Dep-O

Gerry Landie

2011-07-13T14:49:00.001+01:00

A Land Rover lovingly owned by the late racing legend Gerry Marshall, and still sporting a series of ‘optional extras’ that signify his infectious enthusiasm for both cars and competition, will be auctioned at Historics Summer sale at Brooklands on Tuesday 19^th July.

The 1972 Series III workhorse is affectionately festooned with stickers detailing Marshall’s various memberships, interests and passions, such as the Aston Martin Owners Club, The British Racing Drivers Club and Historic Sports Car Club amongst others.

As a short wheel base variant, the more sporting looks of this 88(“) County model aptly reflect Marshall’s racing credentials – with 625 race wins across various formula, spanning 40 years – whilst the addition of a secondary, competition rev counter leave an indelible imprint of its previous owner.

Currently owned by a close family friend, this reliable Land Rover has spent its most recent years garaged, seeing only limited use outside of the annual MOT test, and offers in the region of £4,000 - £6,000 are anticipated for one of the most famous examples of this vehicle in existence.

For more information, and to attend the Historics at Brooklands auction on the afternoon of Tuesday July 19^th, call 0800 988 3838, e-mail: auctions@historics.co.uk, or see the website, www.historics.co.uk. Entry by catalogue only, available prior to, or on the day of the auction.

2011-07-03T00:19:00.002+01:00

Last year, we got the wrong day and this year, we've got the right day, but just haven't had the time to get a single one of our retro classics on the road.

The 'Crab is closest – it's fit, willing, but illegal thanks to it lacking a piece of paper from the ministry. Still, at least now you can see what we've been up to all this time.

So when you spot us – Gez will be covered in cameras and Si will doubtless be still trying to bring hats back into vogue – come over and say hello. Especially, if you've got a cracking car which is just begging for the Dep-O treatment.

Castle Combe Action Day

2011-05-12T12:16:00.000+01:00

Wonder if Gez'll let me borrow the ’Crab for a weekend...?

There is just one month to go until the next, exciting Castle Combe "Action Day" - the Classics & Sports Cars Action Day, happening at the heritage-rich Wiltshire circuit on Saturday 11 June.

The hugely popular, historic 1.85-mile circuit - one of the fastest, most exhilarating and oldest tracks in the UK - has been hosting Action Days for three decades, from its base in the beautiful Cotswolds. Each bespoke "Action Day" attracts a plethora of outstanding circuit cars, motor clubs, trade stands and big crowds - while also giving club members the chance to experience the speedy circuit at full tilt, firsthand, at great prices, from just £30 (£35 on the day).

As well as special set sessions for classic cars, modern sports cars and the special cherished car sessions on circuit, new for this 2011 Classics & Sports Cars Action Day event, are escorted "Club Parade" lap runs.

These sessions give a unique opportunity for club drivers and their families, to safely lap the circuit at 40mph, behind the Castle Combe pace car. They are bespoke for each classic and sports car marque and each includes a pose for a group photograph on the start/finish straight, to record the auspicious occasion.

The track is also used for another gigantic parade lap at lunchtime - the "Giant Classic Cruise" - where every car in the paddock is invited to join a show lap for the drivers, passengers and crowds alike to soak up the unique Castle Combe classic atmosphere. Last year, more than 200 vehicles took part, making this one of the many highlights of the event.

Also new for 2011 is a dedicated paddock area for individual owners of classic "tax exempt" cars (pre-1973). Running alongside the Action Day, in a separate area of the paddock (with its own parking and costing £10 to enter separately), is an exciting Classic Car & Automobilia auction, run by Richard Edmonds (seewww.richardedmondsauctions.com).

Highlights of the auction include: 50+ historic cars, 20+ classic motorcycles and 450 lots of automobilia. There are pre-war cars, including a 1927 Amilcar CGS (est: £25,000-30,000), a 1930 Lea Francis Hyper replica (est: £55,000-60,000), a 1932 Riley 12/6 Lynx tourer (est: £25,000-30,000) and post-war classics including a superb 1959 MGA (est: £20,000-22,000), and a good selection of MG B's and Midgets. There's also a number of commercials, the highlight being a 1943 AEC petrol bowser with a huge file of history, including being used to refuel the Lancaster bombers before their Dambusters raid! In terms of motorbikes, there's a pair of Vintage Scotts with a combined value of £10,000.

Among the automobilia, there will be a large collection of rare motoring enamel advertising signs, many worth several thousand pounds.

As usual at the Action Day, there's the established chance to be judged the coveted 'Car of the Show' and 'Club Stand of the Show,' for anyone displaying their retro vehicles. And vying for their chance to win those honours, there are over 60 classic and sports car clubs and more than 1,000 classic, retro and sports cars on display.

