I’m done with vintage cars - not
Discussion
dbdb said:
RichB said:
I had great fun at Brooklands last weekend, I got roped into doing the autotests, my first time and the Lagonda is big old girl to drive in circles around cones, quickly! However, I won a trophy for the over 2 litre pre-war class so well pleased! 
That Lagonda is a glorious looking thing.GordonGekko said:
Congratulations on the Austin, it looks to be in great condition.
Could I suggest that when anyone is buying an ‘old’ car, think what you want to accomplish.
Is it to participate and compete in a specific type of event so must be eligible to a set of rules/preferences of a club?
Is it a car to simply enjoy pootling around in for leisure?
For example the VSCC have strict criteria for car eligibility for different events - so it’s worth focussing on what you actually wish to use the car for.
I have both eligible and ineligible vintage cars including two racing cars; but prefer to use them mostly for fun on the road when time permits, leisure driving. Slow being possibly more fun that fast
A local tour has been one of the best events entered with a great mix of entrants so that is the focus recently.
As life is so busy events (and clubs) have to be enjoyable.
Cant fault that. Could I suggest that when anyone is buying an ‘old’ car, think what you want to accomplish.
Is it to participate and compete in a specific type of event so must be eligible to a set of rules/preferences of a club?
Is it a car to simply enjoy pootling around in for leisure?
For example the VSCC have strict criteria for car eligibility for different events - so it’s worth focussing on what you actually wish to use the car for.
I have both eligible and ineligible vintage cars including two racing cars; but prefer to use them mostly for fun on the road when time permits, leisure driving. Slow being possibly more fun that fast
A local tour has been one of the best events entered with a great mix of entrants so that is the focus recently.
As life is so busy events (and clubs) have to be enjoyable.
I have very little desire to compete in a vintage car at the moment, I think that is something which could get expensive and time consuming fast, and with a young family and lot of other hobbies thats not a good thing to consider at the moment.
The Heavy 12 is wonderful because its very reliable and the level of support both online and off in terms of technical support, historical information, and both new and old spares is fantastic. Bit thin on good rallies, but they do have an annual get together, and the 2022 centenary event was incredible.
For me the only two drawbacks at the moment are:
- No seatbelts, so my 2.5yo daughter and or wife cannot join me in the car, previously myself and my (then fiancé) did a number of road trips.
- Inability to travel on the motorway. With a top speed of 45-50, cruising at more like 38mph, it can sometimes be a barrier to attending events etc.
Maybe I should have bought a classic car, but it didn't appeal the same!
RichB said:
I had great fun at Brooklands last weekend, I got roped into doing the autotests, my first time and the Lagonda is big old girl to drive in circles around cones, quickly! However, I won a trophy for the over 2 litre pre-war class so well pleased!
Oh nice, I found autotests (and autosolos) with the Westfield and really enjoyed them, especially when I was lucky to have the very active Loughborough Car club (thanks to Richard Egger of REIS) on the door step.It appears the Wirral/Merseyside is a bit thin on VSCC meetings and I have yet to attend any, however it would be interesting to get the Heavy 12 round a course, especially once I have rebuilt the steering box! Recently attending an excellent day-course on the topic, run by the VAR and Tom Titterton, so its high on the list!
crankedup5 said:
^^^^^^
Superb all round
I noticed a defect on my Swift whilst checking the road wheel nuts. I found a worryingly high number of them showing cracking. Six nuts to each wheel and half of which with cracks appearing.
After much searching I was pointed to a business that could possibly supply replacements, I am currently awaiting their quote for manufacture of a dozen wheel nuts.
They are a deep Acorn BSF 5/16, devilishly difficult to obtain. Such is the fun of vintage car motoring.
Ahh, balls! Yes, just have some made. We have to do the same with brass Whitworth nuts for the steam engine.Superb all round
I noticed a defect on my Swift whilst checking the road wheel nuts. I found a worryingly high number of them showing cracking. Six nuts to each wheel and half of which with cracks appearing.
