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Stealthy Spitfire

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PRICE GUIDE 2023

The need to do something different and a love of Ford’s fizzy Puma engine led **Mathew Roberts** to create this rowdy little roadster

**WORDS** NIGEL CLARK **PICTURES** MATT HOWELL

To understand how this Ford-Triumph hybrid came into being, we need to understand a bit about its creator. Mathew Roberts is a serial Triumph owner and restorer; he reels off a list of nine Triumphs he’s owned over the years, plus several MGFs.

Mathew explains his love of Triumphs started in childhood, with an aunt who drove a Spitfire MkIV and allowed him to ride top down in the back, an experience from which he’s clearly never recovered! Combine his passion for Triumphs, his taste for tough restoration projects and his professional life, which includes qualifications in both mechanical and electrical engineering, he was destined to do something totally innovative with a Triumph. And so it began in 2016, with our irrepressible Triumph hero feeling the itch to do something different, and looking for a new challenge: to develop a Ford-engined Spitfire.

#### **Getting started** {#h-getting-started}

The Spitfire basis for his project was a 19-owner-from-new 1973 car that had been completely stripped for a restoration, which then stalled. To say it was a problem car would be understatement; in Mathew’s words ‘it was all in boxes, I had to take a van and trailer across the country to Plymouth to collect it. The body and chassis were very rusty, with some badly executed repairs’ He'd factored in such problems as, at £450, the price was right. Careful budgeting is a theme that would run throughout this project.

Late in 2016, Mathew plunged straight in, cleaning, repairing and painting the chassis. Much of the following year was taken up with body repairs. The previous owner’s attempt at sill replacement was deemed unsatisfactory, so Mathew cut this away and started again from scratch, also replacing the extensively corroded floorpans. Slowly he turned the body tub from fresh air and corrosion back to sound steel. Departing from Triumph’s original body design, he cut away a large rectangle in the centre of the bulkhead, reinforcing the edges with steel angle. This allows the engine to sit well back in the chassis for better weight distribution, and gives clearance for the back of the Ford engine’s wide, double overhead camshaft cylinder head.

**Follow the restoration progress in the December 2023 issue of Practical Classics, or get :a[instant access on your device]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/november-2023/unexpected-cx-pert?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=teaserarticle' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} for only 99p.**

We take a look at the value of every classic and choose what we’d want in our driveway in 2024. Danny picks a Toyota :a[MR2]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/december-2023/toyota-mr2-mki?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_practicalclassics&amp;utm_content=content_toyota_mr2_mki' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}, Matt Tomkins bags a :a[Wolseley Hornet]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/december-2023/wolseley-hornet?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_practicalclassics&amp;utm_content=content_wolseley_hornet' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}, while James plumps for a :a[Citroën Traction Avant]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/december-2023/citroen-traction-avant?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_practicalclassics&amp;utm_content=content_citroen_traction_avant' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}, Matt George a :a[Honda S2000]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/december-2023/honda-s2000?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_practicalclassics&amp;utm_content=content_honda_s2000' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} and Craig, a :a[Jaguar XJ8]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/december-2023/jaguar-xj8?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_practicalclassics&amp;utm_content=content_jaguar_xj8' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}.

BBC presenter John Humphrys reveals all about his love for a modern classic Rover, while there are many daring tales of restoration and repair, including the enthusiast who fitted a K-series engine to his Skoda Estelle, another who slotted a Ford Puma 1.7-litre unit in his Triumph Spitfire and a remarkable Jowett home build.

Loads more action from the Practical Classics workshop too, where the team have been working on their own classics. There are tips on winter storage and a handy guide to sorting your :a[ZETEC’s cambelt]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/december-2023/1-6-zetec-cam-belt-change?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_practicalclassics&amp;utm_content=content_1_6_zetec_cam_belt_change' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} while we ask if the Jaguar XF is the next big thing with our in-depth guide to buying the best example. There’s also an in-depth look at the Peugeot 205.

From buying, restoring, maintaining and enjoying, no other magazine does quite so much as PC!

Only Practical Classics gives you pages and pages on how to maintain your classic to the highest standard!

The November issue of Practical Classics is out now at all good newsagents, or why not subscribe?

