WHO O'S THE DADDY? D '62 CADDY
NOAH ALEXANDER
THE NEXT CHIP FOOSE?
BLUE DEVIL '72 DODGE DEMON
TECH: PRESERVING OLD PAINT THE TRUTH ABOUT E10 FUEL
CAMARO ZL1
AMERICAN SUPERCAR
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CORVETTE CLUB SHOWVINTAGE NOSTALGIA GOODWOODDAMN YANKEESPENDINE SANDS DRAGSTALGIAMOPARS AT BROOKLANDS & EURO NATS
UK Off-sale date – 18/10/2018 No.330 October 2018
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Ben Klemenzson
Viewpoint
A
The rise and rise of ‘Patina’
few years ago a book came out called It’s Only Original Once. For me it marked what was the start of an increasing appreciation of unrestored cars, filled as it was with original old cars that hadn’t been restored or resprayed and wore their faded paint or dulled chrome with pride. Sophia Loren versus Cher if you like… There’s lots to be said for cars that haven’t been extensively restored; arguably if you’re buying, you pretty much know what you’re getting, whereas with one that’s been resprayed, it can be questionable as to what lies beneath all that glossy, seductive paint. Of course driving a car with 40 or 50-year-old tyres probably isn’t a great idea and at the other end of the spectrum has been the rise of the ‘rat rod’ look, as pioneered by raggarbil in Sweden; cars so decrepit-looking that they actually look as if they’re on their way to the crusher. I have to say that in my opinion the decline in the obsession for taking a scruffy car and erasing all its personality with a well-meaning, but ultimately character-destroying restoration has been a good
thing. The buzz word it seems today is ‘preservation’, not ‘restoration’. Amen to that. And if you’re interested in preserving your car’s character, you’ll enjoy our tech feature on looking after old paint starting on page 58. In this issue we also meet Noah Alexander, a young man whipping things up in the custom and rod world stateside (that's one of his creations below) and while we’re on the subject of patina, check out the awesome ICON Bronco BR on page 65. It’s not long until the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show and we’re offering 10 lucky couples the chance to come along and enjoy this fantastic show, so make sure you enter. It’s really easy, full details are in the News pages 6 and 7. See you there!
Ben Klemenzson, editor bklemenzson@mortons.co.uk
37 on page 20
58
SEE PAGE 102
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EDITOR
Ben Klemenzson bklemenzson@mortons.co.uk DESIGN
Holly Furness
P IC TURE DESK
Jonathan Schofield, Paul Fincham CONTRIBUTORS
Nigel Boothman, Simon Browse, Paul Bussey, Gary Chapman, Richard Coney, Huw Evans, Paul Guinness, Drew Hardin, Keith Harman, Steve Havelock, Richard Heseltine, John Isaac, John Kennedy, Tony Oksien, Mike Renaut, Matt Richardson, Will Shiers, Garry Stuart, Andy Willsheer P RO DUCTION EDITORS
Pauline Hawkins, Sarah Spencer
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W W W. C L A S S I C - A M E R I C A N . C O M O'S THE WHO DADDY? D '62 CADDY
30 October 2 018
NOAH ALEXANDER
THE NEXT CHIP FOOSE?
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BLUE DEVIL '72 DODGE DEMON
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TECH: PRESERVING OLD PAINT THE TRUTH ABOUT E10 FUEL AMERICAN SUPERCAR
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!
W IN !W IN
Classic American
News
GET READY FOR THE G
BIG ONE!
racing the halls of Birmingham’s NEC from November 9-11, the UK’s biggest and best Classic Motor Show is back! This year’s show promises an unmissable selection of motoring celebrities including Wheeler Dealers Mike Brewer and Ant Anstead, along with more than 2500 stunning classics on display and the UK’s biggest indoor autojumble to pore over. Expanding to the size of 18 football pitches with a brand new Debutant and Special Display Hall, this year’s show boasts the accolade of the world’s biggest gathering of classic vehicle clubs, creating a community of like-minded enthusiasts eager to share news and views. As well as all the popular features including Silverstone Auctions sales, Sporting Bears’ Dream Rides, the Restoration Theatre, Classic Trader Village and the Discovery Live Stage, this year the show also pays tribute to all servicemen and women, marking 100 years since the end of the First World War on the last day of the show.
