down and get stuck
in, with the result being the outlandish fusion
of Lancia-esque angles and P6 accents thats
flexing here for Frosins lens.
The stately P6 was a solid old barge, so it
caused little concern to chop the roof structure
about to create a lower, more swooping profile,
while the combination of low nose and
Kamm tail fed neatly into the exotica-besotted
aspirations of the age; remove the Rover
badges, and this could have come from any
one of a number of Italian sketchbooks the
legendary hand of Ercole Spada ensured that
the proportions were utterly sublime. But it
was practical as much as it was alluring; that
squared-off backside allowed the spare wheel
to sit upright behind a service hatch, while
Zagatos tradition of not having an exterior
A couple of designs were roughed out; one by in-house pensmith David Bache, the
other by Carrozzeria Zagato, and it was the latter that really piqued Rovers interest.
handle for a tailgate led to a rather neat design
solution the rear hatch opens a sliver via an
electric motor, allowing easy lifting, but also
letting it sit slightly open (as can be seen in the
photos) to aid airflow ventilation. Cunning.
Combine this sort of solution-oriented thinking
with the luscious seats from a Lancia Flavia,
and you find yourself with a genuinely usable
and quite plush little coup. Surely theres no
way this venture could fail?
Well, it did, obviously thats why you
havent seen one before. But well come to that
first, lets explore some more of the TCZs
manifold virtues. Losing 9 of length and 5
of height meant that Zagatos remodel saved
a whopping 200kg over the kerb weight of a
@RETROCARSMAG
stock P6, which made for a rather sprightly

thing thanks to the poke of that twin-carbed
motor. It should have a 2000S engine with
twin SU HD8 carburettors, as FXC 206C was
one of fifteen development mules built in
1965, says John Hamshere, the man with the
keys in his pocket. However, when it returned
to England, Rover decided at some stage
to fit a new engine, most likely for the 67
Earls Court Motor Show its unclear exactly
which engine, although its thought to be a
late 2000TC unit. The HD8s were changed by
Zagato to fit two DellOrtos under the new
bonnet line, and then at some point they were
changed back to a pair of smaller SU HIF6s
that fitted better under the lower nose.
The eager thrust was backed up in spades

by the award-winning handling of the Rover
base it was the famed de Dion rear setup
that helped the P6 win European Car of the
Year in 1964 and Dunlop disc brakes and
Pirelli Cinturatos helped complete a package
as competent as it was eye-catching.
Its generally, and erroneously, assumed
that the wheels are Rostyles, John explains,
but in fact theyre Magnums. The 2000S
prototypes wore wire wheels, which Zagato
swapped for standard P6 disc wheels. But just
before the Earls Court show, Rover fitted the
Magnums these are American-made wheels
that were used on a batch of around 200 P6
export models destined for the USA. The fact
NOVEMBER 2015 27
that they were shod with racy Pirellis helped

the cars PR effort as well Pirelli themselves
used the car as a promo vehicle in 1968,
with it being photographed by their calendar
snapper Harri Peccinotti.
The ardent Rover-spotters among you may
by this point be scratching your heads trying
to figure out just what on Earth is going on
with the interior. Theres quite a lot of original
P6 in there the switchgear, parts of the dash,
the air vents but wheres the traditional
ribbon speedo? The answer, unexpectedly, is
that the dials came from a Humber Sceptre.
Why? Well, they just look right, dont they?
Unfortunately for the TCZ, Rover ultimately
werent all that keen on putting any effort into
spiriting the prototype into production reality.
A number of factors came into play when the
finished concept made its way back to Solihull;
first of all, they just didnt have enough factory
space. Furthermore, it represented quite a lot of
28 RETRO CARS
financial outlay. The British Leyland merger was

hovering on the horizon and a key sticking
point for management it did look quite a lot
like the Lancia Fulvia Sport. Its telling, if not
all that surprising, that the cars appearance at
Earls Court was on the Zagato stand rather than
the Rover one.
So if this was a one-off exercise that led to a
dead-end, how is it that were able to play with
it today? It was put up for sale in 1968, with
Neil Murray at Seagrave Road being tasked to
effectively make a road car from the show car
for its new owner, Tony Yell, says John. He
paid 2,850 for it, and having been reimported
it was given the registration PBC 2G. It was
later sold by Christies in 1977 to a Buckler fan
named Peter Silverthorne, who I visited at one
point as a Zagato enthusiast and owner; some
years later it became available at David Howard
Cars, and I felt it was a unique opportunity to
acquire a stunning Zagato one-off.
According to the excellent James Taylor

book Rover P6 1963-1977, the job of
converting show car to road car was not
as easy as Neil Murray may have hoped.
Taylor cites a letter printed in Sporting Cars
magazine in 1982, when Murray relates
with some despair that we soon found its
beauty was only skin-deep. It was a typical
coachbuilders exercise and not meant to
be used the tail was cut off with what
may have been a cold chisel, the fuel tank
was a joke, the car leaked like a sieve. We
did our best with it. There may be a certain
amount of modesty at play here, as the car
is a stunning thing to behold, and is now
genuinely usable too. We first caught up with
it at Salon Priv in summer 2014, where John
had entered it into the Zagato class. Hes
enthusiastic about the driving experience:
The Zagato bodywork makes it tight and
compact, with greater and firmer cornering
@RETROCARSMAG
online appear to be different cars there is

just one. This one. And Johns tremendously
proud to be its latest curator.
It always draws a lot of attention, he
grins. People are forever asking me about its
background; they cant believe that its really
a Rover, and are amazed that it didnt go into
production. On the drive-past at Salon Priv,
several of the judges shouted Bravo!, and
Andrea Zagato himself was rather pleased
to see the car there, remembering being
photographed with the car back when he was
nine years old!
When John became the newest owner of the
TCZ, he wasnt just buying a unique slice of
British motoring history and Italian coachbuilt
design. He was buying a lifestyle, a revered
subterranean icon, and much like the owner of
a Canaletto or a First Folio, its not something
he can simply keep to himself it needs to be
displayed, shared, enjoyed on a broad scale.
And this is a duty that he doesnt shirk from.

I need to return it to Italy one day, to meet its
designer Ercole Spada, he says -and you can be
sure that he wont be doing that on the back of
a trailer; the TCZs grand tourer credentials are
safe with John. There may only be one, but its
fulfilling its destiny with gusto. RC
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION: 1,978cc
2000TC four-cylinder (see text), twin
SU HIF6 carburettors, Rover 4-speed
synchromesh box
specification
flatter, and better. This was a company that

knew how to change a four-door saloon into
a sporting machine it will out-accelerate,
out-handle, and drive in greater superiority
to a standard P6. Zagato are exemplary
at designing not just stylish bodies, but
panelwork that fits tightly to the structure of
the car, nips the extremities, pares it back to
the essentials.
Its an ethereal thing, this TCZ, and
legendary among classic Rover pipe-smokers.
Rumours abound of sister cars, but the truth of
the matter is that there has only ever been one
Zagato-bodied P6 coup it originally wore
the number FXC 206C, then received PBC 2G
when it was reimported, swapping to SNP 12
with a new owner in the 1970s, then a further
change to YNP 851G, before reverting back
to the original number following a full and
sympathetic restoration in the early 1980s. So
that explains why any pictures you may find
CHASSIS: US-spec Magnum wheels w/

Pirelli Cinturatos, Dunlop disc brakes
(w/ inboard rears), independent front
suspension & de Dion rear
INTERIOR: P6 switchgear, centre
console, air vents & dash elements,
Humber Sceptre dials, Lancia Flavia
seats, Moto-Lita steering wheel
EXTERIOR: Unique Zagato bodywork,
designed by Ercole Spada
NOVEMBER 2015 29
Back in
Black
In the late 1950s, the Lister Jaguar Knobbly was a dominant and
unstoppable force in motor racing. And now, thanks to new ownership,
the original team can build you a brand new one
Words: Daniel Bevis images: Chris Frosin
here are an infinite number of stars

in the cosmos. Some shine brighter
than others, and the sheer weight of
mathematics means that those more
iridescent can wink out of existence
with just as much finality as any other. An
element of the scene becomes rather darker.
On December 16th 2014, Brian Lister
departed this earthly realm to carry on his
work in whatever place comes next. The
surname will probably be familiar to you; it
30 RETRO CARS
may conjure images of the brutal Lister Storm,

or the Jaguar XJ-S-based Lister Le Mans here
was a man who knew a thing or two about
winning races, and his legacy will continue
to represent those values as strongly as that
of Colin Chapman or any other star of the
engineer-racer classes.
Born in 1926, Brian Lister was apprenticed
to George Lister & Sons in 1942, and four
years later carried out his national service with
the RAF something that he hoped would
fuse his twin interests of engineering and jazz

music. He became a well-known drummer
in his band The Downbeats, and his love
for engineering naturally blossomed into a
passion for the motor car. Rejoining the family
firm in 1948, he found himself buying a string
of sporty little numbers Morgans, CooperMGs and so forth at a time when grass-roots
motorsport was in the ascendant in Britain.
Brian co-founded the Cambridge 50 Car Club
- a member of which was a diminutive Scot,
W.A. Archie Scott Brown; the two became

firm friends, sharing a mechanical advisor in
Donald Moore.
Meanwhile, back at the office race car
designer John Tojeiro was a customer of Lister
Engineering, and Brian bought the second
Tojeiro racer ever built, which he started to
enter in sprint events in 1951. He was almost
beaten by Scott Brown, and on Moores advice
handed the car over to Archie in order to
focus on being a constructor. Lister asked his
@RETROCARSMAG
father to fund development of a car bearing

the family name, and by the summer of 53 he
was building that car, with Moore providing
an MG engine, and Scott Brown behind the
wheel. The new Lister creation debuted at
Snetterton on April 3, 1954 and it won. To
put that into context, imagine entering the
Formula One World Championship today in
a car that youd built in your own workshop,
and taking a runaway victory on your first time
out! Incredible stuff.
The Brian-and-Archie show was just getting

started. The following week, Scott Brown had
his race licence revoked after other drivers
complained that he was dangerous he was
severely disabled from birth, having only one
hand and foreshortened legs but Lister stuck
by his friend, only using other drivers when
Archie couldnt race. All the while, the car was
evolving rapidly; a Bristol engine appeared,
then one from Maserati, but it was 1957s Lister
Jaguar Knobbly that really made history. The
NOVEMBER 2015 31
latest evolution won twelve of the fourteen races

it entered, setting either fastest lap or an outright
record on each occasion. This created huge
demand, and the car was put into production for
1958, offering customers a thoroughbred Jaguarpowered racer (or, for the American market, the
option of Chevrolet power).
At the 58 Easter Monday meeting at
Goodwood, Scott Brown tore past the works
Aston Martin DBR2 of Stirling Moss before
the first corner and kept him at bay for eight
laps until the Knobblys steering failed a rare
retirement, but an incredible achievement.
Tragically, though, Archie was killed in a crash
at Spa-Francorchamps later that year, and the
mourning Brian lost much momentum and
enthusiasm for the sport, ultimately winding
down his racing involvement. Nevertheless,
he remained actively involved in Lister
Engineering, as well as continuing to be a keen
musician, and he lived to see his racing vision
reborn in 2014.
You see, when a star burns out, it doesnt
actually fade to black. The resonance of the
universe allows its energy to continue to
sparkle, and thats just whats happening
with the car you see here - a brand new Lister
Knobbly, and a gloriously fitting tribute to
the man who conceived it.
Lister Cars, you see, was eventually sold

off in 1986, with new owner Laurence
Pearce subsequently masterminding the
aforementioned XJ-S project and, ultimately, the
Storm a supremely expensive road car (just
four were built), and a peculiar icon of Le Mans
history. All went quiet for a while, until the
surprising announcement in 2013 that the Lister
name, intellectual property and commercial
rights had been purchased by a company called
Warrantywise along with all of the drawings
and jigs for the Knobbly. And furthermore, their
plan was to do something with it all!
Fast-forward to 2014, and the company was
debuting the first of a limited run of ten brand
new Knobblys. And yes, that is phenomenally
efficient work. So, having caught up with
Warrantywise and Lister Cars owner Lawrence
Whittaker at Salon Priv concours, we had a
few questions for him
Retro Cars: We understand a number of
people who built the original Knobblys have
worked on these new cars. How many of the
old team have you enlisted?
Lawrence Whittaker: The main person
responsible for working on the car is
Graham Curley Hutton, who has worked at
George Lister Engineering since the 1960s;
hes assisted by Colin Chippy Crisp who
was an original team mechanic from 1958

onwards. Mark Hallam, Technical Director
at George Lister Engineering who has been
with the company since he was an apprentice,
coordinates the team. To continue the
expertise to a new generation of engineers,
Joe Rusty Peachy is apprentice engineer,
and theyre backed up by a team of skilled
engineers, welders and machinists at George
Lister Engineering.
RC: How difficult (or otherwise) was it to get
these new builds accepted for period racing?
LW: The cars for race use, built on the
continuation chassis numbers, can race
under the FIA/HTP Appendix K specification.
This applies to cars which are either original
competition cars, or built to exactly the same
specification as models with international
competition history complying with the
International rules of the period, so it gives a
lot of options.
RC: Have any of these new Knobblys
been specced for road use, or are they all for
competition and/or private collections?
LW: The majority of the cars have been
specified for race use, but certainly a couple
will end up in private collections. We also have
one car specced for road use the creation of
this one is a huge challenge for the team, as
The cars for race use, built on the continuation chassis numbers, can race
under the FIA/HTP Appendix K specification.
32 RETRO CARS
for road approval there are around eight pages

of modifications that need to be made!
RC: How quickly did this limited run of
Knobblys sell out?
LW: We sold out of the 60th Anniversary
Lister Knobbly Jaguars nine months after the
cars went on sale. The orders resulted in an
order book worth over 3,000,000 not bad
in our first year!
RC: Does this runaway success set a
precedent for future recreation models either
more Knobblys, or other models? For example,
if there were sufficient demand, would the
company consider resurrecting the Storm or
the XJ-S Le Mans?
LW: Yes, of course it does. We are working
hard to build the cars we already have on order.
We have plenty of ideas for a different limited
edition, all I can say is watch this space
RC: Aha, we guess youre talking about
the mooted 250mph V12 Lister hypercar
what can you tell us about that? What
stage of development is it at; have you
seen significant demand from potential
customers; do you see it sitting alongside a
Knobbly in collectors garages?
LW: Yes, we certainly see it appealing to
current Lister owners and as such its really
important that we keep to the company ethos
of power, speed, great handling and British
charm. We have some provisional drawings, but
to progress the process further we are seeking
additional external investment in the company.
@RETROCARSMAG
NOVEMBER 2015 33
34 RETRO CARS
lubrication and, naturally, a genuine D-Type