**:a[Choose your subscription here]{href='https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/practical-classics-magazine?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=newissue_prc' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}**

When our James Walshe sold his old Citroën to Philip Hanson, the transformation of the UK's earliest CX began

It’s not often we writers are invested so personally in the stories of cars restored by readers of this magazine, but this is one such case. The stunning 60,000-mile Delta Blue Citroën you see above is a car I dragged from the undergrowth back in 2016 after its elderly owner, a gent by the name of Arthur Henderson, decided to part with it.

Arthur’s CX already had provenance, as the oldest right-hand-drive example left. In fact, CX specialist Roger Bradford loaned this very car to Practical Classics for an article in our January 1997 issue. So, at what point did it end up in a field of weeds? How did Philip Hanson, the hero of our tale, get his hands on it? And what does recently deceased British Leyland legend Harris Mann have to do with it all?

Remarkably modest about his achievements, Philip had only previously restored one other car – and a conventional one at that. 'I always knew the CX would be a challenge compared to my Wolseley due to the unusual construction and engineering. The high-pressure hydraulics were cause for concern too but, as with the rest of it, the key to success was in educating myself before I even touched the spanners.'

It turns out ‘KPE’ had been the star of many shows in the past. It’s a rare early model with flat front wheelarches (later wings were flared) and clean flanks unadorned with trim; the closest to designer Robert Opron’s original vision.

**Follow the restoration progress in the November 2023 issue of Practical Classics, or get :a[instant access on your device]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/november-2023/unexpected-cx-pert?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=teaserarticle' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} for only 99p.**

Unexpected CX-pert

What’s the deal with alternative fuels? :a[The PC team puts it to the test…]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/november-2023/future-fuel?utm_source=bws&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bau_practicalclassics&amp;utm_content=content_future_fuel' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} in their own classics.

We present in-depth guides to the :a[Opel Manta]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/november-2023/buyers-brief-opel-manta-b?utm_source=bws&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bau_practicalclassics&amp;utm_content=content_buyers_brief_opel_manta_b' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} and :a[Subaru Impreza]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/november-2023/wise-buyer-subaru-impreza-turbo?utm_source=bws&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bau_practicalclassics&amp;utm_content=content_wise_buyer_subaru_impreza_turbo' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}, plus loads of restoration action – from barn find to the finished, shiny show specimen. Enthusiast :a[Philip Hanson took on our James’s old Citroën CX]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/november-2023/unexpected-cx-pert?utm_source=bws&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bau_practicalclassics&amp;utm_content=content_unexpected_cx_pert' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} – the oldest RHD model in the world - and turned it into a show winner, while there’s a :a[stunningly restored Ford Thames]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/november-2023/its-a-tribute-to-my-dad?utm_source=bws&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=bau_practicalclassics&amp;utm_content=content_its_a_tribute_to_my_dad' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}, a visit back in time to 1984 East Sussex, the team decided which Bentley they’d like to take home and there’s loads of restoration action at the Practical Classics workshop.

**Choose from three Practical Classics subscription options;** Print, Digital or Print+Digital.

In the September 2023 issue of Practical Classics, we take a look at the cars :a[hitting the grand old age of 25 this year]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/september-2023/new-kids-on-the-block?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_new_kids_on_the_block' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} and look at how to buy the best example of the Audi TT, Rover 75 and many more.

There’s restoration action galore, with a fabulous :a[Capri]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/september-2023/isle-of-capri?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_isle_of_capri' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}, a stunning :a[Alfasud]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/september-2023/southern-beauty?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_southern_beauty' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} and a mass of oily action at the Practical Classics workshop. That includes our own projects – from :a[Austin Seven]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/september-2023/they-see-me-rollin?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_they_see_me_rollin' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} to Riley and :a[Triumph TR6]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/september-2023/undercover-op?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_undercover_op' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}.

Meanwhile, Danny hits the road in a :a[Jowett Javelin]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/september-2023/jowett-a-journey-through-time?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_jowett_a_journey_through_time' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}, to celebrate the Jowett Car Club’s 100th birthday and there’s tech advice about hot running, :a[heated screens]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/september-2023/hidden-upgrades-now-winter-is-less-unpleasant?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_hidden_upgrades_now_winter_is_less_unpleasant' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} and :a[MIG welding]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/september-2023/buy-and-use-a-mig-welding-set?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_buy_and_use_a_mig_welding_set' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}. Join the club! In our workshop, from Reliant Robins to Rolls Royces, all classics are equal!

