I had agreed to buy the contents of a very leaky barn in a remote part of Somerset and today was the day I was going to fetch it. The contents of the barn was roughly, (very roughly!): A 1935 Riley 9 chassis & running gear with 12/4 engine & gearbox. …. This had been rebuilt as a trials special but very badly stored for many years and consequently very rusty. The engine was locked up solid. Tyres flat & sunk into the earthen floor of the barn. No bodywork, instruments, lights, etc. …. There was also a 12/4 Riley chassis that had been “cut & shut” to TT Sprite spec, (allegedly!). With this chassis was the component parts of another 12/4 engine with special conrods, racing pistons, lightened flywheel, etc. However, the parts had suffered very badly in the damp conditions and many/most were too badly damaged to save. (The pistons eaten completely through the aluminium skirts in places). To add to this there were various radiators, steering columns, engine blocks, cylinder heads, etc, etc. …. I was hoping to get the lot in one journey!
I had a hired transit van, pulling a smallish car trailer that I used to carry my MG Midget competition car to hillclimbs & sprints. …. Ben had volunteered to come with me, (more about Ben later), and I was glad to accept the offer of extra muscle power. We were going to need it! …. The plan was to leave at 4.00am to get to Sommerset for about 8.30 including a stop for breakfast at Sedgemoor services, just beyond Bristol for us. We needed to be on our way back before 12pm to have any chance of unloading and getting the hired van back by the 4.30pm deadline. …. A long day lay ahead!
Phil Smith is a vintage car enthusiast with many years experience of owning, restoring and using vintage, PVT and classic cars. A longstanding member of The Vintage Sports Car Club (VSCC), The Riley register and The MG Car Club. Makes he has owned include Alvis, Bentley, Lagonda, MG, Talbot and Riley, of course. Now retired, Phil satisfies his 'old motor urges' by competing in the MGCC Luffield Speed series in MG Midgets from the 60's and 70's. This blog will chart his return to vintage/PVT cars.