TEN chances to win!
10 pairs of general admission tickets to include entry into the wall of death.
There are no cash alternatives available. The winners will be the first 10 names drawn at random. Terms and conditions apply.
6 classic-american.com
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Celebrating this year’s theme ‘Built to Last’, clubs and exhibitors will showcase marques that have reached huge milestones and vehicles that have been ‘built to last’ so that they can be passed down from generation to generation, having undertaken epic journeys and challenges, and even remain on the roads to this day – some with their original drivers. Don’t miss this season finale and your chance to mingle with 72,000 classic car enthusiasts. Book your tickets today, and save up to 15% by booking in advance! There’s lots on offer for American car fans too, including numerous club stands such as the Pre-’50 American Car Club, Mustang Owners Club, Classic Corvette Club UK, NSRA, The National Street Van Association, American Auto Club UK, American Auto Club International, Mopar Muscle Association and of course, Classic American’s stand.
Tickets to the Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show, with Discovery, are now on sale. For more information as well as all the ticket prices and booking details, visit www.necclassicmotorshow.com.
ADVANCE TICKET PRICES Adult/Senior (16+) Family (2 adults & 3 children 5-15) Child (5-15 years) Children (under 5) Groups (10+) Weekend Pass (Friday & Saturday) Weekend Pass (Saturday & Sunday) 3 Day Pass
Friday £33.00 £80.00 £17.50 Free £28.80 £55.00 £75.00
Saturday £26.50 £73.00 £16.50
Sunday £26.50 £73.00 £16.50
£23.85 £49.00
£23.85
Friday £35.50 £90.00 £18.50 Free £65.00 £85.00
Saturday £30.00 £80.00 £17.50
Sunday £30.00 £80.00 £17.50
ON-THE-DOOR TICKET PRICES Adult/Senior (16+) Family (2 adults & 3 children 5-15) Child (5-15 years) Children (under 5) Weekend Pass (Friday & Saturday) Weekend Pass (Saturday & Sunday) 3 Day Pass
£59.00
classic-american.com 7
ut our special o k c e h c u o y re u G! Make s Guide on pages 114 & 115 WINTER’S COnMaIN e and Storage c n te in a M r te Win
Classic American
News
PERFECT PRESCOTT The popular American-themed Autumn Classic returns to the beautiful Prescott Speed Hill Climb, Cheltenham, over the weekend of October 6 and 7. The annual all-American Stars and Stripes event celebrates everything American and automotive and attracts a wide variety of cars competing on the historic hill climb course, with special classes for American cars and hot rods, as well as spectacular American car displays, a dedicated show ‘n’ shine area and fantastic US-themed entertainment from the thrilling Demon Drome Wall of Death, live bands and Vegas Showgirls. The paddock features an awesome display of American classics, hot rods and muscle cars, as well as Indian motorcycles and custom choppers and a whole host of other American vehicles, all of which will take to the iconic hill climb course in a special lunchtime cavalcade. The Orchard features a dedicated show ‘n’ shine display area which is open to all owners of American vehicles.
Up the hill in a tin Lizzie!
Notable vehicles attending this year include the Penske PC22 Indy car raced by Stefan Johansson, as well as the awesome Dodge Challenger SRT Demon which will be tackling the hill. The popular Indian Motorcycle Club makes a welcome return alongside The Chopper Club of Great Britain, who will be showcasing some marvellous custom-engineered machinery. It’s not just about the cars either. Other attractions include: the Demon Drome Wall of Death, live music all weekend and the final heat of this year’s Footman James and Kingstown Shipping Car of the Year competition. The Prescott heat winner will be guaranteed a place on the Classic American stand at the Classic Motor Show, held at Birmingham’s NEC in November, and will also win a bespoke hand-cast brass trophy, a cheque for £100 and a feature in Classic American magazine. The winner will be announced on the Sunday at 3pm, with a presentation taking place at
3.30pm near the start line gantry. The winner must be able to attend the NEC in November. Prescott welcomes back the Miles for Smiles charity, as the event will once again be supporting the good cause founded by local American car owner Brett Pillinger. Prescott will host special guests from Acorns Children’s Hospice (local to Prescott) who will be treated to a fun-filled day out. Thanks to the members of the VHRA and Swindon Rod N Custom Club, the children and their families and carers will be treated to passenger rides. As Brett says: “Prescott will give the miles, and the car owners will bring the smiles.” Ticket prices are as follows: advance tickets to the event cost £15 per day or £25 for the weekend. On the gate: £20 and £35 respectively. Admission includes: all entertainment, entry into the wall of death and free parking – plus children under 14 years old go free!
