Intro
Welcome to Gordon’s Classics in Edinburgh! I have been
involved in restoring classic vehicles for over 20 years now and more recently
have been running a couple that I have actually managed to complete. Yes, they
can take a long time! I also own an old Lister stationary engine and a pre-war
Raleigh bicycle. Very sad indeed……
History
My first project was ASP 964, the 1935 Austin 10 Lichfield
saloon. I acquired this basket case in 1980 (temporary insanity….or is it
permanent). It was abandoned several times (house moves etc) plus at most major
hurdles, but finally completed in 1998. Complete chassis, engine, body, paint
and trim job carried out by myself with help from my long-suffering wife and a
few thousand units of alcohol. Took ‘Best Austin’ and ‘Best in Show’ at
the SVAEC annual rally, Kinross, 1999.
Meantime, in 1986, a
‘friend?’ offered me KES 210 a 1957 Morris Minor 1000 saloon for a
reasonable sum, so I bought it from him, ran it for a few weeks, then promptly
dumped it in a garage for ten years while I tried to find bits for the Austin. I
didn’t know at the time it would be ten years of course! I then purchased a
convertible kit (identical to the original factory job) and chopped the roof
off, replacing much of the rusty floor and sill sections at the same time. At
least you can get all the bits for the Morris without trawling the country for
years. The car was completed in 2000 and took ‘Best Tourer’ at the SMMOC
annual rally, Melrose 2000.
In 1999, I was offered a very rusty but low-mileage 1975
Rover 3500S for spares and this was duly stripped and all parts stored. I then
came across a 1972 3500S which had a remarkably good body. Currently stripped for restoration
The 1952 Royal
Enfield 350 Bullet was bought, partly restored at Glamis in 1999. It’s since
had some fairly major engine work but needs a fair bit more. It’s a real
pleasure to ride
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Austin shortly after buying...is it too far gone..? |
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chassis was remarkably good, engine/trans rebuilt |
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Austin and Morris at Bankhead (trophies on bonnet) |
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Morris gets new floor/sills |
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shell back to metal for repair |
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MGB 1963 being prepared for 2009 season |
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