After much searching I was pointed to a business that could possibly supply replacements, I am currently awaiting their quote for manufacture of a dozen wheel nuts.
They are a deep Acorn BSF 5/16, devilishly difficult to obtain. Such is the fun of vintage car motoring.
dhutch said:
crankedup5 said:
^^^^^^
Superb all round
I noticed a defect on my Swift whilst checking the road wheel nuts. I found a worryingly high number of them showing cracking. Six nuts to each wheel and half of which with cracks appearing.
After much searching I was pointed to a business that could possibly supply replacements, I am currently awaiting their quote for manufacture of a dozen wheel nuts.
They are a deep Acorn BSF 5/16, devilishly difficult to obtain. Such is the fun of vintage car motoring.
Ahh, balls! Yes, just have some made. We have to do the same with brass Whitworth nuts for the steam engine.Superb all round
I noticed a defect on my Swift whilst checking the road wheel nuts. I found a worryingly high number of them showing cracking. Six nuts to each wheel and half of which with cracks appearing.
After much searching I was pointed to a business that could possibly supply replacements, I am currently awaiting their quote for manufacture of a dozen wheel nuts.
They are a deep Acorn BSF 5/16, devilishly difficult to obtain. Such is the fun of vintage car motoring.
However they helpfully directed me to another supplier, seems they cannot help either but did advise me that the nut is BSF 7/16.
I am buying a few standard hex nuts BSF 7/16 just to see if the size is correct identified.
Can you advise me please where you got your brass whitworth made, perhaps they can make
what I need. Thanks.
crankedup5 said:
Can you advise me please where you got your brass whitworth made, perhaps they can make
what I need. Thanks.
Certainly need to ensure good confirmation of the thread, can you measure the pitch and dia of the studs?what I need. Thanks.
I got the Whitworth nuts made by a local model steam engineer, fortunately they are normal open ended nut, single sided chamfer too, so quick and easy to make from the correct hex brass bar.
Expect your best option for 30 odd is a local CNC machine shop. Due to the setup time, you can likely get 130 for a similar price, which might be something you can resell to fellow Swift owners assuming enough of a club/network to distribute to those in need!
I't wont be given away, but can recommend Richard at ABP as some one who will atleast make a good job of it, if you need a lead and or happen to be in the midlands. Tell him Daniel Hutchinson sent you and says Hi!
https://www.allbritishprecision.com/
dhutch said:
crankedup5 said:
Can you advise me please where you got your brass whitworth made, perhaps they can make
what I need. Thanks.
Certainly need to ensure good confirmation of the thread, can you measure the pitch and dia of the studs?what I need. Thanks.
I got the Whitworth nuts made by a local model steam engineer, fortunately they are normal open ended nut, single sided chamfer too, so quick and easy to make from the correct hex brass bar.
Expect your best option for 30 odd is a local CNC machine shop. Due to the setup time, you can likely get 130 for a similar price, which might be something you can resell to fellow Swift owners assuming enough of a club/network to distribute to those in need!
I't wont be given away, but can recommend Richard at ABP as some one who will atleast make a good job of it, if you need a lead and or happen to be in the midlands. Tell him Daniel Hutchinson sent you and says Hi!
https://www.allbritishprecision.com/
Unfortunately Swift cars are few and far between with a tiny club to now match. I do not have the means to measure the thread and wouldn’t trust my skills anyway
Cost, well I expect a tidy sum bill, if the job can be done, in the several hundreds. Mention of setup time, absolutely and I do expect to pay for that, in the event they take on the job I will go for a full set of 24. (nuts, I know. had to be said)I will contact the Company and see where that leads. Thanks again and I will post back any progress.
On a sort of related note, Youtube suggested I might be interested in the Oak Swamp channel, that appears to build custom vintage cars with a 'patina' finish... lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5oS68FqrmQ
I quite like the idea of something like the above as a 'daily' for local trips, but lack skills, space and tools to keep such a thing going!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5oS68FqrmQ
I quite like the idea of something like the above as a 'daily' for local trips, but lack skills, space and tools to keep such a thing going!
