STAFF CAR SAGAS
Kettle on... time for some tall tales from the PC workshop
Danny’s MX-5 Montana, 147 and Mondeo get some love
Danny Hopkins
EDITOR
Engine 1839cc/4-cyl/DOHC
Power 130bhp@7000rpm
Torque 114lb ft@5500rpm
Gearbox 5 speed manual
0-60mph 8.3sec
Top speed 123mph
Fuel economy 31mpg
Rear arches; paint; brakes.
Also in Danny’s garage
1956 RILEY PATHFINDER
Engine ready at Formhalls.
1971 MORRIS MARINA 1.3
Trim being attached.
1972 TRIUMPH 2000
Still needs a new balljoint.
1977 RELIANT SCIMITAR SE6A
Started and run up.
1997 BMW 735I
Lent it to my dad. I don't think he is giving it back.
2004 VAUXHALL FRONTERA 2.2DTI
Back with a vengeance.
Most people would have taken a glance at the rear end of my MX-5 Montana project and gone, ‘no thanks’. It looked like it had been parked with its backside in the sea. But I had made a commitment to previous owner Kevin Langstone and besides, the Montana is my favourite MX-5 special edition, I love the colour, spec and rarity. NBs are being binned for having a puncture these days, what better reason for rescuing one? It has proved more difficult than anticipated to get it to a healthy place, but nothing worth doing was ever easy.
The MX-5 Club had invited me onto its stand at the PC Classic Car and Restoration Show as its ‘barn find’ (the cheek) and that gave me the impetus to try to, at least, make it look presentable. Both arches were prepared and filled, but just as I began the process of final flatting before primer I found more rot, on the back end of the offside sill. I wasn’t going to rely on Clive’s panel making skills, so bought a panel from MX5 Heaven and set to.
I also bought the wrong colour paint. So, when eventually I got round to spraying it, it was deeply embarassing and the cause of much headshaking when the car eventually appeared on the stand at the NEC. I had chosen Black Cherry, when I needed Garnet Red. The car attracted all sorts of attention at the show and the club got busy tidying it up, including detoxifying the interior, which was damp and filthy. The bonnet polished up nicely and, while I was there, I ordered the correct colour aerosol paint. Eventually it will get the full respray it needs, but this summer I want to be able to enjoy it and use it as my daily. Scruffy first… then if I love it, full respray next.
De-filth my ride Pt.2
I have a Ford Mondeo back in my life and it also visited the PC Resto Show, as part of the barn finds exhibition. Another car that requi
