Club Page 2022
Members in the News
Didn't know if this as an Update to John Bates Profile in Members profile or this
Owning & Driving a Pre War Car for nearly 60years
John Bates
On Owning and Driving a Pre War Car for (nearly) 60 years
Having owned an M.G. VA saloon for a while I came upon the VA Tourer. It was being driven around the
Acocks Green area of south Birmingham. At the time I had not known of the Tourer’s existence but once I had seen it, I wanted one. The Tourer seemed to have more ‘presence’ and with a drop down top, offered a young man a better view of his surroundings and a sporty feel. By chance the driver stopped this car near me one day and as the owner got out I spoke to him. Was he thinking of selling his car? He was not but he took my phone number in case he changed his mind. Eighteen months later he had made a decision to sell and called me. His wife was fed up with being driven in a cold, damp, old car. He was buying a Volkswagen ‘beetle’ because it was a saloon, had a heater and a demister and would satisfy his maturing outlook.
My M.G. VA (Tourer) was bought in 1963 and I love it. Frank Humphries, a station officer fireman at Acocks Green fire station, was going to miss his VA. He wrote in Blower’s Manual (which came with the car), ‘Parted after wonderful friendship’ and he dated it. Frank had owned the car for 12 years and had kept a record (in the back of Blower) of all work done on the car, the cost, date and mileage.
When I purchased it, the car was roadworthy but looking a bit ‘tired’. After a few years in my ownership it looked even more tired and salted winter roads were taking their toll. Over a couple of years I stripped off many layers of paint (all pale blue) and brush painted it cream. Bumpers were painted black and some upholstery was replaced (black). It looked awful! But it had the effect of preserving it.
A family came along and the M.G. was impractical so it was garaged and other more mundane cars were purchased to keep the family mobile until funds became available for a rebuild.
We have all met them – the so-called professionals who will undertake any work on a car. I found one who charged the earth for ruining the body and making a mess of a front wing. I decided to do the job myself and undertook some body correction and wing repair. Some chrome plating was done and the spraying via a vacuum cleaner and very thin cellulose paint was completed. I was pleased with the result. Mechanically the car was good. I chose maroon paint with red covers for the seats. The engine rebuild was entrusted to Coventry Boring.
Fifteen years later another rebuild, this time by a decent professional, produced an even better looking car, now with new upholstery and carpets and in a (near) original colour, metallic mid grey. Purists might point out that only the VA saloon and drop-head coupe were offered in metallic grey and then running boards and wings were in solid grey because of the difficulty in the 1930s of matching metallic paint. BUT when new, the M.G. owner could choose any non-stock colour for an extra £5.
The car has been very reliable, having travelled an estimated quarter million miles in my ownership. I have driven it in Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Jersey, Holland, France, Belgium and Germany and, of course, England. It has been towed four times because of problems but only once was it ‘the car’s own fault’. That was about 6 years ago when a ball joint dropped out of the drag link through wear. There was no point putting it back in, which would have been simple, as it would have dropped out again.
The Achilles Heel, though, (on my car, at least) is the gearbox. It has never stopped me driving the car but there have been problems for years. The rear bearing (in the extension of the output shaft) has been noisy and has worn both the housing and the shaft. Poor lubrication has been the cause. That problem has been solved with a replacement shaft and a modern sealed bearing. The other problem is noise when the car is stationary and the clutch depressed. That problem persists.
What has changed in 60 years? Well petrol has gone from four shillings and ten pence halfpenny a gallon to £1.63 a litre. In other words, from £0.05 per litre to £1.63. BUT, when compared with average incomes, it is now Much cheaper than back in 1963. Professional work is much more expensive now, in real terms but road tax is now free, the car is no longer subject to an annual test, and classic car insurance is cheap.
What else has changed?
Attitudes. This car was bought as an every-day car and ‘garaged’ in the streets of Birmingham. It has to be remembered that in Britain in the 1950s it was near impossible to buy a new car. ‘Export or Die’ was the government slogan as Britain had a large war debt to pay off, principally to the USA (paid by the year 2004, I believe) so most cars were exported. By 1959, however, the Prime Minister, Harold MacMillan, was able to say,’You’ve never had it so good’. Britain was back on its feet, incomes were rising and hire purchase was available. You no longer had to save up for a car or get a bank loan as the ‘never-never’ credit system was there for all.
This seemed to me to signal a change in attitudes on the road. No longer was I given courtesy at junctions. ‘Old bangers’ were being taken off the road in huge numbers. Scrap yards were full of pre-war cars. The dreaded M o T (the annual test of cars over 10 years old) was taking its toll. Whereas in the 1950s pre-war cars were expensive, now (1960s) they were cheap. An Austin 7 was around £5 and a Morris 8 around £7.10s (£7.50).