gearbox hanging off the back. Its good for
330bhp, a 0-60mph time of 4.3 seconds, and
a top whack of 181mph.
It takes over five hundred hours to
painstakingly hand-craft the aluminium
body panels for each new car, while the
tubular chassis also made on the original
jigs is crafted from the highest grade of
seamless steel, with all welding pressuretested, ensuring structural integrity that
the original cars couldnt have had. Further
contemporising the build, CNC machines
ensure 100 per cent accuracy for parts such as
wheel hubs and suspension components this
is, in all aspects, the ultimate Lister Jaguar. Old
school, new rules.
The price of this ultra-modern, yet periodperfect majesty? Thatll be 295,000 plus
VAT to you, squire. And you can add another
10k to that for the public road pack But
with all of that you get your Historic Racing
Passport, the option of having Tiff Needell
teach you how to drive it on track, and a direct
line into the very top flight of historic racing.
Sorry though, its only the cars that were
built in 2014 that wear the solid silver 60th
Anniversary plaque and theyve all sold out.
And will all of these shiny, pricey racers find
themselves acting as pampered baubles in the
garages of wealthy collectors? No, we suspect

not. These Knobblys have almost certainly
been bought by dyed-in-the-wool racing
aficionados. Theyll be used just as Brian Lister
would have wanted them to be. There is no
greater or more fitting tribute than that. RC
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION: 3,781cc
Jaguar D-Type straight-six, cast
iron block, wide-angle alloy head,
twin OHC high-lift race cams (110
duration), triple Weber DCO3 sandcast carbs, twin oil pumps, dry sump
w/ oil cooler, D-Type all-synchromesh
4-speed gearbox, triple-plate clutch,
Salisbury alloy-cased LSD 3.54:1.
330bhp, 295lb.ft
specification
RC: And going back to the new Knobbly,

what sort of feedback have you been getting
from customers?
LW: Weve not yet delivered the first car
[at time of interview], but we have received
excellent feedback on the build quality and
attention to detail from everyone whos seen
it, including eminent media and engineering
professionals. The best feedback to date was
from Brian Lister himself he was blown away
by the car, announcing that it was far better
than any of the cars they built in period, as
their motivation at the time was to produce
cars on strict deadlines for racing.
and that is inarguably the greatest
achievement of all; weeks before he died,
Brian inspected the first continuation
Knobbly and was delighted that the Lister
legend will live on. And rightly so, for it
is a formidable machine. Precision-built
using the original bucks and jigs, but
benefitting from an additional sixty years
of technological progress, the new-wave
Knobbly is the ultimate iteration of Brians
original concept, built with the time and
care it deserves. Power comes from the raceproven 3.8-litre Jaguar D-Type straight-six
(brand new units, that is, manufactured by
Crosthwaite & Gardiner), with its famous
wide-angle cylinder head, dry-sump
CHASSIS: 5x16 Dunlop Racing pegdrive alloys w/ knock-off spinners,

Dunlop Racing tyres (600x16 front,
650x16 rear), 3x16g seamless
engineering chassis tubes, rack &
pinion steering (2 turns lock-to-lock),
independent wishbones w/ coilovers
& anti-roll bar (front); De Dion w/
coilovers (rear), Girling 12 disc brakes
all round, mechanical handbrake
INTERIOR: Derrington 15 steering
wheel, leather-trimmed seats &
transmission tunnel, plumbed-in fire
extinguisher, bare aluminium panels
EXTERIOR: Hand-formed lightweight
aluminium alloy body, formed over
original Lister bucks
With over 34 years experience, we have

all the Classic car kit you need.
Weve been reproducing high quality, original specification classic car interior
trim since 1979. Morris Minor, Mini, Triumph, Mazda and VW are just some of the
marques we cater for, also supplying a huge amount of MG and Triumph TR trim
exclusively to the trade. From replacement sun visors to complete bespoke trim
kits, we make almost every imaginable item of soft trim that can go into your classic.
Why not visit our website or give our sales office a call to see how we can help?
For more informatiion call 01728 832 880 or visit www.newtoncomm.co.uk
REAL NOT MYTH

This is no mere replica, this is one of just three works
Imps that took part in the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally and
is still going strong today!
Words & images: Simon Cooke
ccording to popular superstition

- an imp is a mythological being
similar to a fairy or goblin,
frequently described in folklore.
But this Imp is most certainly
real our tale starts way back in the mid1960s. After a fruitless first year campaigning
the Imp with the normal 875cc engine, the
Rootes works team homologated the Rally
Imp as a Group 3 car for 1966. Badged as
Hillmans, Singers or Sunbeams, the Rally Imps
now boasted 998cc twin-carburetor engines
(able to produce 95bhp rather than 39bhp)
with servo-assisted brakes, albeit still drums
rather than discs (as regulations prevented
an upgrade) better engine cooling and
competition suspension.
In 1964 the Imps that were used in rallies
were basically standard MkI Imps that werent
powerful enough to win anything beyond
class level trophies. Rootes then hired a new
competition manager, Marcus Chambers, who
came over from BMC where hed managed
the department that had developed the Mini
Cooper S rally cars. Chambers was unhappy
with the Imps 875cc capacity. He was said
to have descried the displacement as a grave
handicap as it placed the car halfway between
the rarely used 750cc class and the 1000cc class.
Initially the engine developed 39bhp but it
would need at least another 30bhp in order to
be competitive. To make the car more powerful
a new 998cc engine was developed and first saw
use on the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally.
For the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally the team
built three new cars the one you see on
these very pages JDU 46E, 47E and 48E. Our
feature car was driven to 46th place overall and
runner-up in class by Peter Harper and Robin
36 RETRO CARS
Turvey on that fateful 67 Monte. Harper then

drove the car on the 1967 Tulip Rally where
he was again class runner-up and 10th overall.
Roy Fidler got his chance behind the wheel for
the Alpine Rally, but was forced to retire after
headgasket problems. Rootes Competition
Manager Des ODell used this Imp as a service
car for the Circuit of Ireland and Scottish Rally
later that year and toward the end of the 1967
season the car was prepped for Rosemary
Smith to enter the RAC Rally. Sadly the event
was cancelled at the last minute due to a foot
and mouth outbreak. This led to the birth
of Rallycross as an alternative event. It was
hastily arranged to replace the rally for the
TV cameras; and the car is still fitted with that
Rallycross engine today.
In 1968 the official works team withdrew
from the rally world, and its believed the
car was kept by the team as a service vehicle
before being sold off to a privateer. After that
there are huge blank spaces in the cars history
until last year when Mark Tudge enters the
picture. Up until last year Mark had only really
ever been a Mini fan, he still owns a 1964
Cooper S (another former race car) one of
only 25 John Cooper S works cars ever made.
His part in the continuing history of this Imp
starts when he was on holiday in Wales in
2013 and was flicking through the cars for
sale in a local paper; as you do. He noticed an
ex-works Imp for sale. The advert said it was
one of the three cars used on the 1967 Monte,
retained all its original features and was taxed
and MoTd, remembers Mark. It certainly
caught his attention!
I rang the seller and arranged to go and have
a closer look, said Mark. Id be lying if I said
Id always wanted to own an Imp; its really just
@RETROCARSMAG
NOVEMBER 2015 37
that I love ex-works cars, he continued. To

be honest if it was an ex-works anything that
had competed on the Monte Carlo I would
have been interested, as you rarely see cars like
this for sale, and certainly not at prices I can
afford! Mark wont say what he paid for the
car, but one of the sister cars sold at auction in
2008 for 20,000 and prices for cars like this
have rocketed up since then.
He was a very particular seller and I think
he was carrying out a sort of vetting process
on me to see if I was a suitable owner, Mark
recalls. Apparently hed owned this Imp for
over 20 years, having spotted it being used for
grass track racing and thought he recognised
the number plate; following some research to
confirm his suspicions he went back and made
an offer to the grass tracker that he couldnt
refuse. He also owned an ex-works Avenger
and was reluctantly selling the Imp because he
needed the garage space; a tough choice when
you own two such rare cars
After Id looked over the car and had a
short drive I had to persuade him to show me
all the paperwork and photos that went with
it, said Mark. His heart really wasnt in it
and I dont think hed ever shown people all
this stuff before because it was just for his eyes
only and nobody elses business. He struggled
38 RETRO CARS
specification
to understand what the appeal of this old

dented car was to me and couldnt really
appreciate its significance.
Mark offered to buy the car on the spot
and got turned down as the seller needed
time to think about whether Mark was a
suitable new owner. Some ten days later
Mark received the phone call to tell him
hed been approved and the seller said hed
drive the car down to Mark and then take
a train home again; Mark thinks that was
maybe to ensure his home was suitable!
Now Mark could really get up close
and personal with his new toy. Im pretty
experienced at looking over cars so I knew it

was sound anyway, he reveals. And Id done
a lot of research on the car since Id first seen
it and there were all sorts of clues that helped
to prove that it was the real deal. Its lovely to
drive, although it will never break any speed
records, though it sounds fantastic thanks
to an Aston Martin exhaust! he continued.
The gearchange is gorgeous and you cant
even tell that its on drums rather than discs,
plus the handling is superb. Its got a very
revy engine that will crank up to around
10,000rpm and when youre doing 60mph
its already halfway there at 5k.
ENGINE: Rootes Competition Department prepared all-alloy 998cc

engine/transmission package at the rear of the car canted over on
a 45-degree angle. Fitted with a high-lift overhead camshaft and
bored right out with re-sleeving to a bore of 72.5mm. Larger valves
and double valve springs with a compression ratio of 10.5 to 1 with
a stroke set at 60.4mm. Wells Rings fitted. Twin SU carburetors,
alternator conversion, twin Lucas ignition coils, external fitted air
scoops for improved direct air feed to the filter and hedgehog oil
cooler. Aston Martin exhaust system. Power: between 70-75bhp,
works front mounted alloy fuel tank with original wood dip fuel
gauge. Front mounted radiator to accompany the small rear header
tank joined by red painted water pipes running straight through the
inside of the car.
TRANSMISSION: Hewland Mk8 gearbox with the following gear
ratios: 1st - 3.16:1; 2nd - 2.00; 3rd - 1.50; top - 1.123 and a final drive
ratio of 4.43 to 1.
@RETROCARSMAG
And is there any comparison with his

Minis? They are both small and very agile
cars, he replies. The main difference of
course is that the Imp is rear-wheel drive with
the engine at the back so you still have the
power over the driven wheels, as you do with
the Mini at the front.
However despite these observations Mark is
the first to admit that hes not explored the cars
limits and is unlikely to ever do so; hes very
aware how rare it is and he doesnt want to end
up in a hedge, ditch or brick wall! As he points
out: A car can only be original once. Were not
sure we agree but at least its been saved. RC
CHASSIS: Brake drums front and back, with Ferodo VG95/1 anti-fade
linings, vacuum servos. Rootes uprated and strengthened competition
suspension springs and shock absorbers.
WHEELS/TYRES: 12 steel wheels with Dunlop SP44 radial
Weathermasters.
EXTERIOR: Fibreglass works bonnet and boot, Triplex heated
windscreen with large plastic anti-mist rear windows. Works close
fitting door mirrors, air scoops, 4 Lucas spotlights, original Rootes
advertisement stickers and competition roof rack. Stage check-in light.
INTERIOR: Smiths tachometer, Lotus Cortina calibrated Smiths speedo
and ancillary gauges in the works gauge cluster behind the steering
wheel. Full rollcage and harness. Halda Twinmaster, Smiths/Heuer
master time and stopwatch. Original fire extinguisher, spare wheel,
route holder with butler route and map light.
NOVEMBER 2015 39
MINOR
CELEBRITY
Colin Chapman never took it upon himself to craft a Lotus

Minor Twin-Cam pick-up. But its the sort of thing he
might have done
Words: Daniel Bevis images: Matt Woods
here are few figures in motoring

history that have caught the
imagination as broadly and
all-consumingly as Colin
Chapman. The Lotus founders
uncompromising approach to engineering
and development led to deserved success
and a firm fixture in the annals of internal
combustion lore, with his iconic badge acting
as a mark of quality on every slice of retro
quirkiness from cigar-tube F1 racers with
experimental aero stacks to wedge-shaped
40 RETRO CARS
1970s sports cars, via any number of tweaked

iterations of Fords, Sunbeams, and Vauxhalls.
His overarching ethos of simplify, then add
lightness has been adopted as the mantra
of countless hobbyists, engineers, backstreet
tuners and top-flight race outfits. After all, its
just common sense. And a question that raises
its head surprisingly often is What would have
happened if Chapman had decided to tune
one of these? its this line of thought that
leads to twin-cam 105E Anglias, Minis with
ingenious chassis mods, Coventry Climaxes
appearing in unexpected places and the

development and construction of this rather
unusual Morris Minor.
My vision was to have a vehicle that could
have been a factory alternative at the time of
production to the likes of the Lotus Cortina
or Escort Twin-Cam, explains owner Adam
Kent-Smith. On many occasions throughout
the build it was difficult not to go with
modern alternatives, but I remained loyal
to my vision of how it should look, and the
uniqueness offered by a Lotus Minor pick-up
that could have been a factory option at time

of manufacture Colin Chapman didnt make
a Lotus Minor pick-up, but if he did
Adams clarity of vision speaks for itself
really, and hes been incredibly fastidious
in his quest to only use period parts and
methods in the creation of this Minor LCV
well, aside from the odd modern concession
for performance and usability, such as the
coilover suspension and USB ports!
But lets begin at the beginning, shall we?
The spirit of the project lies in the fabled
@RETROCARSMAG
and once-ubiquitous Morris Minor light

commercial vehicle (LCV), of which around
326,000 were churned out over the Minors
lifespan. Arguably the hardest-working were
the pick-up variants, their exposed utilitarian
rears acting as an open invitation to chuck
stuff in with carefree abandon, and as such
there really arent very many left, having been
comprehensively battered in the line of duty.
This 1972 pick-up is actually one of the final
800 built its an Austin build, hence the
crinkle grille, Adam explains. Now, Adams
always had a soft spot for Minors, his broad

and varied personal car history encompassing
examples powered by Pintos, V6s, and proudly
boasting superchargers, alongside a colourful
cast of classic BMWs, Triumphs, Sunbeams
and Jaguars, but it was the idea of a Morris
commercial that really flicked the switch for
this project. Ive always liked them, and it
was inevitable that Id return to the model at
some point, he says. Seven years ago I found
this one which appeared to fit what I was
after it required a full restoration, and didnt
NOVEMBER 2015 41
so much resemble a vehicle as a pile of parts.

