PC December Issue

NEW
LOOK
MIDGET REVIVAL
Tiny car: massive rebuild
PRACTICAL CLASSICS DECEMBER 2015 DAIMLER X300, BMC B SERIES ENGINE, VAUXHALL VICTOR & PA CRESTA, TRIUMPH SPITFIRE
www.practicalclassics.co.uk
DECEMBER
2015
£4.30
‘It might
just work’
Matt’s Triumph
transplant dream
comes true… ish
SAINTS ALIVE
EXCLUSIVE We take the original cars back to Elstree Studios!
‘VETTE RESTO
14-month epic rebirth
2CV GUIDE
A good idea or
a French farce?
PROJECTS
GALORE
Stag, CX, TR6,
MGF, Peerless,
Triumph 2000
WORKSHOP
P5 service guide
Sort your big Rover today!
+
+
+
MAKE YOUR OWN
METAL SHRINKER
TRANSMISSION
NOISES DIAGNOSED
AND SORTED
SWAP POSITIVE TO
NEGATIVE EARTH
WRITTEN-OFF,
RESCUED, REBUILT
The UK’s luckiest Escort
FINFEST!
Brit-fins at the Ace Cafe

CONTENTS
Practical Classics December 2015
CLASSIC WORLD
6 The Big Picture
How the XJ-S was unveiled to
a wowed Birmingham crowd.
8 Classic News
NEC plans... and a secret DVLA
meeting for UK clubs.
16 Clubs & Events
We’ve been to the National Microcar
Rally, while RBRR details are revealed.
20 Memory Lane
Jet back to the summer of ‘76, and
the travelling salesman’s dream!
32 Letters
‘Don’t ignore history, MG’ says one
reader – as we’re reminded of our past!
36 Spotted
A French Lancia, a Morris Minor
in Uruguay and a Seven down the pub!
46 Nick Larkin
Our Nick wonders why classic car
whingers don’t leave us alone.
48 John Simister
Carweek: the whole saga from the
launch to the final issue.
50 Sam Glover
38
Corvette
resto so
good we
could eat it!
23
The world’s
luckiest Escort
Sam ponders the ultimate question.
What is the best classic daily driver?
4 DECEMBER 2015 // PRACTICAL CLASSICS
62 Rust In Peace
Yet more tales from Rotten Row.
84 Subscription Offer
Get a great deal, and a great
subscription gift, too!
RESTORING & ENJOYING
23 Ford Escort Rescue
Cherished family classic saved from
the crusher after a bad crash.
28 Your Cars
Celebrating the Cortina and
swooning at Skodas.
38 Chevy Corvette Resto
From 0 – concours in just 14 months?
It really is possible.
54 MG Midget Resto
Reshell? That’s the easy option. This
Midget was restored the hard way!
66 The Saint
Two ‘Saint’ cars. One shoot. And we
took them back to Elstree Studios.
76 Fab Fins
We take six British befinned beauties
to the Ace Cafe.
178 My Favourite Ad
Plenty of space in a BMC 1800…
WORKSHOP
98 Staff Car Sagas
Gary bonds with his Peerless,
James ponders LHM leaks.
123 Readers’ Sagas
Herald and Rover Sterling.
126 Engine Autopsy
A closer look at BMC’s
B-series diesel.
128 Workshop Basics
How to swap from positive to
negative earth
130 Service Guide
How to care for your Rover P5B.
134 Make Your Own
Build a shrinker in your garage
138 Faultfinder
Sorting transmission noises.
146 Ask Our Experts
Loads of free advice on
fixing your classic.
76
Looking shark:
Fins on test
54
Huge home
Midget resto
128
Negative
attitude
www.practicalclassics.co.uk