Frank Humphries, however, was of the belief that his VA was a cut above these cars. He would not negotiate. His VA was £90. Take it or leave it. I took it and have never regretted it.
By the 1980s and the Thatcher era (Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher) was upon us. I don’t blame her for it but it was the time of ‘me first’ and that was true of road manners. The driver of an old M.G. VA was more likely to receive rude gestures than the offer of the right of way. Mr. BMW must not be held up.
But by now, (1980s) despite poor road manners, pre-war cars were much more desirable and prices reflected this. And by the turn of the millenium, values had peaked with a decent VA Tourer being worth over £30,000. (Bear in mind inflation!)
In the first decade of the 21st century road manners seem to have improved in that courtesy seems to have been restored. Values, however, are falling. Those buying classic cars today are choosing cars from the 1960s, 70s 80s, with Ford Escorts (for example) changing hands for thousands of pounds. But I don’t care. The VA is not for sale!
John Bates
Having owned an M.G. VA saloon for a while I came upon the VA Tourer. It was being driven around the
Acocks Green area of south Birmingham. At the time I had not known of the Tourer’s existence but once I had seen it, I wanted one. The Tourer seemed to have more ‘presence’ and with a drop down top, offered a young man a better view of his surroundings and a sporty feel. By chance the driver stopped this car near me one day and as the owner got out I spoke to him. Was he thinking of selling his car? He was not but he took my phone number in case he changed his mind. Eighteen months later he had made a decision to sell and called me. His wife was fed up with being driven in a cold, damp, old car. He was buying a Volkswagen ‘beetle’ because it was a saloon, had a heater and a demister and would satisfy his maturing outlook.
My M.G. VA (Tourer) was bought in 1963 and I love it. Frank Humphries, a station officer fireman at Acocks Green fire station, was going to miss his VA. He wrote in Blower’s Manual (which came with the car), ‘Parted after wonderful friendship’ and he dated it. Frank had owned the car for 12 years and had kept a record (in the back of Blower) of all work done on the car, the cost, date and mileage.
When I purchased it, the car was roadworthy but looking a bit ‘tired’. After a few years in my ownership it looked even more tired and salted winter roads were taking their toll. Over a couple of years I stripped off many layers of paint (all pale blue) and brush painted it cream. Bumpers were painted black and some upholstery was replaced (black). It looked awful! But it had the effect of preserving it.
A family came along and the M.G. was impractical so it was garaged and other more mundane cars were purchased to keep the family mobile until funds became available for a rebuild.
We have all met them – the so-called professionals who will undertake any work on a car. I found one who charged the earth for ruining the body and making a mess of a front wing. I decided to do the job myself and undertook some body correction and wing repair. Some chrome plating was done and the spraying via a vacuum cleaner and very thin cellulose paint was completed. I was pleased with the result. Mechanically the car was good. I chose maroon paint with red covers for the seats. The engine rebuild was entrusted to Coventry Boring.
Fifteen years later another rebuild, this time by a decent professional, produced an even better looking car, now with new upholstery and carpets and in a (near) original colour, metallic mid grey. Purists might point out that only the VA saloon and drop-head coupe were offered in metallic grey and then running boards and wings were in solid grey because of the difficulty in the 1930s of matching metallic paint. BUT when new, the M.G. owner could choose any non-stock colour for an extra £5.
The car has been very reliable, having travelled an estimated quarter million miles in my ownership. I have driven it in Cornwall, Wales, Scotland, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Jersey, Holland, France, Belgium and Germany and, of course, England. It has been towed four times because of problems but only once was it ‘the car’s own fault’. That was about 6 years ago when a ball joint dropped out of the drag link through wear. There was no point putting it back in, which would have been simple, as it would have dropped out again.
The Achilles Heel, though, (on my car, at least) is the gearbox. It has never stopped me driving the car but there have been problems for years. The rear bearing (in the extension of the output shaft) has been noisy and has worn both the housing and the shaft. Poor lubrication has been the cause. That problem has been solved with a replacement shaft and a modern sealed bearing. The other problem is noise when the car is stationary and the clutch depressed. That problem persists.
What has changed in 60 years? Well petrol has gone from four shillings and ten pence halfpenny a gallon to £1.63 a litre. In other words, from £0.05 per litre to £1.63. BUT, when compared with average incomes, it is now Much cheaper than back in 1963. Professional work is much more expensive now, in real terms but road tax is now free, the car is no longer subject to an annual test, and classic car insurance is cheap.
What else has changed?