However, a key attraction was that the cab
was intact. Having a pretty decent knowledge
of the vagaries of Morris parts supply, Adam
knew what was findable and what wasnt, so
he snapped up the rot-free cab along with its
jigsaw puzzle of panels and cavalcade of spares,
and stacked it all up in his garage. Without
wanting to fall foul of unexpected costs, he
then bided his time, playing the long game,
collecting up all the parts hed require to fulfil
his Chapmanesque vision. It sat there for three
years before I actually began restoring it, he
recalls, although he hadnt been dragging his
heels in the meantime. Far from it. No, hed
been accumulating a rich and vibrant platter of
ingredients to stir into the twin-cam stew not
least that piquant and jewel-like motor.
Id decided at the outset that a standard
upgrade wasnt for me, Adam grins,
especially as I dont have the patience to
pootle along at low speed! While theres
obviously a trend with modified upgrades to
go for the latest technology, I decided I didnt
want to follow the herd and fit a K-series,
Honda VTEC, or Zetec, so I started searching
for a suitable alternative something that
would have been available in the 1972 era of
the vehicle. So what manner of madness led
him to shoehorn a Lotus twink in there? Adam

admits that it wasnt by any means his first
choice. It wasnt until an old friend turned up
in his Lotus Elan that the powertrain caught
my attention, he recalls. While looking in
the engine bay, curiosity got the better of me
and out came the tape measure.
A few quick calculations confirmed that,
with some minor fettling, the unit would fit in
the Minor bay, and so the game was afoot. The
next stage, then, was finding one
I searched various websites and threads
in an attempt to purchase an engine, but was
surprised to find how much these old twincams retain their value, Adam reveals. After
many failed bids and much baulking at inflated
buy it now prices, I was given the contact
details of a respected Lotus engine builder John Smirthwaite at JRS Motorsport. I did a
little research on JRS and found he has supplied
a number of successful Lotus race engines and
has a strong reputation. Decision made, then
it certainly pays to source such things from
known quantities, rather than paying through
the nose to an eBay stranger. Indeed, Adam
spent some considerable time running through
the project plan with John, chewing over what
was desirable and what was achievable, and
between the two of them they drew up a solid
I decided I didnt want to follow the herd and fit

a K-series, Honda VTEC, or Zetec, so I started
searching for a suitable alternative...
42 RETRO CARS
ENGINE & TRANSMISSION: Lotus

twin-cam, bored out to 1,660cc, forged
pistons, big valves, crack-tested and
gas-flowed head, new bronze guides,
competition high-lift cams, lightened
and balanced crank, balanced con rods,
lightened and balanced flywheel, AP
competition clutch, high-pressure oil
pump, twin 40 DellOrto carburettors,
Ford Type 9 gearbox with heavy-duty
bearings, quickshift and custom ratios,
concentric slave cylinder replacing
conventional release fork and bearing,
Ford English axle with Quaife LSD, Ford
RS halfshafts, custom aluminium fuel
tank, header tank, radiator, water bottle
and oil catch tank, custom wiring loom
inc. 12v charger and USB input
CHASSIS: 5.5x15 (front) and 7x15
(rear) JBW Minilites with 195/50
(F) and 205/50 (R) Dunlop DZ03G,
new old stock chassis, front coilover
conversion, wide-bottom A arms, HiSpec 4-pot front calipers with 260mm
vented/grooved discs, softer rear leaf
springs with coilovers, Panhard rod
and radius arms, 8 rear drums
INTERIOR: Austin Healey seats in
tan leather with blue piping, custom
dash, Willans harnesses, custom
carpets, headlining and gaiters
plan of attack: it would be a period-themed

build, but not an obsessively geeky one, with
a focus on quality and, of course, Chapmanlike engineering. It was important that the
car would be no slouch, Adam laughs, and
able to hold its own on track days as well
as fast road driving. Admirable sentiments
indeed, given the perceptions that the average
person might have upon spying a Morris Minor
pick-up. This would be a build as much about
surprise as performance.
An idea was forged, then, but the guys
were still starting with little more than a pile
of bits. Happily, the initial impetus for the
build came in the form of a rare-as-hens-teeth
original new old stock chassis, which tied
the whole concept together and gave them
the motivation to forge onward. This was
complemented by a whole twinkling galaxy of
NOS panels the front wings, pick-up tailgate,
@RETROCARSMAG
doors, flitch panels, engine bay floor, cab

rear, rear floors and wheel arches all offered
a fresh rust-free start for the aesthetics, and
it was Jonathan Heap of JLH Restorations
who was charged with the task of bringing
the whole thing together. The initial job was
to assemble the pick-up in order to gain an
understanding of alignment before fitting new
panels, says Adam, and this work was swiftly
followed by the necessary trimming of the
engine bay to allow the twin-cam in, as well
as a conversion to coilover suspension (one
of the few elements of the build not available
in 1972 he admits). As the separate-chassis
Minor LCVs are only bolted together in a
handful of places, JLH also embarked upon
a programme of strengthening in order to
cope with the anticipated stresses of throwing
a very naughty engine into a basic shell that
was designed to be a puttering commercial
specification
EXTERIOR: BMW MINI Ice Blue paint,

new old stock front wings, pick-up
tailgate, doors, flitch panels, engine
bay floor, cab rear, rear floors and
wheel arches; Austin grille
THANKS: A shout-out to myself first
of all, for supplying all the funds and
persevering when in doubt! Also, Mrs
K-S (The Blonde General) for those
quiet evenings when I was embedded
in the PC searching for parts etc,
seeing the garage accumulate parts,
not giving me too much of a hard
time when a one-hour pop out
became half a day - and your support
for letting me indulge. Thank you. The
children, for letting me sell the Old
Trusted Pick-up to partially fund this
one. (It was worth it.) Richard (The
Decorator), for being Richard. JRS
Motorsport John Smirthwaite for
making the engine growl yet sing, and
sharing countless entertaining racing
stories. (Such a knowledgeable
person and a real character.) Finally,
JLH Restorations. Jonathan Heap
and his team who have embraced
what I wanted to achieve and
made it a reality with such a high
level of dedication, perfection and
collaboration. They really are a
company who go unnoticed but
have delivered so much to me and
others. Respect!
NOVEMBER 2015 43
runabout many decades ago. Hey, if Chapman

were to take a Minor pick-up on track, hed
have done the same thing.
The body was coming along nicely, and the
engine builder had his tasks to complete, so it
was time for Adam to start thinking about the
interior. After all, this wasnt to be a strippedout track monster, but a properly usable
classic. Keeping the era of the vehicle in
mind, I searched and trialled various options
for seats, none of which really seemed to fit,
he recalls. I wanted seats that would hold
you in place, and while bucket are an obvious
thought, due to the rear rake these were not
feasible as the space inside is limited. Id had
in my possession some old Austin Healey seats
that Id earlier disregarded while considering
alternatives, but after twelve months of trying
different options, guess what - I tried out the
Healey seats and they fitted wonderfully!
Another win for the it wouldve been a
feasible option in 1972 checklist then, which
was further improved upon the suggestion of
the upholsterer with a retrim in tan leather
with blue piping. I had my suspicions at
first, but Im glad I trusted him it really
works with the exterior colour, Adam beams.
The paint colour in question is a BMW Mini
shade, Ice Blue, which may be another modern
concession but is so close to an old-school
BMC colour that its entirely forgivable. It
44 RETRO CARS
gives it a creamy, buttery, almost cartoonish

quality, doesnt it? Something complemented
by the jarring aesthetic of having 15 Minilites
and noticeably lower suspension on an old
commercial vehicle such as this. Almost Hot
Wheels-like, really.
The dash represented another chunk of
fastidious interior work: While Im aware that
you can buy aftermarket clocks that have many
dials in one, this wasnt available in 1972, so
we had to conjure up a solution that ensured
we retained the iconic hump in the dash,
says Adam. The solution was to cut the dash
in the centre, and extend the hump to create
space for the five dials now required. This also
meant the glovebox lids had to be shortened
to look standard, and the glovebox insert
had to be cut, reshaped and manipulated
into place. Its all in the details, and its a
sort of hidden Easter egg for true-blue Morris
nerds. And the quest for interior perfection
continued Aldridge Trimming were drafted
in to create custom carpets, gaiters and
headlining to ensure a belt-and-braces finish.
With the aesthetics perfected and the
chassis treated to such performance-oriented
treats as a Panhard rod and Hi-Spec brakes,
the drivetrain was offered a real chance to
shine. John Smirthwaite had been a very
busy boy, boring out the twin-cam to 1,660cc
and fitting forged pistons, high-lift cams, big
valves, and a lightened and balanced crank,

all of which coalesced to create effervescence
truly deserving of the Lotus moniker. This
was all then bolted via a lightweight flywheel
and competition clutch to a Ford Type 9 box,
its ratios altered to suit the engines torque.
An LSD out back helps to ramp up the levels
of mischief too
A complete new wiring loom has been
fitted, allowing for modern day improvements
such as a 12v charger socket and a USB slot,
and its all covered in a period braiding to
keep it looking appropriately 1970s, says
Adam, casting a fond eye over his flawless
creation. And that solution serves as a
metaphor for the build overall sure, the
intention was to build something as close to
1972 specs as possible, employing various
options that could have been considered at
the time. But Colin Chapman was a forwardthinking engineer and, if he were to embark
upon such a build, he would of course make
use of the latest technological developments
in instances where they made the most sense.
Its taken Adam nearly seven years, with the
help of a team of experts, but now his vision
is complete: he has a track-ready sports car
with a sumptuous interior, that also happens
to be a Morris Minor pick-up. Hes right if
Chapman had decided to make such a thing,
this is how he would have done it. RC
EURO RALLY REPORT

PART ONE
We joined a mix of classic and modern motors as they set
off for a seven countries in seven days tour of Europe...
Words and images: Dan Furr
here has been a great deal said

about the plight of foreign folk
trying to get into the UK (legally
or otherwise) of late, but lets take
a moment to reflect on the luxury
that EU member state petrolheads have in
being able to take advantage of free movement
within the union. It might be a benefit that
most of us take for granted, but its also one
that can be fully exploited when it comes to
octane-fuelled adventure in the countries of
our continental cousins.
It was with that in mind that Retro Cars
joined forces with established driving
experience outfit, Euro Rally, and took on
a four-wheeled challenge that spanned
seven countries in seven days. France, Italy,
Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Belgium and
some ol place named Blighty played host to
our charge across motorways, mountain passes
and motorsport venues, although it should be
said that some of those who decided to join
us notched up even more of a country count
by setting off from faraway lands including
Ireland and Malta.
Of course, the act of steering old tin across
thousands of miles of unfamiliar terrain
always promised to provide a challenge for
some of the vintage vehicles in attendance,
although nobody expected the early retirement
of Colm Carberrys Satin Red Vauxhall Cavalier
Turbo 4x4 on day one. Despite months of
preparation in advance of the trip, our man
from County Kildare was left stranded on
the edge of the Emerald Isle when his mega
46 RETRO CARS
MkIIIs fuel tank split during the first leg of its

journey to our meeting point in Dover!
Fortunately, Colms travelling companions
persuaded him to leave the impotent Griffin
at the side of the road before inviting him to
continue the journey from within the confines
of their Series II Escort RS Turbo. Driven
by chief spanner-wielder, Joey ONeill, and
assembled just hours before the off, the fruity
Ford carried its human cargo from Dublin
to Holyhead and onward to Kent without
complaint, whereupon it was welcomed by a
wide variety of metal ready to set sail across
the English Channel.
It was the tasty 911 83 SC of Cambridgeshire
couple, Peter and Litte Andrews, that first
caught our attention. Equipped with the
3.2-litre lump and chipped ECU of an 88plate, the car packs uprated suspension, a
trick exhaust system and well executed body
modifications that extend to overrider, spoiler
and bumper blade deletion. Nice!
In addition to Peters red road rocket, the
Retro Cars influence on proceedings was plain
to see thanks to the appearance of Jonny
Parkinsons throttle-bodied, C20XE-equipped
1979 Vauxhall Chevette L. In fact, there was
plenty of modified old-school cool to gawp
at throughout the week, not least of all Mark
and Sam Croxfords beloved Polo Coupe S.
Known to all as Huyi, this heavily tuned
Volkswagen found itself splashed across the
cover of Retro Cars a few issues back, and it
didnt fail to impress as we navigated our way
across Europe.
Talking of which, Paris was our first

stopover destination. The journey from
Calais to the French capital was efficiently
straightforward, albeit characterised by
motorway mileage and the occasional cry of
dont forget which side of the road to drive
on blaring out of the two-way radios that
Glen handed out to each driver during our
ferry crossing. That said, the Mazda MX-5 of
Adam Bradshaw and Ian Bragg did see a little
more rural scenery than was planned, but this
was largely down to the fact that the radiant
red Japanese two-seater decided to dump its
coolant as soon as it found itself in the land of
Django Reinhardt. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the
men from Manchester nursed the car through
towns and villages until they stumbled upon
@RETROCARSMAG
a workshop willing to right whatever wrongs

their chariot was suffering from.
Weekends in Gay Paree lend themselves
to a party atmosphere, and our arrival on a
Saturday meant that wed landed at exactly
the right time for a dose of fun in the sun.
Body fuel was provided by the food and drink
retailers dotted along the Champ de Mars, and
those of us keen to demonstrate our ability
to queue spent two hours as part of a human
traffic jam awaiting our turn to climb to the
top of the Tower. Was it worth it? You betcha!
It was the following morning when our very
own roving reporter, Dan Furr, encountered
the next motoring complaint of the trip. The
tuned and turbocharged classic Saab 900S 16valve convertible that he was driving emptied
its windscreen washer fluid reservoir onto the

hotel car parks floor before deciding to pop its
handbrake cable while stuck between vehicles
on a steep exit ramp. Maintaining the super
Swedes position without rolling into the pride
and joy of a neighbouring participant was
proving to be an uphill struggle (literally),
not helped by the suddenly non-operational
car park exit barrier that prevented almost all
Euro Rally entrants from leaving within the
tight timeslot afforded to them by the hotels
tyrannical ticket machines.
Meanwhile, Colm understandably upset
at the prospect of being a passenger for the rest
of the trip announced his intention to buy
a car in Paris in order to fill the void left by
his absent Cavalier. This is a Euro Rally first!
NOVEMBER 2015 47
gasped Glen in amazement. Nevertheless, true

to his word, Mr Carberry stuck 500 in his
pocket and shot off to inspect an Opel Omega
A (a model otherwise known as the MkII
Vauxhall Carlton) that was described as having
a lack of rear windshield and a problem with its
fuel system. What could possibly go wrong?!
Well, quite a lot actually. While the rest of
us were heading south towards our next stop
on the outskirts of Lyon, Colm was sat at
the side of a dual carriageway trying to work
out why his new ride was failing to propel
itself in a forward motion. To make matters
worse, his cars lack of rear glass caught the
attention of le fuzz, and his support crew
of Joey, Martin Griffin and Eoghan Cahill
found themselves in an out-of-commission
RS Turbo due to a wicked shudder generated
by a failed bush in their formerly fast Fords
steering rack.
48 RETRO CARS
Spotting a roadside caf within kicking

distance, Eoghan reasoned that fresh pots of hot
stuff might help the team to formulate a plan
of action that would enable them to press on
to Lyon. He was correct, but it was a brilliantly
unorthodox approach to DIY mechanics that
saved the day: noticing that the diameter of the
salt and pepper shakers in the caf matched that
of the Escorts knackered bush, both spice cellars
were swiped, chopped in half, emptied and fed
into the Rallye Sports steering rack! Held into
place with aluminium tape, this extraordinary fix
did its job perfectly. The Ford was fighting fit.
Thankfully, Colms awkward Opel was soon
back up and running following the application
of a replacement fuel pump, cleared lines and
a thorough inspection of its fuel tank. Both
cars raced on to Lyon, arriving in the early
hours of the morning before our forward
march towards the legendary Route Napolon.
Splitting into groups, the Euro Rally faithful

ventured southbound along Route Napolon at
dawn. Wet weather and thick fog governed the
early morning, making the steep inclines ahead
of us even more of a challenge than had been
anticipated. The low hanging mist ensured
that visibility beyond the front bumpers of our
vehicles was nonexistent, and we wondered
whether we would end up completing this
stretch of our weeklong trip without seeing any
of the picture perfect panoramas that we had
been looking forward to!
We need not have worried. The midmorning sunshine cleared the fog, revealing
the sweeping roads and cool canyons
surrounding us. Jonny and his co-driver,
Jonathan Jackson, let rip in the Chevette, while
Robert Stancliffe and Rick Collett followed
close behind in their 1983 MkIII Capri. The
Fords faulty alternator was but a minor
inconvenience, beaten into submission by the

decision to swap batteries between vehicles
whenever the Capri began to splutter.
Onwards we drove, crossing over the
iconic bridge that spans the width of the
River Durance at Sisteron, before we travelled
further down the N58 en route to the Cte
dAzur. With the option of toll roads and
motorways firmly switched off on our satnavs,
we enjoyed hassle-free cruising on some of
the best roads that Europe has to offer. That
was until a suggested shortcut took us along a
country lane that had more in common with
rallycross circuits than leisurely drives! Rocks,
potholes and all manner of menacing debris
did their best to shake the parts off of our cars,
and in the case of the Capri, they succeeded.
Hard vibrations had caused the welds
holding the Fords radiator fan housing together
to break, leaving the already injured Dagenham
@RETROCARSMAG
delight without sufficient cooling capabilities.