2CV buying: oui
ou non? – p90.
130
P5 wheel
waggled
146
Ask Our
Experts
66
The Saint cars
return to Elstree
138
Quiet,
gears!
MARKETPLACE
14 New Kit
All the best bits for your garage
or project car.
86 Marketplace
MG Magnette price record set, and
we look at a surefire future classic.
90 2CV Buying Guide
Things you need to know to buy
Citroën’s best-loved model.
151 Going Spare
Buy, sell or swap – bag a bargain
in the literary autojumble.
STAFF SAGAS
98 Daimler Six
102 Citroën CX
104 Triumph Stag
108 FSC Zuk
112 Peerless GT
116 Triumph TR6
119 MG F
120 Triumph Dolomite
James decides to eat his own
radiator – p102.
61 CLASSICS
IN THIS ISSUE
Alfa Romeo 156
p87
Austin Seven
p36
Austin Sheerline A125
p63
Chevrolet Corvette
p38
Citroën 2CV
p90
Citroën Dyane
p20
Citroën CX
p102
Daimler Six
p98
Fiat Dino
p62
Fiat 124 Spider p62, 63
Ford Cortina MkI
p64
Ford Cortina MkIII,
p28
Ford Consul Capri
p76
Ford Escort MkII 1.6 L
p23
Ford Escort MkII
p20, p64
Ford Fiesta Popular Plus
p31
Ford Granada MkI
p20
Ford Sierra E-max
p29
Ford Zodiac MkII
p76
FSC Zuk
p108
Hillman Avenger
p64
Hillman Minx
p36
Jaguar XJ Series 3
p62
Jaguar XJ-S
p6, p66
Jensen Interceptor
p88
Lancia Aurelia
p36
Lancia Fulvia
p28
Mercedes-Benz 200
p87
MG Magnette
p86
MG Midget
p31, p54
MGB
p31
MGF
p119
MG ZT-T 190
p88
Morris 1800
p179
Morris Minor
p36, p128, p138
Moskvich 400
p36
Peerless GT
p102
Renault 4
p20
Rover 10hp
p87
Rover P5B
p130
Rover P6
p20, p29
Rover Sterling
p123
Skoda 440 Spartak
p87
Skoda 1000MB
p29
Sunbeam Alpine SIII
p76
Triumph 2000
p100
Triumph Dolomite 1850
p120
Triumph Dolomite 1850HL
p123
Triumph Spitfire
p30
Triumph Stag
p104
Triumph TR6
p116
Trojan
p87
TVR Tasmin
p87
Vauxhall Victor FC
p20
Vauxhall Cresta PA
p76
Vauxhall Victor F-type
p76
Vauxhall Firenza
p28
Vauxhall Firenza Droop Snoot p87
Volvo Amazon
p62
Volvo 144
p20
Volvo P1800
p66
Wolseley 15/60
p76
To subscribe to PC go to www.greatmagazines.co.uk/practicalclassics
PRACTICAL CLASSICS // DECEMBER 2015 5

CLASSIC
WORLD
All you need to know about everything important
XJ-S First Look!
How the brand new Jaguar broke cover in Brum
F
orty years on from its
offcial launch, here’s the
all-new Jaguar XJ-S
wowing the crowds at
the Birmingham Motoring
Festival 1975. Just days after its
offcial motor show launch, this
was the public’s first chance to
see the car in the flesh and on
the road. The long-anticipated,
E-type replacement certainly
drew the looks but it was a huge
shock. To many thousands of
British car enthusiasts the
sudden change of direction
away from the E-type was
completely unexpected.
It was sent out on a series of
spontaneous parade laps at the
event as the crowds gawped.
The BMF also saw dozens of
motorsport heroes complete
circuits of the city centre, driven
by top racers of the day. It had
Formula One cars, but the Jag
was the star. Amid the festival
activities, Victoria Square and
Colmore Row became a paddock.
Later, after inspecting the
new Jaguar, the Lord Mayor led
Danny says…
‘This must have blown
the crowds away.
A down to earth way to
launch a supercar
to the people: in a
cavalcade on the
streets of Brum.
More impact
than a motor
show unveiling
and a proper
thank you to
those who
built it.’
6 DECEMBER 2015 // PRACTICAL CLASSICS
www.practicalclassics.co.uk