The September issue of Practical Classics is out now at all good newsagents, or why not subscribe?

**Choose from three Practical Classics subscription options;** Print, Digital or Print+Digital.

## :a[Choose your subscription here]{href='https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/practical-classics-magazine?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=newissue_prc' } {#h-choose-your-subscription-here}

## Danny Hopkins throws a javelin north and lands in a record breaking 100th birthday celebration. {#h-danny-hopkins-throws-a-javelin-north-and-lands-in-a-record-breaking-100th-birthday-celebration}

The Jowett Car Club is 100 years-old in 2023, which makes it the oldest single-make car club in the world. That's a pretty good excuse for a party and so, when club rep Chris Spencer asked if I might like to come along to the birthday bash, I said yes, straightaway. Any club that is still thriving after 70 years after the last car was made must have a secret worth knowing, and I fancied finding out what it was.

I also fancied a bonding experience with one of the breed. I wanted to turn up to the party in Bradford's finest, so I asked if anyone could lend me a car. A week later Chris delivered a gorgeous 1954 Jowett Javelin De Lux to the PC workshop and handed me the keys. 'See you in a week, Danny,' he said, having asked me, in exchange for the Javelin loan to prepare a few words for the annual dinner. Fair deal. The Javelin has been on my 'list' for years.

I looked at the Gerald Palmer gem, with its deco curves and clever engineering, and decided to immediately go for a drive. The Javelin did not disappoint. The 1486cc engine was perfectly perky and provided the flat-four throb familiar to anyone who enjoys the configuration on a regular basis. It's no Impreza, but it is there. The column gear shift took a few minutes to master but then we were away, the roads of Cambridgeshire graced with a quiet masterpiece that caused petrolheads to glance twice, often with a look of 'what's that?' on their faces.

As anyone who has driven one will testify, a Javelin feels like a car half its age. Independent torsion bar suspension makes for decent handling and supreme comfort, and the driving position is nigh on perfect for a man my size.

I decided to make my journey north a period expedition. Cambridgeshire to Yorkshire in a day, using only roads that would have existed in 1954, taking in landmarks, a car museum and the stunning scenery of the Peak District on the way.

**Follow Danny's journey in the September 2023 Edition of Practical Classics, or get :a[instant access on your device]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/june-2023/picture-perfect-pininfarinas?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=teaserarticle' } for only 99p.**

Jowett a journey through time

We buy, restore, maintain and enjoy – like no other magazine! This month: Fast family fun! We choose one car from each of the past five decades and :a[take a spin in the hot version]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/august-2023/doing-a-quick-shop?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_doing_a_quick_shop' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}. From the Sunbeam Stiletto to the Peugeot 306 GTi6, there’s a sporty family car from every era to get your teeth into in this month’s Practical Classics.

In the second part of our first ever big adventure to the Isle of Man, the team :a[visits the Laxey Wheel]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/august-2023/the-wheels-of-man?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_the_wheels_of_man' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}, a horse-powered tram and gets a dose of steam train action – as well as taking to the island’s roads in search of the perfect corner.

Elsewhere in the mag, you’ll find a stunning California-spec:a[Austin America ]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/august-2023/your-cars-14?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_your_cars' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} and the restoration of both a :a[Humber Super Snipe Estate]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/august-2023/my-dinky-toy-humber-was-green-thats-what-inspired-me?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_my_dinky_toy_humber_was_green_thats_what_inspired_me' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} and :a[TVR Grantura]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/august-2023/beauty-from-blackpool?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_beauty_from_blackpool' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} – plus in-depth guides to the :a[BMW 8-series]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/august-2023/wise-buyer-bmw-8-series?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_wise_buyer_bmw_8_series' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} and :a[Renault 16]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/august-2023/buyers-brief-renault-16?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_buyers_brief_renault_16' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}.

At the workshop, Nathan fixes up his 300,000-mile Alfa and visits some dogs, while Tomkins has a crack at :a[repairing his Land Rover]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/august-2023/the-long-way-home?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_the_long_way_home' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} and Theo gets dirty with some classic French diesels. No other car magazine does this kind of thing – come join the club!