One of the big attractions this year is a special, exclusive track parade with Morgan three-wheelers, showcasing the iconic three-wheeler, in the year Morgan have decided to re-launch this classic British car. The Capri Mk1 Owners Club will be using the Action Day event as their national rally. The Aylesbury Branch of the MG Club will take to the track as part of their "Tour of the Cotswolds." The Thames Valley Austin Healey Club will be celebrating their 50th anniversary, along with the Jaguar E-Type and Jaguar Enthusiasts Club. The Lotus 7 Club look set to attract the largest numbers, celebrating the news that Team Lotus has just purchased Caterham.

The Alfa Romeo Owners Club - with cars from the 1929 750SS to the 1999 Zagato S2 - is set to make a welcome return, after several years absence. The World Rally Enthusiasts Club stand is certain to draw attention, as ever, with the MINI returning to world rallying this year. Meanwhile, more modern retro car fans will be kept amused with clubs like the Honda S800 Sports Car Club, a superabundance of Mazda MX-5s, Toyota MR2s, VW Golf GTIs, more than 28 RS Owners Club Fords, Stuttgart's finest Porsche 911s and the mighty Lotus Carlton, to name but a few.

Each car club gets a dedicated area to display its pride and joy, with clear segregation between genuine classics and cherished modern retro sports and performance cars. And there's a central "traffic-free" zone in the paddock, for club members wishing to enjoy displaying their cars, without going out on track.

Tickets for this fabulous family car and circuit enthusiasts' event are only £8 in advance, plus 50p p&p/credit card charge, or £10 on the gate on the day, with under 16s admitted free of charge; discounts are available for track time and admission for car club exhibitors (accepted clubs and groups get free admission tickets, free display space, the ability to join in the lunchtime cruise and can purchase track time at specially reduced prices).

Additionally this year, ticket holders can also can get a 25 percent discount to visit the Atwell Wilson Motor Museum at Calne the day after the Action Day, for those who want to make a weekend of it in the stunning Cotswolds (including historic villages, such as Castle Combe, Woodstock and Burford, lavish market towns like Bath, Cheltenham and Chipping Norton, plus Stonehenge, the Roman Baths and Blenheim Palace).

The circuit is open for admission from 0800, with action on track starting at 0900 and finishing at 1700.

Beauty or Brute?

2011-05-05T18:52:00.005+01:00

Look at the pictures, read the story and make you own mind up on this one. We've always been a big fan of the lightweight E-types - they just look brutal and fit for purpose, where the standard roadsters always looked a little delicate.

The Lindner Nocker E-type featured unique, low drag bodywork. A step too far from the purity of the original?

Here's the release from the clever bods who've pieced the car back together:

One of the most important Jaguar cars ever built has been unveiled in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, after 7,000 hours of restoration.

The one and only factory Low Drag lightweight E-type has been put back together in one of the most complex restorations ever to take place anywhere in the World.

More than 300 guests saw the car unveiled at the Classic Motor Cars workshops in Bridgnorth.

When it crashed in at the Montlhery circuit in 1964 the Lindner Nocker E-type was so badly damaged that a complete restoration was thought to be impossible. Now, some 47 years later, the car has been put back to its former glory using more than 90% of the original parts.

Four years ago Peter Neumark through his Classic Motor Car business, CMC, in Bridgnorth started the restoration of the car, which was a mangled wreck.

Many said that it could not be done, and that most of the parts including the body panels, which had been bent beyond recognition, could not be used.

However, Peter Neumark and Classic Motor Cars Ltd's team of dedicated of restorers has put the car back into the condition that it was just before the crash.

Over five thousand hours went into restoring the body alone. The original crashed monocoque which had been deemed too difficult to restore in the 1970's was disseminated into individual panels. Each panel was then flattened, repaired, reformed into the original shape and then the structure was riveted and spot welded together as per the original construction method.

The restoration was assisted by members of Peter's Lindner's own family, the driver who died in the crash in 1964 who provided old photographs and cine footage of the car. Peter Wilson who worked in the Competition Department in 1964 and worked on the car in period was also tremendously helpful but special praise needs to go to Andrew Turvey at CMC who dedicated himself to ensuring that every aspect of this amazing car was as per the original spec.

The importance of this car cannot be over estimated. It was one of only 12 lightweight E-Types built by Jaguar in 1963 and in 1964 it was returned to Browns Lane, Coventry.

In its preparation as Jaguar's unofficial entry for Le Mans that year, Malcolm Sayer designed a special low drag body and work to the engine ensured that it was the most powerful Jaguar the Competition Department had ever produced and it became the last Competition car prepared by the factory in Browns Lane, Coventry.

Fitting then that in this 50th Anniversary year, it should be reinstated.

The car has now been invited to some of the most famous car events around the world, but before it goes to Italy and then America it will be unveiled to the media in Bridgnorth.

On hand to take part in the unveiling was Norman Dewis, Jaguar cars famous test driver, the original drivers nephew, Tomas Fritz, the Frenchman who found the car in a garage ten years after it crashed, Patrick Lansard, together with the team that have dedicated their lives to putting it back together just the way it was.

