Author Archives: chrisbarrie

In 2017, the car of choice for most classic car tours and day trips is the Jaguar MK VII M. However I have finally bitten the bullet and upgraded to electronic ignition. This followed a three day trip to Shropshire … Continue reading →

The BGT has been providing excellent service as everyday local transport all year round and has also taken me on some not so local trips since being re-commissioned. On one 300 mile day trip, she was in the company of … Continue reading →

This car is consolidating its position at the vanguard of the fleet. My admiration, nay deepening love, for these fabulous big Jaguars remains undiminished. Mechanically the car is now fully sorted and the o/d unit was the final challenge. We … Continue reading →

It started out as an investigation into an engine problem and turned into a partial restoration. On closer inspection of the motor, burnt out valves were discovered and after we had removed the cylinder head, compression and oil/paraffin bypass tests … Continue reading →

Right at the beginning of Fleet News I mentioned that my MG BGT had been somewhat neglected and relegated to something of a last priority. However, slowly but surely in the last few months the car has been brought back … Continue reading →

I was gently dug-dug- dug-dug-dugging along on the M20 the other day when I encountered something of a transmission problem. I had just turned off a main A road in semi-suburbia and had toed the old warrior into third when … Continue reading →

In recent months much time and effort has been expended on preparing motorcycles for the road.  A few machines have merely required some air in the tyres and a change of oil and others have required slightly more involved work. … Continue reading →

So here it is, now with new Dunlop RS5s (they were always the favourites!), proper Mark VII wheel spats (actually Mark 8/9 spats modified by George King ‘s excellent team at TVR in Maidenhead). However, a lot of work has … Continue reading →

It’s true, I simply wanted the car tuned and serviced in preparation for some outings and rallies this (so-called) summer and after a thorough inspection by conscientious mechanic Conrad, nearly all mechanical systems apart from the actual engine and gearbox … Continue reading →

Happiness is mucking about with an old tractor. If you need a dose of relatively inexpensive mechanical therapy, then acquire for yourself an old tractor and a few implements and start lifting, carrying, ploughing, collecting, digging, sawing – to name … Continue reading →

The Price of Fuel and a Vanden Plas Princess 4-Litre-R With photography by Matt Howell If I were to pop a pound into the fuel fund of the 4-Litre-R every time someone said to me ‘it costs over eighty quid … Continue reading →

A few years ago I contributed to Practical Classics magazine’s Staff Sagas and shall be sending further updates in the coming months. Fleet News on this site is a more detailed account, reporting on the same four cars plus a pair of contrasting newcomers.

Continue reading →