Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ashley]

Interesting is the success of last weekends “Drive It” day when owners of classics are supposed to get out on the road and show people how big the movement is. Sounds like it was a huge success because the wait for an RAC mechanic if you broke down was out to 9 hours from the usual 30 minutes.

I reckon the modern Classic Car enthusiast is too reliant on specialists and not sufficiently versed in the idiosyncrasies of old cars to stick with the hobby for very long.

I’ve just added a biography of a friend’s Alvis Speed 20 to my overhauled website. It’s on the front page is anyone is interested.

Www.kda132.com

[alastairq]

[peter scott]

I guess it all depends on your natural inclinations. If you revel in engineering problem solving then the number of times that you require rescue assistance is likely to be few and far between.

Even if you never get your hands dirty but you anticipate failures by noting minor changes in behaviour or sounds then again you probably have little need of rescue services.

If neither of these applies and you are happy rely on rescue services then so be it.

If memory serves me correctly in more than 50 years of motoring I have only twice been unable to nurse my car to my destination. On the first occasion I broke a piston (probably by over reving) and on the second by being ignorant of the fact that you can't rely on a timing belt tensioning pulley to last any longer than the belt itself.

In more than 25 years I've never (tough wood) needed a rescue in my old car.

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Mog]

Always managed to get home on a wing and prayer. Towed home with a broken prop shaft and on another a loose engine flywheel . Morgan 3 Wheeler's ........

[Clactonguy]

interesting that many rely on modern breakdown Services. even when I was with Green flag in my modern car ( under 5 years old) and it had a battery fail. I. simply went and bought new one.fitted it. and drove home.
however given modern busy traffic roads and lack of. spaces to. break down in ! I have breakdown cover for my classic to get em to a garage within 10 miles..( thinking of. finding one that will get my car home though as many garage simply wont be able to assist!)
agree many now buying classic cars as either investment or used for fun and. rely on breakdown services is getting any issues.
skills in keeping an old car running fixing at side of road etc seem to be on wane. though how many actually have a handy set of tools in the car as well as a trolley jack ? or can be bothered to work on car at Side of road.
when I brought my car to where I now live ( 85 mile journey) I ensured son was. following in a Land Rover. we had jacks. axle stands. tow rope ( its an auto so ready to remove prop shaft ) full set of. tools .workshop manual.
and yes breakdown cover to nearest garage!
currently looking at my club(s) for recovery services rather than breakdown as many. simply cannot fix or get parts. car at home can at least wait. for parts and get fixed asap. well happy motoring all.

[MVPeters]

Is a new category of Classic Cars needed?

"Pre-Computers", for example? PC

or "Pre Replace Bits Until You Find One That Works? PRBUYFOTW

or "Forget About Roadside Repairs"? FARR (but this puts the AA sidecars out of business).
_________________
Mike - MVPeters at comcast.net
2002 MINI Cooper 'S'

[Bitumen Boy]

I've only ever been recovered home twice. Once was with iffy clutch hydraulics, could have nursed it home I guess but in the evening rush it didn't seem worth the hassle (and I saved the Severn bridge toll ). The other time was with some expensive sounding engine noises that later turned out to be broken piston rings, hardly a roadside job. I needed assistance once with one of the Acclaims that blew its main fuse, only happened once and we never found out why - those cars were so reliable we got out of the habit of carrying tools beyond a jack and wheelbrace.

[lowdrag]

In 36 years I have never come home on the back of a lorry. In fact, the only time I have had a serious breakdown (twice) was the rear dynamo bronze bush giving out on the E-type destroying the commutator. One phone call and a new dynamo overnighted; job done! But how many times I have changed the in-line brake switch, or the oil pressure sender I have no idea. Or the fuel pump. I have the usual supply of spares in the boot, including bulbs, fan belt, a couple of hoses, points distributor cap, etc. etc.

[peter scott]

Interestingly the AA proclaim their ability to fix your car rapidly but if you look at the spanner shown in the current TV advert it's for use on octagonal nuts and bolts rather than the more normal hex ones!

Peter
_________________
http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[lowdrag]

[petelang]

The AA man who attended me had no Whitworth spanners in his box at all.
Did possess a variety of different size hammers though, and when our fiat van would not start he employed them as his first choice to try and bash the fuel pump situated within the plastic fuel tank into restarting. Needless to say, that was not successful and ever since we have not been able to fully fill the tank as it seems to leak above a certain level. It turned out the relay in the engine bay was full of water but he missed that.
Peter

[Rootes75]

I am just in the process of insuring my historic commercial and they are all offering me breakdown cover, I look forward to the look on the AA mans face when he rocks up to see a great big lorry needing assistance!
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Bitumen Boy]