Peter Neumark, the Chairman of Classic Motor Cars said: "This is one of the most major restorations ever to take place in the World. Many said that it could not be done but we have proved them wrong."

Ecurie Ecosse Transporter At Shelsley

2011-05-04T11:14:00.005+01:00

Had to share this for a couple of reasons. First, the Ecurie Ecosse transporter is the coolest truck known to man. Secondly, the Midland Auto Club logo is just brilliant. And they're all very nice fellows. So go along on June 4th and 5th and see for yourselves...

There's a video on YouTube of one of the six-piston, three cylinder diesels which we've posted before. Well worth seeking out as it's a contender for top of the weirdness stakes.

Unique Transporter at Jaguar Celebration

From Shelsley Walsh Hillclimb

For immediate release:

Towering over the displays of Jaguar sports and racing cars at Shelsley Walsh, when the Midland Automobile Club celebrate fifty years of the E-type, will be a unique and historic car transporter.

Built to celebrate the 1956/7 double triumph at the Le Mans 24 hour race by a little Scottish race team called Ecurie Ecosse, the truck features a streamlined body inspired by a shark.

It can carry three cars, one on the lower deck behind the crew’s living accommodation, and two more on an upper deck raised by hydraulic ramps.

It is powered by a very strange engine, an opposed piston diesel 2-stroke which has three cylinders and six pistons plus a supercharger.

As you can imagine, it makes a most unusual noise.

The transporter was rescued in a terrible state by Jaguar and Ecurie Ecosse enthusiast Dick Skipworth, and is now restored to perfect and original condition.

To see this amazing vehicle, as well as historic Jaguars thundering up the legendary Worcestershire hillclimb, you have to go to Shelsley Walsh on June 4^th and 5^th.

Steve McQueen's Le Mans 911S up for sale

2011-03-18T14:51:00.005Z

WHEN AUCTION houses trumpet their latest line up of sexy metal, I have to admit that 90% of the time, I just look the other way.

Having the spending power of a church mouse is one reason, not really fancying most of the Pebble Beach-ish species of exotica is another. Yet if I'm being brutally honest, the third and final reason - ignorance is bliss - is a very effective means of preserving the little sanity I still have left. So I'm really cussing myself for looking at a listing for a forthcoming RM Auctions sale on the 21st May.

I'm not a big Porsche fan, but this one really does it for me, because it starred in one of the coolest car films of all time. It is McQueen's 911S from the film 'Le Mans'. Cool? Undeniably, anything with the fingerprints of Terry S McQueen on it, has a degree of a tough, gritty urbane blokiness to it, but 'Le Mans' is a work of cinematic art, too. Le Mans captures the race at the peak of its retro desirability - the height of the Porsche-Ferrari war. The danger, the allure. It coined the racer's creed: 'When you're racing it's life. Anything that happens before or after is just waiting'.

So to know that some fat old businessman will buy it, lock it away, boast about ownership and never drive it - because he hasn't had to drive himself for 20 years - well, it really bugs me. Expect a headline result as fans of Steve lock horns and throw around fistsful of money that are all, well, deeply uncool.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to buy a Lotto Euromillions ticket, because if some fat git is going to end up with that grey 911S, I'd like to think that for just five deluded minutes it could be me.

Novel Garage Security

2011-03-09T16:22:00.003Z

Just had this great story fired over to me by Mad Mark's better half...

We all know a bloke's tools are sacred, so if you've been the victim of light-fingered little shits, then you'll probably like this.

A garage owner in New Mexico was sick and tired of people breaking into his garage and knicking all of his stuff – so he decided to give his dog a haircut.

He then spread it about that he had just got himself a Mexicon Lion that would attack anyone who tried to break in or climb his fence. Would-be thieves saw the beast from a distance and legged it.

Back End Of A Bus? If Only

2011-02-23T15:41:00.003Z

Whilst having a quick clean and tidy of my desk-top, I realised I hadn't put up the rear-view of the world's most ugly Capri. So, here it is...

Repeating ’Crab

2011-01-01T14:51:00.003Z

I’ll be the first to admit that we do bang on a bit about BMC’s 1800 family, but I really didn’t plan to bring up the topic of ’Crabness. It was fate what made me do it, rather than our large obsession for this cult motor.

Whilst casually looking for any form of Landcrab up for sale, I stumbled across a superb 1975 Wolseley Six auto which is being punted on, somewhere over in that there London. The problem is, that its price – at a barely believable £9950 – has more than a slight suggestion of London weighting about it... I know values are on the climb, but REALLY!?! Are we about to see advertising creatives smugging around Soho in Wolseley 18/85s...? I do hope not.