Two for one for all American car owners
Miles for smiles.
Old Yeller.
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VHRA get-together.
Checking out a Bugatti.
If you own an American classic car and would like to attend, you’ll need to register to obtain a special reference code prior to purchasing your tickets. All American car owners are entitled to a special ‘two for one’ on event entry tickets to display their vehicle. Just enter the number of tickets required, and in the promotional box enter code: AMC18 and as an American car owner you will be provided with a discount. It automatically recalculates and adds a vehicle display pass, which will be sent to you, to the basket. www.prescotthillclimb.com/events/ tickets/autumn-classicweekend-2018
GREAT NEWS FOR UK AND EUROPEAN CORVETTE OWNERS…
Corvette Kingdom, the UK’s longest-running Corvette specialist, has launched an exciting new website packed with special features and a superb online shop. Corvette Kingdom is well known throughout the UK for its body-off frame refurbishments and high standards of workmanship, from routine servicing and maintenance to full car restorations. The many services that Corvette Kingdom offers are detailed throughout the new website, including photos, descriptions and videos. The Workshop Stories section details some of the company’s best-known rebuilds, from its Stingray Racer and Grand Sport tributes, to restorations, transmission conversions,
windscreen frame repairs, and lots more. Regular updates in the News section ensure the content remains fresh, so it is well worth regular visits to catch up on the latest developments as they happen, not forgetting the amazing adventures of Charlie, the workshop dog… The biggest news though is the company’s extensive online shop. This has been some 18 months in development so far and is still having new products and features added on a daily basis. More than
20,000 products are listed, almost all with detailed photographs. The busy boys and girls at CK are still working on descriptions for some of the parts, but are at the end of the phone or just a click away if advice or help is needed. Corvette Kingdom’s vast inventory of used parts will be added to the website in due course. Parts are available for ordering online and all stock items are sent out by next-day courier and fully insured. A great deal of effort has been made to make sure the website is easy to use and very intuitive, and of course Corvette Kingdom’s customer care and speedy mail order service is legendary throughout the UK and Europe. See www.corvettekingdom. co.uk and experience the magic for yourself.
FOOTMAN JAMES & KINGSTOWN SHIPPING CAR OF THE YEAR ROUND SIX Car of the Year heat six took place at the UK’s biggest muscle car event, the Mopar Euro Nationals, which is held every summer at Santa Pod Dragstrip. Sweltering heat gave way to gale force winds, torrential downpours and unsettled weather, as the recent heatwave ended dramatically. Equally dramatic was the stunning black-on-black 1969 COPO Camaro which scooped the trophy for this heat. Belonging to Steve Henry from Berkshire, the car was purchased from Belgium
1969 COPO Camaro.
and is super-rare, with its high performance L72, 425 bhp 427cu in high performance V8 motor backed up by a Muncie fourspeed close ratio transmission and 140mph speedo. The car underwent a total restoration Stateside six years ago, prior to its importation to Europe and we’d wager there’s not another in the UK or Europe. Make sure you head over to the Classic American stand at the Classic Motor Show in November. This car has to be seen to be believed!