‘The change of
direction away
from the E-type
shocked people’
THE MONTH IN 5 PICTURES
The Wolseley 6/90 we featured last month has been
sold… to a man who worked with its long-term owner.
He’ll take the seller for a drive when it’s restored.
Former Triumph Chief Development Engineer Tony
Lee has died aged 86. He had been involved in all
post-war Triumphs from the 1800 saloon to the TR7.
WERE
YOU THERE?
We would love to
hear from you. Email
your memories to
practical.classics@
bauermedia.
co.uk
Police have accepted the Ace Café and its patrons
are victims rather than the cause of anti-social
behaviour, thus safeguarding the future of the venue.
Crowds five deep fight to get
a glimpse of Jaguar’s new baby.
Dozens of Series I and Series II Land Rovers took to
the track at the Goodwood Revival, to commemorate
the final year of traditional Land Rover production.
a cavalcade around the street
circuit. The XJ-S in question,
PJE 444, arrived from the
Birmingham dealership PJ Evans
(now Evans Halshaw), which was
formed in 1927 when William
Lyons partnered up with Evans.
Evans was killed in a car crash
shortly afterwards but his
business went on to flourish.
The Birmingham Motoring Fest
ended in 1984 (notice the lack of
safety barriers), the Superprix
event continuing until 1990.
The ‘production’ XJ-S was
offcially announced on
September 10, 1975 – a supreme
Grand Tourer it was unmatched
in its class and went on to
become a great success.
Visit the PC Resto Show stand at the
NEC Classic Motor Show (November
13-15) to see Ian Ogilvy’s ‘Saint’ XJ-S.
To subscribe to PC go to www.greatmagazines.co.uk/practicalclassics
PRACTICAL CLASSICS // DECEMBER 2015 7

YOUR CARS
The classics you love, drive and restore
Cortina and P6 are
classic car show
regulars – usually
parked together!
‘I know of only two
others in the UK’
1966 Lancia Fulvia Berlina
Brian Hilton, Silsoe
‘I found this car 18 years
ago, and got it back
on the road in 1999
following a two-year
restoration. It had only
done 27,000 miles, but
I’ve since added 28,000
to that total. I
Brian is the Fulvia’s second
owner and has doubled its
mileage in 16 years.
suppose two return trips
to Turin helped
to contribute to that!
‘It’s one of just three
right-hand drive cars
known in the UK and
has had just one former
owner. It’s a 1965 build,
but was registered on
New Year’s Day 1966.
It had just been restored
when I bought it, but
on the drive home the
heater matrix burst and
a piston ring seized in
one of the bores.
‘I’ve since had the
engine rebuilt, but sadly
they aren’t cheap to do –
mine cost me £1000.
But with a car this great,
it doesn’t matter!’
Send
us your
car photos
‘I gave it a full bare
shell restoration’
1971 Vauxhall Firenza Chris Yearby, Nuneaton
‘My Firenza was its first owners’ high days and
holidays car; they never actually used it in winter.
When they gave up driving in the early-Nineties it
was passed to their great-nephew – my son Mark.
‘He had it for a few years, then decided it was
uncool and wanted something better. I couldn’t let
it go, though, so I bought it off him and restored it –
a full bare shell job that took over five years.
‘It still doesn’t go out in winter – but it’s used
and enjoyed when the weather’s nice!’
To practical.classics@
bauermedia.co.uk, marked
‘Your Cars’. Make sure your
pictures are hi-res and
that you are
in them.
28 DECEMBER 2015 // PRACTICAL CLASSICS
www.practicalclassics.co.uk