Everyone present hopped out of their cars,
mucking in to try and fix the problem, although
it was Rick and BMW owners, John Rose and
Mark Allen, that saved the day thanks to some
quick thinking, gaffer tape, cable ties and some
on-the-spot wiring wizardry!
The next morning, another early start
saw the Euro Rally masses head to Monaco,
where a parade of participating vehicles lined
up outside the famous Casino de MonteCarlo gambling and entertainment complex
alongside the Bentleys, Lambos and Ferraris
belonging to the gazillionaires that reside in
this part of the world. Dan was pleased to see
a Silver Shadow among the (high) Rollers,
although the jurys out on whether or not hell
be using his own land yacht for next years trip!
No visit to Monaco is complete without a
lap or two of the famous F1 street racing circuit.
Needless to say, decked out in custom racing

livery, the Puma-engined MkV Fiesta Zetec S of
brothers Niall and David Maher enthusiastically
accompanied the Croxfords in a spirited six-lap
sprint that saw the cars of both parties tread
the hallowed ground of the Louis II tunnel
and the Fairmont Hotel hairpin. Granted,
Messrs Hamilton and Rosberg shouldnt be too
concerned for their jobs just yet (the midday
traffic boosted the lap times of both cars to circa
nine minutes!), but the blazing sunshine, boatladen backdrop and hard driving certainly drew
a line through a bucket list item or two.
From there we travelled north through
Italy, bound for the many mountain passes
of Switzerland, the rolling hills of Austria,
the car museums of Stuttgart and our final
night party at the Nrburgring. Tune into
the next issue of Retro Cars for part two of
our Euro Rally road report! RC
NOVEMBER 2015 49
modified classics
MELLOW YELLOW
Seasoned TVR racer Pete Reeve went from a 400bhp Tasmin handful to this
185bhp Vixen screamer, but with less weight its proving to be a blast
Words: Adam Tait images: Chris Frosin
52 RETRO CARS
ust before the summer of 2013,

TVR enthusiast and racer Pete
Reeve, purchased the race prepared
Vixen seen here as a restored road
car. He had been on the prowl for
some time but with prices on the increase,
finding something for the right money proved
difficult. When Pete viewed the car, the owner
knew that he was about to sell his pride and
joy to a known TVR racer...
Hands were shaken with a request that it
wouldnt be used in competition, but as Pete
got to know the car over that summer his
mental cogs began working. At the time it
was fitted with an incorrect Pinto engine that
had been taken out to 2.1-litres. Thing is the
performance soon became a carrot dangler
that was too irresistible to pass up.
@RETROCARSMAG
Pete is no stranger to what came out of TVRs

hallowed Blackpool doors. In 1996 he entered
a Tasmin into sprint rounds, but it wasnt
competitive so he bought one with the Cosworth
V6 engine. His last weapon of choice was a
400bhp Cosworth YB powered Tasmin that took
Pete onto Class A honours in the Intermarque
race series. Power isnt everything though, as the
thought of moving down to something with less
grunt, but with little weight and better handling,
carried lots of appeal. Enter the Vixen...
A two-year plan was set. Pete would prepare
the car for historic motorsport, the CSCC
Swinging 60s series, and in the spirit of middle
ground it would be built with a mind-set that
should Pete or the subsequent owner ever opt for
road going form again, then it could be returned
to factory specification with minimal hassle.
When the car was bought it was an older

restoration so Pete decided to start again and
separate the body from the chassis. Plates were
welded onto the latter for the pedal box, seat
and roll cage and then it was sent away for
sand blasting and powder coating. Meanwhile
the body colour was changed from red to the
Renault Mango seen here.
A stroke of good luck came when Petes
friend, Lee McNair, setup his own motorsport
preparation business, McNair Motorsport.
With two decades of experience under his belt,
Lee was entrusted with the Vixen to work on
between other jobs. An approach that would
usually be the kiss of death for any deadline.
However, Lee finished the work well ahead
of schedule to allow Pete plenty of seat time
before the season began.
NOVEMBER 2015 53
Keen to retain the cars originality Pete had

the Pinto engine removed and a Crossflow was
built. He acquired an ex-Formula Ford 1600
unit that was sent to Tommy Field Motorsport
for him to work his magic on. The spec was a
1660cc, dry sump, all steel affair, with twin 45
Webers and a custom made exhaust manifold.
On the dyno it produced 175bhp but two
days later Pete received a telephone call to say
the head had cracked. TFM sourced another
head to get Pete out in time for testing at
Brands Hatch where the car performed 90
faultless laps, and RC got the chance to shoot
the car in the paddock.
After our shoot Pete went testing again when
the engine popped a core plug, but it was caught
in time before any damage ensued. However,
this was only the start of the problems as when
Pete entered a race at Snetterton he became
victim of the Crossflows trait of water ingress.
This happened via the inlet manifold and the
outcome was a melted piston.
Luckily the block was salvageable and
for the rebuild it seemed a good excuse
to increase capacity to 1750cc [Pete cant
quite recall the exact specification], but TFM
managed to extract an impressive 185bhp
from the little Crossflow. This specification
54 RETRO CARS
@RETROCARSMAG
Testament to Petes mechanically sympathetic

approach is the standard 2000E gearbox. This
has been in situ since day one and its dealt
with two race tuned Crossflow engines.
However, rather than tempt fete before the 2016
begins a Quaife dog box will be fitted. Mindful
of weight gains, the casing is aluminium and
according to Petes calculations it will save
around eight kilograms.
Its been interesting racing the Vixen as
although I have less than half the power
compared to my old Tasmin, the weight
difference means that the power-to-weight
difference is actually very similar. This Vixen is
proof that out and out power isnt always the
key to enjoyment.
With a 400bhp YB all but a distant memory,
the prospect of a humble Crossflow engine by
default is a demotion. However, it becomes a
whole lot more interesting when you can yield
185bhp and 9500rpm from one, and then
drop it into something as nimble as a Vixen.
As Pete and McNair Motorsport continue
development over the coming winter, we
advise that competitors in the 2016 Swinging
60s championship should resort to evasive
action if they see a fast approaching yellow
object in their rear-view mirror. RC
ENGINE: 1750cc Crossflow, steel

rods, steel forged pistons, Kent cam
254, adjustable Vernier pulley, all steel
rockers, two-gallon dry sump (tank
fitted in passenger side footwell),
twin 45 Webers, modified Mk 1
Escort radiator, custom-made exhaust
manifold, Jazz ten gallon fuel tank
TRANSMISSION: 2000E, superlight
flywheel, AP twin plate clutch, Gripper
LSD, custom-made propshaft,
BRAKES: Braided lines, Triumph TR6
calipers, Red Stuff pads OBP pedal box
SUSPENSION: Rose-jointed and
poly-bushed, four shock absorber
conversion at rear
WHEELS AND TYRES: 6x15 JBW
wheels, Yokohama A048 205/60 15
control tyres
specification
remains today and it has helped Pete take a

class win at Mallory Park.
Pete was told the standard Triumph TR6
brakes would be fine, but he hasnt been
impressed, especially at the lengthy Spa
circuit when they started to deteriorate. Not to
mention ending up in the gravel at the end of
the straight at Donington, although Pete does
admit this could have been driver error!
Keen to upgrade, following a conversation
with Rally Design a set of Wilwood calipers
were supplied. These will bolt straight on and
although I have tried EBC Yellow Stuff and Red
Stuff pads, I am going to be using Wilwoods
own brand next, Pete tells us.
The second gripe was the differential, TVRs
raid of the Triumph parts bin led to the Vixen
being fitted with a Spitfire axle. A setup that
is fine for road use, but when 185bhp is fed
through it, Gripper differential aside, even with
Petes mechanically sympathetic driving style it
would start grinding after every fourth or fifth
race. To reinstate durability Pete has sourced
a differential cover that has an increased oil
capacity, its also finned to aid cooling. This will
be hooked up to an oil cooler and the fluid will
be electronically pumped to keep the Vixen fit
until the chequered flag.
INTERIOR: Roll Centre roll cage,

Early Grantura dashboard,
Rear polycarbonate screen,
FIA fire extinguisher
EXTERIOR: Chassis off restoration,
bodywork painted in Renault Mango
THANKS: My wife Marion, Lee
McNair (McNair Motorsport), Steve
Reid, Neil Russell, Bob Gooding,
Tommy Field (Field Motorsport),
Kevin (Zero Exhausts)
NOVEMBER 2015 55
BUCKING THE TREND

I
ts 1985, Madonna is top of the charts and
as far as the motoring world is concerned,
everyones going mad for hot hatches, big
bodykits and an I badge positioned just
beneath that matt black spoiler. If you
liked your cars, it was an exciting time for
sure, though looking back its easy to forget
the other cars on our roads thirty years ago
that werent grabbing the limelight. While
Mr Smith may have been the envy of his
neighbourhood in his brand new teardrop
56 RETRO CARS
shaped Astra GTE (with an extremely low drag

co-efficient of 0.31, which was of paramount
importance in 1985), Mr Jones was trundling
to the local shops in a clapped out Vauxhall
Viva with a drag co-efficient similar to that of a
terraced house in Hartlepool.
It seemed at the time, every back yard and
unkempt front garden could field at least one
half dismantled Viva on axle stands, this was
the real 1985. The earlier Viva HA/HB, with
the exception of the van variants, had already
become a rarity even then, so it was left to the

later HC model to optimistically fly the flag
for all things Viva. Unless you had the more
potent Magnum version, the world passed by
frustratingly slowly with its asthmatic 1256cc
engine. Add the uninspiring handling and it
was never going to set the world on fire and
by the mid-90s, those same axle stands were
supporting rusty MkII Cavaliers, its forerunner
had been all but forgotten. Yet it was also too
easy to forget the Viva had a sleeker and much
When the world was going mental for performance versions of everyday family hatches,
two brothers were dreaming of rear-drive coupes from the previous decade
Words & images: Jon Cass
cooler cousin in the shape of the Firenza

HP (High Performance), and thanks to its
distinctive and futuristic GRP nosecone, it has
become affectionately known as the droop
Snoot Firenza.
Turn the clock forward and the Viva in all
its guises now understandably has its nostalgic
fans and rightly so, but an immaculate droop
snoot it would seem is respected by all. In
fact, there are many whove had a hankering
for a genuine Firenza HP since the day it
@RETROCARSMAG
was launched, Surinder Singh (Sid for short)

being one such person. My older brother
worked at a Vauxhall dealer in the 70s and
ever since I first saw one, Ive always wanted
one, Sid smiles. They have always been rare
and I had to wait until 1997 before I had the
opportunity to buy one.
The September 74 registered Starfire Silver
Firenza was found locally and although it
was in a poor state, it did seem a worthwhile
purchase. It didnt run due to missing HT
leads, so we had to trailer it home, Sid

remembers. We fitted some leads and poured
a gallon of petrol in the tank and with a
fresh battery it did start up. Unfortunately,
the clutch was stuck fast, but a bit of gentle
persuasion soon remedied this problem!
At first I put it into storage as I was
unable to start the project, but three years
later and with the help of my brother Baz,
we began by stripping down the shell, Sid
recalls. Unfortunately she was found to
NOVEMBER 2015 57
be completely rotten so we knew we were

in for a lot of work! The stripped shell
was sent away for shot blasting to reveal
the extent of the rot and all was not good.
This was probably the hardest part of
the whole task, sourcing panels whenever
they became available but often having to
fabricate new metalwork from scratch. The
rare GRP nosecone was salvageable and
the virtually obsolete twin Cibie headlights
were replaced. The headlamps themselves
sit behind toughened glass covers and I was
struggling to find any available, Sid recalls.
In the end I contacted the Droop Snoot
Owners Club and asked if other members
would be interested in purchasing any if we
had a limited run put into production. The
response was very positive, so I made a few
phone calls and persuaded a manufacturer
to produce 300 pairs resembling the original
design as closely as possible. Weve now
managed to sell sets all around the world as
far away as New Zealand! Incidentally, the
headlamp units are shared with the similarly
styled Renault Alpine A310!
We filled and primed the shell once the
welding was complete then sent it to a local
bodyshop for the paint to be applied, Sid
remembers. This was the only aspect of the
whole build myself and Baz didnt have a
hand in. While the shell was fully stripped,
this seemed like the ideal opportunity to
58 RETRO CARS
Its 2.3-litre OHC 4-cylinder unit was a strong

performer with 131bhp and bags of torque...
powder coat all of the removed ancillaries
prior to refitting. Components that were
found to be past their best were replaced,
always a good plan when a car has been
stood for a long period of time.
The suspension was looking tired so we
sourced new Bilstein shocks and springs, Sid
remembers. To tighten up the handling we
fitted Superflex bushes all round. The brakes
were also in a bad way, the brothers sensibly
reconditioning the callipers with new pistons
and adding new discs and pads. We decided
to leave the brakes standard to retain some
originality, though theyre pretty effective
anyway as they were a factory upgrade for this
specific model, Sid smiles.
When the HP was launched back in 1973,
its 2.3-litre OHC 4-cylinder unit was a
strong performer with 131bhp and bags of
torque on tap, unquestionably impressive
for its day and a totally different animal
compared to the lowly 1256cc version. The
2.3 had already made an appearance in the
122bhp 2300SL, but the high-lift cam, twin
175 Stromberg carburettors and free flow
tubular exhaust manifold gave the HP the
edge over its SL badged sibling. And then of
course, you couldnt forget that sleek droop
snoot, which wasnt just there for show,
it also aided acceleration, top speed and
stability too. Okay, we mentioned the MkII
Astra had an impressive drag co-efficient of
@RETROCARSMAG
0.31 in 1985, but its reckoned the Firenza

