Super Frogeye

Having decided to turn the MK3 Sprite into a Frogeye the Self Drive Classics restorationteam are now moving on with the work. The engine bay has been repainted white and the engine work now completed. The Frogeye rear end is ready to fit as is the Frogeye style dash. We have ordered the bonnet which should be here this week so we expect to have all of the panels and dash fitted by the end of next week. Next job is to paint the car then on to trim and finished so we sill be ready for the summer – should it ever arrive!

Volvo P1800

Last week we started work on the bodyshell for the P1800. It is in a worst state than we first thought but these old cars are well worth saving so we will move on with the restoration. We have remove the drivers side sills and floor and cut away all of the rust. We are fabricating new chassis legs ready to attach the new floor and sills.

Classic Car Hire

The dreadful weather has not helped the classic car hire business but at least it looks like this week could be a bit more settled. Despite the weather people still get married, have School proms and – being British – still go for a drive even in the rain so don’t let the weather put you off. Anyone with a discount voucher should use them now before they expire.

Classic Car Restoration

Classic Car Restoration

We have made a big decision with the Austin Healey Sprite Mk3 we are currently restoring. The back end is such a bodge that we have decided to cut it all off and turn the car into a Frogeye. What we will end up with is a car that offers the best compromise – it is still a 1966 Healey Sprite to drive with the cute looks of the Frogeye but with disc brakes, seat belts, a heater and decent weather gear. We have found that the full on original Frogeye we are currently running on our hire fleet is often a bit too much for our customer who are used to modern cars so this will make a great compromise and we will be putting the restored version on our hire fleet.

Classic Car Hire

It seems that kids are now looking for something different to arrive in for their school proms. Stretch Limos have been done so now they are looking to us to provide something a bit special. Our Ford Zodiac has never been more popular, it can carry 5 passengers and Dad gets to have a drive so it’s fun for all. All of our cars have been used for Proms and weddings at some time but the Zodiac and the Morris Minor are becoming very popular. Those who want to arrive in style are looking to our Jaguar E-type Aston martin or the chauffeur driven Pontiac Firebird which is just about the loudest way to arrive at a party.

Wheels on, engine in now its looking better!

More progress this week in our classic car restoration department with the MK3 Sprite. The front suspension is back on so now we are back on 4 wheels, and the engine and gearbox are back in so now we can push it about but it weighs quite a bit more! The cylinder head has just come back from the machine shop with new valve guides and hardened seats for unleaded fuel. The next job is to sort out the carbs, ignition system etc and get the engine running again. We then have to deal with the botched backend – classic car restoration can be such fun.

Classic CarHire is moving along with the Frogeye Sprite, Morris Minor and e-type going out on hire despite the weather. The Zodiac continues to be a very popular prom car – the kids love it and it certainly attracts attention. Drivers and passengers have to wrap up warm in the Frogeye as a heater was an optional extra in 1960 – all adds to the fun though.

We attended the Chasewater Classic Car Show on Sunday (15th April) to be honest it was a complete shambles from our point of view with our pitch being stolen by some local dogs home. We ended up in the middle of the field in an ‘un-official’ pitch but we made the best of a cold day – don’t think we will be doing this one again. The next show is a Catton Park in Derbyshire, this is usually a great show so if you come along please come over and say hello.

Beware the Artful bodger!

Working with classic cars means we get to see the best and sadly the worst of the art of restoring and maintaining old cars. Our current restoration project is definitely one of the latter. I bought this as a rust free shell, it had been hand painted but it looked rust free and would make the basis for a very nice little Austin Healey Sprite. On much closer inspection however the full horror of the bodger craft became apparent. The chassis and sills - which are the strength of the monocoque construction - are sound, so it’s a good start. But whoever fitted the outer panels was definitely not thinking about a quality finish. It is such as shame, to buy new repair panels which would make a great job and then ruin the panels and the car with such poor fitting. In this case both rear wings had been repaired with ¾ panels. These are good panels but you have to cut away the old wing first BEFORE welding on the new panels. It’s no use just trimming away a bit of rust and then tacking the new panel on top! Then trying to cover it all up with tons of filler. There panels will have to come off and be refitted. The same applies to the front wings where a very good bottom ¼ panel is available for the worst affected area, we will have to scrap these repairs and buy new panels. Despite these setbacks the Austin Healey Sprite MK3 restoration is progressing. We have stripped the car and painted the engine bay, we are now in the process of rebuilding the front suspension. The cylinder head has just come back from the engineers with new value guides and hardened seats for unleaded fuel and I have ordered a new clutch so the engine and box should go back in next week and we will continue to build up the front of the car. Meanwhile, we will be removing the rear wing repair panels and doing this job again. Classic Car Restoration http://www.selfdriveclassics.co.uk - never a dull moment!

