Don't believe everything you see on EBay....

'Tis the season to be jolly' so I'm sitting here this Christmas Eve with a glass of malt and thought I would amuse you with some of my findings on EBay:

Firstly a set of seat covers for a Jaguar SS100 - mmm, a nice set in biscuit coloured hide would make a lovely

Christmas present - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Jaguar-SS-100-roadster-SEAT-COVERS-SETS-7-EMAIL-COLOR-/130416717479?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item1e5d712ea7#ht_3796wt_1167

Second up is a fridge magnet with a pic of a 1940 Jaguar SS100 - I don't think - http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1940-Jaguar-SS-100-Classic-Car-Magnet-/120621436476?pt=Apparel_Merchandise&hash=item1c15990e3c#ht_673wt_1167

Third is a picture of an SS100 with a "Submarine" Spitfire (not a periscope in sight)

and finally the 'piece de resistance' - the following car was advertised as an SS100 replica:

Have a great Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2011.

Flying Scotsman 2011

Whilst visiting The Endurance Rally Association's website http://www.endurorally.com/fscot2011/index.html I came across this lovely painting of an SS100 racing the 'Flying Scotsman'. I hope they don't mind me reproducing it here. Their site is well worth a visit as this rally will be stacked full of fantastic vintage machinery heading from Brooklands to Edinburgh 1/4/11 - 3/4/11. It looks like it will be passing close by to me so I hope I will get the chance to see them. Maybe there will be a '100' or two taking part

A brand new 'Duke' on EBay

A brand new "Duke " SS100 replica is up for sale on EBay in the US.

It is still in kit form but is an amazing opportunity with a starting price of $3600. It seems to be a comprehensive kit only lacking the engine and gearbox.

It can be found at http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Replica-Kit-Makes-1939-JAGUAR-SS-100-CAR-KIT-THE-DUKE-/260703333957?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item3cb3212e45#ht_11082wt_1167

Panther J72 on EBay

You don't see these very often. A 1972 PANTHER J72 in blue is for sale in Great Yarmouth by auction on EBay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1978-PANTHER-J72-BLUE-/110621902227?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item19c1944593#ht_500wt_1156

"In Totally original condition having only covered 6000 miles which were all on dry roads it is probably one on the finest right hand drives of this mark available in the Uk. Only ever been stored in a dry garage it has a manual gearbox with overdrive front suspension completely chrome plated (a big job). It has chrome plated wire wheels.

This car is regrettably for sale due to my ill health, the vehicle has a private plate that is optional at a large reduction of its true value.

Payment can be by either cash, bankers draft, of cheque subject to clearance before collection. I can also arrange with a transporter deliverer uk delivery. Open to any serious offers over £25,000

Phone; 01493 650194 if you have any questions"

These were handbuilt at the Panther Westwinds factory alongside the Panther Lima, Rio and the totally magnificent De Ville. This is a very early one and retailed at £4655

This is a useful website http://www.panthercarclub.com or simply google 'Panther Cars'

My wife doesn't read this blog but (just in case) - if you haven't bought me a christmas present yet, you could do worse!

My Lady in a state of undress

Well I've finally started to strip my Lady Carrie for a spray job. Only got one wing off so far but that wasn't easy as most of the coach bolts turned on themselves. I think there were 12 in total on the one wing and one of the headlamp brackets in particular proved really stubborn most had to be ground off and the awkward ones couldonly be reached with my Dremel which was really slow. Everything has been protected over the years by a liberal application of underseal which is fine except it is very messy to remove.

My intention is to paint the chassis and the suspension before she goes into the shop. Bonnet, rad shell, wings , doors, and front valance all need to come off and the interior stripped out again (At least I know everything fits) I'll have to refit the front wings temporarily for transport to and from the paint shop. I'm going all

stainless for the bolts and think I'll fit mushroom headed allen key bolts to hold the wings on. Sadly it will be a future owner no doubt who will reap the benefit.

Can't decide whether to use polished stainless coach bolts to replace the exposed ones (scuttle) or just have them painted. Would welcome your opinion likewise on colour

choice. She's either going to be Old English White of the old style Arden Green as used on this Rover P5 which is similar to my rather dusty Burago SS100

model. Anyway I've also taken a pic in my untidy garage showing "Lady Carrie" in a state of undress. First time I've really seen the chassis and front suspension. It's only had a quick wire brushing and a dose of gunk but all seems OK.

"If it ain't broke - Don't fix it"

Discovered that Carrie had a leaky exhaust manifold stud some time ago and it turned out that some previous owner had drilled out a stud and had fitted an oversize bolt without cutting a proper thread. The only proper remedy was to remove the head and have a helicoil insert put in. My friend Lee of the Marlin Owner's Club offered to do it for me and check the camshaft out and do any necessary adjustments.

So I thought I would tidy up the engine bay while I was at it - first mistake. I thought it was reasonably clean but it was quite a mission cleaning the aluminium side panels, and the block, the chassis, removing and derusting the battery tray, removing cleaning and painting the alternator and starter, cleaning the carbs, removing the radiator and all the hoses, tidying the wiring etc etc. Now I don't mind doing the work but I had a real issue getting the starter to function again - it looked really pretty but it just wouldn't stop. Had I wired it wrong?

I don't think so but I had it in and out about half a dozen times before taking it in to my local auto electrician and lo and behold it had developed a fault and it was cheaper to buy an old stock recon unit for £15 than have him strip and rebuild it. Problem solved , well not quite, I had another surprise in store. She still wouldn't fire up so I assumed that I hadn't set the camshaft timing correctly so - off with the covers and the belt and start again and ... no it wasn't that. Maybe the distributor ... a bit out. Perhaps it would be more sensible to see if Lee can help.... so.... Lee starts from scratch and checks everything again. It turns out that the main problem lay with the carb. A bit of an internal clean seems to have done the trick. Thanks to Lee she's running nicely and I can now get on with the bodywork stripdown prior to a repaint.

I don't suppose the following has helped the starting process much either!