classic-american.com 9
The truth about E10 and your classic American E10 is coming: what will extra ethanol do to your classic? Doubling the ethanol content of pump petrol could have serious implications for older vehicles. Nigel Boothman explains how you can protect your pride and joy. The amount of ethanol in the UK’s pump petrol could soon double to 10%. A Government consultation on E10 fuel comes to an end in mid-September and may pave the way for widespread introduction of the new blend. But this could be bad news for owners of older cars, which will need some modification to use the new fuel safely. Other countries have had to deal with E10 fuels for some time – in the US, gasoline has contained either 10% or 15% ethanol since 2012, with E10 arriving in France in 2009, then Germany and Finland in 2011. Many owners of classic cars have noticed some effects, ranging from a minor inconvenience to a serious danger. So what damage does ethanol actually do? First, ethanol softens or erodes glass-fibre, many plastics and rubber hoses. So fuel lines and GRP fuel tanks (e.g. on motorcycles) can spring alarming leaks, while O-rings or diaphragms in carburettors and fuel pumps may fail. Second, it’s hydroscopic, meaning it soaks up water and water vapour. This can speed up corrosion of non-stainless fuel tanks and pipes. It also ruins the paper element in fuel filters. Third, it separates from the petrol itself after a relatively short storage period – months rather than years – leaving the petrol floating on a layer of watery, silty ethanol at the bottom of the tank.
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As a final kicker, ethanol has a corrosive effect on aluminium and some other non-ferrous metals and may also dissolve some of the varnish and rust in your fuel system. If it’s downstream of the fuel filter and if these fragments get to the engine, that’s bad news, especially for fuelinjected cars. So what can we do about it? You can lobby against the fuel’s introduction – the open consultation lasts until September 16, 2018 and can be found by going to www. gov.uk and searching for ‘E10 petrol’. But no hard-and-fast date has been set for the arrival of E10, not least because many hundreds of thousands of older vehicles – and not just classics, but ageing family runabouts too – won’t be able to use it without modification. Geoff Lancaster of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs points to another problem. “The Government would like the industry to move towards E10 of its own accord, as it will help the country meet its emissions targets for road transport. But ethanol production is linked to wheat prices, and when oil prices are low and wheat prices are high, increasing the amount of ethanol in the fuel makes no economic sense for the supplier.” One piece of reassurance is the proposal in the consultation requiring every forecourt that sells E10 to maintain a ‘protection grade’
of E5 fuel for older vehicles, at least until the end of 2020. With more than half a million incompatible cars still predicted to be on the road by that date, an extension beyond 2020 seems likely. However, taking steps to protect your car is wise, not least because some of the problems above are already with us thanks to the current 5% ethanol content of pump petrol. And even though no suppliers have done so yet, it’s been legal since 2013 for them to sell petrol that’s 10% ethanol, so a shift in oil and wheat prices could cause the arrival of E10 at relatively short notice. Consider a few sensible changes. Replacement of the fuel lines (even copper ones) with ethanol-proof hose is affordable for most. It should be rated safe to E15 standards, not just E10. Ethanol-resistant fuel filters are harder to find. In the short term be prepared to change traditional in-line filters regularly. Vehicles with glass-fibre fuel tanks are very unusual but any such installation needs replacing with stainless steel. If your tank is rusty and prone to leaks – perhaps repaired with epoxy or an internal tank sealant – now could be the time to make a similar investment. Also check the pipe from the filler neck to the tank itself; if it’s an old rubber item, replace it.
Predicting what E10 might eventually do to aluminium and brass components like fuel pumps, manifolds, cylinder heads and carburettors is harder – the FBHVC has sought proper scientific research and found very little has been done. For the moment, the best you can do is keep an eye out for leaks or running faults, then fix them as they arise. Finally, there’s the issue of fuel separation. If your classic gets year-round use it’s not a problem but for winter storage, you could try one of the fuel treatments designed to slow down this process. Frost markets one called Ethomix, which has been approved by the FBHVC. Geoff Lancaster has a straightforward bit of advice: “Ethanol fuels do most of their corrosive damage while the vehicle is sitting still. If in the future you’re laying a car up over winter and there’s E10 fuel in the tank, drain the system.” Just how much of an effect E10 fuel has on our classics remains to be seen, but the onus is on car owners to take steps to protect their property. For example, how insurers would react to a claim following a car fire started by an ethanol-damaged rubber fuel line remains to be seen.
