Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Mello]

I've just bought a Ford Pop 103E which I generally want to keep original. However, two things that immediately spring to mind as cosmetic changes for the better would be
a) chrome bumpers and
b) a Webasto-type sunroof in place of the leaky fixed vinyl roof.

Is this sacriledge? Comments welcomed...

[47p2]

At the end of the day it's your car to do with as you please. Personally I would keep it as original as possible but a few mods that can be reversed wouldn't be too bad
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ROVER
One of Britain's Fine Cars

[Rick]

I tend to agree with P2 in that keeping things fairly original is the way to go, but it's down to what you want from the car in the end. Did the upright Anglia have chrome bumpers? if so then they wouldn't look out of place on a Pop, plus there are plenty of original 103Es around. Personally I'd keep the 'normal' roof, rather than Webasto, but thats just me

My '32 Minor has a few deviations from original, fitted some time in the 50s or 60s - eg telescopic dampers at the rear, and a four speed box from a '33 or '34 Minor, but I've no plans to dump them in favour of 'correct' units anytime soon.

R
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[Brian M]

I have expressed my feelings on this topic before, but as my Amazon is used as a daily driver, I have and will continue to make modifications to make it more comfortable for everyday use.

Mine has some mild tuning to the engine, a leather interior from a more modern Volvo, improved lighting (LED bulbs in the rear and halogen headlamps), suspension mods to help with my towing and handling, Minilite wheels for a bit of bling, and this winter I am going to fit electric power assisted steering, and a webasto sunroof.

I know some think it is sacrilegious, but a lot of people admire the car - to each his own.
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Brian
1970 Volvo Amazon and 1978 Safari 15-4 Caravan
Classic Safari Forum: www.classicsafaris.co.uk

[Phil - Nottingham]

Unless it is a very rare model or has a particular history then its your car to do as you please. There can be no thing as an original car and some are over restored to better than new but again that is your choice

The important thing is that is saved and is used - if it is to be regular driver then some safety mods are essential like clear indicators good brakes and radial tyres if available.

Enjoy it while you can - if you want a museum piece there are plenty already in museums.

It takes all sorts and there will always be someone to critisise, admire or ignore it
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Rover P2
Rover P4
Rover P5 & P5B
Land Rover S2 & S3
Morris Mini Traveller Mk2

[badhuis]

[pigtin]

[peter scott]

But not all car enthusiasts are in their 80s. When your 10/4 passes on to some new young enthusiast I'm sure the original engine will be a very big plus. I'm not in the first flush of youth but I would love to have the original engine for my car.

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

[pigtin]

I see your point Peter and admire your optimism but, except for very rare instances, I don't think it's going to happen. How many people do you know , of a younger generation, who would have the skills or patience to modify a car back to its original spec? Our little group of enthusiast all have pre-war cars in our garages, mostly Austin sevens and these days hardly ever used. Road conditions make each trip in such cars a nightmare. Admittedly, we live in a very congested area and things are probably much better in your neck of the woods. My heavily modified special is just about useable, but potholes in the road make it very uncomfortable.

Everyone will have their own idea's about this subject. If you had asked me thirty years ago I would have been emphatically in favour of originality at any cost. But I worry that these days, for many small thirties cars, returning them to their original condition would be condemning them to a museum.
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Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

[Richard H]

The only modifications I've made to my A35 are fitting wing mirrors and seatbelts. Apart from that it's exactly as Dick Burzi designed her.

When I first got out of my driving school car (a 2007 Vauxhall Corsa diesel) into an A35 I was shocked at how different it was. The steering was so heavy I thought there was something wrong with it. Likewise with the pressure required on the brake pedal to even slow the car gently. However, after a couple of days driving her I got completely used to the brakes, steering, bouncy suspension and awkward gearchange and now it's just second nature.

At 18, I suppose I am young enough to be a 'young enthusiast' and yes Pigtin you are right, most of my generation would leave well alone if the car was working properly. But what if you had a terminal problem with the engine or gearbox? At least if you had the originals sitting under the bench you could have the car back on the road very soon!

Unfortunately the original engine for my A35 project was made into a plant pot in 1996!
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Richard Hughes

[pigtin]

Bin there done that.


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Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

[Richard H]

Unfortunately when we moved house the engine, complete with dead flowers in the cylinder bores was carted off to the local tip!
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Richard Hughes

[Rick]

I've still got the original engine block for my '57 Standard 10, it came with the car when I bought it yet the new owner didn't want it when I sold. Do I just chuck it? try selling it (condition unknown), or leave it tucked behind the garage for no real reason other than I don't like things being scrapped??? If it had a nice script on the side, I suppose it would look nice as a garden ornament (where's that thread on yard art?) as with pigtin's motor.

R
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[Rick]

But back to originality, what grates with me is inappropriate parts fitted to oldies, where it is possible to source correct period (or period-looking) items with just a bit more effort. I was looking at a 50s MG sports the other week, very nice car, but it had rear lamps from a trailer board fitted on the back. Looked terrible. If larger lights were really needed, couldn't something a little more in-keeping be found quite easily? Earlier this year I followed a 50s Bentley on wedding duty which had Jag Mk10 rear lamps screwed to the back wings, ugh. Modern flashing indicators, usually off a Jap motorbike or similar, are another bugbear

R
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[peter scott]