Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Peter M · Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Posts: 15 Location: Jonkoping Sweden

Just over a year ago I purchased this A55 Cambridge after devolping a sudden urge to own a classic car. Not being particulary mechanically minded and with limited welding skills I needed something that was easy to maintain and already in a fair state. The car is kept in an under ground multi storey car park which isn't ideal when you need to exchange the leaf springs for instance or any other work that requires some time to finish.

I'm only the 6th owner including a dealership. At the time of purchasing I was told that the engine, currently showing just short of 80.000 miles on the odometer, had been restored but the salesman didn't know what exactly had been done. At least it's running sweet and the engine bay looks tidy. The water temp meter always goes up to overheating maximum which is a worry but when testing the the coolant it shows a more normal reading of 90 deg C.

So far she has let me down twice. At one occation the plasting ledge on the points broke leaving me stranded some 20 miles from home. The other time was when I, in a moment of hybris. decided to test the top speed. I'm happy to report the old girl can still do the quoted 80 mph even when going slighly uphill. But suddenly there were lots of smoke and the engine cut out. What a relief when finding out it was nothing more serious than the ignition coil that had vibrated loose and snapped off a cable in the process. Soon I was going again but more slowly to be on the safe side.

I love how the smells of moist, oil, dust and leather mix together inside.

Plenty of underbody protection.

The worst part of the car.

Maybe I will do a Farina Grey - Tartan Red respray in the future should the rust start to spread and become too severe.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22446 Location: UK

Welcome to the forum, I've happy memories of the Mk2 A55 I had a while ago Smile

RJ
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Richard H · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2148 Location: Lincolnshire, UK

Welcome from a fellow A55 owner Smile

Your car looks lovely!
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Richard Hughes

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22446 Location: UK

I was never brave enough to take mine to 80!! Smile

RJ
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

welshrover · Joined: 09 Aug 2011 Posts: 326

welcome
had a a55 a few years ago great cars. i now run a 63 column change oxford of which there was only 6 ever made ,join the cambridge/oxford owners club for parts and all things oxford/ cambridge . Smile

Peter M · Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Posts: 15 Location: Jonkoping Sweden

Thanks everybody! Razz

clan chieftain · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell

Welcome to the forum Peter. Nice looking A55 with BMC mudflaps as well..........Larry.
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The Clan Chieftain

Riley472 · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2013 10:33 am Post subject: A55

What a lovely car, your mud flaps are very rare, I would change the temp sender unit in the engine, they cost about £9 this is usually the cause rather than the gauge.
Brave man at 80 mph
Enjoy

Peter M · Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Posts: 15 Location: Jonkoping Sweden

Thanks for the tip. I will order one right away.