Staff Car Sagas
Danny’s dailies, Matt’s Triumphant trip to Spa, and fuelling issues for the DS.
The big restorations usually take centre stage in my Sagas so I thought it would be worth having a look at the three classics that do the donkey work in my car world. None are what you would call modern and all three come from the cheaper end of the market. That doesn’t mean they are not distinctive, involving and mechanically intriguing – I always look forward to any journey in each of them.
The Rover 216 has been in my garage for six months now and has proved the equal of any task asked of it. As a GSI it comes with all the toys (all of which work), leather and the 1.6 litre K-series, widely thought of as the best of the bunch. I’ve done 3000 sprightly miles in it without a hitch. Some jobs to do There has still been a little work to do, however because I had promised previous owner, John Evans, that I would bring the car back to the sort of condition you would expect of a 40,000 miler. So it has been a rolling restoration.
It deserves it – as much as any other classic in my shed. Remember, the GSI was the top of the range, like the Vanden Plas-badged Austins that preceded it. It cost over £17,000 when new, a premium few were willing to pay, to be honest, which makes it rare.
John’s maiden aunt was one of those few. She owned it from the day it left the showroom and it was serviced every year by the same company, Howards of Carmarthen. It lived in her garage, never had headgasket problems (and still shows no sign of doing so) and was truly loved.
‘The 216 GSI was the top of the range, like the VP Austins that preceded it’
Why the crusty rear arches? Well, she lived near the sea on the Gower Peninsula and the country lane trip to work every day eventually took its toll. John supplied the car with all the panels I needed and after some cutting and welding at the back and a new nearside front wing – which I sprayed myself using rattle cans (after lacquer and flatting back, it is almost adequate) the car was showroom ready again – almost.
Just in time for Rover collector, PR guru and ex-pc scribe, Craig Cheetham to buy it. Well… I say buy, I mean swap. He has always wanted a GSI for his collection and was willing to part with his mint 59,000 mile 1992 Rover 416 in exchange. I’ve never had a 416 with the Honda engine, so the deal was easy – especially because I knew the 216 would be safe and looked after.
I will drive the 416 for a while before I sell it on – to an enthusiast. I have a buyer already at £500, yes only £500 – this era of Rover is THE bargain buy at the moment. Alan Snowdon from Essex is the lucky new owner – it is literally ready to show. My mum wanted to buy it from me (I kid you not – she loves her Rovers) but I think she wanted it in exchange for an extra pair of socks at Christmas. I’ve got a Jensen to restore, mum!
The next car on my daily driver roster is the Subaru Legacy. A gift from the Braim family in Driffield, this car needed some work to get through an MOT, but has now become the middle distance chariot of choice. The car originally belonged to Betty Wood (reader Patrick Braim’s mother-in-law) and was adorned with her personal plate A17 BET. The meaning behind this? Betty was 17 when she met her husband Michael and it was August. Betty cherished the Legacy before the family sadly lost her to breast cancer. The car was then passed to her daughter and then to her grandson Alex Braim.
It had been through three generations before the family kindly allowed me to take it away, with the promise that I would return it to the road and adorn it it once again with the number plate it carried for so many years. Well, family Braim, here is Betty’s car, in fine fettle and wearing her number. Betty’s original number plate has been kept for great granddaughter Bettsie – four generations.
Long journeys are still the preserve of the mighty Renault Avantime. It ‘wins’ at motorways and, once on the B-roads, the sun button completely transforms its character, turning it into the hippest open top four-seater in the world. Plus that V6 soundtrack. Oh yes.
Latest jobs: fitting of a new expansion tank and the regassing of the airconditioning, which was completely successful until a pipe popped. I shall therefore investigate when I feel brave. Until then I shall drive with all the glass missing, because I can. It is for sale at £3k, too… just saying.