‘These cars are almost as close friends as we are!’
1972 Ford Cortina 2000GT David Aikman, Sheffield, 1975 Rover 3500S Richard Moore, Chesterfield
David: ‘These two cars
spend a fair bit of time
together, so they’re
almost as close friends
as we are! None of my
other mates really
believed the Cortina
actually existed though
– I spent so long restoring
it that it became a bit of
an urban myth!
‘I swapped the original
carburettor for fuel
injection during the
restoration, using
Granada MkIII bits.
Both use the Pinto lump,
so it was a straight swap.’
Richard: ‘My P6 is a very
late one – it’s a 1975
car, but I think it’s a late
registration as it has the
earlier lighter wood trim.
‘I’d always wanted a
3500S, especially one
finished in Paprika. It
was a quick restoration,
because I spent almost
all of my free time on it.
‘I felt sorry for the car,
just sitting there being
used as a shed. I still call
it the ‘Tangerine Shed’!
‘Dave and I are good
friends and often visit
shows together.’
Chris’s fullyrestored
Firenza
has returned to
fair weather use.
Matt is only the Škoda's
second owner from new.
‘I wanted a Tatra but
fell in love with this!’
1974 Škoda 110LS Matt Curtis, Derbyshire
'The 110LS is the top
spec saloon and has
a twin choke carb.
I bought mine back
in 2013 from a man
whose friend’s
grandfather had
owned it from new.
I wanted a Tatra but
completely fell in love
with this instead!
'It’s had a bare shell
restoration. I even
managed to find
a rare 110LS badge
in Cambridge even
though only 34,000 of
them were ever made.
'I finally finished
it in November 2014
so this is its first full
show season.'
‘It’s an ex-rental car’
1986 Ford Sierra 1.6 E-Max L Sean Greenwood,
Nottinghamshire
I bought my Sierra E-Max in March, having realized
when I had my Nissan Bluebird that Eighties classics
are a lot of fun! I’m 22, so an ex-rental Sierra might
not seem like an obvious choice, but I love it.
''I need to do a V888 DVLA application to find out
its history – it’s an ex-Europcar rental car but is only
showing 50,000 miles. Is it genuine, I wonder?
I’ve replaced the feeble horn that a previous
owner fitted for some reason and the tyres,
which were getting on for 20 years old.'
Sean's keen to learn
more about his
Sierra's history.
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PRACTICAL CLASSICS // DECEMBER 2015 29

THE BIG RESTORATION
Going
FOR GOLD
Chris Powell restored his Chevrolet Corvette
C2 to concours standards in just 14 months
We drive the finished car
WORDS MIKE RENAUT
PHOTOS LAURENS PARSONS
38 DECEMBER 2015 // PRACTICAL CLASSICS
For more information visit www.heritagecarinsurance.co.uk

Practical Classics Restorer of the Year
in association with
AS FOUND
Chris’s Corvette looked great, but drove like the proverbial bag of spanners.
New bushes and shims transformed the sloppy handling and steering.
Chris Powell was less than impressed when
he first drove his newly-purchased 1965
Chevrolet Corvette coupé. ‘It drove like
a pig,’ he says. ‘It was all over the road
because the suspension rubbers were
worn out. It was horrible.’
That was back in 1998 and Chris was certainly no
stranger to classic Corvettes. ‘I worked for a drag racing
team in the Seventies and one of the sponsors had a
1967 big block Corvette,’ he remembers. ‘Once I’d had
a drive of it I wanted one of my own. I liked the styling so
I bought a 1972 car with the big 454 cubic inch engine.
After that I got a 1976 Corvette, then a 1979 car
with the 5.7-litre L48 350ci engine.’
Those later C3 Corvettes helped scratch the itch, but
Chris still yearned for a C2 Corvette from 1963-1967.
‘I bought a copy of Exchange and Mart in October 1998,’
Chris remembers. ‘I went through it looking
➽
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PRACTICAL CLASSICS // DECEMBER 2015 39

SUBSCRIBE
to PC today to save up to 57% and receive a great gift!
Danny says…
‘OK… it’s a magnetic light.
Nothing exciting about that.
But this is a bit special, mainly
because it hasn’t broken after a
full two weeks of continual abuse
in the PC workshop.Worthy of
maximum respect, and your subs
money.’
A CLARKE LED
WORKLIGHT
& TORCH
Works as a torch, but can also be extended
or retracted and used as a worklight
■ 36 powerful LEDs
■ Lightweight and easy to use
■ Base magnet for stabilising
worklight when placed on
a ferrous metal surface
■ Charging indicator lights
■ Lasts up to 12 hours
■ Comfort grip handle
■ Includes mains charger
and car charger adaptor
GIFT
WORTH
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*Available from Machine
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84 DECEMBER 2015 // PRACTICAL CLASSICS
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PRACTICAL CLASSICS // DECEMBER 2015 85

