THE ENGINE REBUILD
CVH WITH ADDED FINS
The engine in Alan’s RS1600i is a sublime mix of originality and subtle tweaks to contemporise its perky performance. These hopped-up CVHs, with their distinctive finned rocker covers, put out 115 bhp in factory form, but this one is producing a healthier 125 bhp. Fully rebuilt to standard specs by JohnToovey (01543 505565, www.tooveyraceengines. com), it’s had a new-old-stock set of the correct twin-coils fitted, along with Samco classic hoses and a special exhaust sourced from Germany — built to OEM spec, it’s actually manufactured from stainless steel and has been heat-treated before fitting.With the loom refurbished and the ECU sent off to Avilec (01983 281811, www.avilec.co.uk) for an overhaul, it’s found an extra 10 bhp over stock and sits in the bay like a jewel, thanks to all of the exterior parts being restored, powdercoated or passivated.
Bodywork now looking amazing in fresh Ford Diamond White with super-accurate decal kit.
Finned rocker cover adds an extra 5 bhp — possibly.
hoarders — which makes the finished product all the more impressive. Being Alan’s first truly in-depth restoration, he was grateful for the invaluable assistance of Paul Locket at P&J Motors (07967 274239) to help complete the build and ultimately get it to MoT stage.
“The total build time was around two and a half years,” he says. “I was hoping for it to take no more than 12 months, but it was all worth it in the end! And inevitably there were hurdles throughout the process. For example, the electrics were a ’mare and took some sorting out; I got stuck at one point and sent the car to RS Classics in Newcastle (0191 2574775, www.rsclassiccars.co.uk) to get all the final niggles fixed. It came back with all the electrics sorted, new brake pipes, and various little jobs corrected — it was good to have a specialist check it all over!
“The car still seemed to have a starting problem from warm,” he continues, “so off it went back to Toovey and John sorted it, as the valve on the fuel pump turned out to be faulty. It’s run like a dream since.”
After a colossal quantity of elbow grease, along with the assistance of all the right people, Alan now finds himself with the archetypal dream-come-true: a car he desired back in the halcyon days of youth, in perfect condition. So, naturally, you can be sure that he hasn’t crafted this to be a static museum piece. “I love taking the car to work,” he beams.
“Driving in town brings a lot of attention, and I’ve had people come and take pictures.”
We can relate. It’s that sort of car. A 1980s snapshot of RS perfection. And it’s gratifying to see it being driven as the homologation rule-makers intended.