In with the new, er, old.

I am tired and a little giddy. I’ve just been on a potentially pointless but still somewhat epic roadtrip the results of which will cause some people to question my sanity. They won’t be “car people” though.

Actually, some of them might be.

I always find it a bit nerve wracking going to look at a potential new ride. I don’t do it very often so it always feels rather special. It’s been over a year since the last time.

This was going to be different though. Different to all of the other cars I have ever been to look at. I knew in advance it was going to be a major undertaking. It seemed daft even considering travelling the 150 miles to see it but there I was, in a Triumph Herald, buzzing up the fast lane on a beautiful sunny afternoon. The journey was made even more pleasant by spotting old Fords, rods and customs on their way home from the weekend’s big shows while discussing stupid car plans with my passenger.

Eventually Junction 29 arrived and we were off the highway and soon on a very narrow single-track road, looking for the right address. Pointed the right way by a local I swung into the drive to see the vehicle in question.

What a wreck! Actually on closer inspection a lot of good work had already been carried out. Best check out the loose panels, interior and boxes of smaller parts. Up a ladder, crawling in a barn loft to retrieve various parts I really didn’t want to fall the ten foot to the floor. Or find any big spiders. Engines and wheels in another shed, more panels, bumpers, dashboards in a third. Endless parts. Could they ever be made to go back to resembling a whole car?

Spanner on the crank pulley and the "good" engine turns over.

Time for deliberation. My passenger was realistic. “It’s do-able. A lot of work but do-able.” A phone call to home. “Can I really manage this?” “We’ll never find another one”

A deal was done! A deposit changed hands and we headed for home with a mixture of elation and trepidation.

Now all I’ve got to work out is the logistics of moving not just a rolling shell but a huge amount of parts those 150 miles! And hope I can find somewhere to put it all. Oh and then finish the existing project before starting this one.

We will never find another we can afford though.

So answers on a postcard/comment, can you tell what it is? Correct answers gets you the chance to read Retro Scene Mag free for the rest of time*



*you can already do this, so you are all winners.....