My second ’Crab encounter is finding an April 2010 review of one of these cars when I was doing my annual desk clear out. Again, it featured a Six, but the author who is the supplement’s classic car ‘expert’ wrote:

‘This was an aspirational six-litre Austin Maxi or “Land Crab” (Landed Crab in Wolseley form, perhaps). Alec Issigonis had been acclaimed for his Mini so hopes were high for his Maxi. Oh dear...’ Exactly sunshine, oh dear indeed.

The last time I encountered someone who couldn’t tell the difference between a Maxi and an 1800, they were in a petrol station, clearly a known associate of Mary Jane and had just bought a packet of Rizzlas. He then turned around, clocked the Crab and proclaimed very loudly to everyone: “Is that a Maxi!?!”

Trying to explain Harriman’s BMC rationalisation policy – ie those doors – to a stoner in front of a long queue of people is something I won’t forget in a hurry. Nor will I ever attempt again.

New For The Eighties

2010-11-23T14:18:00.002Z

Recently, I’ve been enjoying being stuck in 1979. Specifically the Birmingham Motor Show number of ‘Motor’ from the 21^st October – a weighty issue which despite consisting of 210 pages only retailed for a mere 30p.

Anyway, after detailing all the lovely new models which were due to be on show at the NEC – beauties such as the BL Cars Princess 2 (I’m slightly excited by the use of its correct name!), Chrysler’s new Horizon, the Opel Monza, the Porsche 928, the Lancia Gamma and the Matra-built Chrysler Rancho – it goes into speculation.

Most of these are either spot-on or accurate enough – Ferrari’s new 400GT 2+2 or the Mondial as we now know it – however, there are some which are most certainly not.

The Alfa Sud Spider is a tantalisingly good-looking creation – think Sprint with a roll-over bar. BMW’s 143bhp six-cylinder 423i, successfully blends E21 3-series with an updated interpretation of the ’02 Touring hatch to such a degree that it makes you wonder why it never happened. Then, there’s the Lancia Delta – an accurate prediction with an artist’s impression which is thankfully wide of the mark. However all pale into insignificance compared with FIAT’s replacement for the 126 – the, get ready for it, Rustica.

No need to ask why that didn’t happen.

Ye Gods, Noooooooo!

2010-09-24T21:14:00.003+01:00

Today was supposed to be a normal day with a run of the mill photo shoot. Until I spotted a horrible shape lurking amid the shadows of a Swindon back alley – somewhere just outside the sixth circle of hell.

As I gazed on the Beast, my heart sank and my head filled with despair – who would summon up such a demon? Risking great pain, abuse and wraith from the she-devil responsible for such a creature, I managed to sneakily take some snaps using great guile, inner-strength, bad acting and my snappy-matic.

This hideous monster needs to be exposed, for its number is not 666, it is 1986 MkIII Capri. The most horrific, terrible modified retro known to mankind and named ‘Lucifer’ – or as we prefer to call it, ‘What On Earth Where You Thinking You Sacrilegious Arse’.

The Importance of Retro Accuracy...

2010-08-03T20:44:00.002+01:00

What a cock-up! Just seen a review on one Billy Clueless on-line motoring web thingy. It’s a review of the new, and deeply special, Caterham Lambretta (imagine a Seven that's crashed into modern-day Carnaby St) which basically consists of some dullard droning over a short PR vid Caterham has made for its new model.

It’s in Brighton, it’s got 'Baba O'Riley' playing - so you can guess where this is heading. Mr Monotone then tries to end on a humorous note with: 'Parker jacket and beaver's tail are optional...'

Oh dear. Painfully epic retro reference failure.

Banged Up

2010-08-02T19:40:00.001+01:00

If you’ve been with Dep-O since the beginning, you’ll know that we’re big fans of the work of James Ruppert, and his wonderful world of Bangernomics. James has longed advocated that buying and running old cars is the ultimate cost effective and, of course, green route to motoring. Once you’ve got the right information (which you’ll find in the book, The Bangernomics Bible), motoring nivarna is just a browse through the small ads away.
We’re pretty chuffed that James enjoys Dep-O, and he dropped us a line to say he particularly enjoyed our recent piece on the members of Rat-Look.com. Their cars, and their approach to having the most fun for the least cash particularly appealed. “It’s effectively the Punky younger brother of Bangernomics,” he said.
You can make your own mind up on that one by visiting www.bangernomics.com.

2010-07-14T22:40:00.004+01:00

A photo like this one makes me miss my poor old Xantia Activa, a car that through no fault of mine has long since ceased to be.

Yes, the mad rare performance version of Citroën's last good-looking medium-sized saloon. Loads of grip and little roll until it had enough and gave up with no warning – much like French public sector workers on strike. The only down-side was an ancient 2-litre 8-valve with a low-pressure turbo.

Now I do know that in France they sold a V6 Activa. Hmmm...

What's in a Name?

2010-07-14T18:11:00.003+01:00

Doing this job, you do get to enjoy many great experiences: interviewing legends; riding along for a hot-lap with a heroic driver; and getting to drive cars you’ve had on your bedroom wall as a kid.