**\*Become a Member today and you'll never miss an issue, PLUS you'll get access to member-only content and rewards on the Practical Classics Member's website and app. :a[Try our digital membership today for only 99p!]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/membership?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=contentnewissue_prc' }\***

The Practical Classics writers head for the :a[Isle of Man]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/july-2023/pc-on-the-tt?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_pc_on_the_tt' } for the very first time! They hit the road in their cars – from Morris Traveller and MGB to Mitsubishi GTO and Smart Roadster – and find out what makes the island tick, exploring the most :a[astonishing car museum]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/july-2023/the-best-car-museum-youve-never-heard-of?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_the_best_car_museum_youve_never_heard_of' } they’ve been to in years while enjoying some of the best roads on earth.

Meanwhile this month, we tell the story of a truly extraordinary :a[Rover P6]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/july-2023/rover-returned?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_rover_returned' }, Citroen CX and Mini Cooper, discover what’s in the bushes in the pages of Rust in Peace and tell you how to buy the very best:a[Ford Cortina Mk1]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/july-2023/buyers-brief-ford-cortina?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_buyers_brief_ford_cortina' }. We also explain why it’s time to bag yourself a:a[Vauxhall Nova]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/july-2023/wise-buyer-vauxhall-nova?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_wise_buyer_vauxhall_nova' }. There’s also a load more pages than usual dedicated to :a[you and your car]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/july-2023/your-stories?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_your_stories' } this month – we’ve been finding out why you love your classic, with a range of beautiful stories to warm the cockles.

Plus, there’s loads of action from the Practical Classics workshop where we’re :a[explaining diesel engines]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/july-2023/diesel-engines-explained?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_diesel_engines_explained' } and :a[solving propshaft problems]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/july-2023/sort-out-your-propshaft-shakes?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_sort_out_your_propshaft_shakes' }, as well as fixing up a Scimitar, Saab 900, Land Rover Freelander and :a[Paul Cowland’s Volvo V70]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/july-2023/ticket-to-ride?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_ticket_to_ride' }. No other car magazine does this much!

**PLEASE NOTE** - You can’t value any car without seeing it – don’t buy blind. Prices are researched from several sources, including clubs, auctions, the trade and advertisements online and in print. Prices are reviewed and updated every issue. Our C/D rating is a basic guide to what you can expect to pay (£) for the best examples of a model, a concours car or something from a dealer.

### :a[VIEW THE PRICE GUIDE HERE]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/june-2023/2023-price-guide-2' } {#h-view-the-price-guide-here}

**CONDITION 1** means well-presented cars that have no obvious faults.

**CONDITION 2** cars are capable of regular use. They have a current MoT certificate but will need work and/or original parts.

**CONDITION 3** cars usually need a full rebuild, but may be drivable and MoT’d.

## Fantasy Forecourt: We pick our favourites from one of the greatest styling houses {#h-fantasy-forecourt-we-pick-our-favourites-from-one-of-the-greatest-styling-houses}

**:a[June 2023 Edition.]{href='https://www.practicalclassics.co.uk/magazine/issues/june-2023/' }**

Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But take a pause and name us one ugly Pininfarina design. See..? Can't be done. This Italian firm has been knocking out stunners for almost 100 years, in which time we've seen countless cars as well as a host of trains, buses, yachts and aeroplanes.

On PC's dream driveway this month, we present some of our own favourites. Naturally, there had to be something from Maranello. The Dino 246GT (no Ferrari badges, remember) was Enzo hedging his bets by selling the new model under a sub-brand. Driving one is unforgettable, yet it's the looks and sounds that dazzle most.

Same goes for the exceptionally pretty Alfa Romeo and Fiat - both are perfectly proportioned and have styling details that constantly delight.

The two modern classics of the bunch are represented by Maserati's stunning five-metre monster, the Quattroporte, and - regardless of its mundane under-pinnings - surely one of the most beautiful mainstream cars of all time, the Peugeot 406 Coupé. But which one would we want at home in our driveways?

### Find out which car makes it onto the fantasy forecourt in the June 2023 Edition of Practical Classics, or get :a[instant access on your device]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/june-2023/picture-perfect-pininfarinas?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=teaserarticle' } for only 99p.

