A monthly round- up of Team Hagerty’s classic automotive lives. This month Chris goes to Paris, Tim goes to Banbury, Ian goes off-road and the rest of the team get their cars ready for spring. Plus, there’s news of a superb charity we support.
Show News
Winner of the long-straw award this month was Chris who jetted off to Paris for three days of Rétromobile. He was working two days meeting clients at our stand in the RM Sotheby’s auction, then had time to look around the main show and Bonhams on day three. Meanwhile, Tim was a bit closer to home but maintaining the Gallic theme when he visited Banbury for the meeting of those cars attending this year’s Rallye Monte Carlo Historique.
Charity News
Last October the Hagerty team helped to collect and sort donations for the Hope Centre Foodclub, a charity designed to provide much needed food and toiletries at affordable prices for those in need or on low incomes. On Friday 23rd Feb their first pop-up shop opened for business at the Blackthorn Community Centre in Northampton. They’re relying heavily on public donations to make this project happen and to keep helping those in need, so please spare a moment to watch their crowdfunding video and share with your friends and family: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/hope-foodclub/
Fleet News
Ian, 1983 Range Rover Vogue, 1986 BMW E30 320
Ian took his faithful Range Rover off-road this month, transporting the whole family safely for a rural Sunday lunch. Faithful, because in 11 years of ownership, it has never let him down! Meanwhile, his BMW restoration is coming along nicely. Freshly painted, the body panels returned and were lined up with the shell – they all lined up perfectly! Now the hunt for all the missing bolts and brackets begins, and he’s started compiling the long list of replacement seals and clips.
Dan, 1982 Rover SD1
This month the SD1 was dropped off at Dan’s tiny local garage (apparently the oldest car service garage in Northants) for new brake pads to be fitted, that may or may not have been brought about by last year’s Mileage Challenge. The Rover was in good company – already at the garage were a Jaguar S-Type and a red Ford Escort XR3i Cabriolet.
Phil, 1967 Sunbeam Alpine
As mentioned last month, Phil’s Sunbeam Alpine was due a new set of tyres, and they arrived and were fitted a few days ago. Next on the list was a new soft top for his wife’s Morris Minor – they are still debating whether to go with white or make a change and try blue.
Angus, 1967 Volvo Amazon ‘Maisie’
When Angus told us he had spend a great deal of time tinkering and fettling Maisie, we wondered what had been going on… until we realised he was referring to his 1967 Volvo Amazon! The pair of them are booked into the HERO Scottish Malts reliability trial that starts in April.
John, 1970 Volkswagen Type 2 Westfalia Camper ‘Bessie’
Bessie the VW Camper has been in occasional use throughout the winter, but this month John fixed an intermittent battery ground problem that turned out to be a faulty cut-off switch. The rear indicators were removed and repainted too, thanks to some Tamiya model paint. Otherwise, Bessie has been in top form. Door and front valence welding is planned soon, after which the front bumper will be replaced.
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Thanks for showing my Cooper ‘S’ in your Banbury Pics. Mine is on the left of 977 ARX. FBE266D is mine and it is Insured with Hagerty. Happy Motoring ……John