Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

KerryDwyer · Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 13

Hello.
The management of this forum have kindly given me permission to ask here for help with a story that I am writing. I am one of many unpublished writers.
My latest attempt has a story involving car restoration and I want it to be as realistic as possible. I know nothing about cars.
In the story a garage owner find his dream car being used as a chicken roost in an old barn. It takes him the best part of a year to restore the car. He has to send for parts in other countries. He replaces the leather upholstery. He dies in an explosion caused by trying to weld / solder the last part of the car which is under the car. The explosion is due to the fuel he keeps stored in his garage.
Is there anyone out there willing to help me with details to make my story realistic and feasible? I know nothing about garages or cars except how to drive my car and put petrol and oil in it. Your thanks will be your name as a source of expertise in my book. I can't promise that it will ever be published.

Many thanks for reading my post.

Kerry Dwyer

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7211 Location: Edinburgh

Hi Kerry,

Rather than trying to commit one individual to assist you why not just address your questions to this forum as a body.

Petrol tanks are good at exploding if you attack them with a naked flame.

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

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

The easiest way forward for you would be to buy an old car and get someone who knows a bit about them to fix it for you ( preferably a friend who will do it for free ) and you could take notes as you go along. Bearing in mind there are literally thousands of books and magazines out there on classic car restoration so you might find it difficult to sell your book. Good luck......oh and a Merry Christmas. Cool

_________________
The Clan Chieftain

KerryDwyer · Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 13

Wow - what quick replies

Peter, thank you for your suggestion. I have posted to the Forum so I will see what replies I get. Maybe a lot of people will make suggestions here.

Marian. Thanks for the suggestion. This would not really serve my purpose as I would have no idea what sort of car to buy in order to fit in with my story. I wouldn't really want to kill someone at the end of the story either. I realise there are a lot of books about car restoration and I am in no way qualified to write such a book. My book is a romantic novel. This is a fictional novel and no one really needs to die. I just need to know what sort of car and what sort of things a garage owner would need to do to it.

Many thanks for the replies.

Uncle Alec · Joined: 14 Jan 2008 Posts: 734 Location: Manchester

Where you is Kerry? If anywhere near Manchester, come and take a look at me restoring Rileys and after an hour or two you will go home with a notebook full of ways to kill yourself whilst under the delusion of being a restorer.
Do you yet have a name for this ill-fated character? A few suggestions:
Herr Restorer.
Norfolk N. Goode
Napoleon Blownapart
Albertos y los trios BOCos

KerryDwyer · Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 13

Hello Uncle Alec and thank you for your reply. I'm afraid I live a long way from Manchester. My mother is from there and I was born a little further north but I now live in the South West of France. You can have a look at the area on my blog if you are interested, just google my name. My garage owner is called Thierry but I love your suggestions.

Maybe you could just tell me how to blow someone up with a garage? Is a Riley a good car for my man to restore?

Kerry

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7211 Location: Edinburgh

Hi Kerry,

Perhaps before we make suggestions about makes of car you could give us some background to your restorer character. What age? How wealthy? Family background? Family cars from his or her childhood?
What pleasure does the person seek from the car? Just the restoration or using it for holidays, UK? abroad?

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

KerryDwyer · Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 13

Hello Peter and than you for your reply.

The garage owner is in his early 50's he is not wealthy but makes an adequate living with his normal garage work. He owns the garage and the house above it. He has two grown up children, one grandchild a mistress and an ex wife. His children are not impressed with him and he wants to show them that he can do something wonderful with this old wreck.
He has promised to take them to church on Christmas day in the new car which is why he is working on it when he blows himself up. I have not thought about what sort of cars he had as a boy. As he is French he probably drove Renaults.

I had a look at Rileys on the internet after Alec's post. There are some large soft top Rileys that might be perfect. Maybe something flashy like a Cadillac that might be more the sort of car someone would dream of owning. Not sure.

Hope this helps

Kerry

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

Hi Kerry, your man would join a forum for the vehicle chosen, such as here:

http://www.classicroverforum.com/

If you log on you will see the rebuilds by members restoring Rover P6's, once you select your vehicle, find the club/forum.

This would put him in touch with overseas members for parts etc. and all the pitfalls in restoring a vehicle. Most forums have a "did I really do that cock up" thread somewhere.

John.

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7211 Location: Edinburgh

Well if he's French he probably isn't into British cars and if he's planning to take a bunch of folk in it then it will need four seats. A cheap banger made to look good won't impress anyone (family) who isn't into cars. He needs something from a different era.

I suggest his wreck is a Citroen Traction.

Later to become..

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

KerryDwyer · Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 13

Thank you Big John for the tip. The site certainly has some interesting stories. Once I decide on the car then I can find another forum for that car.

Peter. Thank you for the suggestion and the great pictures. That certainly is one impressive car. I am going to print them off and pin them up for inspiration. There are several forums for this as well in both French and English so I can read them for ideas about parts and where to get them.

Is this a car that you have restored?

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7211 Location: Edinburgh

No, but there is an active member of this forum who has one. Perhaps he'll chip in with some suggestions.

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

lowdrag · Joined: 10 Apr 2009 Posts: 1600 Location: Le Mans

As a journalist I'll see if I can help. I write for classic car magazines and have a long history in the sector, so drop me an email.

KerryDwyer · Joined: 01 Dec 2011 Posts: 13

Peter

Thank you for your help and I love the pictures of Jaguars on your site. No news as yet from the Citroen owner.

lowdrag

I have no email address for you so I have pm'd you instead.