Picture perfect Pininfarinas

## James and friends attempt to drive coast to coast America... in a Rover SD1

**WORDS AND PICTURES** James Walshe. :a[June 2023 Edition]{href='https://www.practicalclassics.co.uk/magazine/issues/june-2023/' }.

I know what you're thinking. You're curious as to how far we got, aren't you? That's exactly what went through my mind before we set off from the Pacific coast. And the answer? 26 miles. So, there you have it. British Leyland strikes again. We shook out fists in the direction of Solihull and went to the beach. Well, not quite...

Having nursed the spluttering SD1 off the LA freeway near John Wayne International Airport and into a business park, a dead fuel pump is diagnosed and after watching my two pals disappear in their Jeep to find a replacement, I slump under a nearby tree with a Haynes manual to study the inner workings of the Rover V8. Despie BL selling only a thousand or so examples of the SD1 here, we are determined to get ours up and running properly and cross this giant continent. Our first task then, is to source a fuel pump for a 1980 Rover in one of the most populous megacities on the planet. Hmm.

Months before, my chum Tim Wade Jr had called me from his Rhode Island home in the far north-east of the US. ‘I found a Rover SD1, and I think we should go and rescue it!’ It sounded like an excellent excuse for a holiday, so I agreed to join him on the collection mission. ‘Oh, thing is, it’s in California.’ Vermont-based friend Chris Mercon had already signed up. No surprise, since both he and Tim had roped me into a madcap scheme in 2019 that involved the recovery of a shabby North American spec Rover 800 from a trailer park in Idaho. The Sterling would eventually make it across the Atlantic, into my hands and later, back to its birthplace in Cowley.

We gave ourselves a two-week period in which to fly out to LA and then nurse the aged Rover to the Eastern Seaboard. Tim, having agreed to pay $2000 for the car, seemed inexplicably confident. It had spent much of its life in sunny Santa Barbara and while the ‘Pendelican White’ paintwork wasn’t shiny, the California climate meant little corrosion and the previous owner, an enthusiast named Geoffrey Carter, had done some excellent work to bring this project car to life. That included sourcing a bonnet and tailgate to replace the rusty originals (both in ‘Poseidon Green Metallic’). Geoffrey was certainly very enthusiastic – but was thankfully straight with us. ‘The wiper motor is dead and the wiper arms are missing.’ With left-hand-drive items not readily available, I began my search via the SD1 Owners Club and the Federal Rovers Group on Facebook with some urgency, fully aware the American Midwest is no stranger to rain and snow.

Still 5000 miles away in Northamptonshire, I began to wonder what else the car might be missing so Geoffrey kindly trailered the Rover to a British car specialist in Los Angeles. Once there, proprietor of British European Auto, British ex-pat Jeff Taw, was quick to deliver his driving impressions on the phone. ‘Is the rest of the suspension still on its way?’ The sway bar mounts and bushes, bottom ball joints, and numerous steering parts were tired, while the alternator wasn’t charging and the lights and instruments were all dead. Jeff then talked me through the leaking clutch master cylinder, seized brakes, exhaust full of holes and the tired hoses and belts. ‘The tyres are good though.’ Unlike Europe, America doesn’t do the whole ‘MOT thing’.

We gave Jeff the green light for repairs and awaited the call, which came the day before our flight to LA. Jeff’s team had worked hard to get the Rover up to scratch. ‘We fitted a used alternator, a voltage gauge from a Jag XJ, bouts of rewiring and modified TR6 bushes’. Meanwhile, a pair of used wiper arms had turned up… donated by Canadian SD1 owner Michael Murphy who’d sent them to Los Angeles from his home in Toronto.

Stunted by our meagre budget, I sensed our hero Jeff was reluctant to guarantee us a successful mission, but he was confident he’d done all he could with the wholly inadequate deadline and money we’d given him. ‘It’s not to our usual high standards, but put it this way: if we were in the UK, the car would almost… possibly, maybe… pass an MOT.’

### You can continue reading about the SD1's adventure in the June 2023 Edition of Practical Classics, or get :a[instant access on your device]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/june-2023/sd1-across-the-usa?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=teaserarticle' } for only 99p.

james tim and chris Rover SD1 across america

SD1 across the USA

In the May 2023 Edition of Practical Classics magazine, we :a[celebrate Rover’s]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/may-2023/roverlution?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=newissue_prc' } revolutionary range of executive saloons, focussing on the pioneering P6, through to the SD1, 800 and 75 ranges. Richard Bremner takes an in-depth look at 60 years of innovation and meets the folk behind these brilliant classics. There’s further Rover action in the form of a :a[stunning P5 restoration]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/may-2023/officer-class?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=newissue_prc' }, plus the tale of a man who raced and rebuilt his very special Mini Cooper.

