March 22, 2024

PDI And Repairs

Here are Jonn’s notes following the pre-delivery inspection of our 1964 Ford Zephyr: Refit radiator now back from repair. Connect hoses and secure. Vacuum refill

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Motorbike Inspections

Paul has begun his inspection and assessment of 2 of our recently arrived motorbikes – our 1960 BSA 650 and our 1961 Matchless 350.

On the Matchless 350, he cleaned out the carbs and fitted a new spark plug before taking it out on a test ride.


He then moved on to assess the BSA which he found to start and run ok.


PDI And Repairs

Here are Jonn’s notes following the pre-delivery inspection of our 1964 Ford Zephyr:

Refit radiator now back from repair. Connect hoses and secure. Vacuum refill system even though it had a minor pressure loss over 2 mins. Visually check round resecure all pipes and check for leaks. Ok at present. Fit refurbished offside front brake caliper and pads. With John’s help bleed entire brake system and pressure check for leaks, ok. Refit wheel.

Take outside to start up and check. Found door ajar and interior light on all night so battery flat. Run lead outside and battery charger and get started, but heater valve leaking almost instantly. Check charge light extinguished and switch off. Take back into workshop and drain coolant again. Strip and remove heater box assembly. Remove heater valve and strip. Get Christian to weld small hole in valve body. Use instant gasket and new O ring and reassemble in vice. Refit to heater and leave to go off overnight. Carry out pdi. Torque wheel nuts and refit wheel trims. Inflate/deflate tyres to obtain correct pressure. All tyres Found to be excessively high pressure as pictures will testify. Set to correct pressures all round.

100 New ล koda Police Cars In Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire Police has recently taken delivery of 100 new ล kodas. These will now form part of their expanding emergency vehicle fleet and will be utilised by a range of departments such as driver training, dog units, and road policing.

The force’s current collection of emergency vehicles already includes several ล kodas which have been converted for use across a number of functions.

This new delivery comprises of 92 Octavia Estates and eight Superb Estates. The Octavias โ€“ 1.5 TSI and 2.0 TDI SE Tech models โ€“ will be used in response and neighbourhood policing roles, fitted with emergency warning equipment, full livery kit and light bar on the roof. They will also be used by driver training teams along with the Superb Estates โ€“ all in Sportline Plus 2.0 TSI 280 DSG 4×4 spec โ€“ which will be used in dog units and road policing roles too.

Vehicles used by the Dog units come with bespoke kennel conversions, developed by Pressfab EVO Limited โ€“ one of ล kodaโ€™s approved converters โ€“ in conjunction with Nottinghamshire Police to meet their specific requirements, with specialist air conditioning and blue light fitment.ย  Road policing cars get a full blue light fit, ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) and matrix board.


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Shown To The World

After several years of research and restoration, our 1905 Riley 9HP is ready to be revealed to the world!

As a 1 of 1 prototype for the first car to have fully removable wheels, this is the first time anyone outside of the workshop has seen the car in decades.

The unveiling of the fully restored unique vehicle takes place at the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show 2024 at the NEC in Birmingham.



Mercedes 230SL – possible engine rebuild

Arriving in with us this week is our 1964 Mercedes 230SL. The car has come in for a possible engine rebuild but at this stage we are not convinced that this work is required. We want to carry out a few tests and checks before we make the decision of whether the engine needs to be removed.

Rare 300 SL Alloy Gullwing For Sale

Regarded as a masterpiece of Mercedes-Benz craftsmanship, chassis number 5500332 stands out as one of the rarest and most authentically preserved of the twenty-nine 300 SL Alloy Competition models ever made. This particular vehicle, a 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing, is now available for sale through Sotheby’s Sealed, with the bidding process concluding on March 22.


Offered for sale through Sotheby’s Sealed, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own one of the most original and significant competition-prepared Alloy Gullwings in existence.

This exceptional vehicle is currently up for auction with bidding closing at 5pm EDT (9pm UK time) today (March 22nd 2024). While nearly 1,400 300 SL Gullwings were manufactured, only 29 were made with specialised racing features and aluminium bodies. These 29 rare models are all held in significant collections around the world. However, highly original examples like this one are almost non-existent.

This incredible car is one of the exclusive 29 Alloy Gullwings made by Mercedes-Benz, separating it from the 1,371 models made with steel bodies.

Its construction, using lightweight aluminium for the body and Plexiglas for the windows, significantly reduces its weight. This makes it not only a rare car but a high-performing one too. The vehicle is powered by its original 3-litre NSL engine, which, through extensive modifications such as a competition-grade camshaft and a specialised butterfly throttle valve, achieves over 215 horsepower. Interestingly, this car also has a distinctive history; it is the only 300 SL Alloy model that was originally delivered to Casablanca, making it the sole example to be delivered to Africa.


This Alloy Gullwing’s uniqueness is developed further by its retention of many sought-after original features, including a sports suspension, a high-speed 3.42 rear axle, an uprated metric speedometer, belly pans, and Rudge wheels that came as standard. If that wasn’t enough, this example was owned for 32 years by Hyatt Cheek, the national president of the Gullwing Group and the Mercedes-Benz Club of America (MBCA).

Highlighting its exceptional authenticity, chassis number 5500332 retains its original chassis, engine, bodywork, rear axle, and front kingpins. While the gearbox has been replaced with a model of the correct type from 1957, its authenticity remains intact.

The car underwent a meticulous restoration led by the renowned Paul Russell in 1979. The car’s long-standing connection with Paul Russell’s workshop, starting in 1975, known for the exceptional restoration of classic cars, only adds to its desirability and history.

  • The 1955 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy Gullwing, one of the rarest and most historically significant variants of the Gullwing, is now open for bidding on Sotheby’s Sealed
  • Considered as one of the purest and most original examples in existence
  • Delivered new to Casablanca as the only 300 SL Alloy delivered to Africa
  • One of only 29 Alloy Gullwings made, it features a lightweight aluminium body and enhanced performance
  • Powered by an original factory-prepared 3.0-liter NSL engine delivering over 215 horsepower
  • Retains desirable competition factory features such as sports suspension, NSL engine, and Rudge wheels
  • Previously owned for 32 years by Hyatt Cheek, President of the 300 SL Gullwing Group International
  • Verified by Mercedes-Benz Classic as retaining original chassis, engine, and bodywork

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