Email us at: email@classic-american.com or write to: Classic American Magazine, PO Box 99, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 6LZ
Classic American
STAR
Letter
LETTER FROM
SWEDEN
Dear Classic American, The 41st Power Meet was blessed with very hot weather and was much better than last year. The second year at a new location always helps. Lidkoping managed around 7000 to 8000 cars this year. Mostly the best cars attended this event with a line-up of seven 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertibles. Stunning and so Swedish.... Lots of stunning cars at the 41st Power Meet, the usual rare stuff all over the place, although not one Corvair sighted on the field or cruising and just one ’60 Valiant and a few Falcons, but that was it. The 200-car cruise around town was fun and very well
organised. The later cruising was fun too but lacked that extra sparkle that Västerås is so famous for. Västerås is still a lot of fun for the summer meet, but something has got to give on these two major events clashing on dates. The swap meet at Västerås has more filler stalls with T-shirt vendors rather than parts. The Power Meet has more parts than T-shirts, etc... Anyway, let’s see what happens in the years to come. Västerås is far the better location as Lidkoping takes an extra four hours’ drive time from Gothenburg airport. So to sum up things for this year, very good as
Cruisin’ Västerås.
always, but one of the venues needs a new date for the good of all concerned. Gavin Garrow Via email It’s not clear yet which of these shows is going to become ascendant, but it seems likely one or the other will dominate, while the other fades away in the coming years…
WIN A £100 INSURANCE VOUCHER! Those nice folks over at RH Insurance are sponsoring a prize for the star letter in Classic American magazine. The prize, which is valid for 12 months after the competition has closed, is a contribution of up to £100 towards the premium for the insurance of one
specialist vehicle courtesy of RH Specialist vehicle insurance. All you have to do to be in with a chance to win is send us a letter, or an email. For full terms and conditions please visit http://mrtns.uk/starletterterms
CALIFORNIA CADILLAC? Barn find beauty.
MAGICAL MERCURY
Dear Classic American, Thought you might like to see what I just found. It’s a 1957 Mercury Colony Park Wagon. It’s a California car that has been sitting in a barn in Illinois for the last 10 years. Rust-free body and complete. The motor is locked up, but I have a 460 from a 1970 Mark III Lincoln that I plan to put in it before we bring it back to the UK when we move back next year. The rest of the car we will leave as it is with the original patina… Except maybe a set of 17-inch torque thrusts! Alan and Jen Mortlock Sikeston Missouri, US
Dear Classic American, When I removed the July issue from its envelope I immediately noticed the white ‘60 Cadillac convertible, it looked very familiar. Back in the Seventies, when I was in my 20s, I owned a white ‘60 Cad convertible. In my lifetime I have had lots of cars, but I liked the ‘60 and kept it for several years. For 50 years I had an auto restoration and detail shop, but the ‘60 was an original car which needed little. Chico, the town I live in, is very hot during the summer, the daily temperature was 112-114 degrees. The Cad did not have a/c, I had access to a large dismantling yard and removed the entire under-hood a/c from another ‘60 Cadillac, and mated it to a slimline under-dash unit. Along with my Electra and the Cadillac I had 38 other cars, and Willie, a close friend from Southern California, asked if I would sell the ‘60 Cad to him. Before selling, I touched up some blemish areas and a scuff in a rear fender which I had my lead restorer, Andy, finish while I worked on another job. We finished up the Cadillac for Willie with a
complete detail before I drove it to Southern California to Willie. Before I left, Andy told me he had a surprise for Willie if he ever looked at the inner fender, he said he’d written LARRY 1981 before reassembly. I never looked at it, and forgot it until reading your article. The work was done in 1981 and my shop was Larry Foster Detail and Restoration, although at 70 I’m starting to use Lawrence more often. The car had 58,000 when I sold it; Willie didn’t like the under-dash air conditioning unit and removed a full air con dash from an LA car, bringing the convertible back to factory specs. Willie enjoyed the car and it had around 75,000-76,000 miles when he sold it to a collector in the eastern states. Larry Foster Chico, California, US We’ll be letting Eddie Brown, the owner of the 1960 Cadillac featured in our July 2018/CA327 issue, know this fascinating piece of information!
Wow! Now that really is a barn find and it’s great to see that cars like this are still out there being saved. We look forward to seeing it back here in Blighty!
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'60 Caddy in California in the ’70s...
... is this the same Caddy in Lancashire today?