Description
Found by me in September 2020 having been locked away since 1976 in a dry garage, I undertook a meticulous chassis frame up restoration over the following 3 years. Having already restored one to standard specification, I used this opportunity to create a period cafe racer in its original black colour, whilst ensuring that the changes could all be reversed back to standard if required.
The main restoration details are;
Chassis aligned, stripped to bare metal by Ribble Technology and painted in 2 pack gloss black
New ash frame including doors by Andy Denton
Panelled in 1. 2mm Aluminium by myself
New cycle front wings in Aluminium described in TTT2 issue 76 February 2023
Paint, black 2 pack, cream race number circles applied in low tack vinyl wrap
Seat cushion substrates by Kimber Creek, Indiana to match original foam density
Trimmed in Bridge of Weir ginger leather, by PJM, no vinyl
Wool carpets black bound in black leather, by PJM
New wheels MWS
New radial tyres, Bridgestone Escopia 155/ 70R19
Differential, rebuilt by Roger Furneaux, higher 8/ 37 ratio
New half shafts, hubs x4 & spinners from Orson
Rear axle oil seals and nuts from Roger Furneaux
New loom Auto sparks including indicators
Brake and fuel lines new, correct specification with protection coils
Radiator and fuel tank rebuilt by Tony Wilder
All chrome stripped and re-plated by Polish Pete in Hull
Dash board veneered in burr walnut by Chapman & Spooner
Smaller diameter Brooklands steering wheel
New stainless steel exhaust system large bore throughout its length
Starter motor and dynamo rebuilt by Chris Wallis
4 dampers rebuilt by VCSA
Instruments rebuilt by John Marks incorporating a combined oil pressure/ water temperature gauge
VW steering box conversion with CNC machined drop arm
Front axle located by a rose jointed Panhard rod
Brake master and slave cylinders re-sleeved by Contract Auto Engineering
Gearbox stripped cleaned and rebuilt by myself
Engine, stripped, cleaned and rebuilt. All machining work by Dave Brooks engines, line bored, decked, sleeved back to standard bore, lightened flywheel, balanced, modern core plugs as described in TTT2 issue 54, June 2019
Cylinder head by George Edney, skimmed, big valves, lead free.
George Edney camshaft, new followers and pushrods
Oil Pump rebuilt by myself
Cartridge oil filter conversion, K&N oil filter
Voltage regulator converted to solid state by
Fuel pump new Burlen solid state
All fasteners replaced correct threads Namrick
Screen original
Carburettors, re-bushed and restored with Burlen parts, original linkage
Rolling road set up by Mikeanics, 59 BHP at the rear wheels (originally 54 at the flywheel)
Since completion in July 2023 it has covered 1800 miles.
V5c in my name, old contiuation log book and some old MOT test certificates
In summary a lovely example, fully restored in the style of a period cafe racer using the best parts, suppliers and craftsmen. Original registration number and history back to 1954. I can trace its history back to 1954, it retains its original registration number and now its colour. In addition to the V5c I also have a comtinuation log book, some old MOT test certificates and tax discs. Having failed an MOT test in 1976 it went into the owners garage, but the remedial work was never done, allowing me the purchase it in 2020 as a restoration project.