Attitudes. This car was bought as an every-day car and ‘garaged’ in the streets of Birmingham. It has to be remembered that in Britain in the 1950s it was near impossible to buy a new car. ‘Export or Die’ was the government slogan as Britain had a large war debt to pay off, principally to the USA (paid by the year 2004, I believe) so most cars were exported. By 1959, however, the Prime Minister, Harold MacMillan, was able to say,’You’ve never had it so good’. Britain was back on its feet, incomes were rising and hire purchase was available. You no longer had to save up for a car or get a bank loan as the ‘never-never’ credit system was there for all.
This seemed to me to signal a change in attitudes on the road. No longer was I given courtesy at junctions. ‘Old bangers’ were being taken off the road in huge numbers. Scrap yards were full of pre-war cars. The dreaded M o T (the annual test of cars over 10 years old) was taking its toll. Whereas in the 1950s pre-war cars were expensive, now (1960s) they were cheap. An Austin 7 was around £5 and a Morris 8 around £7.10s (£7.50).
Frank Humphries, however, was of the belief that his VA was a cut above these cars. He would not negotiate. His VA was £90. Take it or leave it. I took it and have never regretted it.
By the 1980s and the Thatcher era (Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher) was upon us. I don’t blame her for it but it was the time of ‘me first’ and that was true of road manners. The driver of an old M.G. VA was more likely to receive rude gestures than the offer of the right of way. Mr. BMW must not be held up.
But by now, (1980s) despite poor road manners, pre-war cars were much more desirable and prices reflected this. And by the turn of the millenium, values had peaked with a decent VA Tourer being worth over £30,000. (Bear in mind inflation!)
In the first decade of the 21st century road manners seem to have improved in that courtesy seems to have been restored. Values, however, are falling. Those buying classic cars today are choosing cars from the 1960s, 70s 80s, with Ford Escorts (for example) changing hands for thousands of pounds. But I don’t care. The VA is not for sale!
John Bates
Driving Licence renewal
Here in the UK your driving licence expires on your 70th birthday. Renewal is free but only lasts for three years, when it again becomes renewable.
Unfortunately THE virus interfered with my renewal at age 79. Because DVLA staff (the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority) were largely working from home, delays were inevitable. To help overcome this problem, the government allowed a ‘grace’ period of 9 months so that drivers affected could continue to drive. Renewal application forms were sent to affected drivers a few months after the expiry of their licences but in time to allow renewal within the 9 month time frame. However, the best laid plans, etc………… My new licence arrived 14 months after the expiry of the old one. Is this a record?
John Bates
Unfortunately THE virus interfered with my renewal at age 79. Because DVLA staff (the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority) were largely working from home, delays were inevitable. To help overcome this problem, the government allowed a ‘grace’ period of 9 months so that drivers affected could continue to drive. Renewal application forms were sent to affected drivers a few months after the expiry of their licences but in time to allow renewal within the 9 month time frame. However, the best laid plans, etc………… My new licence arrived 14 months after the expiry of the old one. Is this a record?
John Bates
Simon Biggs & Jaguar S-Type in Practical Classics (Dec21?)
Triumph TR3a Owned by Kenneth Wakefield WVC 249 1959/60 Works Rally Car
WVC 249 Ken & Gill Wakefield 2010
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WVC 247 TR Register Malvern 2010
Photo Chris Read
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WVC 249 TR Register Malvern 2010 Photo Chris Read
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WVC249 TR3a Dec.1958 1991cc
1959 Monte Carlo, Circuit of Ireland, Tulip Rally all driven by J Wallwark
French Alpine dirven R Langeneste
Leige Rome-Leige C Dubois, DNF.
1960 Rebuilt 2.2l Monte Carlo, M Becquest, DNF. not Competion Dept. Full Rebuild
1959 Monte Carlo, Circuit of Ireland, Tulip Rally all driven by J Wallwark
French Alpine dirven R Langeneste
Leige Rome-Leige C Dubois, DNF.
1960 Rebuilt 2.2l Monte Carlo, M Becquest, DNF. not Competion Dept. Full Rebuild
Photo Credit Roger De Langeneste
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Photo Credit Roger De Lageneste
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How did Chitty Chitty Bang Bang get its name
Sent in by Christian
You Tube about the original Chitty on Blue Peter, 1969 in black & white but quite in depth re starting it
Worth a look.
Just click on below
https://fb.watch/anHr1ZAU4y/
You Tube about the original Chitty on Blue Peter, 1969 in black & white but quite in depth re starting it
Worth a look.
Just click on below
https://fb.watch/anHr1ZAU4y/
Alan Bateman and his Triumph Roadster in Club Literature
