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Secret Diary of a Classic Car Dealer – Part One
This morning I had a viewing arranged with a gentleman – let’s call him Richard (or any shortened derivative of …
RAC Midsummer Drive-In
For some classic owners Midsummer means only one thing, and that’s the RAC’s Midsummer Drive-in. Held at its Woodcote Park …
The Secret Life of a Motor Factor
Hands-on classic owners don’t always buy their cars’ replacement parts from that website: it’s highly likely they’ll pop down to …
Real Classics in Cheshire
What makes a decent classic gathering? A good mix of cars of all ages? A decent venue? Decent owners and …
Window whiners
Early-1970s television wizard Catweazle called it ‘elektrickery’ and the Mentor’s windows were dogged by some sorcery back in the early …
Goodwood Members’ Meeting
Mellow, that’s the word… The Special’s ‘le patron’ joined the GRRC the weekend it was launched and has been an …
Viva Re-VIVA-l
As the Viva gets ever nearer to being back on the road finding suitable inspiration becomes more important than ever. …
Spend, Spend, Spend
In the space of a week the Mentor enjoyed some expenditure, with most of it being on out-of-sight components. But …
Underbonnet goings-on
There’s been plenty of activity with the Viva and the BGT and it seems there’s a light at the end …
Just the ticket
Another year passes and again the Mighty Nippa goes through its MoT-test with the minimum of fuss. It’s embarrassing to …
Capital classics
Occasionally The Special breaks free of Carmarthenshire and heads to the capital with its Liberty carpet bag for a night …
Van about town (and country)
Mrs Special clearly can’t get enough of small vans, but with the HA Viva being completed and the Escort 55 …
Rust, rust, glorious rust…
…to paraphrase Flanders and Swann. Except the corrosion on The Special’s Escort 55 isn’t anything to laugh about. Those familiar …
Testing times
MoT-test time can be a worry, even if you think you’re on top of your motor’s maintenance. Having said that, …
Heater in name only
The Nippa’s the car that been with us the longest and while it’s not used as much as it used …
Keeping it clean
The downside of Winter driving is the state of the roads and how dirty a regularly-used car becomes. The Special …
Viva Re-VIVA-l part 4
More progress both mechanically and cosmetically for the HA as, after more than 10 years the entire ignition system’s been …
Border crossing for a set of steelies
Funny how a plan comes together and that’s certainly been the case lately with the Viva van’s revival. Our most …
Viva Re-VIVA-l part 3
After years of waiting the Viva’s now firmly back on track as its re–viva–l continues apace. Since its last appearance the …
Viva Re-VIVA-l part 2
Much underbonnet progress with the van as Jon the Tec spent a whole day putting good wiring that had been …
Small yet mighty
There’s only one expression for this pint-sized duo: Small yet mighty. While the classic snobs will sneer at these petite …
Viva Re-VIVA-l
With The Special’s MGB GT project dragging on courtesy of a cracked cylinder head it’s time to turn the spotlight …
October Bicester Scramble
It was an early start for The Special’s Daihatsu Fourtrak but that pre-sunrise alarm clock ring was more than compensated …
Red with black? Green with red?
If manners make the man, do colours make the car? Some cars will always be associated with a particular colour …
Mudflaps? Like ‘em or loathe ‘em they still have a job to do
Mudflaps – the work of the devil to many enthusiasts who think there’s a whiff of the pensioner’s car about …
‘Four Wheel Drift’
Originally published in 1959 ‘Four Wheel Drift’ was aimed at younger readers but it’s a great reminder of motor sport …
More ‘white’ roads, a magazine connection, some book-buying and a pub lunch
A recent ‘taking care of business’ trip to Bordon gave The Special and its X-Type a chance to explore the …
Wye not? Vintage rally with a fabulous backdrop
The Special was up early and out of its HQ by 7.30am for the Three Cocks Vintage Rally, a proper …
Getting the balance right
Welcome to The Special’s latest acquisition: a 1967 MGB GT we bought at an auction last year. Diversions kept us …
The joy of white roads
For those who really like ‘motoring’ getting truly off the beaten track means resorting to white roads, those small, often …
The C15 Romahome made an about turn
Hot on the heels of the previous week’s visit to Much Marcle Steam Rally The Special’s plans to visit the …
The Special’s Citroen C15 Romahome hits the road
Exactly five years and three weeks since it last went to an event The Special’s Citroen C15 Romahome hit the …
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