Practically Classics Forum

I also had a Vauxhall Viva for a while with a 1256cc lump that felt positively sluggish compared with the 1100cc Escorts that I drove at work. Like all Fords of the day it was built down to a price and I suspect that the good performance was down to light weight. Does anyone remember the Silver Fox...

OK, so we'd be more likely to find a concours FSO Caro 1.9D hatch than a Tagora, but sometimes it's good to enjoy something vicariously.

If you really want to do that then I'm sure the Simca Club could find you a Tagora.

How's your Escort/BMW coming along?

I've just sold my Matra, it's going to Portugal,

Shame on you , you must really wanted to get rid of it too, all the trouble you went to. Another one goes out of the country, there'll be none of us left soon

I've tried most of these sealants in my impoverished marginal motoring days and they've never been very successful. I've usually ended up with a blocked heater matrix. I don't see how a porous block would pressurise the system, I would have thought you'd get water in the oil. If you're not getting b...

I can remember Car Mechanics running an article on how to repair a chassis rail using glass fibre.

Road trips don't really interest me and trying to read it was too much like being forced to spend an afternoon with my grand father

Have a heart Terry! You'll be old yourself one day

Sounds like time PC did an article on gear oils like the excellent one you did on engine oils a few months ago

My Matra is supposed to use EP80 GL4 in the transaxle. I've been using Castrol Syntrax Driveline 75/90 which is a synthetic oil which claims to meet both GL4 and GL5 specs. I've done over 12,000 km and nothoing's broken yet.

The bulb test is to connect a 12V bulb between the CB connection on the coil and earth. Align the timing marks on the engine and turn the distributor until the bulb lights. This means the points have opened. Make sure No 1 cylinder is on the compression stroke (stick your thumb over the plug hole)an...