BUYING GUIDE
1948-1990
CITROEN 2CV
It vies with the Mini and the Beetle for the title
of the greatest people’s car of the 20th century.
Here’s how to buy a legend, not a saga
You either love the Citroën 2CV or you don’t
understand it. It’s a true people’s car,
designed to mobilise France after WWII.
You have to approach it very differently
to any other car – it drives, sounds and feels like
no other. However, once you get to grips with it,
little else will put such a big smile on your face.
It’s more about comfort and practicality than
outright performance, so extracting the best out
of it means adapting your driving style to suit.
Most classic car clubs offer genuine cameraderie,
but 2CV owners take it to a whole new level with
loud and entertaining events where you’re always
greeted with warmth and laughter.
Where to get one
Very few of the earliest 375cc, 425cc or 435cc
2CVs survive, even in Europe – most have the later
602cc unit. Few are imported from France these
days because left-hand drive isn’t very popular in
the UK. The 2CV Shop’s Darren Arthur advises,
‘If you’re shopping in France, watch out for
overpriced cars.’
Many buyers focus on special editions such as
the Charleston, Dolly, Bamboo and Beachcomber,
but while all are desirable they’re not necessarily
worth more. Earlier lower-powered cars, with their
six-volt electrics and drum brakes appeal less
to those looking for a daily driver.
What to look for: bodywork
The wings, bonnet, bootlid and doors suffer the
worst battering and therefore the most rust, but
good quality new replacements are cheap, plentiful
PRACTICAL CLASSIC?
OUR WEEK WITH A 2CV
We lived with a late 2CV
Special for a week, using
it for the daily commute,
shopping trips and
weekend jaunts.
As expected, it proved
itself to be a car that
delivers common sense
by the bucketload, being
fuel-effcient and
practical. Contrary to
first appearances, the 2CV
is actually an advanced
piece of engineering.
Its revvy, unburstable
two-cylinder unit merely
sips from the plastic fuel
tank. The engine is
mounted low in the car for
stability, while composure
is assisted by front-wheel
drive and independent
suspension all round.
It leans dramatically in
corners, but it really sticks.
Little else rides this well;
you won’t believe how
a 2CV ignores surface
irregularities. Four-wheel
hydraulic brakes are sharp
and the rack-and-pinion
steering effective.
Even basic models came
with a heater and a
four-speed gearbox. Once
mastered, you’ll wonder
why all gearshifts aren’t
this precise and satisfying.
Go for a picnic and
remove the seats (just
unclip and lift out). Crawl
through traffc and bask in
the smiles of other drivers.
Head into the snow (trust
me, I’ve tried this myself in
my own Dyane) and marvel
at the car’s ability to grip
through the cold stuff.
We drove at 68mph, roof
down and foot flat to the
floor and marvelled at the
fact we still got 40mpg.
I can’t force you to be
convinced, of course.
But I can vouch for one of
the best fanbases you’ll
ever meet. 2CV people are
extremely nice people. JW
2CVs love British
roads, too.
Production line How the 2CV grew from tin snail to design icon
1948 The 2CV Type A
1953 Right-hand drive 1958 The twin-engined 1960 Slough production
appears at the
production starts
4WD Sahara
stops. A fiveribbed
Paris Salon; on sale in
1949. The AU Fourgonette
van is launched in 1951
and lasts until 1978!
at Citroën’s factory in
Slough. During 1954, the
AZ debuts with a 425cc
engine and all of 12bhp.
appears. 694 of these
have been made by 1967. bonnet replaces
the corrugated item.
Glassfibre UK-only Bijou
on sale; just 211 are sold.
90 DECEMBER 2015 // PRACTICAL CLASSICS
www.practicalclassics.co.uk