My recent memorable experience though, is a bit of a curved ball. You see, I’ve just driven a car which has my name written all over it – quite literally.

Initial research would seem to indicate that the wheeled Charlesworth has nothing to do with yours sincerely, but what the heck! I had to put up with all sorts of BS from a good mate when Renault was building its Clio Williams and Williams were beating all in F1.

Sod that, it’s time for payback and your Charlesworth is a much rarer, more graceful looking coachbuilt machine, doncha know...

Freakish Crash at Goodwood

2010-07-01T18:28:00.000+01:00

If early reports are to be believed it appears that the curse of Goodwood is back.

After last year’s accident at the Festival Of Speed, involving a plonker and Ford Heritage’s superb Escort H1 FEV in 2009, the new Moving Motor Show has claimed its first victims.

Details are sketchy at the moment, but we believe that a driver lost control of Honda’s Civic Type-R Mugen in the ‘ride and drive hall’ crashing into a Jaguar XKR and – wait for it – the oldest surviving Jaguar E-type, 77RW.

It is believed that the person driving it floored the throttle, lost control, hurtled across the hall’s central pedestrian aisle and across the Jaguar stand before crashing into the hall’s back glass wall.

The truly horrific thing though, is that the Mugen struck pedestrians on its short course of destruction – thus making this latest accident far more serious than last year’s FoS topping and tailing of an historic Ford.

We sincerely hope that no-one has been seriously injured by this freakish occurrence.

Colour Me Bad

2010-06-22T19:29:00.002+01:00

After tooling up and down the country quite a lot recently, I’ve noticed a striking automotive difference in the North-South divide.

Now if you’re expecting a load of pigeon-bothering cloth-cap t’ nonsense, well, you’re in for a large dose of disappointment. You see, when it comes to choosing car colours – it really is grim down South.

Next time you’re stuck in a turgid shuffle of traffic, have a look around you. (The M4 in particular, is a great hunting ground for proving grim down South theory.) Here you’ll be surrounded by beigy greyness – light grey, mid grey, storm grey, anthracite grey and, wait for it, silver. Gee-wiz. Then there are the greys with a touch of green, greys with a hint of yellow, greys with a suggestion of blue and of course, the banality which is Jewish racing gold – or metallic beige.

Be still my beating heart.

Perhaps you’ll see the odd black one and the occasional white motor, but really, driving down south is such a monochrome experience. It’s dull, it’s predictable, it’s a ceaseless bout of deja vu.

Admittedly, you might see one or two crazy individuals who have ticked the blue box – and I mean proper blue as in MG Trophy Blue not Wehrmacht Field Grey as specified by Brian in accounts. Meanwhile a few others have even gone for a splash of red, if they are either galloping along with an Italian or want to be seen as crass by their snooty-nosed neighbours in ‘the Close’. Yet even these precious few exceptions really are shamed by motorists from the North.

Blatting around the upper reaches of the M6 or the M1 reveals a four-wheeled world of colour. Here yellow is a bit predictable, in a place where turquoise, purples, oranges and other oft forgotten hues of dear old Rover’s and Nissan’s colour chart are commonly spied. Yes, you don’t see quite so many flash German saloons, but up here, it is a refreshing change. Goodbye depressing black and white kitchen-sink drama, hello swinging psychedelic happening.

MG Live!

2010-06-10T11:05:00.003+01:00

Did you make it to MG Live! The MG Car Club’s annual Silverstone shindig was touted as the world’s largest gathering of MGs, and we’d love to hear from you to see what you made of it.

Unfortunately, so far, we haven’t been able to track down anyone who attended the weekend.

Admittedly, we went on the Friday and there was plenty of setting-up still in progress, but we were really rather surprised by how quiet it all was. Of course, we hope that things did pick up and take-off during the weekend proper, but still, for a show this size there weren’t many trade stalls or cars on display. Given the status of the event, we would have thought – as with other big single marque shows – that there would have been people chomping at the gates to get in.

So was it poor timing – after all, it was the last weekend of half-term and it was a sizzler? Was it the economic climate? Was it something else...? Or are we being unfair in expecting the MGCC’s 80^th anniversary to have eclipsed its own 75^th bash at the very same venue? Do let us know.

On Licence

2010-06-01T18:06:00.002+01:00

Another flea market, another great find which gives a glimpse back in time.

I don’t suppose I’m unusual in never having seen a driving licence from the 1930s before - so it took me a few minutes to figure out what this was when I found it in a box of old road tests and brochures.

It belonged to a certain Frederick Ellis of Uphill, Weston-Super-Mare and covers the years 1931 to 1937. Interesting to note, the compulsory driving test was only introduced on June 1 1935, and only applied to drivers who began driving on or after April 1 1934. So there’s a good chance that Mr Ellis never took a driving test.

