Fuzz Looking for 'Classic Friendly' Facilities Nationwide

[Fuzz Townshend]

Hello all,
I'm in the process of setting up a new network of 'Classic Friendly' facilities throughout the UK.
All participants will receive the 'Classic Friendly' logo on an external wall plaque and will be listed on our data base, with links to their own websites.
We need every sort of facility to participate, from general workshops, through engine specialists to body and paintshops.
On offer are standardised, pe-1960 safety checks, featuring a coloured coding system to indicate any problems and their severity. A certificate will be issued to each car inspected to allow the owner to have a detailed and informed view of the condition of their car at the time of inspection.
We are also looking for MoT stations with a knowledge of classic cars to participate, so that owners of more youthful classic cars can search out a suitably knowledgeable facility.
We will be rolling the network out from January, so please start letting me know of any decent facilities, large or small.
feel free to give me a call on 07854 550335
Cheers,
Fuzz Townshend
Director - Classic Friendly Ltd

[MG Mal]

Wessex Mot And Repair Centre
Incorporating:
Rapid Recovery Ltd
Address:
Unit 2B-2C
Brook Lane Industrial Estate
Westbury
Wiltshire
BA13 4EP
01373 859 609
Fax: 01373 825 869

Very classic friendly, and always happy to advise.
Owner loves his classics and Senior tester has a major VW Bug hobby.
They take care of our classics which include MG maestro's Rover 800's land Rovers, Reliant Scimitars and 70's MG's.

[Luxobarge]

Hi Fuzz,

Sounds like a good plan, but some questions:

How are you defining "friendly"? Presumably that they know and understand the foibles of classic cars, and have some experience of working on them, but to what extent? Exclusively, or "now and then"? How much experience? What experience? Just MoT or mechanical too? Bodywork? etc. etc.

Also how are you defining their capability? Are you introducing some kind of certification, and if so how are you going to test their compliance to it? Or are you just taking the word of folk on forums and other sources - who - with the best will in the world - could just be punting for extra business for their mate's garage?

And how are you defining a "classic"? By an age limit? Or by a level of technology? What's the upper limit of this definition? And come to that, what's the lower limit? I mean, could they do good quality "correct" work on a 1904 De-Dion Bouton, or just down to post-war cars? What about 20's and 30's cars? What are the limits of the garages you are listing here?

Note: I do NOT want to enter into the "what is a classic" argument here, I'm just interested in how you are defining the services offered by this network of businesses.

For example, my local garage is fine doing MoTs on anything down to post-war cars, but not before, but they are only able to do certain simple mechanical repairs,a nd no bodywork at all. But I'd still class them as "classic friendly" as they do all my MoT tests - but if this were to be defined as a "classic friendly" garage on your network, then there'd be tens of thousands of similar establishments, and if I wanted a garage to re-time the magnetos on my 1920's Citroen then the list would be useless (I'm exaggerating to make the point....)

As I say, a good idea in principle, but I think you need to let us know a lot more information before this becomes really useful!

All the best with it anyway.

Cheers!

[Fuzz Townshend]

Hello Luxobarge,
I can assure you that we have teams of lawyers working on our criteria and there are strict conditions which apply to becoming a part of this network, which is designed to benefit classic car owners across the board.
Talking to forums is our last port of call, no offence intended. However, the network will encourage and welcome customer input as a part of its feedback system.
'Classic Friendly' participants will list their specialities and these will be verified and monitored to secure and maintain inclusion.
Cheers,
FT

[TerryG]

teams of lawyers

That's stuffed then

Fingers crossed it works as having other garages available is always handy.

[megadethmaniac]

For team of Lawyers read number of lawyers +1 definitions of each word and then go from there....

Good idea Fuzz, but a fecking nightmare. I`ll await the first claim with Fuzz named as the defendant!

[mach1rob]

These guys (and girls) http://www.sopleygarage.co.uk/ have been my port of call for many years, classic friendly MOT tester, and they know their stuff. Never have any issues at all.

[Fuzz Townshend]

If I were unsure of what I'm doing, I wouldn't be doing it.
We classic car owners need this, right?
I certainly do.
If I'm on a trip out in my classic and support becomes necessary, will the traditional '4th emergency services' know whgere to take me?
If i want to MoT a car with the requisite 2 thou' play in the hub bearings, where should I take it?
If I have a car with a carburettor fault, who has a mechanic employed who understands them?
Etc, etc....
Let me deal with the pitfalls and deliver something that works.
You can kick my ugly a$%e if I don't.
Fuzzer

[Fuzz Townshend]

These guys (and girls) http://www.sopleygarage.co.uk/ have been my port of call for many years, classic friendly MOT tester, and they know their stuff. Never have any issues at all.

Cheers Rob,
That's exactly what we're looking for.
Knowledgeable, supportive businesses, ready to help us persue our hobby well into the 21st century...

[Topaz]

These guys (and girls) http://www.sopleygarage.co.uk/ have been my port of call for many years, classic friendly MOT tester, and they know their stuff. Never have any issues at all.

Looks like a good place to go and some great cars in their gallery. I like the idea of a basic knowledge class for women drivers. About 30 years ago when my wife learnt to drive she enrolled on a basic car maintenance class at the local college, was the only female there and over the years when out with friends etc she has changed more wheels at the roadside than I have

Mike