SAMANTHA'S STORY
Samantha Gill has dreams and plans for her two classic heroes
How did your love of classics start?
'My dad was a mechanic, and my mother was a nurse. So, when I was little, I had to go to dad's yard since I couldn’t stay in the hospital waiting rooms. Dad worked on classic Rovers and when I was old enough, would help him with mechanical work or bodywork, rubbing down whole panels and prepping for paint.'
Tell us about your cars!
'I bought Muttley the Mazda MX-5 recently. Bought cheap from a gent who imported him from Japan. I've replaced all four discs and pads, removed the hard top to safe storage, changed the battery and clamps to UK size, fitted halo lights and am currently waiting for a set of custom engraved rear lights. Millie the Herald is in the process of a complete nut and bolt restoration. Originally started as a rust-free project, which then exploded to a car in many pieces with a rotten chassis. With help from dad and friends we managed to replace all six outriggers as well as chassis extensions, which then I have primed, and painted body colour. I never really had any budget constraints – whatever it took to get it done properly. If I had to spend over £350 buying full outriggers for the Herald so it doesn’t look like a patchwork quilt underneath, then it’s worth the expense!'
What are your plans for the cars, ultimately?
'My future plan is to make the Mazda good paint wise, fix the lacquer peel on the wing and doors. He will eventually get a respray but that’s far in the future. I'd like to fix all the rust bubbles underneath, underseal it and waxoil all the nooks and crannies to hopefully prevent it from rusting in future. Other than that, I plan to tinker with it. Service items and such and cosmetic things like lights and some Mazda speed side skirts. The Herald will be resprayed proper in its factory cherry red. Done to original spec engine and interior wise. Just make it a lovely car.
My end goal is to have my Mazda ‘Muttley’ as my fun car. Drive it around on B roads and just enjoy it. The Millie will then be my estate car