HPF had a slippery 0.33 drag co-efficient
over a decade earlier!
As you can imagine, Sid couldnt resist the
opportunity to upgrade the 2300 four pot
while it was sat on his work bench out of the
car. The GT cam, fully gas flowed big-valve
head and twin 40 Dellorto carbs add a little
more grunt and that sweet sounding Janspeed
stainless exhaust helps out too. Ive added
an electric fuel pump, but the heavy duty rear
axle and gearbox remain standard, Sid adds.
We should point out the HP came with a 5
speed ZF dog leg box, notably stronger and
able to handle extra power compared to those
gearboxes found on lesser versions of the
Firenza, though were sure it does take some
getting used to!
From the outside, this HPF remains
essentially standard and when a car is as
rare as this, itd be a crying shame to start
messing around with it. Even the attractive
13 Avon Safety wheels with their gloss
black centres remain in place, though more
contemporary and wider Nankang tyres now
make contact with the tarmac. Once inside,
theres surprisingly little in common with
its Viva cousin. Theres none of that sheer
disappointment you may recall back in 1990
when the crowds gasped at Vauxhalls sleek
and futuristic new Calibra only to find it
looked no different to a Cavalier once you
NOVEMBER 2015 59
60 RETRO CARS
were built, making this one of the most

desirable Griffin badged cars of all time. And
the reactions of the public witnessing Sid
driving his HPF around town on a sunny
Saturday afternoon confirm the popularity
of the famous droop snoot. If I had the
chance, I would do it all again, I get so much
satisfaction from building something thats
unique and enjoy all the nice comments she
receives, Sid smiles.
Theres talk of a Chevette HSR joining the
HPF, which would make a stunning duo,
though for the moment Sid and his brother
are busy with a few classic Mercs and a
genuine Porsche 356! That should keep them
busy for the foreseeable future then! RC
ENGINE: 2.3-litre OHC slanted 4

cylinder, twin 40 Dellorto carbs,
gas flowed big-valve head, GT cam,
Janspeed exhaust system, electric
fuel pump, standard ZF dog leg
5-speed gearbox
specification
were sat in the drivers seat. The four grey

cloth seats, although devoid of headrests,
look both comfortable and inviting while
the wide rimmed three spoke wheel looks
like its fit for track action. The dash, with
no less than seven useful gauges and clocks
positioned directly in front of the driver, was
way ahead of its time and that dubious grab
handle, mounted in front of the passenger,
must have created a few hard to resist
moments, scaring your co-pilot into clinging
on for dear life!
Vauxhall planned around 30,000 sales
for the HPF but due to a combination of
production and delivery problems combined
with the impending fuel crisis just 204
CHASSIS: Avon safety wheels, Bilstein

shocks/springs, Nankang 205/60/13
tyres, Superflex suspension bushes
all round
EXTERIOR: Standard fully restored in
Starfire Silver
INTERIOR: Standard Firenza HP
includes, cloth sports seats, 3-spoke
steering wheel, dash featuring seven
clocks/gauges, passenger grab handle
SHOUT: Brother, Baz
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PHOTOS
ESCORT MKI
Front quarter rubber .......................................(a pair) 68.52

Front windscreen rubber ............................................26.94
Rear windscreen rubber .............................................26.94
Screen chrome trim ......................................... .7.20 (each)
Rear quarter window rubbers.............................(pair) 35.00
Door seal (2 door) ........................................... (each) 18.67
Door seal (4 door) with moulded corners ...................37.58
Boot seal ....................................................................15.00
Door glass seal, original moulded shape..........(pair) .46.20
Door glass seal (interior).................................... (each) 5.00
Door Glass Seal Fixing Clip............................... (each) 0.36
Window channel .........................................................10.24
Roof gutter chrome trim .............................................14.51
Headlining, moonstone, black or putty ....................103.62
Carpet set..................................................................156.00
Boot Mat..................................................................... 48.94
Vinyl roof kit (incl. 2 litres adhesive)...........................122.00
Estate Rear Side Window Seals........................ (pair) 60.00
ESCORT MKII
RS2000 original solid rubber front ........................40.50

RS2000 original solid rubber rear .........................40.50
Screen trim (chrome or black ........................... (each) 7.20
Rear quarter window rubbers.............................(pair) 45.00
Door seal with moulded corners ................................37.54
Boot seal each............................................................15.70
Door glass seal (exterior).............................................. 7.80
Door glass seal fixing clip.............................................0.36
Door window channel...................................... (each) 10.24
Front Quarter Rubbers (2 door fixed) .........................84.00
Roof Gutter Trim (black or chrome) ............................14.51
Rear lamp seals................................................. (each) 6.68
Carpet set..................................................................156.00
Boot carpet..................................................................55.00
Headlining (black or putty).........................................103.60
ESCORT MK3/MK4
Front screen rubber.....................................................40.07

Rear screen rubber......................................................40.07
Door glass seal............................................................19.99
Tailgate seal.................................................................19.80
Carpet set..................................................................162.62
Headlining..................................................................103.60
Door seal .......................................................... (each) 18.50
Cabriolet boot seal Mk3/4 ............................................15.00
Window Channel .............................................. (each) 26.05
Rear Quarter Window Rubbers (pair) ......................... 55.00
Cabriolet Door Seal ......................................... (each) 21.82
CAPRI MKI

Screen chrome trim .......................................... (each) 7.20
Door seal (with moulded corners) ..............................37.54
Door glass seal.................................................. (each) 8.40
Boot seal ....................................................................15.00
Rear opening quarter glass seal........................ (each) 8.87

Roof Gutter Trim (Chrome)..........................................14.51
Carpet set..................................................................162.62
Headlining..................................................................120.00
CAPRI MKII & III
Front screen rubber, solid type...................................39.26

Rear screen rubber, solid type ...................................50.53
Tail gate seal................................................................19.80
Door window channel..................................................12.30
Door glass seals original moulded shape ........ (pair) 24.00
Door Glass Seal Fixing Clip .............................. (each) 1.10
Door Glass Seal Internal ................................... (each) 7.50
Carpet Set (Capri 2)...................................................158.68
Carpet Set (Capri 3) Long Console.........................174.24
Roof gutter trim (chrome or black) .............................14.51
Vinyl roof kit, (incl. 2 litres adhesive).........................122.00
Rear quarter seals .......................................... (each) 12.13
Headlining.................................................................120.00
Screen Trim (Ext) ........................................................10.82
Screen Trim (Int)..........................................................23.02
CORTINA MKI
Front quarter seals (2 door) ...............................(pair) 87.58

Door seal, 2 door model.................................. (each) 21.00
Boot seal ....................................................................27.00
Door window channel.................................................10.24
Carpet set..................................................................162.28
Lode Star Headlining.................................................150.00
Door shut edge trim....................................................20.86
2 door models rear quarter rubber ..................(pair) 109.18
CORTINA MKII

Screen chrome trim ......................................................7.20
Door glass seal (exterior)...............................................9.00
Door glass seal fixing clips............................................0.54
Door glass seal (interior)................................................4.99
Door shut edge trim....................................................20.86
Boot seal (original pattern) .........................................23.88
Carpet set..................................................................166.27
Headlining (off white or putty) - Series 2 ..................150.00
Lode Star Headlining - Series 1................................150.00
2 door models rear quarter rubber ..................(pair) 101.25
CORTINA MKIII

Screen insert (chrome) .................................................8.60
Door seal with moulded corner ..................................37.54
Door glass seal (exterior................................................9.00

Boot seal ....................................................................19.80
Carpet set..................................................................170.52
Roof gutter (chrome) ..................................................14.51
Headlining..................................................................120.00
CORTINA MK4/5
Front screen rubberMk4 only .....................................40.26

Rear screen rubberMk4 only ......................................47.40
Door sealMk4 .............................................................37.54
Door glass seal (exterior)...............................................9.00
Door glass seal fixing clip.............................................0.36
Screen insert (chrome) .................................................9.00
Boot seal ....................................................................19.80
Roof gutter chrome trim .............................................14.51
Carpet Set ................................................................187.20
Headlining.................................................................120.00
GRANADA MKI

Boot seal ....................................................................19.80
Coupe Vinyl Roof Kit ................................................ 142.00
Carpet set..................................................................192.95
Roof Gutter Trim .........................................................14.51
SIERRA
Door seal,Mk1 ............................................................19.80

Door seal,MkII ............................................................25.66
Sapphire Door Seal ........................................ (each) 22.85
Tailgate seal.................................................................19.80
Bumper, self-adhesive trim.............................. (each) 16.45
Carpet set..................................................................192.95
Screen Trim (Ext) ........................................................13.80
Screen Trim (Int)..........................................................26.30
FIESTA

Door seal ....................................................................19.80
Tailgate seal.................................................................19.80
Headlining..................................................................110.00
Carpet set..................................................................156.00
Door glass seal............................................................19.99
105E ANGLIA
Front windscreen rubber (with ears)............................40.00

Door seal (each)..........................................................20.10
Boot seal ....................................................................16.98
Door shut edge trim......................................... (each) 18.72
Rear opening quarter glass seal........................ (each) 8.40
Bonnet seal...................................................................9.90
Carpet set..................................................................172.14
Headlining..................................................................120.00
Lode Star Headlining.................................................120.00
Rear Quarter Light Seals Fixed .........................(pair) 35.00
100E & 107E
Window channel .........................................................17.76

Rear quarter window rubber ............................(each) 23.33
Door seal, fitted on door.................................... (each) 8.87
Door glass seals ............................................... (each) 4.99
Boot seal ....................................................................15.10
Carpet set..................................................................201.61
ZEPHYR/CONSUL 1

Door seal ....................................................................19.18
Headlining..................................................................170.00
Carpet set..................................................................183.25
Boot Seal.....................................................................24.92
ZEPHYR/CONSUL II
Front screen rubber (hi line)........................................45.89

Rear screen rubber (hi line).........................................45.89
Front screen rubber (low line)......................................46.80
Rear screen rubber (low line).......................................43.87
Door seal ....................................................................17.06
Door window channe .................................................12.00
Door shut coloured edge trim ....................................18.00
Headlining (low line and hi line) ................................170.00
Carpet set..................................................................179.12
Boot seal ....................................................................19.80
ZEPHYR/CONSUL III

Rear screen rubber (Zodiac)........................................45.89
Door seal ....................................................................20.06
Boot seal ....................................................................19.80
Headlining..................................................................170.00
Carpet set..................................................................186.29
Door Glass Seal............................................................7.80
CARPETS AND HEADLININGS

MANY OTHER ITEMS/SEALS AVAILABLE
MADE FOR MOST MODELS.
POST AND PACKAGING IS FROM 7.80
TO UK MAINLAND.
WORLDWIDE PRICES AVAILABLE.
PRICES INCLUDE VAT
PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Unit 7, Connect 10, Foster Road, Ashford Business Park, Sevington, Ashford Kent TN24 0FE
Tel: (01233) 500280 email: eastkenttrim@aol.com

www.classiccar-trim.com
THE AUTO BAHN
A unit that, like so many others, started out as a place for a group of mates to hang out and talk
cars, soon evolved into something much more
Words & images: Chris Frosin
s all of us car fiends know, a space

to work on your car is sometimes
very hard to find. A cramped
garage is hungrily accepted over
a driveway, which is always at
the mercy of the English weather. But a unit
with space for multiple cars, electricity, tea
making facilities and bunk beds is the holy
grail of car workshops. Acquiring such a
unit is all well and good, but you also need
ideas, knowledge and a vision to create some
striking cars too. Over the next few pages
well delve deeper into a unit owned between
four friends down in the south of England;
62 RETRO CARS
a unit that keeps spitting out some very

striking, original and awe-inspiring cars.
The story behind The Auto Bahn (TAB)
started in 2011. Founders Andy Hinks, Phil
Warren and Mark Wheeler had known each
other for years. The Opel Manta Owners
Club meet ups were their original haunts.
Phil is the only professional mechanic
amongst them and spent years working on
his projects, as most of us do, on his dads
driveway. Andy would swap his five cars in
and out of two small single garages to do
work and Mark lived a little outside High
Wycombe, where a small barn housed various
old Vauxhalls. They made do, as many of us

know all too well, but there had been talk of
pooling together to find a space a little more
suitable for the ideas to take shape. It was
when Mark left his barn behind and moved
a little closer down to Sussex that the search
really began in earnest.
Over the years, a tentative search around
Andys home town of Brighton had shown
up very little, but as with all great plans,
the breakthrough came by a weird fluke
remembers Andy. A Sunday evening trip to
the local take-out was regularly paired with
thumbing through free ads. Nothing ever
seemed to show up though. Thankfully one

fateful evening as Andy was putting down the
paper he noticed it was for a neighbouring
area. The East Sussex free ads that night
proved much more fruitful, as staring straight
up from the pages was the perfect unit.
Available for any purpose, secure and large
enough to house about twelve cars!
From that moment the road to The Auto Bahn
moved very quickly. A viewing was arranged and
the three friends headed over to see what they
could have access to. Andy explains succinctly
that the visit went rather well, Viewed it, loved
it, took it. TAB was born.
With all their projects scattered between
garages, driveways and other storage places
they spent four weekends with multiple trucks
and vans carting their cars, parts and tools
over to their new base of operations. Over the
next year there was an absolute plethora of
cars leaving the Bahn. Having made do with
driveways and cramped single garages for years
they were taking the opportunity with both
hands and created some very distinct cars,
@RETROCARSMAG
NOVEMBER 2015 63
something the building would be known for

over the next few years.
Phil had an Opel Monza that started its
journey to become the orange Monza you see
on these pages. Mark dropped a new engine
in his Viva Coupe before ticking off the MoT
checklist to get it back on the road, as well as
a very cool diesel Cavalier with an incredibly
short side-exit exhaust (that was the result of
a drunken dare). Andys Mercedes-Benz W201
track car, a slammed Audi estate and work first
started on the infamous Storm Trooper Audi.
64 RETRO CARS
In the early months of 2012, just as the guys

were finding their feet and adding to the Bahn
with more tools, cars and parts came the good
news/bad news conversation. After a year or
so our landlord announced that he was selling
the land our barn stood on, Andy explains. I
cant begin to imagine how their hearts must
have stopped at that moment Thankfully
the initial panic was immediately quashed
when he announced its ok, Im building you
a new place next door!
We walked the few hundred yards to look
at it and the new barn was now much bigger,