The PC team hits the road in classics directly :a[affected by the ULEZ scheme]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/may-2023/escape-from-ulez?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=newissue_prc' }, driving their £100 cars from the Ace Café in London 100 miles north to the Stibbington Diner. Meanwhile, there’s a detailed look at how to find the best :a[Peugeot 106]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/may-2023/wise-buyer-peugeot-106?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=newissue_prc' } and we go pre-war, with an essential :a[guide to the MG T-series]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/may-2023/mg-t-type?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=newissue_prc' }. Plus, loads of action from the Practical Classics workshop where you’ll find anything from 2CV to Triumph!

And, as always, pages full of advice on how to buy, restore and maintain your classic. No other magazine does quite so much!

**\*Become a member today and you'll never miss an issue, PLUS you'll get access to member-only content and rewards on the Practical Classics member's website and app. :a[Try our digital membership today for only 99p!]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/membership?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=contentnewissue_prc' }\***

In the June 2023 Edition of Practical Classics magazine, James Walshe and his friends Chris and Tim buy a shabby US-spec :a[Rover SD1]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/june-2023/sd1-across-the-usa?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=newissue_prc' } and attempt to drive it across America. Starting in Los Angeles with the aim of reaching Boston, will the lads do it?

There’s similar jeopardy for our guest restorers too in the latest mag, with enthusiasts battling to revive all kinds of classics, from a :a[Vauxhall Cresta]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/june-2023/the-practical-cresta?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=newissue_prc' } and :a[Lotus Elan]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/june-2023/plus-2-perfection?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=newissue_prc' } to Danny’s Peugeot 205 CJ and Andy’s Morris Traveller. There’s also modern classics workshop action involving a Mazda MX-5, Smart City-Coupé and :a[Ford Mondeo]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/june-2023/just-call-me-mondeo-man?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=newissue_prc' }. See how the team wrestle with ECUs, while Matt, Ed, Nigel and Theo get stuck into more traditional maintenance work – including :a[fixing overdrive]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/june-2023/find-and-fix-overdrive-faults?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=newissue_prc' } and piston slap.

There are in-depth guides to the :a[Volvo P1800]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/june-2023/volvo-1800?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=newissue_prc' } and we ask if the innovative :a[Audi A2]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/june-2023/wise-buyer-audi-a2-2000-2005?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=newissue_prc' } is worth a look, while our columnists ask some difficult questions about rust and seat belts. Meanwhile, Craig reports on a round-the-world Aston and there’s a whole bunch of barn finds to get your teeth into in the Rust in Peace pages. No other mag can do all this!

## On 17th April, _Salvage Hunters'_ Paul Cowland will be giving Danny Hopkins and the Practical Classics DeLuxe Members an exclusive look round his workshop. {#h-on-17th-april-salvage-hunters-paul-cowland-will-be-giving-danny-hopkins-and-the-practical-classics-deluxe-members-an-exclusive-look-round-his-workshop}

DeLuxe Members will be able to join the live online event at 7pm where Danny will delve into behind the scenes stories from Paul's 30 year career in the automotive world. From buying and selling, to restoring and writing, there's set to be some unforgettable tales told.

Members will also get an exclusive look at Paul's mega classic car collection and be able to submit questions for Danny to ask throughout the event.

To join this live event, simply :a[become a Practical Classics DeLuxe Member]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/membership?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=gold_prc&amp;utm_content=promo_paulcowland' } from just £7.99 per month before 10th April, 2023.

**Already a Member and want to upgrade to DeLuxe Membership? No problem!**

All you need to do is follow the steps below OR alternatively call 01858 438752 to make the switch.