Why People Pay For Classic Car Restorations

There are many reasons why people choose to own classic cars – perhaps to remind them of a car they once owned or a motoring era gone by, maybe to impress someone special or even because they just love anything automotive and want to get back to motoring like it used to be. Given that there are plenty of people out there that are passionate about old cars but who don’t necessarily have the engineering and technical knowledge to maintain them there will always be a need for classic car restoration.

Classic car restorers are anything but your average mechanic – though some will get into this via a mechanical background others may venture into the restoration business after having owned their own classic cars and because they have a passion for restoring them undertaking the necessary training and work experience to enable them to restore other people’s classic motors for a living.

When working with a classic car restoration company there is one thing that is guaranteed – the people that work on your classic motors will treat them with the care and attention that any owner would, this is because they too will be passionate about these old cars and grateful for the privilege of being able to work on them and restore them to their former glory.

Cars such as the Morris Minor, Triumph Herald and E type Jaguar may be among the many classic cars that have restoration work done on them. Though people say ‘the old things are built to last’ as motoring on modern roads takes its toll, even the best looked after classic cars are going to need some maintenance even after they have been restored.

When looking for someone to carry out classic car restorations one of the best places to look is online because here you can type in the keywords relating to the area you live in and find someone who is local to you so that you do not have to travel too far to get your classic motor restored and maintained so that it runs like a dream once more.

Benefits Of Having Classic Car Restoration

If you love classic cars and dream about motoring the way it used to be then you have probably thought about owning a classic car so you can turn these dreams into reality. However the probable reality you most likely encountered is the cost of looking after such a vehicle and how you can ensure you can use it but at the same time preserve it so it can be used and enjoyed for many more years to come. This is where classic car restoration comes in because it helps to keep these fine examples of a bygone era in tip-top condition.

Classic car restorers are experts in their trade and are very often classic car owners themselves so they understand the passion and enthusiasm that it takes to keep these vehicles in a good condition. From their workshop facilities they are able to repair, restore and maintain a wide range of classic cars including E-type Jaguars, Morris Minors, Triumph Stags and the MGB Roadster. They can also provide advice on how owners can help to do their bit to keep their cars running well and looking good.

If you have a problem with a classic car, perhaps a mechanical issue, then a classic car restoration company will have the tools and expertise on board to ensure that they can fix this problem and restore your vehicle to full working order. They have access to specialist parts and can order these as and when necessary to complete the repair of your classic car.

If your vehicle is running fine but you just need on-going maintenance to ensure that the engine continues to run smoothly and that you can use the car whenever you want to then classic car restorers can help you to maintain your vehicle in good working order. They can also polish and clean it so that it looks as good on the outside too.

Whatever kind of classic car you own, using a classic car restorers will ensure that you can keep making the most of your vehicle for many years to come.

To find out more about classic car restoration why not visit our site where you can find out more about these classic car restorers.

Why It’s Never Too Early To Consider Wedding Cars Hire

At the end of the year when all people are talking about and thinking about is Christmas then planning your wedding day may seem to be something that can wait but as the saying goes, to ‘be prepared’ is the best thing and this little motto definitely applies when it comes to planning a wedding. Whilst it will not do to shun the Christmas festivities altogether, it is never too early to start thinking about planning things like wedding cars hire.

The most popular time of year for weddings in the UK is the spring and summer months as most people like to have an outdoor element to the day and thus they need to be able to count on the weather being fairly dry and warm. Even if the wedding is not for another 6or 12 months it is still a good idea to think about how you are going to get to and from the wedding venue, church or place where you are holding the reception.

Classic wedding cars are a great way to do this as they give everyone something to marvel at as you arrive and they are perfect for both brides and grooms to make their special arrival. You can choose from chauffeur driven and self-drive options to get the most from your chosen piece of motoring history.

The best place to find car hire companies is by searching online for ‘wedding cars hire’ or perhaps ‘classic wedding cars hire’ and looking at the results returned to you by the search engines. Then you can browse their websites to see if any particular classic cars catch your eye and if they do you can make an enquiry as to how much they will cost, how long you can hire them for and where you need to collect them from and drop them back off to.

There are lots of different cars to choose from such as Morris Minors, E Type Jaguars, Frogeye Sprites and Triumph Heralds. These will be in very good condition as they have been lovingly restored and looked after so that they can add to your perfect look on your perfect day. So do not wait around to think about classic wedding cars for your big day as it is never too early to be prepared.

If you are considering wedding cars hire for your big day why not visit our website where you can browse our range of classic wedding cars.