cleaner and had loads of outdoor space around
it too. Our original unit had plenty of space
around it but was mostly gravel or grass. The
new unit was surrounded by loads of hard
standing. We agreed and moved over a few
weeks later. With help from a few friends it
took a couple of weekends to transport TAB up
the short distance to the new unit and thats the
space you see photographed on these pages.
The layout of the new barn was more in tune
with being a car workshop. They no longer had
space split over two rooms, but one massive

area instead. That meant that it could be split
into specific spaces; workbenches, storage, and
of course space to actually work on their cars!
Also critically, it had space for sofas, a TV, a log
burner, as well as a basic kitchenette. Andy is
quick to point out that this area isnt just for
procrastination. TAB is a social thing. Guests are
welcomed most weekends were there - which
is most weekends, certainly in the summer
months, to tinker with their cars or help work on
ours, but it usually involves BBQs & beers.
@RETROCARSMAG
In September of 2013 the space at the Bahn

got even better as the tenants in the adjoining
unit moved out. A deal with the landlord was
agreed and TAB got a massive extension. At
this point a fourth member of the team, Dan
Haines, moved in and the constant conveyor
belt of cars that get the treatment increased.
The new, massive TAB now boasts room for
around thirty cars, although we never pack
them in that tight. Theres no need as theres
space for at least that many again outside. The
sofa area has been moved into a dedicated
living room, complete with triple bunks for

when youre working late, and/or drinking
Marks homebrew. I know only too well the
joys of Marks homebrew.
The workshop facilities are best summed
up by saying that we have every tool or piece
of equipment you need to restore and modify
old cars, continues Andy. You can sense
the pride in his voice as he talks about the
Bahn and rightly so. Those tools and pieces
of equipment that he talks about have been
slowly gathered and collected over the years
NOVEMBER 2015 65
and Ive been lucky enough to head down to

the unit on a number of occasions. I enjoyed
an incredible deep fried turkey at Christmas,
talking cars well into the night over BBQd
black pudding and cheese burgers, and
helped relocate their huge compressor to a
small purpose-built shed at the rear. Any air
tool can now be plugged into the numerous
points on the air line around and used while
still holding a casual conversation.
The log burner is a great social gathering
point, where friends pull up car seats and
swap project ideas and advice over a bottle
of Marks aforementioned brew, although
I will say that if you do get the chance to
visit, Id steer well clear of the top mattress
in the triple bunk bed setup. Its a lot more
66 RETRO CARS
dangerous early in the morning when youre

in a rush.
Therere no immediate plans to change
anything major at TAB but just pass your eyes
over some of the projects that are currently
underway. There really are too many to
list, but here are the highlights! Phil has
a Renault 8 Turbo, a Renault Dauphine,
Opel Monza GSE and an Opel Manta GTE.
Mark is working on a MkII Vauxhall Carlton
compound diesel, MkIII Vauxhall Carton 24v
Lotus estate, a Vauxhall Viva E Coup, Opel
Monza S, and a 24v Vauxhall Senator track/
drift car. Dan has an Oldsmobile Cutlass protouring in the works, a Ford Pop hotrod, and
a Yugo fast road/track day car and Andy is
currently stripping a Mazda RX-7 FB, a Ford
MkI Escort Dormobile, a Mercedes 190E track

car and the Audi 80 Avant Stormtrooper.
The list really does go on and on and if you
have a scan through some of the pictures on
these pages you can probably see some more
projects that are ready to break out in to the
light of day very soon.
As a social space Ive had a lot of fun down
here and thoroughly look forward to my next
trip, if only to stick my head in the doors
to see what cars are in the hot spots. Work
really does move quickly at The Auto Bahn
and Im sure it wont be long before you see
some more of their cars gracing these pages.
Until then, thank you to Andy, Mark, Phil
and Dan for your hospitality and the most
incredible fried turkey! RC
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OCTOBER 2015:ROAD
WARRIORS .A 330BPH
INTERCEPTOR GETS US VERY
EXITED
,30 YEARS WORTH OF
THE COSWORTH, BTCC
CA VA LIER HOMAGE
SEPTEMBER 2015:
JAPANESE SPECIAL ISSUE.
FAIRLADY. A N M3 ENGINE IN
A DA TSUN RUNNING NEARLY
500MPH,H ONDA NSX
TESTDRIVE.
AU GUST 2015:SAAB 93B

'LE MANS'.GALANT TURBO
REBUILD,TRAVELLER
CLUBMAN MINI, H ONDA
CIVIC SHUTTLE,H ONDA
S2000.
JULY 2015: GERMAN

SPECIAL,DELTA FORCEE,80'S
RALLEY CAR DA ILY DRIVER,
FERRARI 308 GTS.
JUNE2015:V88VFOR VICTORY,
SUPER CHARGED BX 16V
,15
YEAR OLDS FIRST CAR, T UR
TA IMER BEAUTY & THE BEAST
COMBINED.
MAY 2015: GERMAN

SPECIAL ISSUE, U LT IMATE
911? W12 ENIGINED
FRIDOLIN
,ZAK SPEED TURBO
CAPRI,VW GTI RESTO MOD
16V.
APRIL 2015:FASTER FORD,

BAGGED BENZ,
DETOMASO
PA NTERA, BUBBLE ABARTH,
HISTORIC RACE VW GOLF,
PLUS: H AVA NA STREET
RACING.
MARCH 2015: TRIUMPH

OVER ADVERSITY,ITALIAN
HEAR T, ESCORT EATER, S IX
PISTOL, PLUS: VW CORRADO ,
A112 ABARTH.
FEBRUARY 2015:RAMPANT
RABBIT,BEAMING LOTUS ,
'SIXTIES MINI RACERS
,
PROJECT MANTA, M ODDERS'
GUIDETO T HE TRIUMPH
SPITFIRE.
JA NUARY 2015: RALLY

DESIGN
,WHOLE LADA LOVE,
HONDA CIVIC,A VENGERS
ASSEMBLED ,CA VA LIER
TURBOS.
DECEMBER 2014:
THE
ULTIMATE MK2?, VIVA HB
WITH BHP ,TRIUMPHANT
TRACK HERO ,HEALEY SPRITE
V8.
NOVEMBER 2014: EYE OF

THE TIGER,
RETRO RIDES
GATHERING '14,
L OT US ELAN
+2, L ANCIA FULVIA, ISUZU
BELLETT.
OCTOBER 2014:TOYOTA
CELICA GT4,FORD FIESTA
SUPERSPORTS ,NEW! RETRO
RIVALS: 930 VS.ESPRIT,BERG
CUP SPECIAL.
SEPTEMBER 2014:
TOYOTA
CELICA GT4,FORD FIESTA
SUPERSPORTS ,NEW! RETRO
RIVALS: 930 VS.ESPRIT,BERG
CUP SPECIAL.
AU GUST 2014: HAZARD

PERCEPTION
,RETRO RIVALS:
AV ENGER VS.VIVA,PROJECT
UPD AT ES:PORSCHE 944,
PEUGEOT 205,
M K1 GOLF.
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the projects
STORM IN A TEACUP
JOHN-JOE VOLLANS
The Scirocco has been absent

from these pages for long
enough, so JJ tells us where
hes got to this month
EDITOR
he tale of my VW Scirocco is one

of pain and financial suffering. The
cars one Ive always wanted but
sadly the reality of owning it has
proved to be an absolute pain! I
made the fatal error of buying a car from a guy
who knew nothing about cars, yet that didnt
stop him trying to work on one! Plus it had
finally given up after several years of this guys
bodging and poor maintenance. I bought it for
a snip but have easily spent ten times what I
paid for it in just over two years!
Once Id almost completely rebuilt my
Storm it finally provided an enjoyable driving
and owning experience for about a month.
Then around a year ago it started misfiring and
stuttering under acceleration. I suspected the
old Achilles heel of MkI Golfs and Sciroccos,
the fuel filler neck letting rust into the system.
However, after checking this over and having
all of the fuel lines and components replaced,
as well as dropping the tank and cleaning it
out, the problem persisted.
Crazyquiffs MkI Golf Emporium came to
the rescue with all of the fuel parts and lines
and Superpro sorted us out with a full bush
kit, though we only got half of this done
before the car once again failed. The front end
was nice and pointy while the rusty rear axle
mounts were glanced at in horror. So this is
where I left it 12 months ago having run out
of money and patience, I flung it into the back
of our unit and moved onto other projects.
With the Retro Rides Gathering looming
I decided to dig out the Storm and give it
another chance to ingratiate itself
74 RETRO CARS
MILES RECENTLY: drum roll 0!

WHATS BROKEN: Either fuelling or ignition
HOW MUCH SPENT: 15 for a can of petrol
ON THE ROAD: 1989 VW Golf GTI 16v, 1990 Mercedes-Benz
190E 2.6, 1999 Alfa Romeo GTV
ON THE GO: 1974 Opel Manta A, 1982 Porsche 944, 1984
VW Scirocco Storm, 1992 Range Rover Vogue
First on the list was to double check that the fuel system wasnt to blame after all. Thankfully as the accumulator,
fuel pump, filter and all the brackets had just been replaced, the strip down was easy if a little messy. Next up
was to drain out the fuel as the Scirocco had been standing for so long. The yellow horrible gunk that came out of
the tank clearly wasnt even going fire up a lawnmower so we sloshed in some fresh petrol.
The Scirocco performing in its usual Stirling fashion. In fairness to it this was after Id rushed to put it back together after the gearbox swap for its MoT. A reminder if one were
ever needed that rushing mechanical works never a good idea. The failure in this instance was a pin that keeps the output flange on the gearbox.
Seeing daylight for the first time in over 12 months the Scirocco was pushed out and it has to say looked seriously sorry for itself. Where our barn workshop is located out in
the Fens theres a phenomena known as the fen blow. No its not something youd ask a lady of the night, its a dust storm that whips up all the bare fields early in the year.
This is why the Scirocco looks like its been abandoned for decades rather than just a year.
@RETROCARSMAG
NOVEMBER 2015 75
the projects
Embarrassment at the poor dusty appearance of the Scirocco made me give it a once over with a hose, just to get rid of the worst of the grime.
Sadly on this occasion a few hours spent tinkering made very little impact as the Scirocco flattened two batteries before eventually spluttering pathetically into life running on
about 2 cylinders. On this occasion I realised that enough was enough and gave up. However, before putting the car away again we let it dry in the sun and then fitted a new
cover wed been sent by those kind ladies and gents at Richbrook (www.richbrook.co.uk). The super soft tailored Richbrook cover is specifically designed for each model of car
so its assured to fit correctly first time. Its also made of a super soft lycra-blended satin that protects the cars paint and clings while still breathing. It stops moisture being
trapped against the paintwork. At 129 its also a cost effective way to leave your car stored but with piece of mind.
76 RETRO CARS
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ZETEC
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30 COSWORTH
GATHER 12
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COSSIES AT SANTA
POD FOR OUR SHOOT

OCTOBER 2015 Issue 88 4.40
PLUS: COMMER CAMPER ! PROJECT GOLF ENGINE SWAP ! PROJECT ALFA Q4

! SCRAPPAGE SCENE ! READERS RIDES ! NEWS & PRODUCTS ! EVENTS LISTING
YEARS OF THE
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@RetroCarsMag
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the projects
STORM IN A TEACUP
JOHN-JOE VOLLANS
The Scirocco has been absent

from these pages for long
enough, so JJ tells us where
hes got to this month
EDITOR
he tale of my VW Scirocco is one

of pain and financial suffering. The
cars one Ive always wanted but
sadly the reality of owning it has
proved to be an absolute pain! I
made the fatal error of buying a car from a guy
who knew nothing about cars, yet that didnt
stop him trying to work on one! Plus it had
finally given up after several years of this guys
bodging and poor maintenance. I bought it for
a snip but have easily spent ten times what I
paid for it in just over two years!
Once Id almost completely rebuilt my
Storm it finally provided an enjoyable driving
and owning experience for about a month.
Then around a year ago it started misfiring and
stuttering under acceleration. I suspected the
old Achilles heel of MkI Golfs and Sciroccos,
the fuel filler neck letting rust into the system.
However, after checking this over and having
all of the fuel lines and components replaced,
as well as dropping the tank and cleaning it
out, the problem persisted.
Crazyquiffs MkI Golf Emporium came to
the rescue with all of the fuel parts and lines
and Superpro sorted us out with a full bush
kit, though we only got half of this done
before the car once again failed. The front end
was nice and pointy while the rusty rear axle
mounts were glanced at in horror. So this is
where I left it 12 months ago having run out
of money and patience, I flung it into the back
of our unit and moved onto other projects.
With the Retro Rides Gathering looming
I decided to dig out the Storm and give it
another chance to ingratiate itself
74 RETRO CARS
MILES RECENTLY: drum roll 0!

WHATS BROKEN: Either fuelling or ignition
HOW MUCH SPENT: 15 for a can of petrol
ON THE ROAD: 1989 VW Golf GTI 16v, 1990 Mercedes-Benz
190E 2.6, 1999 Alfa Romeo GTV
ON THE GO: 1974 Opel Manta A, 1982 Porsche 944, 1984
VW Scirocco Storm, 1992 Range Rover Vogue
First on the list was to double check that the fuel system wasnt to blame after all. Thankfully as the accumulator,
fuel pump, filter and all the brackets had just been replaced, the strip down was easy if a little messy. Next up
was to drain out the fuel as the Scirocco had been standing for so long. The yellow horrible gunk that came out of
the tank clearly wasnt even going fire up a lawnmower so we sloshed in some fresh petrol.
The Scirocco performing in its usual Stirling fashion. In fairness to it this was after Id rushed to put it back together after the gearbox swap for its MoT. A reminder if one were
ever needed that rushing mechanical works never a good idea. The failure in this instance was a pin that keeps the output flange on the gearbox.
Seeing daylight for the first time in over 12 months the Scirocco was pushed out and it has to say looked seriously sorry for itself. Where our barn workshop is located out in
the Fens theres a phenomena known as the fen blow. No its not something youd ask a lady of the night, its a dust storm that whips up all the bare fields early in the year.
This is why the Scirocco looks like its been abandoned for decades rather than just a year.
@RETROCARSMAG
NOVEMBER 2015 75
the projects
Embarrassment at the poor dusty appearance of the Scirocco made me give it a once over with a hose, just to get rid of the worst of the grime.
Sadly on this occasion a few hours spent tinkering made very little impact as the Scirocco flattened two batteries before eventually spluttering pathetically into life running on
about 2 cylinders. On this occasion I realised that enough was enough and gave up. However, before putting the car away again we let it dry in the sun and then fitted a new
cover wed been sent by those kind ladies and gents at Richbrook (www.richbrook.co.uk). The super soft tailored Richbrook cover is specifically designed for each model of car
so its assured to fit correctly first time. Its also made of a super soft lycra-blended satin that protects the cars paint and clings while still breathing. It stops moisture being
trapped against the paintwork. At 129 its also a cost effective way to leave your car stored but with piece of mind.
76 RETRO CARS
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FIESTA
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Home-brew
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Expertly crafted
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BTCC
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Budget built
90s Touring car!
modified classics
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8 3 7 3 8 3
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FIESTA
ZETEC
FROM
325 TO
M3
Home-brew
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Expertly crafted
M3-powered E30
BTCC
CAVALIER
HOMAGE
Budget built
90s Touring car!
modified classics
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30 COSWORTH
GATHER 12
YEARS OF THE WE
COSSIES AT SANTA
POD FOR OUR SHOOT


YEARS OF THE
30 COSWORTH
@RetroCarsMag
WE GATHER 12
COSSIES AT SANTA
POD FOR OUR SHOOT

@RetroCarsMag
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details about how we would like to use your personal information. For full details visit www.kelsey.co.uk or call 01959
543524. If you have any questions please ask as submitting your data indicates your consent, until you choose otherwise,
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phone, email and SMS. You can opt-out at ANY time via email on data.controller@kelsey.co.uk or call 01959 543524.
pktmags.com/retrocars
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his month we are offering new subscribers a

fantastic 52 piece socket and bit set FREE.
Its great to store in your boot and is ideal
for all sorts of car related jobs and just perfect
for odd jobs around the home. Self contained
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PAY FROM JU
ST
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lf with
Four door MkI Go ded
rro
co
ely
tir
en
t
almos
sills, this
inner and outer
ne
ones a bit far go
s once a
We think this wa
tate and it looks
es
0Y
12
n
tsu
Da
re a while
like its been he
SCRAPPAGE SCENE
A few more contemporary machines seem

to have met their end alongside the classics.
If you go down to the woods today...