1. Login to your account **:a[here]{href='https://secure.greatmagazines.co.uk/Solo/Account/Login?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_clc&amp;utm_content=clc_Quentin-Willson-live-event' }**

3. Select the magazine subscription or Membership you want to upgrade

4. Click ‘Upgrade Today!’ and follow the onscreen instructions

PC DeLuxe event: With Paul Cowland

We’ve been out on the road a lot for this Spring 2023 Edition of Practical Classics! Firstly, to mark Mother’s Day, we’ve been :a[celebrating mums everywhere]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/spring-2023/mums-cars?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_mums_cars' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} by talking to ours about their favourite cars. We head to the Great British Car Journey collection in Derbyshire with our mums, who sample some of the cars they once owned. There’s also a grand road trip to Essex aboard our charity :a[Reliant Rebel van,]{href='https://www.practicalclassics.co.uk/articles/restoration-projects/reliant-rebel/' } which has been restored and auctioned at the Practical Classics Classic Car & Restoration Show in aid of NHS charities. There’s a brilliant :a[Cortina Mk1 restoration]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/spring-2023/cortina-timewarp?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_cortina_timewarp' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} story, plus the revival of its younger relation – :a[a once rotten-as-a-pear Puma]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/spring-2023/your-cars-10?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_your_cars_10' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}! Find out how the owner brought it back to life! There are in-depth guides on buying a :a[Toyota MR2]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/spring-2023/wise-buyer-toyota-mr2-mk2?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_wise_buyer_toyota_mr2_mk2' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'} and :a[Wolseley 1500]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/spring-2023/wolseley-1500?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_wolseley_1500' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}, while there are essential tips on how to :a[spend less on maintaining your classic]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/spring-2023/the-classic-pound-stretcher?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_the_classic_pound_stretcher' target='_blank' rel='noreferrer noopener'}. From buying to restoring, fixing and enjoying, Practical Classics magazine does it all!

****Become a member today and you'll never miss an issue, PLUS you'll get access to member-only content and rewards on the Practical Classics member's website and app. :a[Try our digital membership today for only 99p!]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/membership?utm_source=dynamic&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=contentnewissue_prc' }****

## Danny Hopkins drives the Reliant Rebel east, in aid of NHS Charities. {#h-danny-hopkins-drives-the-reliant-rebel-east-in-aid-of-nhs-charities}

It's going to raise big money at the PC Resto Show, but first it needs to prove itself and give a bit of love back to the gent who donated the project to PC in the first place. Our plucky little Reliant Rebel, the latest in a long and (sometimes) exotic line of project cars to emerge from the Practical Classics workshop, is about to be auctioned off at the Practical Classics Classic Car and Restoration show on March 24-26 at CCA's auction... (get yourself along and bid!), which means that time left to enjoy its charms is short. So, today we are making the most of it on an epic (ish) drive from St Ives in Cambridgeshire to Colchester NHS Trust Hospital via Papworth Hospitals old and new.

Many boxes are being ticked. The Rebel will get a few miles under its belt after an engine rebuild, Lancaster Insurance will receive kudos due thanks to its sponsorship of the project, James Holland and the Reliant Owners Club will get a grand day out (and thanks for their help) and, former owner and restorer, Graham Catchpole will get his wish.

Wish? Yep. His deal when he called me three years ago was that we could have the project for free if we would a) restore it properly, b) auction it off for NHS charities and c) do a run linking Papworth Hospital with his local Colchester NHS trust… Graham has very close connections with both institutions.

It’s not a warm day in St Ives, but the welcome provided by Steph Hoy and Lancaster Insurance is keeping everyone smiling. Coffee for a Cause is in full swing as thirty or so classics and their owners snaffle a brew and a bun while dropping £75 quid in the charity tin. First among equals here are the Reliant Owners Club and James Holland, who, along with our own Matt Tomkins, Theo Gillam, Steve Brown from HB Body (who did 90 per cent of the graft on the gel coat), got the car to this point. Our friend Andy Waters at CBR Restorations and the team at Autopaints Brighton are also worthy of respect for their combined magnificence in the paint department.

**This article is taken from the Spring 2023 issue of Practical Classics. To :a[read the full article]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/read/spring-2023/rebel-rebel?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_rebel_rebel' } and more from the Spring issue, visit :a[members.practicalclassics.co.uk]{href='https://members.practicalclassics.co.uk/?utm_source=referral&amp;utm_medium=bws&amp;utm_campaign=bau_prc&amp;utm_content=content_rebel_rebel' } and become a Member from just 99p for your first month.**

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