Hooray - rattle traced!

Ever since I got Carrie I have had an annoying rattle from the front end. I changed a few bushes in the front suspension which tightened things up but did not stop the noise. Last week I took her to my friendly exhaust centre who slightly realigned the pipe as it seemed to rattle against the chassis but, no this didn't resolve the problem.

I jacked her up at home and gave the suspension the once over again but - nothing. In desperation I tried rattling things by hand and lo and behold I found the source of the noise. Inside the radiator shell were mounted a pair of air horns on a very substantial steel plate. However the plate was mounted on a less substantial l-shaped bracket. When I had previously pulled it it seemed solid but on this occasion I pushed it and it swung like a pendulum (again, pulling it produced no movement!) the bracket had almost sheared so I removed it and relocated it and - silence.

What really surprised me though was the fact that the slightest bump produced a rattle and I drove the car very gingerly accordingly. Now I feel so much more confident. It neither feels nor sounds like a rattletrap any more and is a positive pleasure.

Took her to a show yesterday in Rickerby Park, Carlisle and she behaved faultlessly over the rough terrain even with three up (see pic)!

Viking SS100

Sorry about the tiny thumbnail picture but it is the best I could find. It is a Viking SS100 replica which uses Jag mechanicals. This one sold at Bonhams last year for £5175 which was £825 below the guide. Interestingly at the same sale a genuine SS100 in the same colour fetched a mid-estimate £199,500!

There is a part completed Viking on EBay at the moment for a hefty £4995 in Exeter http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120574319639&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_500wt_1154

I think this proves the point that auctions can be a source of bargains but 'caveat emptor'!

The Viking replica is a new one to me so I would welcome any further information as I think it looks quite nice in the very murky thumbnail above but the one on EBay doesn't have a double humped scuttle which looks a little strange to me.

SS100 replica on UK EBay

Nice LHD replica for sale in Colchester. Looks like it could be an "Antiques and Collectibles" one from Buffalo USA - unless you know better. I wish I could get a folding screen like that for mine!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Beautiful-1937-Jaguar-SS-100-Replica-LHD-Tourer-/260598199032?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3cacdcf2f8#ht_500wt_1182

Paco Ferrando

How's this for a wonderful painting if you can't afford the real thing. The Spanish Artist Paco Ferrando does the most fantastic paintings and at c£2300 for an original is a damn sight cheaper than most replicas and it doesn't need an MOT! Check him out at http://pacoferrando.com/

First run 2010

Well Carrie's had her first run out of the year and as usual it was eventful.

First off I had trouble filling the tank. Its always been a bit tricky but didn't help that I had taken the tank out to fit a new sender (to go with my new instruments). Before you start writing me off as a total plonker - yes - I had put the tank back. The problem was that the breather pipe for some reason was connected to a chassis bolt which stopped it flapping round but also stopped it breathing. It took me about 10 minutes to get the fuel in much to the amusement of the girl on the till. There was probably as much fuel on my shoes as in the tank!

I took her for a little blast out to Carlisle Airport where Hethersgill Vintage Society were holding their annual rally. I met up with a friend who has a Burlington Beretta (for sale for £3k if anyone's interested - contact me - ocheye@mac.com) and we chewed the cud for an hour or so and as it was getting a bit nippy I drove home before the queues started.

Bank Holiday Monday saw me take my good lady out for a treat in Carrie - the weather was glorious, hood down (of course) and no flying jackets. We went to a local horticultural show and as the morning drew on it got colder and darker. Suffice it to say that we drove home in a massive hailstorm which pleased the wife no end! Anyone who knows me is aware that I am follically challenged and hail on a bald head at speed is bloody painful.

Still a lot of jobs to do, I want to resite the fuel filler, finish the trim, find out why the exhaust sometimes knocks on the chassis, fit a new spray bar, oil change for 20/50 mineral (apparently anything else in a pinto is asking for trouble as it gets too thin at working temperatures) as the pressure drops significantly when hot. It's fine on start up so I assume the pump is OK though I also need to check the pickup pipe for blockages. Oh and I need to overhaul a pair of Lucas wind horns I have bought for her, and I need to find a way to mount my spare on the boot and so on

Then there is just a small matter of a respray. Can't decide whether to have a go myself or pay a king's ransom for someone else.

Still she is running nicely and to paraphrase Frank Spencer "Every day in every way she's getting better and better"

Ocheye