RSTurboPaul said:
On a sort of related note, Youtube suggested I might be interested in the Oak Swamp channel, that appears to build custom vintage cars with a 'patina' finish... lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5oS68FqrmQ
I quite like the idea of something like the above as a 'daily' for local trips, but lack skills, space and tools to keep such a thing going!
You might be surprised - I'm a mechanical moron but do actually enjoy working on my oldest cars (don't touch anything postwar!). They're actually really straightforward to understand and, if its something reasonably popular, bits and expertise are relatively easy to find. I've found the people involved in prewar cars to be the least snooty, most knowledgeable, and interesting/entertaining, of all the various car 'scenes' I've dabbled in. There seems to be quite a vibrant youth scene emerging as well (particularly in the VSCC) which is rewarding to see.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5oS68FqrmQ
I quite like the idea of something like the above as a 'daily' for local trips, but lack skills, space and tools to keep such a thing going!
ettore said:
RSTurboPaul said:
On a sort of related note, Youtube suggested I might be interested in the Oak Swamp channel, that appears to build custom vintage cars with a 'patina' finish... lol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5oS68FqrmQ
I quite like the idea of something like the above as a 'daily' for local trips, but lack skills, space and tools to keep such a thing going!
You might be surprised - I'm a mechanical moron but do actually enjoy working on my oldest cars (don't touch anything postwar!). They're actually really straightforward to understand and, if its something reasonably popular, bits and expertise are relatively easy to find. I've found the people involved in prewar cars to be the least snooty, most knowledgeable, and interesting/entertaining, of all the various car 'scenes' I've dabbled in. There seems to be quite a vibrant youth scene emerging as well (particularly in the VSCC) which is rewarding to see.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5oS68FqrmQ
I quite like the idea of something like the above as a 'daily' for local trips, but lack skills, space and tools to keep such a thing going!
I will have to see if I can get along to an event
I'm getting there, downshifts could be better. I'll use it for tootling about. I've taken it to the VSCC meeting at Cadwell which is just up the road and a couple of local shows and informal meets but I'm often the only pre-war car there. There are quite a few local vintage car owners so a decent network which is nice to have. Luckily it doesn't need much doing. I've fitted a fuel filter and cleaned the carb which has helped the downshifts as it now blips on the throttle better although with such a long stroke and a heavy flywheel it's not the quickest response. It's happy at 50-55mph so much more useable than many cars of the period.
Today there was a shopping Sunday combined with the annual classic car day in Nijverdal, there were also some nice oldies among them.
Those were the very old ones, loved that little one above, many were also for sale, also the one above, so cute and not that big as some other very old ones.
Those were the very old ones, loved that little one above, many were also for sale, also the one above, so cute and not that big as some other very old ones.
GTRene said:
Today there was a shopping Sunday combined with the annual classic car day in Nijverdal, there were also some nice oldies among them.
Those were the very old ones, loved that little one above, many were also for sale, also the one above, so cute and not that big as some other very old ones.
Looks like a good collection, nice setting for it too.Those were the very old ones, loved that little one above, many were also for sale, also the one above, so cute and not that big as some other very old ones.
rovermorris999 said:
I've not long bought this 1928 Alvis SD 12/50, my first vintage car. Centre accelerator and a crash box with a right-hand gear lever which makes you concentrate!
Oh, proper job!In many ways I am very grateful our 1924 Austin has 'conventional' pedal order and great shift, but there is part of me that I think would quite enjoy driving something with more unusual controls!
dhutch said:
rovermorris999 said:
I've not long bought this 1928 Alvis SD 12/50, my first vintage car. Centre accelerator and a crash box with a right-hand gear lever which makes you concentrate!
Oh, proper job!In many ways I am very grateful our 1924 Austin has 'conventional' pedal order and great shift, but there is part of me that I think would quite enjoy driving something with more unusual controls!
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