RECALLING THE ART OF BANGERNOMICS
I always enjoy reading Andrew Everett’s tales of motoring on a shoestring on 'Classic Monthly’s' Tailgate page. His adventures with old cars are very similar to my experiences, especially when it came to dealing with bodywork and paintwork. Where as Andrew entertains us dealing with MkV Cortinas, Ambassadors, BMW E21 3-Series and the like, the cars I was messing around with included early 105E Anglias, split screen Minors, Minxes, the odd big Humber and a string of BMC 1100s – in fact anything that could be driven away from a Saturday morning banger auction for under £50.
One car that stands out in particular was a yellow 105E that I decided to brush paint after bodging the rusty sills and holed wing tops up with chunks of chicken wire and massive dollops of filler. I’d picked the ropey Anglia up from a pal in exchange for a Norman Nippy moped and a wooden tea chest packed full of old racing bike bits. The next job I did to the 105E was to brush paint it with a couple of coats of bright red ICI Brushing Belco and I have to admit that from around 20 feet away on a dull day the result looked pretty good.
A set of oversized Pep pistons and new shell bearings sorting out the Anglia’s thirst for engine oil and the rumbling bottom end and I ran the car until selling it on just before the next MoT was due. Keep up the good work Andrew; your tales of youthful bangernomics and the style you deliver them are most entertaining!