Engine
Test engines were run
constantly for 1000
hours at full throttle
(the equivalent of
50,000 miles) with no
damage recorded.
They can last for
300,000 miles if
maintained properly.
Quote from
Lancaster
Insurance
45-year old male, postcode
PE27, garaged, second car,
club member, clean driving
history. 1985 2CV,
valued at £5000.
£77.54 or £94.54 including
agreed value.
Brought to you by
Lancaster Insurance.
Call for a quote
today on 01480
220071.
Panels
Replacement
doors, bonnet and
bootlid are readily
available, cheap to
buy and extremely
easy to fit. Six
window design
launched in 1965.
and generally simple to fit – in fact, you can
remove and refit them with the wheel brace!
Expect to find rust in the box under the rear
seat, the boot floor and number plate panel.
The sills are known to dissolve, too, so check by
pressing hard along their entire length – cracking
sounds or any discernible give means they’re
rotten. The floors are as easy to replace if you’re
handy with a welder – and that’s with or
without the sills or body in situ.
All 2CV chassis corrode alarmingly easily. Fully
galvanised replacements start from £400 but
those made from original tooling are nearer
£1400. This is because the factory chassis is
a big box section, whereas aftermarket ones
tend to comprise two C-section side rails with
removable top and bottom plates.
➽
THE 2CV
MARKET
You’ll rarely find a decent
2CV for less than £2000
these days. Original ‘ripple
bonnet’ 425cc models from
1948 are commanding
eye-watering prices –
we’re talking anything
from £5000 for a wreck to
£15,000 plus for a typical
Fifties 2CV. A post-1981
model with disc brakes and
the 602cc engine (from
1962) is considered better
for daily use. Special
editions such as the Spot,
£6k
£5k
£4k
£3k
£2k
2010
1985 2CV
(602cc)-good
condition
Bamboo, Beachcomber,
Dolly, Charleston and 007
(complete with fake bullet
holes) add value and the
Spécial model – identified
by its simple red, white
or blue paint – is the most
1965 2CV
(Ripple bonnet)
good condition
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
ubiquitous of them all.
Rebuilt cars sell for £10,000
or more, but a complete,
sound, honest mid-Eighties
2CV Spécial with
a galvanised chassis can
be found for about £4000.
CLASSIC CAR INSURANCE
Up to 25% discount for car club members
01480 220 071
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PRACTICAL CLASSICS // DECEMBER 2015 91

GRAND DAY OUT
RETURN OF
Moore’s Volvo and Ogilvy’s XJ-S return to
Elstree Studios where The Saint and
Return of the Saint were originally filmed
WORDS ANDREW ROBERTS PHOTOS MATT HOWELL
Volvo P1800
Engine 1780cc/4-cyl/OHV
Power 90bhp@5500rpm
Torque 108lb ft@4000rpm
Gearbox 4-speed manual + O/D
0-60mph 13.2sec
Top Speed 104mph
Fuel economy 25mpg
Price New £1836
Value £Priceless
S
ound stage 7 at Elstree Studios.
A place that could be converted
into a casino, the headquarters of
an over-acting super villain or Simon
Templar’s mews house. For many years
this was the base of The Saint and
Return of the Saint and today we pay tribute to
them by bringing the former’s Volvo P1800 and the
latter’s Jaguar XJ-S back home.
Some 54 years ago B-film producers Robert
S ‘Bob’ Baker and Monty Berman acquired the
rights to Leslie Charteris’ Saint novels. By 1962,
they’d gained financial backing from ITC and
shooting began in June of that year. And on
October 4 ITV screened the first episode of the
programme that provided thrills, excitement and
fez-wearing villains. Once an animated halo
appeared above Roger Moore’s pompadour it was
adventure all the way. especially when he took the
wheel of ‘ST1’, aka 71 DXC, his white Volvo P1800.
The Volvo
The original choice for ST 1 was the Jaguar MkX
(not the E-type as is often stated – the high sills
would have made it impractical for Moore to
regularly leap in and out of one) and the plan was
for both Moore and Baker to have cars for filming
and personal use. In the event Browns Lane saw no
reason to loan their new flagship for filming as the
MkX was enjoying as a high a profile as the E-type.
Even offers to buy weren’t enough to push them
higher up the long waiting list.
Baker approached other manufacturers and
while Mercedes-Benz said it could offer a car,
it couldn’t guarantee continuity. And besides,
the marque was better suited to Saint villainy.
By now desperation was setting in but one day
young film crew member Malcolm Christopher saw
a svelte coupé in London and discovered that it
was a Volvo. He told production supervisor
Johnny Goodman who, in turn, urged Roger to ➽
66 DECEMBER 2015 // PRACTICAL CLASSICS
www.practicalclassics.co.uk

THE SAINTS
Jaguar XJ-S
Engine 5343cc/V12/OHC
Power 285bhp@5500rpm
Torque 294lb ft@3500rpm
Gearbox 4-speed manual
0-60mph 6.7sec
Top Speed 153mph
Fuel economy 15mpg
Price new £9527
Value now£Priceless
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PRACTICAL CLASSICS // DECEMBER 2015 67

