Nick Larkin
Does our Nick need to seek professional help?
Nick wonders if he needs to seek help for his classic addiction.
Ableary-eyed me ventured from Larkin Towers into the open air for lockdown exercise… and recoiled in shock. Four cars, standing like sentries in a row, their headlights boring into me like lasers, were seemingly demanding action, wanting to go somewhere. I had a horrible feeling this collection of hapless vehicles had ganged up on next door’s defenceless Renault Captur overnight, making anti Gallic remarks. The distressed owner of these machines? Me!
Strangely, three of the unfortunate quartet had strong connections with one Practical Classics magazine, or at least its editorial team. So, let’s list the beasts. The Austin Maestro was purchased from editor Danny as emergency transport in 2014 and provided yeoman service you would never think a Maestro could muster. G109 UNM did need some welding by last year, but the rest of the car turned out to be in such good condition elsewhere that it was more than worth having the work done. Ellingworth Garage in Peterborough took on the car as a lockdown fill-in. I recently collected the finished Maestro.
The 1994 Rover 416 GSI has also been a Practical
Classics ‘Winter Warmer’ and passed through the hands of editor Danny, Matt Tomkins and regular correspondent Richard Gunn, from whom
I purchased it during yet another vehicle shortage.
The car is a little careworn and not something that you would turn up in to give the impression that you were a dynamic force in publishing, but L120 JVH has been a godsend over the past year. The interior is immaculate, everything works, and I have become deeply fond. I fact I was quite emotional when the Rover passed its MOT.
The Saab 900 is a longer story, having been purchased as a Popular Classics staff car in 1994, passing to PC and, years later, reacquired by myself as I wanted it to survive. Not to my credit the Saab ended up stored in someone’s garden before being delivered in disgrace to Larkin Towers, where it has reposed for two years (sorry neighbours,) not collected by a new owner who would be very happy to relinquish the car to become a restoration project (watch this space!). I should find him a Saab 900 bonnet to say thanks! The car appears to be running on two cylinders and there’s no clutch.
Finally, the MG ZR was a Classic Car Weekly project, and has also just passed its MOT. Four cars is only the beginning though. The Austin A55 Cambridge I’ve had since 1984 is having a winter nap and the 2003 Rover 75, which is supposed to be my everyday long-distance vehicle is off the road in disgrace, parts on order as I write.
Long term residents
I still have R126 BFL, a Rover 400 I had new as a company car in 1997, which awaits work. Further (untouched) projects include 1964 Rover 2000, 1963 Rover 95 and 1953 Morris Oxford MO. Let’s not even mention the buses. This is madness! Call for a cull. What is going on? The only justifications are that these vehicles have been acquired over a long period, and I never battered down doors to acquire any of them. I don’t have a modern car, all the vehicles are on the same insurance policy, much MOT progress has been made and depreciation on the lot is less than the above-mentioned Renault Captur. Vehicles are an obsession… sorry, a hobby!
Obviously, I never manage to just think of a car as a disposable piece of metal, but still have no problems relating to human beings and fluffy bunny rabbits etc. Do I still need a professional mind overhaul? Does anyone understand me? You do? Thanks!