Words & images: Scott Blythe
Scottish
got wind of a small graveyard in the
what
see
to
Borders so took the trip down
treasures I could find.
that
A friend had told me about this place
he
as
far
as
and
s
time
of
le
coup
a
d
hed visite
for
nd
grou
ping
was concerned it was just a dum
.
place
the
ed
own
y
old cars and nobody reall
estate,
I took the trip down in my Volvo 240
me about,
told
had
d
frien
my
layby
the
d
foun
old farm
parked up and made my way up an
e my way
mad
I
As
area.
track next to a wooded
woods
the
in
an
carav
a
see
d
coul
up the hill I
ared to
appe
ody
Nob
cars.
old
by
d
unde
surro
80 RETRO CARS
the
live in the caravan so I went deeper into
scrap
of
ction
colle
eerie
an
d
woods and foun
cars piled on top of each other.
a car
I wasnt there long before I heard
d
hear
I
.
road
farm
approaching along the
and
off
ch
swit
ne
engi
the
up,
the car pull
is
the doors opened. My usual approach
to
ded
deci
I
honesty is the best policy so
my
with
cars
the
nd
come out from behi
greeted
camera and tripod in hand. I was
slightly
were
who
s
chap
old
py
grum
by two
dI
aine
expl
I
.
confused about my presence
if I
d
aske
they
and
tos
was here to take pho
no Im
was a wildlife photographer. I said
here for the cars.
be
They couldnt comprehend why Id
unless
cars
old
of
os
phot
g
takin
interested in
at
them
steal
and
back
e
com
to
g
goin
I was
ce,
offen
e
caus
a later date. Without trying to
right
their
in
dy
nobo
I tried to explain that
old
mind would want to steal any of their
it and a
of
none
ng
havi
were
they
but
,
junk
Mexican style stand-off ensued...
away
Eventually it all ended well and I came
ring
moto
tten
forgo
e
som
of
os
with these phot
RC
re.
natu
to
ning
retur
ly
slow
,
gems
re this is
Were pretty su
its a little
t
bu
,
a SAAB 99
certain!
tricky to tell for
Peugeot 104 in a really rou
gh state.
SS
SCRAPPAGE
SCENE
A SEAT Ibiza rests

underneath a
Vauxhall Astra.
that seems
A VW Camper
from an
d
re
to have suffe
k in.
ea
br
ed
pt
m
te
at
An R8 Rover 200.
@RETROCARSMAG
NOVEMBER 2015 81
events diary
2015 EVENTS DIARY

The 2015 show season is the biggest weve ever seen and if you want to get along to some exciting, new shows, gatherings
and rallies, heres your exhaustive list of everything thats worth attending this year. In fact its so big that we cant fit the whole
year in, so well give you a rolling few months instead Please note that the details contained here were correct at the time of
going to press and in order to avoid disappointment, check with the event organisers before setting off.
OCTOBER
PRESCOTT AMERICAN
AUTUMN CLASSIC
WHEN: 3rd 4th October, all
weekend
WHAT: Ever-popular Autumn Classic
event is an all-American Stars &
Stripes weekend.
WHERE: Prescott Hillclimb,
Gloucestershire
WEB: www.prescott-hillclimb.com
MORGAN MEMORIAL RACE @
DONINGTON
WHEN: 3rd 4th October,
10am 4:30pm
WHAT: Morgan racing at Derbyshires
famous Donington Park.
WHERE: Donigton Park Circuit,
Derbyshire
WEB: www.mscc.uk.com
LIVERPOOL MOTOR CLUB
TRACK DAY
WHEN: 3rd October, 10am
4:30pm
WHAT: The second of just two
trackdays at the famous old Grand
Prix circuit of Aintree.
WHERE: Aintree, Lancashire
WEB: www.liverpoolmotorclub.com
GOODWOOD VEE-POWER
BREAKFAST
WHEN: 4th October, 8am 12pm
WHAT: All classics with a V-shaped
engine, V-twin, V4, V6, V8, V10,
V12 etc.
WHERE: Goodwood Circuit, Sussex
WEB: www.goodwood.co.uk
BROOKLANDS MORGAN DAY
WHEN: 4th October, all day
WHAT: Morgan day at the famous
Brooklands Museum and banking.
WHERE: Brooklands Museum
Weybridge, Surrey
WEB: www.brooklandsmuseum.com
MALVERN MINI SHOW
WHEN: 11th October, 10am 5pm
WHAT: Mini Show & Spares Day,
Severn Hall & Outside, Three
Counties Showground, Malvern.
WHERE: Three Counties
Showground, Malvern
WEB: www.classicshows.org
MAC SPRINT CURBOROUGH
WHAT: Sprinting MAC competition at
the West Midlands venue.
WHERE: Curborough Fradley,
Staffordshire
WEB: www.shelsley-walsh.co.uk
82 RETRO CARS
BROOKLANDS AUTUMN
MOTORSPORT FESTIVAL
WHAT: Competition cars from all
ages put through their paces on
the test track.
WHERE: Brooklands Museum, Surrey
WEB: www.gingerbeerpromotions.com
NEWARK AUTOJUMBLE
WHAT: Normous Newark mega
Autojumble.
WHERE: Newark & Notts
Showground, Nottinghamshire
WEB: www.newarkautojumble.co.uk
ACE CAF CLASSIC CAR NIGHT
WHEN: 13th October, 6pm 11pm
WHAT: All classic meet with a sports
car slant.
WHERE: Ace Caf London,
North Circular
WEB: www.ace-cafe-london.com
ACE CAF FORD ESCORT NIGHT
WHEN: 17th October, 6pm 11pm
WHAT: A gathering of Fords finest
rally weapons at the Ace Caf.
WHERE: Ace Caf London,
North Circular
CAROLE NASH RESTORATION
SHOW
WHEN: 25th October,
9:30am 4pm
WHAT: As well as autojumble,
restoration and traders, theres also
classic car clubs.
WHERE: Stoneleigh Park, Coventry
WEB: www.livepromotions.co.uk
BROOKLANDS AUTUMN
CLASSIC BREAKFAST
WHEN: 25th October, 8am - 9:45am
WHAT: Head down to the birthplace
of British motorsport and aviation for
the third Sunday morning Breakfast
Club of 2015.
WHERE: Brooklands Museum
Weybridge, Surrey
WEB: www.brooklansmuseum.com
REGENT STREET VETERAN CAR
CONCOURS
WHEN: 31st October, 11am 3pm
WHAT: London to Brighton Veteran
Car Run Concours, Central London.
This takes place on the day before
each annual Run, in Regent Street.
WHERE: Regent Street, London
WEB: www.vccofgb.co.uk
RIXTON AUTOJUMBLE
WHEN: 25th October, from 7am
WHAT: Indoor and outdoor allweather autojumble. Traders, bikes,
cars, commercials and classics, no
need to book.
WHERE: A57 Manchester Rd, near
Warrington
WEB: facebook.com/pages/RixtonCar-Boot-and-Auto-Jumble
ROMNEY RETROS MEET
WHEN: 25th October, from 3pm
WHAT: Eclectic gathering of classic
cars. All American and custom cars
welcomed.
WHERE: Lade Car Park, Coast Drive
(opposite Taylor Road), Lydd On Sea
WEB: Facebook.com/Romney Retros
GLIDING CENTRE
CLASSIC CAR MEET
WHEN: 25th October, 11am onwards
WHAT: Chat, show vehicles and try a
glider flight and have a Sunday lunch!
WHERE: Husbands Bosworth Airfield,
Leicestershire
WEB: www.theglidingcentre.co.uk
PORSCHE NIGHT
@ THE ACE CAFE
WHEN: 26th October, 5pm - late
WHAT: Porsche night at the Ace Caf.
WHERE: Ace Caf, London
MOTORNUTZ CLASSIC CAR MEET
WHEN: 28th October, from 7pm
WHAT: A local and friendly classic
car meet in South Yorkshire.
WHERE: The Waverley, Brinsworth
Road, S60 5RW
WEB: www.motornutz.co.uk
CLASSIC & COLLECTOR
CAR MEET
WHEN: 28th October, 6pm onwards
WHAT: Informal monthly gathering.
No booking No fee.
WHERE: Grange Park, Scunthorpe
North Lincs.
WEB: retrorides.proboards.com/
thread/34527/scunthorpe-districtvintage-classic-club
THE ITALIAN JOB
WHEN: 29th October 7th
November
WHAT: A charity run for Minis and all
vehicles that appeared in the 1969
Italian Job film.
WHERE: All over Europe
WEB: www.italianjob.com
ALEXANDRA PALACE CLASSIC

CAR SHOW
WHEN: 30th October 1st
November
WHAT: 300 classics of all shapes
and sizes on display. Part of London
Classic Car Week.
WHERE: Alexandra Palace, London
WEB: www.alexandrapalace.com
ALL AMERICAN CRUISE-IN
WHEN: 31st October, 3pm 7pm
WHAT: Stars and Stripes classics
and moderns at the Ace.
REGENT STREET VETERAN
CAR CONCOURS
WHEN: 31st October, 11am 3pm
WHAT: London to Brighton Veteran
Car Run Concours, Central London.
This takes place on the day before
each annual Run, in Regent Street.
WHERE: Regent Street, London
WEB: www.vccofgb.co.uk
LINCOLN AUTOJUMBLE
WHEN: 31st October,
6:30am 12:30pm
WHAT: Covers cars, motorcycles,
tractors and lorries. 2 parking and
10 stall with unlimited space.
WHERE: Hangar Number One,
Hemswell
WEB: www.lincolnautojumble.com
NOVEMBER
GOODWOOD BREAKFAST
BAHN STORMER
WHEN: 1st November, 8am 12pm
WHAT: Bahn Stormer breakfast meet
for German performance!
WHERE: Goodwood, Sussex
WEB: https://grrc.goodwood.com/
section/breakfast-club/
FRY UP CLUB EAST MIDLANDS
WHEN: 1st November, 8:30am
11:30am
WHAT: Fry Up Club East Midlands
monthly meet at Limes Caf A614.
WHERE: The Limes Caf,
Nottingham
WEB: www.calendar.retro-rides.org
DURHAM CARS AND COFFEE
WHAT: All marques and models
welcomed (with a heavy Ford turn
out). Coffee available!
WHERE: The Xcel Centre,
Newton Aycliffe
WEB: www.retrorides.proboards.
com/thread/173469/cars-coffeenewton-aycliffe-durham
PENRITH AUTOJUMBLE
WHAT: Established car and bike
autojumble, all hard standing indoor
and outdoor plots 10.
WHERE: Penrith Auction Mart
Skirsgill, Penrith
WEB: www.garstangautojumbles.co.uk
KRISPY KREME MEET
WHEN: 1st November, 9:30am
onwards
WHAT: American car and classics
welcomed. Come along for coffee
and doughnuts!
WHERE: Krispy Kreme, Barton Dock
Road. Trafford Park
WEB: www.aacnw.com
LONDON TO BRIGHTON
VETERAN CAR RUN
WHEN: 1st November, all day
WHAT: The worlds longest running
motoring event, featuring 500 pre1905 vehicles travelling a total of 60
miles from London to Brighton.
WHERE: Hyde Park, London and
finishes at Madeira Drive, Brighton
WEB: www.veterancarrun.com
HOT ROD MEET @ THE ACE CAF
WHEN: 4th November, 5pm 10pm
WHAT: Hot rods and American
classics gather at the Ace Caf.
ACE CAF MINI MEET
WHAT: Monthly Mod n Mini Night at
the Ace Caf.
PRESTON CRUISE @ LEA GATE
WHEN: 6th November, 7pm
WHAT: Eagerly attended classic car
and bike gathering. Everything from
Astons to Harleys.
WHERE: Lea Gate pub, Blackpool
Rd, Preston
WEB: www.nwscc.co.uk/events
GARSTANG AUTOJUMBLE
WHEN: 8th November, 9am 1pm
WHAT: Well-established car and bike
autojumble (established in 1997).
WHERE: Garstang, Preston
WEB: www.garstangautojumbles.co.uk
ACE CAFE FRENCH &
PERFORMANCE
WHAT: A gathering of French
performance tin.
ACE CAF CLASSIC CAR NIGHT
WHEN: 10th November,
6pm 11pm
WHAT: All classic meet with a sports
car slant.
FOREST HILL & DISTRICT
CAR CLUB
onwards
WHAT: Members meeting with
drinks, biscuits and old cars over 25
years old.
WHERE: Athelney Primary School,
Forest Hill
WEB:
www.foresthillclassiccarclub.org
WEALD CLASSIC VEHICLE MEET
WHEN: 10th November, from 6pm
WHAT: An evening with classic car
and motorbike enthusiasts.
WHERE: Weald Inn, Royal George
Road, Burgess Hill
WEB:
www.wealdcvclub.simplesite.com
ITALIAN NIGHT @ THE ACE
6pm 11pm
WHAT: An evening celebrating the

best of Italian.
LANCASTER INSURANCE
CLASSIC MOTOR SHOW
WHEN: 13th November 15th
November, all weekend
WHAT: The Lancaster Insurance
Classic Motor Show is the biggest
and most popular classic car
exhibition in the UK.
WHERE: NEC Birmingham,
West Midlands
WEB: www.necclassicmotorshow.com
NORMOUS NEWARK
AUTOJUMBLE
WHEN: 15th November, all day
WHAT: One of the UKs largest
autojumbles with classic cars in
attendance.
WHERE: Newark & Notts
Showground, East Midlands
BORDERS BREAKFAST MEET
WHAT: Sunday morning get-together
and chat about classic vehicles.
WHERE: Route 68 Caf Milestone
Garden and Leisure Centre, Melrose
WEB: www.bvac.org.uk
BEAUJOLAIS RUN
WHEN:16th November 2015End
Date:21 November 2015
WHAT:The world famous Beaujolais
Run now in its 5th year. All
classicswelcome.
WHERE: SurreyRegion, London
WEB: www.beaujolaisrun.com
EAST MIDS MMOC MEET
from 7:30pm
WHAT: All classic Morris and Austin
vehicles and owners welcome.
WHERE: The Nursery Man, Beeston

