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New License Plate Frame

May 27, 2008 / Roger

My friend Jeff was kind enough to donate a period license plate frame from Seattle BMC, the local MG dealer when this car was new. It is now mounted on Reg the 1963 MGB, as you can see. It adds a nice period touch–even if my car was sold new in San Diego.

I removed the license plate mount assembly to make the job easier, and it seems that when this car was last painted (cheaply in Tijuana, Mexico, in 1973–no kidding) they didn’t remove the plate; it’s still the factory color back there! This is two philips-head screws, mind. When I finally get around to the bodywork, I’ll be repainting the car its original Old English White, which is much mellower and “of the time” than the appliance white that’s on there now.

Note the lichen collection. We have a pair of robins who have been trying to build a nest on the pillar for the carport–it falls down every day, and every day they try again. It’s been more than a month now…the insult “bird brain” has its genesis with creatures like this!

2008 Vancouver All British Field Meet

May 19, 2008 / Roger

Here’s a slide show (click “more” to see it) of machines spotted at the Vancouver All British Field Meet on May 17, 2008. It was a beautiful day but I stupidly forgot sunscreen and got severely burned as a result. It was a nice show in a great setting. I got rid of all of my Canadian money, too, before coming back, a real achievement for me.

Most Ridiculous E-Type Advert?

May 6, 2008 / Roger

What is the guy in the Jaguar doing? How many miles did he drive cross-country (with his five-inch ground clearance) to reach the lad he’s talking to? Did people really herd cattle in traditional dress through the 1960s? Where is this left-hand-drive car supposed to be? Africa? The Indian sub-continent? The Steppes? Argentina?

(If you look carefully at the car, it’s clear not all press cars were carefully vetted. The door fit is questionable, as is the bonnet. Makes it quite clear that most E-Types that are “show quality” are much better now than they were when new!)

BSA Thunderbolt, New Bars

April 26, 2008 / Roger

Before delivering this up to my friend’s place, I took the opportunity to fix a few things. Mainly, I put new bars on it, getting rid of the ridiculous “western” bars and putting on a set from a Norton Interstate. Much better, though the install would benefit from new cables. Couple of more photos after the jump.
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Thunderbolt

April 20, 2008 / Roger

Spent one of the worst-weather spring Saturdays that I can recall trekking to Puyallup to help a friend pick up this BSA Thunderbolt. It looks to be a pretty nice machine with a minimum of things to put right.

Just a bit later that very day this bike was wedged into a set of mailboxes (fortunately with only minor damage at a very low speed) with the new (and very inexperienced) owner aboard. Almost as funny as the time when I put my 1995 Daytona onto its side-stand without–and, this is key–first putting the side-stand down. Once 500 lbs of stuff gets past its tipping point there is little a puny human can do to stop it.

Fetch!

April 20, 2008 / Roger

In a bout of sensibility I have sold my Rovers back to the guy who sold them to me. My wife is extremely concerned.

Saab Story

April 5, 2008 / Roger

(Forgive the pun!) My friend Paul and I travelled to Olympia today to look at a Frogeye Sprite and a Mini “Cooper” that a gentleman down there has. His shop was absolutely stuffed with 2-stroke Saabs, some of them quite rare these days.
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Jaguar Mk. V

March 23, 2008 / Roger

Of all the Jaguar sedans I wouldn’t mind owning, this, the Mark V, is at the top of the heap. It’s a supremely elegant car. I had an opportunity to buy one a few years back but just couldn’t pull the deal together in time. Maybe at some future date I’ll have the chance again. This machine was seen at the 2007 Vancouver BC All British show.

Familiarizing Yourself with the Controls of Your 1968 F250

March 16, 2008 / Roger

It is wise to become familiar with the controls and dash of your F250 before taking to the road. You may wish to refer to the illustration while reading the reference below.
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Loose Ends

March 7, 2008 / Roger

There are a couple of machines in the “Past Indiscretions” column which (until now) have had no words spilled about them–mainly because they weren’t all that remarkable.
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RUSTY HEAPS