Hillman Super Imp - EFF 628D

I have just acquired a one owner (two if you count the spouse) Hillman Super Imp registered on 2 September 1966 to a Mrs Mary Smith-Locklin. Over the next few weeks I will be creating a blog of the history file for this car. It survives in very good condition although much work has been completed over the last 47 years.

This is the only picture I currently have but many more will be following:

Porsche 911 Turbo Convertible

We still own this Porsche 911 Turbo that we bought new from AFN in Guildford. Great spec and the colour chosen by the wife. The car is now over 4 years old and done around 12,000 miles, hardly run in. It is a fantastic car that can idle along at low speed and then turn into an absolute monster. 4 wheel drive, great looks, great balance, power and style. The perfect car.

Bentley Continental GT Convertible V8

This is the 5th Bentley Continental GT i've owned and the first V8. Only time will tell if it is the best version. Immediately obvious is the better mpg; but is that really the point of a Bentley? I need to put more miles on the car to give this a fair appraisal. Regardless, the GT is a fantastic looker and a great vehicle to travel long distances in. I suspect that is the point of the GT.

MGC GT

My MGC GT, simple heavy straight 6 engine and four speed gearbox. I've had the engine, suspension, brakes and steering rack sorted, although it still needs power steering to consider it a pleasure to park. On the road its very good for its age. Probably the best classic I've had for everyday use. Long legged and it keeps up with traffic. With the original Webesta sunroof it is very open and useable. Hot inside without air conditioning and therefore much more comfortable to drive with the windows and roof open.

If you cant afford an Aston Martin buy the very best MGC GT you can find and enjoy it.

Daimler Dart V8

Daimler SP250 Dart. I always wanted a Dart as I had heard about the magnificent Turner designed V8 and what a great engine it was. I bought mine from an auction and it was absolutely mint. Too good to use really and it sat in the garage for most of the time I owned it. Terrible steering, far too heavy even for me.

Sold it for cash and a reasonable MGC GT that I have now made very good. More about that one later in the sequence.

Ferrari 456

Getting a bit more serious now. A 456, what an engine, it never failed to impress when back in the garage from a run, the engine noise, a tingling ticking was awesome. Apart from that car was a disaster. Wind noise came in from the rear of the front windows; normal for a 456 Sir, came the dealer reply! I realised why the test drive was undertaken with the windows open after I got it home. Paid £99,999.00 as I told Maranello that if Spurs only paid that for Jimmy Greaves, why woud I pay more for a car. It worked so don't knock it.

Didn't keep the car long, but should have had the windows fixed and kept faith with it a bit longer.

Ford Escort CBD 561X

This Ford Escort was a brilliant car. The new model brought Ford right back to the top of the league for this range of cars. Hatchback convenience and a radical new look. It was the must have vehicle of its type at the time.
Note the Avon sticker in the back, those were the days.
The car is parked outside our first house in East Grinstead. The year c. 1982.

BMW 518i

When I ran this car it was provided by my company (Alphameric Broadcast Solutions Limited - now defunct). I had just started a new job with them and really wanted a Renault 25 Monaco that had lots of extras thrown in. The BMW was a basic car (not the Lux) but went ok. In the long run I think it was a better choice than the Renault.

Reliable, efficient, boring but built well. Not much more to recommend it.

Audi R8

The R8 didn't last long as it had been on order for over 4 years when I received it. I had heard about a new Audi called a 'Le Mans' and thought it would be good to order one. By the time the
car arrived it was in great demand and I sold it on within 24 hours for a £10k premium.
I drove the car once back from the dealership and thought it was fine but not as good as
my Porsche 997S. Maybe I would have felt differently if I had kept it longer.

I didn't have it long enough to rate.

The car is mysteriously missing from my list so I will have to correct this.

Bentley GTC

This Bentley is no. 12 on my list and was a great car. I used it rarely due to the problem of parking in public places where it always received attention. The car was totally reliable and never gave me any concern, always made a splash when out and about.

I rate this car 9 out of 10.

Hawthorn Memorial Parade

The John 'Mike' Hawthorn memorial parade took place in Farnham, Surrey today. Mike was represented by a 'look-alike' driving his formula 1 winning Ferrari. Also attending were two previous formula 1 champions in Sterling Moss and Damian Hill. Mike's Jaguar Mk 1 was represented with a very realistic replica.

Range Rover 4.6 Vogue, Porsche 993 C4 and Porsche 993 Targa

Now we are getting serious, numbers 41, 64 & 65 on the list. The black C4 I took to the Nurburgring with less than 1000 miles on the clock and it performed magically. It was easily able to reach 150MPH on the long 4km straight. The Targa was my first day-to-day Porsche and it was excellent (only slight dissappointment was a rattle in the targa top). The C4 was my wife's daily drive! The Range Rover was the everyday shopping trolley and it performed this function very well.

I rate the C4 9/10 the targa 9/10 and the range Rover 9/10. A great combination.

Audi A8 4.2 Quattro Sport

No. 6 on the list and a truly fabulous car. The steering was first class and the car had a lot of power. A big 4 door saloon that was very under rated by the motoring press. Automatic gearbox and every conceivable extra. Great engine.

I rated this car 9/10

Ford Escort 1.3L

This was the first company car that I ran. A decent enough 4 door saloon.

I rated this car 5/10

BMC Mini 1000

I bought this car new in 1971 and it replaced my Austin Healey Frogeye Sprite. During my ownership I managed to damage a door and the front bumber (which can be seen in the picture). I had a massive rear end shunt in this car coming back from a football match at Highbury on Boxing day 1972 in the snow. The car stopped well but the guy behind me didn't.

Overall rating 6/10

The full list of cars

This is the full list of cars (save for errors which I will correct as they become obvious)owned by me over the last 38 years. Over the coming weeks I will add pictures and comments on as many as possible.

The Frog is dead; long live the TR4A IRS

I'm afraid the frog has gone and has been replaced with a Triumph TR4A IRS. When I say the Frog has gone its still for sale so if you are looking for a good Frog give me a bell.

The TR4A appeared on the scene last week and is a beauty. (See pictures)
One small problem it lost a rear wheel on the first outing and is now at Rawlings having it put back on. Apart from new shocks, pads, wheel hubs, some paintwork and odds and sods, its fine!

I'll keep the blog updated as the TR4A settles in.

50th Birthday party - pictures

Sprite 50th birthday party

Today more than 800 Sprites and Midget decended on Gaydon for the biggest gathering of Sprites for a very long time.
XXO 717 was there and arrived after a slight mishap. She shed a tyre at 70 MPH on the A34 and very nearly lost it completely. However, after some sterling assitance from a fellow Frogeye driver we were soon on our way via the nearest service station.
The pictures attached hopefully give you a good idea of how big the gathering was!

New K&N Filters

I've just fitted a new K&N filter to my Frog to improve performance and its looks (picture to follow soon). Having sought advice about performance from a well known expert his advice was to enjoy the car, change the filters and drive it lots. I'll let you know how good the advice was during the next few weeks.