WORKSHOP BASICS
Swap from positive
to negative earth
How to change the polarity of your classic in a few hours
With Ed Hughes
DIFFICULTY RATING
TIME
(HRS)
3
MONEY
0 (£)
Wipers
Wiper motors and flasher
units should function
correctly without
modification.
Radio
A period radio
sometimes has a
positive/negative
earth switch on the
back, which can be
changed over.
Label it
Place a label in the
engine bay to state
the car is now
negative earth.
Relabel the coil
connections.
You will
need
Battery clamps,
screwdriver, small
spanners, pliers,
length of stout
wire.
Many older British classics – plus
a few others – were built with
a positive earth electrical system.
The positive terminal of the battery is
connected to the chassis or body.
The current flows to the various electrical
components connected to the shell,
through wires to the switches and controls,
back through the fuse box and finally to the
negative terminal of the battery.
It’s a complete reverse of the negative
earth system that’s become the modern
standard. Positive earth isn’t a bad thing in
itself. However, problems arise when you
connect accessories or upgrades such as
a radio, an alternator or electronic ignition –
or perhaps try to use a phone charger in the
cigarette lighter socket. These won’t work
and could be damaged in the process.
Converting to negative earth is a simple
job. You don’t need to touch the switches or
the wiring loom. The only vaguely technical
operation is repolarising the dynamo, but
even this is easier than you might think.
128 DECEMBER 2015 // PRACTICAL CLASSICS
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Step-by-step video workshop courses
THE PROCESS
Tech Tip
Remember, the
negative terminal
will now connect to
the body earth
wire.
1 Battery
2
Swap over the battery leads. Don’t connect
them at this stage, but do make sure they’re long
enough. The battery poles are different sizes, so
you’ll have to swap over the clamps or fit new ones.
Starter
The starter motor will turn in the correct
direction without modification. The starter solenoid
should also work correctly. Likewise, a solenoid that
operates a gearbox overdrive will be unaffected.
3 Regulator
The regulator and its
wiring will also work correctly
without any modification.
Tech Tip
Do the same
if an electric
radiator fan is
fi t t e d .
4 Ignition coil
5 Electric fuel pump
6
Reverse the connections to the coil. This
ensures the spark will still jump from the hot middle
electrode of the spark plug to the cool side electrode.
Fail to do this and the engine won’t start when hot.
Most SU-type (ie, ‘clicking’) pumps will work
regardless of polarity. Other pumps may need their
wires reversing. Test the pump by briefly connecting
it manually. Swap the wires over if it doesn’t work.
Interior fan
The interior fan will probably blow backwards,
so reverse its wires. If it earths through its metal
casing, you’ll have to replace it with a negative earth
version. Many models were made in both polarities.
Step 1
Temporarily connect
the battery earth.
Remember it’s now
negative earth!
Step 2
Remove the field wire (it’s the
small cable, usually labelled
‘DF’). Use a length of stout
wire to briefly connect the
DF terminal straight to the
positive pole of the battery.
Repeat a few times.
Reconnect the field wire.
7
Repolarise the dynamo
8
Dash gauges
Most gauges are of the thermal type and will
be unaffected. If an ammeter is fitted, reverse the
connections on the back. An electronic tachometer
will need to be replaced with a negative earth type. ■
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PRACTICAL CLASSICS // DECEMBER 2015 129

MY FAVOURITE AD
1965 Morris 1800
Sam Glover vouches for the accuracy of this BMC advert
Neil Campbell
and I bought
a Morris 1800 in
Belgium earlier
this year. It was broken,
naturally, so we popped over
to get it with my disreputablelooking
Mercedes Sprinter and
a car trailer. The motorway
into the Calais ferry port had
yet to receive its Fort
Knox-style security fences
and was overrun with people
hoping to hitch a lift to the UK.
When the traffc ground
to a halt, we felt the back
of the van bob up and down.
A nearby lorry driver beeped
his horn, pointed at our trailer
and shouted: ‘Illégal, illégal!’
We drove on until we came
to a police van on the hard
shoulder. I got out and pointed
to the Morris’s boot. The
offcer threw it open and out
climbed a cheery East African
gentleman. ‘Illégal?’ asked
the offcer. ‘Oui,’ he replied,
happily, and wandered across
the road to have another go.
It was a remarkably goodhumoured
affair… but I locked
the boot before continuing.
178 DECEMBER 2015 // PRACTICAL CLASSICS
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