Licences lasted just a year, and were renewed at the county council on payment of a five shilling fee - and there we were thinking that unlimited taxation of the motorist in all forms was a new thing. Each new licence was pasted into these little red folders.

The inside back cover was kept clear to record any endorsements, and it’s interesting to note that Mr Ellis had also fallen fowl of what we consider another modern phenomenon - he’d been nicked for speeding. The language doesn’t change - ‘5 June 1935. Offence. Exceeding speed limit on a road in a built up area. Order. Fined £1.0.0 and particulars endorsed on licence.’

2010-05-31T15:43:00.002+01:00

When presented with a press-pack at the SMMT Press Day for the Chevrolet Spark, I thought PRO gimmicks couldn’t get much more tenuous than it resembling a box of Swan Vesta matches. Spark equals matches... Get it? Because I’m still not sure there is anything to get.

However, Chevrolet and everyone else at the SMMTPD for that matter just weren’t in the same league as this poor bugger who spent the entire day dressed up as Buzz Lightyear from ‘Toy Story’. Yes, the link between this chap and his car company was so damn thin that Gez had to explain it to me.

Yes it’s new boys Infiniti, which is Nissan’s attempt as culturing a Lexus – and the link? Buzz Lightyear’s catchphrase, ‘To infinity – and beyond!’

Truly special and surely worthy of the Dep-O ‘I can’t believe that one got signed off’ award – which is why we took a picture from an angle that would protect his identity!

Little Things

2010-05-27T23:14:00.002+01:00

Just got back from the SMMT Test Day at the Millbrook proving ground. Loads of manufacturers, some of the most desirable cars that money can buy, and a selection of routes and tracks to drive them on. Superb day. Even the sun shone.
My favourite? Well, there was much debate in the car on the way home, but for sheer grin factor, this little beauty won hands down. It's a Suzuki SC100 and it's owned, unsurprisingly, by Suzuki UK, it has been restored to full health and they were happy to let us take it for a spin. The little 970cc engine chunters away behind you, the brakes are non-servo'd so need a bit of a push but the steering is pin sharp, and the car was, well, brilliant.
Cheers to Alun at Suzuki for indulging us.

Look At The Size Of It

2010-05-06T21:20:00.003+01:00

I was pleasantly chilled. I’d just had a very good day at the Silverstone Classic press day – all high-octane fumes, classic machinery and straight-through exhausts. I was almost home – and then this bastard struck.

Graunch, bang, wallop, spinal compression, lip bitten, taste of blood, car filled with foul-mouthed language. That was it. I’d had it. This bastard pot-hole, a relic from the winter, had taken a bite of my car one time too many. ENOUGH, ENOUGH. Another MoT looming and now, probably, another set of coil springs for the second year running.

I abandon my car and in full-blown Victor Meldrew mode, pick up the camera, start angrily stalking with bruised buttocks and snapping. Just look at the size of it, I’ve seen counties smaller than this.

On what planet does it make sense for the council to waste thousands of pounds reducing road capacity and on-street parking via ‘pinch points’ and double yellows, instead of maintaining our roads? Planet clueless...? Planet my mother dropped me on my head when I was a toddler...? Planet no-one else would employ me and it was either this or standing in for crash-test dummies...?

When, just when, are they going to consider doing slightly more than framing this monster with white spray-paint? Is this the opening to the new Australian Express Tunnel, the beginnings of the Westbury Grand Canyon (designed to lure more tourists to this sleepy ’burb) or is this yet another part of the car-loathing conspiracy? Leave it there long enough and there won’t be any serviceable cars left in North Bristol and instead we’ll all have to use bicycles. Only, of course, there’s a vast super-sized pot-hole in that idea...

Pretty As

2010-04-26T13:29:00.001+01:00

We went to the Bristol Italian Automoto Festival on Saturday. A great event on many levels, not least because it’s actually held on the streets of Bristol, and there’s something undeniably cool about seeing everything from Fiat 500s to Ferraris packing the city centre. There’s also more than a hint of irony about the whole thing - Bristol’s council is among the most overtly anti-car.
Maybe it’s the location, maybe it’s the fact that Italian cars are widely regarded as being the most beautiful in the world, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many people taking pictures. I may be more sensitive to this than most - after all, I take pictures for a living - but I can honestly say, I don’t think I’ve been to an event with a greater density of happy snappers. Camera phones to pretty full-on pro gear, male and female, young, old and indifferent. Everyone was doing the David Bailey.
It left me with a couple of questions. The obvious. Was the BIMF the most photographed event I’m ever likely to go to? But perhaps more importantly, what happens to all these pictures? Keen photographers used to go on holiday, take a thousand shots on slide film and then bore their friends and relatives rigid with impromptu slide shows. But at least their pictures found a wider, albeit unwilling, audience. Are the pics taken on Saturday just destined to be left in the modern equivalent of the never opened, dusty bottom drawer?

A TVR In All But Name...

