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blog was started 26th Jan 09
average 'hits' 27 per day
we did get up in the 70's one day!
Feedback is that people want more historical pictures so here are some '69 piccys and cartoons. I'll search through DATs study when i return from skiing (with the car husband).
I like this one from 1979 with DAT in the driving tests driving DS Nurburg
LS cartoon following DATs editorial in which he had written
"Bolzano can be quite easily reached by road form Ostend"
from chain gang gazette 32. The original is on his study wall
When DAT returned home from the 69 raid to his garage he knelt in front of the car and said a prayer. Here are the two IGT cartoons taken of before and after the Raid from Chain Gang Gazette no 35
and
it has become customary to pat the car and chant this when the car is going well or when it causes concern.....
01/02/2009
Whilst putting the floor boards/ seats/ carpets back in after refitting the speedo cable I noticed they were all looking a bit frayed. Decided to do some light girlie upholstering with some nails to the seats and a bit of stitching to the carpet edges to smarten them up. Then gave the side panelling a good polish with shoe polish.
The seats were recovered in Kidderminster in 1968 just before the 69 Raid. The seats are made from an ICI material called AMBLA a synthetic material made for the motor industry (tear resistant). Dad thinks it is marvellous and I have to say it looks good and has lasted well. Apparently the whole roll cost him £1 back then!
I could add a bit here about the body work....
This was redone in the late 70's early 80s by Frank Higgins. We took the car to him straight after the Lakeland Trial and helped him take the body off. I had a tough time in the same year trying to get through scrutineering at Oulton Park because the whole bulk head moved side to side by 6" this was actually because the holes in the wood had worn/ enlarged where the chassis attcahed to the body. . The bolts that went from the chassis to the body had enlarged holes. So frank stripped the body repaired the frame and then recovered the car in the same skin and painted it Ford Norfolk Blue...as it has been since 1962. Check out the 1950's pictures when the car was black with a black bonnet.
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