WEB: www.eastmidlands.mmoc.org.uk
AIR COOLED VWs @ THE ACE
WHAT: Owners and fanciers of the
air-cooled creations Wolfsburg.
BRIT SPORTS CAR NIGHT
WHAT: British sports car night,
celebrating TVR, Lotus, Ginetta,
Noble and Marcos.
ESCORTS @ THE ACE
WHAT: DJ Rev production and
gathering of Fords finest.
RIXTON AUTOJUMBLE
WHEN: 22nd November, from 7am
need to book.
Warrington
ROMNEY RETROS MEET
WHEN: 22nd November, from 3pm
welcomed.
NORSE NIGHT
WHEN: 23rd November, from 6pm
WHAT: Norse special night for Saabs
and Volvos only.
AC OWNERS CLUB SPRINT

WHAT: Sprint competition for AC
owners at Goodwood hillclimb.
WHERE: Goodwood, Sussex
WEB: https://grrc.goodwood.com/
race/on-track
FOOTMAN JAMES RESTORATION
SHOW
WHEN: 7th November 8th
November, 9:30am 4pm
WHAT:
Vast array of classics,
clubs and experts to explain how to
restore old cars.
WHERE: Royal Bath and West
Showground, Shepton Mallet
WEB: http://www.footmanjames.
co.uk/classic-car-bike-events/
the-footman-james-classic-vehiclerestoration-show
@RETROCARSMAG
NOVEMBER 2015 83
VAG MEET @ THE ACE

WHAT: Meet for all water-cooled VW
models including Skoda, Seat, Audi
& Porsche.
7pm onwards
WHERE: The Waverley,
Brinsworth Road
MOD N MINI MEET

WHEN: 3rd December, 6pm 11pm
WHAT: Minis of all shapes and sizes
and classic scooter meet.
PRESTON CRUISE @ LEA GATE
WHEN: 4th December, from 7pm
WHAT: Eagerly attended classic car
and bike gathering. Everything from
Astons to Harleys.
WHERE: Lea Gate pub,
Blackpool Rd, Preston
WEB: www.nwscc.co.uk/events

RIXTON AUTOJUMBLE
WHEN: 13th December, from 7am
WHAT: Indoor & outdoor all-weather
autojumble, traders, bikes, cars,
commercials & classics.
WHERE: A57 Manchester Road near
Warrington
WEB: www.facebook.com/pages/
Rixton-Car-Boot-and-Auto-Jumble
COLD TURKEY MEET

WHEN: 26th December, 10am
5pm
WHAT: Caf opens for all those sick
of the Christmas festivities in need of
a petrol shot.
BRISTOL RETRO & CLASSIC

BREAKFAST
WHEN: 13th December, 8:30am
11:30am
WHAT: A diverse range of classic
and retro cars, combined with great
food and banter.
WHERE: Queens Square, Bristol
WEB: retrorides.proboards.com/
thread/163718/bristol-retro-classicmeet-Sunday
RIXTON AUTOJUMBLE
need to book.
Warrington
LE JOG
WHEN: 5th December 8th
December
WHAT: The Lands End to John O
Groats Reliability Trial and Touring
Trial.
WHERE: Lands End to John O
Groats
WEB: www.heroevents.eu
LINCOLN AUTOJUMBLE
6:30am 12:30pm
WHAT: Covers cars, motorcycles,
tractors and lorries. 2 parking and
10 stall with unlimited space.
WHERE: Hangar Number One,
Hemswell
WEB: www.lincolnautojumble.com
DURHAM CARS & COFFEE

WHEN: 6th December, 11am 1pm
WHAT: All marques and models
welcomed (with a heavy Ford turn
out). Coffee available!
WHERE: The Xcel Centre, Long Tens
Way, Newton Aycliffe
WEB: http://retrorides.proboards.
com/thread/173469/cars-coffeenewton-aycliffe-durham
ALL AMERICAN CRUISE-IN

WHAT: All American and custom cars
welcomed.
KRISPY KREME MEET

WHEN: 6th December, from 9:30am
WHAT: American car and classics
welcomed. Come along for coffee
and doughnuts!
WHERE: Barton Dock Road. Trafford
Park, Dumplington
WEB: www.aacnw.com
PETROLHEAD NIRVANA MEET

WHEN: 14th December, 6pm
11pm
WHAT: A social get together with all
manner of performance machinery
(new & old).
STEWART REGISTER GET

TOGETHER
WHEN: 6th December, 11am
onwards
WHAT: Need not bring your vehicle
if it is tucked up for the winter! Catch
up with friends and make new ones.
WHERE: Ruddington Heritage Centre
WEB: www.carandclassic.co.uk/
event/7165

WHEN: 16th December, 6pm
11pm
Noble and Marcos.
MALVERN DRIVE-IN
WHAT: Massive car show held in the
Wye Halls and outside.
WHERE: The Three Counties
Showground, Malvern
WEB: www.classicshows.org
PORSCHE NIGHT @ THE ACE
11pm
WHAT: Stuttgarts finest gather at
the Ace Cafe.
DECEMBER
HOT ROD NIGHT
WHEN: 2nd December, 6pm 11pm
WHAT: Hot Rod night for American,
classics and customs.
84 RETRO CARS
GERMAN NIGHT
WHEN: 7th December, 6pm 11pm
WHAT: German night at the Ace
Cafe, predominently Mercedes-Benz
& BMW.
WEALD CLASSIC VEHICLE MEET
WHAT: An evening with classic car
and motorbike enthusiasts.
WHERE: Royal George Road,
Burgess Hill
WEB:
www.wealdcvclub.simplesite.com
WHEN: 8th December, 6pm 11pm
Noble and Marcos.
FRENCH CLASSIC &

PERFORMANCE CAR NIGHT
WHEN: 21st December, 5pm
10pm
WHAT: A gathering of French
performance tin.
NORMOUS NEWARK
AUTOJUMBLE
WHAT: A massive & varied car &
motorbike autojumble, filled with
spares, tools & automobilia.
WHERE: Newark Showground
INCARNATION SHOW N SHINE

11pm
WHAT: Famous, regular show n
Shine competition at the Ace.
HEARTS, BUCKS & BEDS SAAB

MEET
WHEN: 28th November, 11am
4pm
WHAT: Saab meet for the north of
London shires.
vehicles and owners welcome.

WHERE: The Nursery Man, Beeston
WEB: www.eastmidlands.mmoc.org.uk
BORDERS BREAKFAST MEET

WHEN: 20th December, all day
WHAT: Sunday morning get-together
and chat about classic vehicles.
WHERE: Route 68 Caf Milestone
Garden and Leisure Centre, Melrose
WEB: www.bvac.org.uk
MALVERN SUNDAY BREAKFAST
MEET
WHEN: 20th December, 9am 1pm
WHAT: Hot rods, bikes and
classics welcomed. Supporting:
driveoutcancer.com
WHERE: The Filling Station, Malvern
WEB:
www.thevintagestockyards.com#
EAST MIDS MMOC MEET
WHEN: 21st December, from
7:30pm
WHAT: All classic Morris and Austin
ROMNEY RETROS MEET

welcomed.
PORSCHE NIGHT @ THE ACE
WHEN: 28th December,
6pm 11pm
WHAT: Stuttgarts finest gather at
the Ace Cafe.
VAG MEET @ THE ACE
WHAT: Meet for all water-cooled VW
models including Skoda,
Seat, Audi & Porsche.
7pm onwards
WHERE: The Waverley,
Brinsworth Road
INCARNATION SHOW N SHINE
6pm 11pm
WHAT: Famous, regular show n
Shine competition at the Ace.
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COSMETIC MODS ADDED ADMIN-FREE
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NUMBER 02081054 AND ARE AUTHORISED AND REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY - NUMBER: 307060. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF DAVID COX.
readers rides
AUDI ENGINE ADVICE
Hi JJ, I was just reading through last months Retro Cars... superb as
ever! I came across your MkII build. Ive got a couple of them myself...
well 5 as it happens, so always interested in other projects, particularly
engine work as Im a bit of a fan of them!
I see in your quest for some more urge youve gone down the 2-litre
block route... at a guess you have the Audi ACE code from an 80 Sport?
They make a great base engine for further tuning as you know but I picked
up on a couple of points of note which may be of help for you. There are
many myths surrounding the 8 & 16v in the tuning world which over the
years have turned into gospel gossip, one of which is the 16v head
The early KR did indeed have a slightly different port shape, which
on initial glance looks bigger, but in fact theyre not. The later KR
shared the same basic casting with the 9A, 6A & late ABF 16vs. The
early casting is a 027 code and all the later versions are 051. There are
also minor differences in 051s but nothing to worry too much about.
The folklore part is the interesting bit though... early KR 027 castings
do not flow as well as the later 051 versions. Ive had many on the
flowbench over the years and the later heads are always better in
standard form. The early head does have 1mm bigger exhaust valves
but this makes no noticeable power difference. So, if you have a later
KR 051 casting you have more or less the same performance potential
as the later 9A - ABF version, but if youre using an older 027 casting
youre missing a bit of flow.
However as you know head porting pays dividends. Ive yet to port
an early KR from scratch myself yet the ones Ive tested from other
tuners still show a flow loss over heads based on the later casting
when ported by the same hand, so the later casting is generally the
better base in standard or modded form.
Im sort of also with you on the shorter block heights in certain
applications, it feels a more period mod rather than the ABF. However,
the bore and stroke are identical with just the rod length differing, 144
in the 9A/6A/ACE engine and 159mm in the ABF. That rod to stroke
length gives a slightly different character to them both, in ultimate
performance the longer rod is better, although Ive built 230hp sprint
engines based on the 6A version so they dont really hold much back.
Flywheels... now they can indeed be lightened quite a bit for
improved response by machining the front face and the thick rim on
the ring gear side. However, they do need to be re-balanced after,
particularly on 2-litres as they can suffer an inherent vibration issue
and rattle off front pulleys, break clutch bolts, loosen alternator bolts
and break alternator & p/s brackets. I had a circuit race customer fit
a lightweight flywheel earlier in the year that kept throwing alternator
belts due to the pivot bolt constantly working loose, which it never
did before. His new engine is fully balanced and doesnt shake bolts
loose anymore.
No doubt you may have a favoured tuner closer to home but if I can
help in any way Id be only too happy in the future. Good luck with the
projects and keep up the great work on the mag.
I see Bryn still works on the mag....he did an article on my hillclimb
MkI back in the early days with the previous publisher. Ask him if he
remembers the wet road test in the black MkI down in the southwest.
Regards Jason (www.jmrclubsport.co.uk)
Hi Jason. Im loving this engine its a peach and screams its nuts off.
However, theres a few little niggles that were looking to address.
We want to fit some throttle bodies and aftermarket management as
its buzzing the limiter at about 6600rpm.
The car is one of our two go-to track toys (other is the 205) but its
also used by me weekly so Im not overly keen on making it too harsh.
Such a good laugh though, Im just loving sticking it into corners at silly
speeds. Addictive engine and exhaust noise though too!
In another, but not entirely unrelated note, my power steering pipes
have sprung a leak and Im happy to sack it off in truth Now Ive
heard that the PAS rack is a little quicker? Is that right? Also, how do
you go about deleting it while leaving the pump in place (due to the
auxiliary belt pulley).Thanks for all the details and kind words.
P.S Bryns not really on the mag anymore, he just contributes
every now and then, hes the main man at Speedhunters. Ed
AUSTRALIAN ESCORT
I am based in Australia and have a MkI Escort. I dont know whether

you would be interested, but I thought I would send through a couple
of photos to see if you are? Maybe do a shoot?
Regards Dave Fitzsimons, via email.
96 RETRO CARS
Thanks very much Dave, were snowed under here at present with
Escorts, but yours certainly looks tidy. Could you send us another
email with all of the specifications and your tale of owning it and well
take it from there? Thanks. Ed
DATSUN CEDRIC
I was wondering if you might be interested in putting
my ride in Retro Cars magazine? Its a 1974 Nissan
Cedric 230 GX. Its as new with low miles. I do believe
you wont find a cleaner one, if indeed any actually in
existence, in the UK
I bought the car from Dave Warren who owns the GTR
Shop. You have just done a nice article on his Skyline. He
imported it for me from Hiroshima, Japan this year.
I have spent lots of hours turning a nice rust-free car
into a top condition show car. Look forward to your reply.
Kind regards Mike Hughes, via email.
Thanks for sending us some photos of your
fantastic Nissan (which of course isnt a Datsun as its
a native Japanese market car, the Datsun badge was
used on exports).
I know for a fact that we do have a handful of Datsun
Cedrics in the UK but to my knowledge very few (or any)
have actually been modded. I love yours its a seriously
unusual and cool motor, well definitely be in touch. Ed
PAUL SMITH MINI

Further to our messages on Twitter, please find a
few pictures of my Paul Smith Mini attached.
I bought it in April this year and carried out a
resto and used it for the London to Brighton run
in May, which it completed fine
Ive repainted it and done loads to it including
a recon gearbox etc. etc. the list goes on and on
If you would like to feature it I have loads of
pictures of it from when I got it right though the
rebuild to its current mint condition.
Thanks Darren Brown, via email.
NOVEMBER 2015 97
NEXT MONTH
The December issue of Retro Cars showcases some special machines that we just
couldnt fit in our Japanese special and the usual eclectic mix of stunning tin that
you cant afford to miss! Its also our JJs last issue in the editors chair!
Also
DATSUN 260Z MKI FORD CAPRI RACER

DROOPSNOOT PROTOTYPES LOTUS ELITE
ON-AIR PIT CREW MX-5 OPEL MANTA A
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Contents subject to change
Fifties Le Mans
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Four-wheel Bond
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PLUS: HILLMAN IMP RALLY CAR
RARE ROVER ZAGATO
ZAGATO EURO RALLY
THE AUTOBAHN LOCKUP
PORSCHE 944 & SCIROCCO PROJECTREPORT
UPDATES
NOVEMBER 2015 Issue

89 4.40
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98 RETRO CARS
www.gazshocks.com
Heres one we built earlier...

...can we build a set for you?
Escort MkII
GAZ Gold
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Can be combined with GAZ specially
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All units in all our ranges can be
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Spring rates can be altered on request.
When a coilover is unable to be
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Anodised outer alloy components
Telephone:
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Retro Cars - November 2015

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LOTUS

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NOVEMBER 2015 Issue 89 4.40

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