2010-04-16T14:21:00.001+01:00

The closure of TVR’s Blackpool factory was all a bit confusing and very sudden. A young Russian bloke bought the company one minute, and the next TVR was no more. It was almost like it had been disappeared for being too subversive.

It wasn’t like the rest of Britain’s ill vehicle manufacturing plants which succumbed to a hostile financial climate mixed in with all sorts of other reasons. Factories and companies such as MG Rover, Jaguar Browns Lane, LDV, Peugeot Ryton, most of Ford Dagenham and Vauxhall Luton, to smaller concerns like Jensen, AC and even Vickers Tanks (making it impossible to buy a tank in the country of its invention) all closed with at least a minor murmur of press coverage.

Ever since the Trevor, the Blackpool rocker, has vanished, there have been rumours about the marque’s resurrection, with the latest speculation including an American V8 housed in a new £70,000 German-built car. It hardly sounds like a Trevor does it? More like a Jürgen or a Wolfgang with a touch of a Buddy or a Chuck. Unfortunately, moving specialist British marques abroad and away from their home market, seldom works out...

TVR fans though, could have their desire for a car answered, just as long as they don’t mind the badge being slightly different. Launched recently at Race Retro, CWR, has unveiled a racing-spec retro repro of one of TVR’s classic coupé models (a lineage which started with the 1958 Grantura).

Indeed, such was the new racers reception, that CWR has unveiled a speculative road-spec version called the Titan. Developed with input from former TVR competition manager, Chris Schirle, the Titan features a 480bhp Chevy V8, a five-speed manual gearbox and an LSD – all weighing in at just 980kg with a probable price tag of £42,500 plus VAT.

Now that looks, weighs and sounds much more like it. Simples.

Booked

2010-04-14T11:05:00.001+01:00

I found this at a flea market. It’s tatty and from 1965 so not even relevant to my 1800 which is a full ten years younger. The reason I had to have it was the message scrawled on the back in biro - ‘Dennis, I’m in the pub next door, Geo.’ You can just imagine the handbook propped up in the windscreen, while Geo is propping up the bar.
Of course, there may have been a completely innocent explanation. Geo may have suffered the curse of Uncle Joe on a wet and rainy night, and was seeking warmth and shelter in the local while Dennis fought through the elements with spares and jump leads. But I prefer to think it’s just a quick note from one mate to another, meeting for a quick pint in a more enlightened time.

Spring Cleaning

2010-04-10T13:41:00.002+01:00

Simon’s soul searching over the Golf brought on pangs of guilt. Since we started Dep-O, I’ve been ‘collecting’ cars (and associated stuff). Well, if you’ve got a shed the size of ours, you feel obliged to fill it…

The trouble is I’ve now reached the point where there are far too many to do anything with. The 1800 and the Mini are keepers. The 1800 still stands alone as the only road legal car in the fleet, which is a terrible thing to admit. The Mini has received a ton of bodywork, and only needs a few bits finishing off to be MoT-able. And that really sums it all up. Every time I have a workshop day, I go with good intentions that the Mini will be finished. But I walk in, see something to pointlessly fiddle with on one of the others and the Mini sits untouched. Again.

The NSU was an early purchase, rescued from the jaws of the crusher. It really is the quirkiest thing in the world and would make a really cool Cal-look/rat look ride. Well, it is rear engined, air-cooled and German. The Status matches the NSU’s quirkiness, but has a Marmite effect - people either love it or loathe it.

The Pop is really just the bare bones of a project with some very nice bits and pieces, bought because I’ve wanted a Hot Rod since I can remember but I’ve never had the cash. These days, I’ve neither the cash or the time it needs to turn it into a real car. It hides at the back of the shed and taunts me.

The Allegro is one of those cars that I thought sounded great and, to be honest, it’s probably the most together of the lot. Despite a few Granny dings and some spots of rust, it’s in the best condition of all my motley motors. I’ve fixed the dodgy brakes and the drooping headlining it came with. I’ve cleaned and fed the leather seats. But despite all its Vanden Plas touches, the fact that it’s only covered 28k from new, and the Allegro really has turned the corner and now has a strong following, I just haven’t warmed to it.

So it’s time for a clear out. The only danger is that as soon as one departs, I’ll get the urge to fill the empty space with something else…

Am I being indecisive? I wish I could make up my mind...

2010-04-09T14:32:00.001+01:00

Car washed. New wipers fitted. Windscreen chip, new exhaust and MoT are up next on the to-do list, when suddenly it strikes. Serious glaring doubts.

I’m doing this because I plan to sell my MkII Golf, a car with which I’ve never had a deep and meaningful relationship. I can then plough the cash into my other old cars. Note the emphasis on the word ‘plan’.

After washing it down and giving it a quick chamois, that is when the second thoughts come flocking down. ‘My, it is solidly built’, think I as the door thunks behind me and I survey the very tidy interior. There’s little if anything electrical to go wrong in here and what there is all works perfectly well. Windows, mirrors and sunshine roof are all gloriously old manual and therefore give no refuge for mechanical gremlins.

