General

There has not been much posted lately although lots has been done nothing is finished. A constant struggle for parts has meant that the Brown MK3 has sat in a Carcoon for the last 3 months whilst waiting for a windscreen that was ordered in June with a quoted delivery of a few weeks. We have now got the glass which is being fitted soon, so then the last few jobs can be finished and the car road tested.

In the meantime a MK1 Interceptor and an SP have arrived not for restorations but both requiring substantial work, including an engine rebuild for the MK1 and major rewiring to the SP who’s previous owner had deleted many parts of the loom and made his own modifications. This has now been rectified and everything is working again as it should. These repairs along with many other smaller jobs getting the suspension, brakes and fuel systems right on both cars along with an interior repair and recolour on the SP.

Today we had a road trip to collect FF182 after completion of the welding work. We are also hoping to see FF133 return soon with a fresh coat of paint ready for rebuilding.

We are now nearing the completion of the Brown MK3 Interceptor, so whats next at Oily Rag Classics. Well it looks like we are going to be busy over winter, we have 2 MK1 Interceptors in for some mechanical and electrical work to complete their restorations carried out elsewhere. Another SP will be arriving for an interior recolouring along with new carpets, fitting a new A/C system supplied by Pat at Fenair and many other mechanical and electrical jobs.

In addition to this we have other cars booked in for smaller jobs to include a Riley, a CV-8 and other Interceptors whilst carrying on with the 3 full restorations.

The Silver SP is undergoing some serious fabrication work at Hightone Restorations before returning to us as a fully welded and painted shell with external trim ready for us to carry out the mechanical, electrical and interior trim work.

We then have the 2 MK1 FF’s with one nearing completion of the welding work and the other at our paintshop being prepped for paint, so some busy and exciting times ahead of us.

Progress has been steady on the car since the engine and gearbox were refitted. The engine ancillaries have now all been fitted, the wiring loom has been connected along with the fitting of the centre console for the connection or switches. More interior trim and chrome work has been fitted including the freshly rechromed bumpers.

We have also refitted the fuel tank along with ethanol proof fuel lines all the way from the tank to the carb. The last section of pipe from the fuel pump to the carb is covered by a high temperature sheath to help with fuel vaporisation.

The electrical systems are now being tested and it won’t be long before the engine fires up.

The car was polished and moved outside today so that the customer could see the paintwork in the sunlight.

This car is coming together well with only just 6 weeks having passed since the shell was painted, another milestone was reached today after the engine and gearbox were refitted.

There is a lot of work to carry out in the engine bay of an Interceptor before the engine goes back in so we are very pleased with the progress on this car.

The rebuild is progressing well since the body shell returned from paint. The front and rear suspension has been refitted so the car is now a rolling shell on its own wheels. The lights and some trim pieces have been fitted along with many other small parts.

The long task of fitting the insulation and heat shield to the engine bay bulkhead is now complete which allows the engine bay to be reassembled. This has started with a new engine bay wiring loom section which has now been routed and in the process of connecting up alongside fitting the various electrical components.

Work has also started fitting the brakes ready for new pipe work which will be made in the workshop as it is neater than the pre-made kits.