Yes the headlining is sagging, but thanks to in-depth Facebook fan advice, this is fixable – and yes, the steel wheels are a bit rusty, but there is a shot-blasting cabinet in the Dep-O, so that and a quick powdercoat would sort that...

See, and that’s my major problem, in two short minutes I’ve gone from washing it and flogging it, to starting another project – I think I must be an incurable fettler.

I’ve planned to sell this car for ages, but given the dark new dawn of Mandy and his scrappage incentive, I just couldn’t risk it being cut up. I know that in order to qualify, people had to own a 10+ year-old car for a certain fixed period of time, but then it was only supposed to be about cars with MoTs – and some dealers had a very interesting interpretation of this dictate. I may not have had a love affair with my retro Golf, but I really couldn’t stand seeing it being traded in for some awful plastic box shod with supermarket trolley wheels, which will only lasted for five years before committing predestined mechanised suicide.

Nope, perhaps I’ll just get its ticket and see how it goes...

New Book From Veloce

2010-04-07T21:39:00.003+01:00

Yes, I know it's sick but I love books like this. New from Veloce, a book entitled 'Brittans Toy Models Catalogues 1970 -1979'. It's like reliving your childhood - seeing all the ones you had and all the ones you wished you had had. Got to get this one in for a full review.

Oi! Leave the Quattro alone

2010-04-07T18:29:00.000+01:00

Of all the things you probably expected/dreaded about the 2010 General Elections, I bet you didn’t envisage the Audi Quattro playing a leading role in the opening round of bitching.

Labour started this rather juvenile trend with an electronic poster (like the UK, they’ve run out of money and can’t afford paper posters) of the character Gene Hunt with a Cameron head, complete with the logo ‘Don’t Let Him Take Britain Back to the Eighties’.

This more or less made Cameron look like a dynamic leader who doesn’t take any BS (doh!) and invited the jibe against Brown ‘Don’t Let Him Take Britain Back to Seventies’ – where a turbocharged five-cylinder Audi (had it been around then) would have been unable to negotiate Britain’s rubbish-ridden, corpse-ridden, power-cut afflicted Winter of Discontent streets. And yes, there is now a viral image with Brown leaning on a rather splendid Austin Maxi.

All we interested in, was the vital question: is it Harvest Gold or Sandglow?

However, if that wasn’t enough Quattro exposure, the SNP has now had a belated go. Borrowing from the Tory retort: ‘Fire Up The Quattro, It’s Time For Change’ the third version of an already tired joke states: ‘Fire up the Quattro? ... Only by voting SNP for fair fuel prices’.

OK, so it’s a good point and one which has been encouraged by Darling’s blatant U-turn on the cider duty increase (hurrah!), but none of these ninnies have really noticed the glaring flaw in this game of Quattro poster ping-pong.

So we’ve come up with the definitive Dep-O version, to show them all how it should be done:

‘Fire up the Quattro? Sorry, can’t. Even though it was a beautiful example, I traded it in with ‘scrappage’ for a subsidised Noddy wagon. Well, the escalating cost of fuel, road tax and speeding fines was killing me and I was told it made environmental sense to support Korea’s car industry.’

Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay

2010-04-07T11:46:00.003+01:00

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1983-ALFA-ROMEO-ALFETTA-SL-BLUE_W0QQitemZ130377347172QQcmdZViewItemQQptZAutomobiles_UK?hash=item1e5b187064#ht_500wt_1182

We all know the reasons why I shouldn't, but the problem I have is that they are massively outweighed by the reasons I should.

My parents had one of these as a kid, and the first time I was ever allowed behind the wheel was aged 7 perched on a parental knee on Pendine Sands. It's an itch which is growing in itchiness whilst these cars become ever rarer.

Well, when was the last time you saw one?

Hoarders' Help Wanted

2010-04-07T11:43:00.002+01:00

Does anyone out there in the land of the three Ws, collect old car magazines - specifically Motor? I'm after an article from 13th December 1969, so if anyone can help that would be smashing.

Powder Coated Loveliness

2010-04-07T10:13:00.007+01:00

Just received the usual morning press releases. Am I sad that the thing I got most excited about was the Frost Auto Restoration one? Tool catalogues are great, but Frost (and their US parent, Eastman) seem to come up with the best stuff. Check out this video for the home powder coating kit.
Powder coating. The wonder stuff. But if you're going to have all the twiddly bits on your car professionally coated, it starts to get expensive. Now, you can do it at home. Do you think it would totally ruin the oven in the kitchen...?

Dep-O Blog powered by very English electrics

2010-04-06T21:48:00.002+01:00

After three minor electrical shocks, a cloud of smoke setting off the alarm and a visit from the Fire Brigade, the Dep-O blog goes live. Oh yes.

2010-04-06T19:06:00.002+01:00